Ravenswatch - Merlin

I didn’t expect to be so excited about another paid hero, but Merlin managed to do what few DLC characters do: surprise me. Trapped for centuries and freshly unshackled by the Lady of the Lake, this version of Merlin brings nine spells across Nature, Arcane and Sacred paths, plus Power Runes that let you weave nasty combos. If you like brainy, high-skill characters (think Invoker vibes), Merlin scratches that itch while still fitting neatly into Ravenswatch’s co-op chaos. He’s a lot to learn, but once I stopped fat-fingering spells, I kept grinning.

Weaving Spells, Not Just Clicking Buttons

Merlin plays like someone handed a spellbook, a Rubik’s cube and a dishwasher manual all at once — in the best way. The core loop is casting one of three pages (Nature, Arcane, Sacred), and from each page you choose one of three spells, which means Merlin effectively has nine tools at his disposal. Combat is a mix of positioning, timing and bookkeeping: you’ve got to track which spell-page you’re on, whether you’ve banked Power Runes and how your chosen talents modify each ability. I found myself toggling between soft support (heals, debuffs) and glassy burst DPS in the same run depending on what items and talents showed up. His playstyle rewards players who plan combos and weave basic attacks between spells, rather than button-mash.

When a Wizard Brings Everything to the Party

What sets Merlin apart is sheer versatility. He can summon brambles for area control, rain star-like projectiles, throw homing fireballs, zap chains of lightning, raise an exploding stone shield or blink out with a teleport. Then there are heals, blinds and defensive shreds tucked into the Sacred tree. Power Runes are the real twist: they amplify casts and let you trigger nasty combos that feel genuinely powerful when executed properly. There are also four ultimates that change the pacing of encounters — some feel underwhelming at first, while others are outright game-changing. The trade-off is complexity: Merlin can do almost anything, which means balance is hard and the character has a steep skill ceiling. Expect some initial clumsiness (I certainly did), but also a horizon of build diversity that keeps runs fresh.

A Sorcerer That Looks and Sounds Like One

Visually, Merlin fits the Ravenswatch aesthetic — a stylized, colorful art direction that makes spells look punchy without being noisy. The particle work on brambles and lightning is satisfying, and the teleport animation gives a nice snap to escapes. Audio design is competent: spell sounds are distinct enough to tell what you cast in a hectic fight, though I’d love more voice lines (several players have this gripe and so do I). Performance-wise he ran smoothly on my Windows rig: no hiccups, even with multiple AoE effects on screen. Accessibility-wise, the UI could do more to remind you which page you’re on — I kept glancing down at the HUD mid-combat. All that said, the presentation sells the fantasy: playing Merlin feels like playing a swiss-army knife of magic.

Merlin is a bold, high-skill addition to Ravenswatch: brilliant in design, maddening to learn, and deeply rewarding once you get the hang of it. If you love versatile magic-play, clever combos and supporting an indie studio you enjoy, this DLC will feel like a treat — even if its price and initial balance raise legitimate questions. Buy it if you want a new layer of complexity and fun; skip it if you just want a simple plug-and-play hero.