📖 Wes Unlocked: Don't Starve's Sneakiest Character Trick
The Silent Challenge: Unlocking Wes in Don't Starve
A comprehensive guide to unlocking the mime character across all versions of the game
How to Unlock Wes in a Nutshell
Don't Starve (Single-Player)
- Find Maxwell's Door in your world to enter Adventure Mode
- Progress through the chapters until Chapter 3
- If Chapter 3 is NOT "Two Worlds", explore to find Wes's prison set piece
- Break the two Maxwell Statues one at a time and defeat the Clockwork enemies
- Clear the final wave that appears near Wes
- Once all enemies are defeated, Wes unlocks automatically
Don't Starve Together
Good news! Wes is already unlocked in DST. You can select him from the character screen right from the start - no requirements or Adventure Mode needed.
Note: While Wes is free to play, he's still considered a "challenge character" with lower stats and unique limitations.
Tips & Warnings
- Use a strong character like WX-78 or Wickerbottom to improve your odds
- Bring plenty of armor and healing for the Clockwork fights
- Console players: use save slot 1 to avoid a known bug that prevents Wes's set piece from spawning
- If Chapter 3 is "Two Worlds," Wes won't spawn - you'll need to restart Adventure Mode
- Once unlocked, Wes stays unlocked permanently across all save files
Preparing for Adventure Mode
Finding Maxwell's Door
Maxwell's Door appears randomly in your survival world. Look for a large ornate wooden door frame with Maxwell's face, usually surrounded by Evil Flowers and fireflies. It'll be on grass turf, often in remote areas.
Maxwell's Door - The entrance to Adventure Mode
Choosing the Right Character
Some characters are better suited for the Adventure Mode challenge:
Wickerbottom
Starts with Science Level 2, high sanity and can craft items without a Science Machine
WX-78
Can eat gears from defeated Clockworks to boost stats and heal
Wolfgang
Extra damage when well-fed, helpful for clockwork fights
Wigfrid
Starts with battle gear and has life-steal on attacks (RoG only)
Adventure Mode Basics
Essential Information:
- You'll progress through 5 chapters, with Wes potentially appearing in Chapter 3
- You can only bring 4 items between chapters (plus equipped clothing)
- If playing with Reign of Giants enabled, consider disabling it for an easier time
- The Divining Rod will help you find the Wooden Thing parts to progress
- Each chapter has different themes and challenges
Recommended Items to Carry Between Chapters:
Chapter 3: Finding Wes's Prison
Upon reaching Chapter 3, check the world type immediately:
| World Type | Can Wes Spawn? | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Two Worlds | ❌ No | Reset or continue for Maxwell |
| A Cold Reception | ✓ Yes | Search for set piece |
| King of Winter | ✓ Yes | Search for set piece |
| The Game is Afoot | ✓ Yes | Search for set piece |
| Archipelago | ✓ Yes | Search for set piece |
Wes's set piece looks like this:
Wes's Prison Set Piece - A walled area with two Maxwell Statues and Wes trapped in the center
Combat Strategy: The Clockwork Fight
When you break the statues, you'll face multiple waves of Clockwork enemies:
Wave Strategy:
- One at a time - Break only one statue first, defeat those enemies, then break the second
- Each statue spawns 2-3 Clockworks (Knights, Bishops, sometimes a Rook)
- After both statues are destroyed, a final wave spawns when approaching Wes
- You'll face approximately 6-8 Clockworks in total
Enemy Types
- Clockwork Knight: Melee attackers, can be kited
- Clockwork Bishop: Ranged attackers, prioritize killing these
- Clockwork Rook: Charges in straight lines, dodge and attack after charge
Kiting Strategy
For Knights and Bishops:
- Hit 2-3 times
- Back away before they attack
- Repeat until defeated
Protection & Healing
- Wear Log Suit + Football Helmet for 96% damage reduction
- Bring healing items (Honey Poultice, Healing Salve)
- Don't hesitate to run and heal if needed
Advanced Tactics
- Use Pan Flute to put all enemies to sleep
- Fire Staff can set enemies on fire for extra damage
- Use walls for cover against Bishop attacks
- WX-78 can eat gears from defeated enemies to heal
Victory and Aftermath:
After defeating all Clockworks:
- Approach Wes in the center area
- Wes will clutch his chest and collapse
- You'll see "Wes is now unlocked!" notification
- Wes vanishes from the world
Important: Even if you die after this point, Wes remains unlocked on your profile!
Wes in Don't Starve Together
No Unlock Required!
In Don't Starve Together, Wes is available from the start. You can select him from the character screen in any game without having to complete any challenges or Adventure Mode (which doesn't exist in DST).
