The Blood of Dawnwalker: How to romance Crake

Amongst all the people you meet in The Blood of Dawnwalker, three of them are possible romance options for Coen. Crake, the leader of the rebellion group, the Manumits, is one of them. The other two are Lacra and Anca. While Coen is on a mission to join the rebels, it also turns out there's a little fun to be had under the moon's sultry glow.

At first, Crake won't want to know you. He doesn't trust you and he's protecting his plans to defeat Brencis. But he'll soon learn that you have a shared interest in taking down the evil Knyaz and also...in something else.

In this guide, we'll explain exactly how to romance Crake in The Blood of Dawnwalker, including completing quests, opening up about your feelings, and reciprocating Crake's advances.

To see this content please enable targeting cookies.

Manage cookie settings

How to romance Crake

To romance Crake, you'll need to complete his questline, and that means not ignoring a particular quest that may seem irrelevant at the time. As well as doing the right things, you'll also need to make sure you're saying the right things. Here's the steps to follow:

1. Complete The Firebrand quest
2. Complete the Shadows in the Woods quest
3. Complete the Where Loyalty Lies quest
4. Complete the What Hunts The Night quest
5. Complete the What Moves The Dead quest
6. Complete the Distant Shadows quest
7. Complete the A Closer Look quest
8. Romance Crake

Note: Some of Crake's quests will be night-specific, meaning you'll have to make sure to keep your bloodlust in check to avoid accidentally killing him. Stick to the day, when you can, to avoid any vampire mishaps. If you can't, just make sure you keep your health up and use those Voracious Bites on neutral animals or strangers.

1. Complete The Firebrand quest

Image credit: RPS/Bandai Namco

Straight after the prologue, you'll find yourself in Laslea Glen with plenty to do. Heading over to Vlad's hut to launch The Firebrand quest is the way you'll kick off Crake's questline. Here, you'll learn about the Manumits. Next, you'll head to the mill to meet Mert the Miller, who has been smuggling contraband for the rebels only to be imprisoned. You can save him (at a time that suits you), but visiting him in prison and having a chat with him will also lead you to Crake.

Mark step as finished.

2. Complete the Shadows in the Woods quest

Image credit: RPS/Bandai Namco

With Mert's intel, you'll be led to a meet-up with Crake and his close comrades, Drogos and Sara. Crake won't trust you and instead, he'll want you to amplify your notoriety to convince him you're worthy. It's not the warmest of introductions considering you're chained to a tree and Crake holds a knife to your throat, but dare I say there's still room for some simmering tension.

Mark step as finished.

3. Complete the Where Loyalty Lies quest

Image credit: RPS/Bandai Namco

Crake's request is for you to reach Infamy level 4, Notorious. You can do this by completing any of Brencis' Boyars quests, from taking down transports to upsetting pillories. Once you reach this level, Crake will want to meet with you again. In my game, dispatching two Boyars was enough to make my Infamy level high enough, and to help you get there, we've got guides on how to defeat Ambrus and how to defeat Bakir.

Mark step as finished.

4. Complete the What Hunts The Night quest

Image credit: RPS/Bandai Namco

You'll finally gain access to the Manumit hideout to speak with Crake. He'll want to investigate one of his scout's deaths with you, which will lead to a lot of fighting, including the Beast of St. Teotim's. There's also a rather harrowing moment between Crake and Sara.

Once you defeat the Beast, you'll have to escape to a hideout for a cosy night undercover. Here, you'll talk about your feelings with Crake. While it doesn't matter what you pick when it comes to conversation, it's better to be kind to Crake rather than blame him for what's happened.

Image credit: RPS/Bandai Namco

Choose options like, "Don't you want to talk about Sara?" and "You sure? You look upset." If you've completed the Home Sweet Home quest, you'll be able to talk about Alin, with choices like: "I know what it's like to lose someone," and "Maybe we could talk about them, instead." Sharing these moments with each other is a recipe for growing closer together – and Crake will even spend the night sleeping on your shoulder.

Mark step as finished.

5. Complete the What Moves The Dead quest

Image credit: RPS/Bandai Namco

A search for some important notes will take you both into a crypt below the city. Again, there's lots of fighting and this time, a near-death experience for Crake. He'll thank you by letting you have his sword – and eventually he'll thank you in another way.

For now, you need to offer to walk him back to the hideout. It'll cost you one time segment, but it's a small price to pay for passion. You'll also learn that Crake is actually named Marat.

Image credit: RPS/Bandai Namco

Back at the hideout, you'll be asked to decide whether you want to help Crake with his injuries or leave him. In conversation, choose "Let me help." You'll then help him remove his armour, revealing his torso and cuts. You'll tell him it's, "Not that bad," and when he asks you to patch him up say, "Sure."

Mark step as finished.

6. Complete the Distant Shadows quest

Image credit: RPS/Bandai Namco

This quest may seem optional (it certainly did to me the first time round), but it's an integral piece to the Crake and Coen romance puzzle. Crake wants you to follow a man called Ascar. You'll need to be sneaky so he doesn't spot you, and you'll also have to avoid the guards.

You'll track him to the woods where he gets approached by guards. They'll start attacking him and you can jump in or keep hidden. It doesn't matter which of these options you pick. Afterwards, you can speak to Ascar who will tell you he wants nothing to do with Marat.

Image credit: RPS/Bandai Namco

Afterwards, you return to the hideout and speak honestly with Crake about what's happened. He's angry and storms out. Drogos approaches you and tells you where you can find him. To this, you say, "I'll go talk to him."

Mark step as finished.

7. Complete the Closer Look quest

Image credit: RPS/Bandai Namco

And this is where things get interesting. This is a timely quest, so don't delay in completing it. If the day/night cycle changes, you'll have lost your chance. Meet Crake outside Farrier's Gate, across from Greifberg. He'll be practicing his swordmanship. Say, "May I join you, then?" And watch out for any bloodlust!

You'll talk about Ascar and find out that he's actually Crake's dad. Unfortunately, he's not happy with who Crake is and Crake's worried if he tells you why, you'll judge him. You say, "Hey. Nothing you can say can change the way I see you."

Mark step as finished.

8. Romance Crake

Image credit: RPS/Bandai Namco

This is a pivotal moment in Crake and Coen's relationship. After offering comfort, Crake will lean in for a kiss. Coen will jump up, but you can decide here whether to kiss him back (using a time segment) or to tell him you're not interested. But, we all know why you're reading this guide, right?

Image credit: RPS/Bandai Namco

They'll get their romance on and lean against each other for comfort afterwards. When you try and talk about what's next, Crake has his head back in the game and wants to deal with Brencis first. Romance comes later. At least, after a little session to blow off some steam.

Mark step as finished.

So, you've officially romanced Crake in The Blood of Dawnwalker. What's next? If you'd like to woo multiple people, then we've also got a guide on how to romance Anca. We've also got useful guides on the best weapons to get first, and the best skills to get first.