Survivors

1:19 Survivors in Enshrouded are the craftspeople you rescue from Ancient Vaults and bring to your base with the Summoning Staff, and each one unlocks a crafting station and recipes. They also shape how you fight: Keen Games' Beginner Tips video (Feb 7, 2024) tells rangers to consult the Hunter (the Huntress, as Keen now writes it) for gear made for that role, mages to seek out Balthazar the Alchemist, and anyone who fights with swords, axes and maces to visit Oswald the Blacksmith, whose gear suits "head-to-head engagements". Rescuing them is part of the main quest, and as the Steam page puts it, they turn "your lonely hut" into a settlement of craftspeople and townsfolk. Their stations are on Crafting Stations.

Quick facts

How survivors work

Survivors sleep in Ancient Vaults reached by platforming or puzzles; you wake them, then place them in a base with the Summoning Staff (Game Rant, 2024). Christoulakis described them before early access as NPCs "that you can revive" who give quests, such as finding lost tools, that unlock recipes (Game Rant, 2023). In 1.0 freeing the Blacksmith gives your second level-up, after placing the first Flame Altar (changelog), and rescuing artisans is part of the main quest (Game Rant, Oct 16, 2026).

Survivors belong to the world, not to your character. A character who moves to another world keeps its level, gear and skills but must free the survivors there again (Keen's FAQ). The locations below are from 2024 guides, written before 1.0 reworked the opening: follow the main quest rather than old maps. Where to start is on Beginner's Guide.

The Blacksmith

The Blacksmith is the first survivor you free, and the first of Keen's "Legendary artisans" in its 2023 demo description (Keen). Game Rant names him Oswald Anders and, in early access, placed him across Braelyn Bridge northwest of the start (Game Rant, Feb 15, 2024); Keen's own videos call him Oswald. He crafts armor, weapons and tools, sends you to the first Elixir Well and the Fell Thunderbrute, and since Update 8 upgrades warrior armor and weapons (Armor Sets, Weapons).

The Alchemist

The Alchemist is Balthazar ("Balthazar, the alchemist", in Keen's words). In early access he slept in a vault in the western Springlands, reached after the Springlands Ancient Spire (Game Rant, 2024). He makes potions and magic gear, gives the quest that opens the Hollow Halls, and upgrades mage armor and weapons (Magic and Spells).

The Huntress

The Huntress is Athalan Skree ("the huntress, Athalan Skree", Keen, Nov 10, 2025); Game Rant's 2024 guide called the role the Hunter and placed the vault in the eastern Springlands. She crafts backpacks, arrows and fishing gear, upgrades ranger armor and weapons, and hands out every Twitch drop through a quest, so none is exclusive (Keen, Oct 13, 2026).

The Farmer

The Farmer is Emily Fray ("Emily Fray the Farmer", Keen, Jun 5, 2024), in early access found in the northern Springlands. She unlocks farming, food and animals, and owns the tavern in Brittlebush (Destructoid).

1:23 Her recipes grew with the updates. Keen's Hollow Halls highlights video (Mar 26, 2024) sends botanists to "visit Emily the farmer" for potted plants, with more tree seedlings at the seed bed. Plants grow at home once she has joined (Keen; Farming, Fishing and Animals, Food and Cooking).

The Carpenter

The Carpenter is Cade ("Cade the Carpenter", Keen, Mar 26, 2024). His vault was the only one inside the Shroud in early access (Game Rant, 2024), so bring a Shroud Survival Flask (The Shroud). He makes furniture, gliders and grappling hooks (Glider, Grappling Hook and Fast Travel, Building Guide).

The Collector

The Collector is Alden Crowley, according to DualShockers, rescued in the Springlands Hollow Halls; he crafts the Bone Keys that open the next Hollow Halls (DualShockers, Mar 31, 2024). 1.0 added a reminder on the Bone Keys to keep resources for the next one.

The Bard

0:41 The Bard is Valory, the survivor of the Blackmire, added in Update 2, Melodies of the Mire (Jun 5, 2024). Keen's video: "rescue our brand new NPC Valory of the Silver Strings and learn from her how to craft some musical instruments". Playing music with others nearby at a campfire adds to the Rested bonus, and a portable drum or flute lets you rest on the go (Blackmire).

The Barber, the trader and the newer survivors

4:17 The Barber is Elio Ricci, from Update 6, Thralls of Twilight (May 13, 2025). "Meet Elio, our new Barber," Keen's video says: he changes your hair, beard and eye color, because "sometimes you don't need to level up, you just need a glow up". At 1.0 he also switches your Flameborn between the classic and the new, more realistic body proportions (What's New in 1.0).

Mei-Yin Chen is a trader added in Update 5 with a Lunar New Year quest (Keen, Jan 28, 2025). At 1.0 she crafts vanity items for gold coins, plus fireworks and confetti bombs (changelog).

A survivor "who specializes in fishing" waits in the Veilwater Basin since Update 7 and makes better rods and bait (Keen, Nov 10, 2025). 1.0 adds "a new survivor, specializing in Ancient knowledge and recipes", who joins the base with the last crafting tier (changelog). Keen's official text does not name either of them, as of Oct 21, 2026.

Survivors at work in your base

5:51 The three fighting crafters upgrade gear. In Keen's Update 8 video, designer Christoph explains that the NPCs "now only upgrade items that make logical sense for them to work on": the Blacksmith warrior armor and weapons, the Alchemist mage, the Huntress ranger, "and the same goes for their respective assistants". 1.0 adds upgrades for Eternal spells and Eternal arrows at the same survivors (changelog).