Selecting Wes in DST:
- Start or join a Don't Starve Together game
- At the character selection screen, find Wes's portrait
- Simply click on Wes to select him
- No additional requirements or costs
Wes: The Challenge Character
Despite being easy to unlock in DST, Wes is still considered a "hard mode" character:
Health
75
(Normal is 150)
Hunger
75
(Normal is 150)
Sanity
75
(Normal is 200)
Damage
-25%
Reduced attack power
Silenced:
Wes cannot speak! He won't warn about hound waves or upcoming boss spawns, which can be dangerous in multiplayer.
2021 Refresh Update: Balloonomancy
In April 2021, Wes received a refresh update with a new Balloonomancy crafting tab:
Speedy Balloon
Provides a speed boost when held. Lasts 2 minutes before floating away. Shows on everyone's map when released.
Party Balloon
Pops to restore sanity to nearby players (up to +16 sanity split among all players). Great for team support!
Balloon Hat
Hat slot item that provides sanity regeneration, rain protection, and prevents lightning strikes. Pops after one day or when hit.
Inflatable Vest
Chest slot item that prevents drowning damage if Wes falls into water. One-time use or expires after one day.
Note: Despite these new abilities, Wes is still considered a challenge character. His balloons provide situational utility but don't fully offset his weaker stats and combat abilities.
Playing Wes in DST
Team Role
Focus on support tasks like gathering resources, cooking, and using balloons to help teammates. Let stronger characters handle combat.
Health Management
With only 75 health, prioritize healing items and armor. Consider carrying a Balloon Hat to reduce damage from unexpected lightning.
Communication
Since Wes can't speak, use emotes frequently to communicate with your team. Type in chat when important information needs sharing.
Fun Challenges
Try special Wes challenges like "100 Days as Wes" or "Wes-only Boss Kills" for a true test of your skills!
Shortcuts, Mods, and Cheats
If you're tired of RNG or just want to get Wes without the full Adventure Mode ordeal, try these shortcuts:
Console Commands (PC Only)
- Enable the console in settings.ini by setting
ENABLECONSOLE = true - Launch the game and press the ~ (tilde) key to open the console
- Type the following command and press Enter:
Important: Save your change with this command:
Note: Using console commands may disable achievements for that session.
Mods and Workshop Tools
Unlock All Characters Mod
A simple mod that unlocks all characters automatically when enabled.
- Subscribe to "Unlock All Characters" on Steam Workshop
- Enable the mod in the game's mod menu
- Launch the game - all characters will be unlocked
Cheat Box Mod
A utility mod with many cheat options, including character unlocks.
- Subscribe to "Cheat Box" on Steam Workshop
- Enable the mod and launch the game
- Open mod options and find "Unlock Characters"
- Toggle it to "On" and apply changes
Map Reveal Cheat
If you're in Chapter 3 and just want to quickly find Wes's set piece, use this console command to reveal the entire map:
This will uncover the entire map, allowing you to spot Wes's walled prison area without having to explore manually.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I unlock Wes without doing Adventure Mode?
In the single-player Don't Starve (including Reign of Giants), Adventure Mode is the only legitimate way. You can use console commands or mods as shortcuts. In Don't Starve Together, Wes is already unlocked by default.
Does Wes appear in Shipwrecked or Hamlet DLC worlds?
No, Wes's set piece only appears in the base game/Reign of Giants Adventure Mode. However, once you unlock him in any mode, he becomes selectable in Shipwrecked and Hamlet as well. You'd need to use the Seaworthy to travel to a classic world to find Maxwell's Door for unlocking.
I beat Adventure Mode and unlocked Maxwell, but Wes is still locked. Why?
Wes is not automatically unlocked by completing Adventure Mode. He only appears in a random Chapter 3 world (excluding "Two Worlds"), and you must find and free him from his set piece. It's possible to complete Adventure Mode without ever encountering Wes. You'll need to play Adventure Mode again for another chance.
Is there a way to guarantee Wes spawns?
There's no guaranteed way in normal gameplay. It's random which Chapter 3 world you get, and random whether the set piece generates. Console players should use save slot 1, as other slots have a known bug that prevents Wes from spawning. PC players can use mods or console commands for a guaranteed unlock.
If Wes is so weak, why do people care about unlocking him?
Several reasons: completion (unlocking all characters), challenge (playing on "hard mode"), community participation (Wes-only challenges), curiosity about his unique traits, and in DST, his special balloon abilities. He's a fan-favorite character that represents mastery of the game's mechanics.
Does difficulty level affect Wes's spawn chance?
No, the Adventure Mode worlds have set parameters not controlled by the sandbox world's difficulty settings. Whether you set your game to Default or any custom setting, Adventure Mode remains the same. The only thing that helps is using a smaller world size when looking for Maxwell's Door, as it's easier to find in a smaller area.