5 Romance Routes & Lockouts
The Blood of Dawnwalker Romance Guide
The Blood of Dawnwalker features 5 romance options: Anca the Witch, Lacra the Renegade Vampire, Marat (Crake) the Rebel Leader, Elisabeta the Noble, and Radu the Mercenary. Romances are mutually exclusive; progressing one companion's final threshold locks out all other candidates for the rest of the playthrough.
All 5 Romance Candidates & Requirements
| Companion | Faction / Background | Preferred Gifts | Lockout Warning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anca | Coven Witch / Herbalist | Nightshade, Ancient Grimoires, Silver Amulet | Font Choice Lockout |
| Lacra | Renegade Vampire | Crimson Elixirs, Bone Talismans, Svatza Dagger | Brencis Final Duel Lockout |
| Marat (Crake) | Manumit Rebel Commander | Rebel Medals, Fine Brandy, Mountain Maps | High Infamy Required (Notorious) |
| Elisabeta | Sangoran Noble Dissident | Silk Scarves, Gold Signet Ring, Preserved Roses | Must preserve Greifberg nobility ties |
| Radu | Wandering Mercenary Veteran | Whetstones, Wolf Pelts, Heavy Mead | Hostile if Manumit camps are raided |
Universal Rules for Romance Progression
- Gift Giving: Gifts can only be given when their personal camp dialogue prompt appears, not from general inventory menus.
- Campfire Talks: Key romantic thresholds trigger exclusively during nighttime rest at regional safe campfires.
- Combat Synergy: Bringing your chosen partner on their designated faction quests awards large passive approval boosts.
- The Point of No Return: Each partner has one clearly warned commitment cutscene. Accepting it permanently locks out other routes.
Anca: The Witch Romance Walkthrough
Starts during the prologue when tending to Esme. Gather her requested herbs carefully and avoid dismissive dialogue.
- Between the Words: brew tea for her and choose 'It's my pleasure', then ask whether her affection extends beyond mere religious faith.
- Where Old Devils Lie & Stronger Than Achilles: at the mountain spring, select 'Something troubling you?' followed by 'I care about you'. In the trial, reach into the stone basin yourself.
- Spring Confession: when she reveals her yearning for the Font, choose 'I love you'. Coen can drink from the Font himself to gain the daylight HP regeneration perk; doing so does not void the romance.
- Campfire Resolution: select 'Enough with caution. Let's do something fun for once' followed by 'Screw decency. I want you too' to unlock the romance scene.
Anca's early prologue medicine recipe is detailed in full in our Withering Away quest guide.
Lacra: The Renegade Vampire Walkthrough
Lacra is a renegade vampire fighting Brencis independently. Trigger her arc via soldier camp dispatches, Ambrus's corpse, or Vico in Svatza.
- Song of the Mountain: meet her in the southern crags and accept her invitation to feed together on soldiers.
- Our Rotten Roots: if you explore the optional memory side chamber, immediately apologize upon exiting: 'I'm sorry for going in there. I shouldn't have done that.' In the crypt climax, invite the spirit into Coen.
- The Night of Horrors: consume the Mandrake flower together (unlocks Misery Loves Company), drink Lacra's blood, and select 'Kiss her' to unlock the romance scene.
Marat (Crake): Rebel Commander Walkthrough
Starts from The Firebrand in Briar Sloughs. Marat will only cooperate after Coen proves his commitment by raising regional Infamy.
- Shadows in the Woods: meet Crake, then raise regional Infamy to Notorious by destroying blood wagons and freeing prisoners before he trusts you.
- What Moves the Dead: rescue Marat from the ambush, choose to escort him to the hideout, and agree to tend his wounds: 'Sure, I'll take care of it.'
- Distant Shadows & A Closer Look: defend Askar against abusive guards in Tenturi. Afterward, meet Marat at the scenic city overlook specifically at night.
- Select 'Nothing you say can change the way I see you' and 'The real Marat shines through sometimes. Frankly, I prefer that guy' to trigger the kiss and romance scene.