Children of Morta is a beautifully crafted action RPG with roguelike elements that has received several DLCs over time. If you are new to the game or returning after some time away, figuring out how to access the DLC content can be a little confusing. This guide will walk you through exactly how to start each of the Children of Morta DLCs, what to expect from them, and when you should dive in.
Overview of the Children of Morta DLCs
As of now, there are three pieces of downloadable content tied to Children of Morta:
- Paws and Claws: Charity DLC – Adds animal companions that assist you in combat, plus a new shelter system where you can rescue and care for animals.
- Family Trials – A separate game mode outside of the main story. You climb floors in randomized dungeons with different modifiers, separate progression, and roguelike challenges.
- Ancient Spirits – Introduces a new playable character, the Spirit of Rea, with unique mechanics. It also adds new relics, charms, and graces.
Each DLC integrates differently into the game, so let’s break down how to start them.
How to Start Paws and Claws
Paws and Claws is integrated directly into the main campaign. You do not need to select it from a menu. Instead, once the DLC is installed, you will start seeing events related to rescuing animals during your dungeon runs. After rescuing them, the animals will appear in the family’s home, where you can care for them.
To actually benefit from this DLC:
- Play through the main campaign as normal.
- Keep an eye out for animal rescue events while exploring dungeons.
- Back at home, interact with the new animals in the shelter.
During combat, animals will occasionally show up to help you with healing, damage, or buffs. You don’t need to activate anything special; the features naturally become part of the game.
How to Start Family Trials
Family Trials is separate from the main story. To access it:
- From the main menu, select Family Trials.
- Choose your character. All characters are available right away in this mode, even if you haven’t unlocked them in the campaign.
- Begin climbing through randomized dungeon floors.
Important differences:
- Family Trials has its own progression system, meaning your upgrades and story progress from the campaign do not carry over.
- Each run allows you to pick upgrades, relics, and modifiers specific to that attempt.
- This mode is best suited for players who enjoy replayability and challenging roguelike runs without the story pacing.
If you just bought the DLC and don’t see Family Trials, make sure it is installed and enabled through your game platform.
How to Start Ancient Spirits
The Ancient Spirits DLC adds a new playable character, the Spirit of Rea. Unlike Family Trials, this integrates into both the main campaign and Family Trials mode.
To unlock the Spirit of Rea:
- In the main campaign, the new character becomes available once the DLC is installed. You can select the Spirit of Rea like you would any other family member before a dungeon run.
- In Family Trials, the Spirit of Rea is also immediately available to play, no extra unlocking steps required.
The Spirit of Rea offers a very different playstyle, with the ability to switch between two forms. This makes it a strong option if you are looking for variety after mastering the main family members.
Which DLC Should You Start First?
- If you’re playing through the story for the first time, start with Paws and Claws. It blends naturally into the campaign and adds depth without distraction.
- If you want a separate roguelike challenge, jump into Family Trials from the main menu. It is a great break from the campaign or a way to practice combat.
- If you are looking for a new character to master, enable Ancient Spirits and try out the Spirit of Rea early on.
There is no wrong order, since each DLC is standalone in how it adds content. The only exception is that Paws and Claws is easiest to appreciate during the campaign.