1:45 Survivors live in your base. Update 4, Souls of the Frozen Frontier (Nov 5, 2024), let crafting NPCs "roam freely around your base, following daily routines"; at night they sleep in the beds you assign them, and their happiness depends on a sheltered bed. "After all, they're working for free," the narrator adds. Since that update "sheltered" is judged at the assigned bed, so give each one a roof and walls (Keen).

2:08 The same update added crafting assistants, found around the world, who can staff secondary bases "without having to move your main NPCs", and townsfolk, villagers you rescue who come with quests, dialogue and interactions: "Enshrouded is about restoring a kingdom, and these are your first subjects!" Townsfolk also help find pets, vanity items and collectibles (Keen).

3:01 Getting stuck was the common complaint. In "Things we're fixing for 1.0" (Aug 19, 2026), Keen admits that inhabitants of big bases "tend to get stuck in awkward places" ("Come on, Oswald. How did you get there?" "Me? Just hanging around."), and says that every cause it knew of was fixed for 1.0. The changelog adds survivors that use beds, chairs and spiral staircases better and squeeze through fewer gaps, "They're survivors, not xenomorphs."

Voices and gold coins at 1.0

5:13 Survivors talk at 1.0. Keen's highlights video, after the voiced lore notes: "all major NPCs folks you rescue now talk too. It's not just hey and oi anymore", in English, German and Chinese. The changelog says the main crafting survivors and major quest givers are voiced, and that their lines were polished to sound natural when spoken.

Gold coins are new too: they turn up in chests all over Embervale, and survivors take them for several items, "usually of the vanity kind" (changelog). "Even after the end of the world, the free market finds a way."

Frequently asked questions

How do I find the Blacksmith in Enshrouded? Follow the main quest from the Cinder Vault: in Enshrouded the Blacksmith is the first survivor the story sends you to free, and in early access his vault lay across Braelyn Bridge northwest of the start.

How many survivors are there in Enshrouded? Enshrouded has nine crafting survivors named in Keen Games' and press sources at 1.0 (Blacksmith, Alchemist, Huntress, Farmer, Carpenter, Collector, Bard, the fisher and the Ancient-knowledge survivor), plus the Barber, the trader Mei-Yin Chen, assistants and townsfolk.

Do survivors die in Enshrouded? Keen Games has not documented any way for Enshrouded survivors to die, as of Oct 21, 2026; what they need is a sheltered bed to stay happy.

Do survivors carry over between worlds in Enshrouded? No. In Enshrouded, survivors and their recipes belong to the world, so a character in a new world must rescue them again.

What does the Huntress do in Enshrouded? The Huntress, Athalan Skree, crafts backpacks, arrows and fishing gear in Enshrouded, upgrades ranger gear, and gives out Twitch drop items through a quest.

Who is the Barber in Enshrouded? The Barber in Enshrouded is Elio Ricci, added in May 2025; he changes your looks and, since 1.0, your body proportions.

Sources

• Enshrouded on Steam, Valve, read Oct 20, 2026
• Release trailer, changelog... everything you need to wait for tomorrow!, Keen Games, Oct 14, 2026
• Enshrouded Launch FAQ: Early Access reward, world, Keen Games, Oct 13, 2026
• Forging the Path is live, Keen Games, Apr 21, 2026
• Hotfix notes naming Balthazar, Keen Games, Nov 13, 2025
• Wake of the Water update, Keen Games, Nov 10, 2025
• Pact of the Flame update, Keen Games, Jan 28, 2025
• Souls of the Frozen Frontier update, Keen Games, Nov 5, 2024
• Melodies of the Mire update, Keen Games, Jun 5, 2024
• Hollow Halls update, Keen Games, Mar 26, 2024
• Enshrouded demo in Steam Next Fest, Keen Games, Sep 13, 2023
• Frequently Asked Questions, Keen Games support, read Oct 20, 2026
• General Tips (mild spoilers), Keen Games support, read Oct 20, 2026
• Enshrouded craftspeople locations, Game Rant, Feb 15, 2024
• Enshrouded new players guide, Game Rant, Oct 16, 2026
• Enshrouded story and lore interview, Game Rant, Sep 21, 2023
• All Hollow Halls locations, DualShockers, Mar 31, 2024
• All building blocks and material locations, Destructoid, May 20, 2025
• Enshrouded Beginner Tips, Enshrouded (Keen Games), Feb 7, 2024 (video)
• Enshrouded - Hollow Halls, Update 1 Highlights, Enshrouded (Keen Games), Mar 26, 2024 (video)
• Enshrouded - Melodies of the Mire, Update 2 Highlights, Enshrouded (Keen Games), Jun 5, 2024 (video)
• Enshrouded - Thralls of Twilight, Update 6 Highlights, Enshrouded (Keen Games), May 13, 2025 (video)
• Enshrouded - Forging the Path, Gear and Progression, Enshrouded (Keen Games), Apr 14, 2026 (video)
• Enshrouded - Souls of the Frozen Frontier, Update 4 Highlights, Enshrouded (Keen Games), Nov 5, 2024 (video)
• Enshrouded - Things we're fixing for 1.0, Enshrouded (Keen Games), Aug 19, 2026 (video)
• Enshrouded 1.0 - Update Highlights, Enshrouded (Keen Games), Oct 15, 2026 (video)