Romancing Crake in The Blood of Dawnwalker is not as simple as picking a few flirtatious dialogue options and waiting for the relationship to happen. His romance is tied directly to the Manumit questline, meaning you have to earn access to the faction, build your relationship with Crake, survive several dangerous missions, and make the right choices when the important conversations arrive
The route begins once you reach Infamy Level 4 — Notorious and complete “Where Loyalty Lies.” From there, Crake’s storyline unfolds through several Manumit quests before reaching its decisive moment in “A Closer Look.”
And yes, there is one choice you absolutely cannot mess up: when Crake makes his move, choose “kiss him back.”
Here’s the complete Crake romance walkthrough, including every important quest, dialogue choice, survival requirement, and missable step.
More Dawnwalker Guides: Romance isn’t the only thing that can go wrong in this world if you’re not careful. For more, check out our Blood of Dawnwalker poison guide covering how to cure poison, survive Tatzelwurms and defeat Ambrus.
How to Unlock Crake’s Romance in The Blood of Dawnwalker
Before you can properly pursue Crake, you first need to reach Infamy Level 4, known as Notorious.
Once you’ve reached that level, you can complete “Where Loyalty Lies” and join the Manumits, the anti-vrakhiri rebel faction led by Crake.
This is the real beginning of the romance route.
From this point forward, you’ll need to continue through the Manumit storyline while making the necessary choices during your interactions with Crake. His romance is connected to the faction’s questline, so skipping the relevant missions can prevent you from reaching the final romance scene.
Crake Romance Requirements
To complete the romance route, you need to:
- Reach Infamy Level 4 — Notorious.
- Complete “Where Loyalty Lies.”
- Join the Manumits.
- Continue through the subsequent Manumit quests.
- Keep Crake alive throughout his questline.
- Make the required dialogue choices.
- Complete “A Closer Look.”
- Choose “kiss him back” during the final romance interaction.
The route is therefore missable, so it pays to pay attention once Crake’s storyline gets underway.
More Infamy System Guides: Raising your standing matters well beyond one romance route. For more, read our Brencis’s Court guide on how to raise Infamy, anger the vassals and defeat Brencis’s Court.
What Hunts the Night — Comfort Crake About Sara
Your first major relationship-related interaction with Crake comes during “What Hunts the Night.”
There isn’t one specific romantic dialogue option that you absolutely have to select throughout the entire conversation. You can generally choose the responses you prefer.
However, there is one important moment involving Sara.
When the conversation turns toward what happened to Sara, make sure you comfort Crake rather than blame him.
That’s the important relationship choice here.
What to Choose
Comfort Crake about Sara.
Aside from that decision, you can choose the dialogue options you prefer during the quest.
More Companion-Focused Quest Guides: A wrong word at the wrong moment can derail more than just one conversation. For more, check out our Once Human “Boy Just Wanna Have Fun” quest guide, including the High Banks passcode.
What Moves the Dead — Get Crake Out Safely
Next comes “What Moves the Dead,” another important part of Crake’s route.
This quest puts Crake in danger, so your priority is making sure he gets out of the ruins safely.
What You Need to Do
- Lead Crake out of the ruins.
- Take him back to the Manumit hideout.
- Help Crake with his wounds.
Helping him during this sequence contributes to the relationship progression while also keeping the romance route alive.
Crake’s survival matters throughout his storyline. If he is no longer available because of an earlier outcome, you cannot simply continue the romance later.
More Survival-Critical Quest Guides: Keeping an ally alive under pressure is a recurring theme across plenty of RPGs. For more, see our Withering Away guide detailing exactly how many spoonfuls of herbs to use.
Who Pulls the Strings — Ask About the Preparations
Continue following the Manumit storyline until you reach “Who Pulls the Strings.”
During your conversation with Crake, select:
“How are the preparations going?”
That’s the important dialogue choice for this part of the romance route.
There aren’t any other major romance requirements you need to worry about during this section.
Distant Shadows — Stay Undetected
The next key quest is “Distant Shadows.”
This section is particularly important because you need to complete the quest without being noticed.
You can help Ascar if you want, but after doing so, do not continue talking to him.
More Squad & Faction Building Guides: Choosing the right words for your allies is a bit like choosing the right specialization for your squad. For more, read our Star Wars Zero Company classes guide covering all 12 specializations and the best squad builds.
Distant Shadows Requirements
- Follow the objective without being detected.
- Help Ascar if you wish.
- Do not continue speaking with Ascar afterward.
- Continue through the storyline toward “A Closer Look.”
This sequence eventually sets up the private conversation with Crake that determines whether you can complete his romance.
Because the route is missable, this is a good point to make a manual save if you want to protect your progress.
More Puzzle-Solving Walkthroughs: Careful, methodical navigation matters in plenty of other games too. For more, check out our Black Temple door puzzle guide for A Plague Tale: Requiem’s Chapter 7.
A Closer Look — Every Crake Romance Dialogue Choice
This is the big one.
“A Closer Look” is where the Crake romance finally reaches its decisive moment. The conversation contains several specific responses that you need to select in sequence before the final romantic choice appears.
Don’t rush through this conversation. Pick the required responses as they appear.
Choose These Dialogue Options in Order
First select:
“May I join you, then?”
Then:
“I’m worried about you. What’s wrong?”
Next:
“I know what this is about.”
Then:
“Ascar is your father, isn’t he?”
Follow that with:
“Why?”
Finally, choose:
“Hey. Nothing you can say can change the way I see you.”
That final response is especially important because it reassures Crake that what he reveals will not change the way Coen sees him.
After this conversation, the game reaches the romance interaction.
The Final Crake Romance Choice: “Kiss Him Back”
Once Crake makes the romantic move, the crucial option appears.
Choose:
“kiss him back”
That’s the choice that triggers the romantic scene between Coen and Crake and completes the romance portion of the Manumit storyline.
So, if you’re following this guide while playing, remember the final sequence:
Crake makes his move → choose “kiss him back” → romance scene.
Do not accidentally select the non-romantic response if your goal is to complete the romance.
More Dialogue-Heavy Boss Encounters: A conversation with high emotional stakes can be just as tense as a fight. For more, read our Screaming Mantis boss guide for MGS4’s most mind-bending battle.
Crake Romance Quick Reference
| Quest | Required Choice / Action |
| What Hunts the Night | Comfort Crake about Sara instead of blaming him |
| What Moves the Dead | Lead Crake out of the ruins, return him to the hideout, and help with his wounds |
| Who Pulls the Strings | “How are the preparations going?” |
| Distant Shadows | Complete the quest without being noticed; help Ascar if desired, but don’t talk to him further |
| A Closer Look | “May I join you, then?” |
| A Closer Look | “I’m worried about you. What’s wrong?” |
| A Closer Look | “I know what this is about.” |
| A Closer Look | “Ascar is your father, isn’t he?” |
| A Closer Look | “Why?” |
| A Closer Look | “Hey. Nothing you can say can change the way I see you.” |
| Final romance choice | “kiss him back” |
Can You Romance Crake Without Joining the Manumits?
No.
Crake’s romance is tied to the Manumit questline, so you first need to unlock the faction by reaching Infamy Level 4 — Notorious and completing “Where Loyalty Lies.”
After joining the Manumits, you can continue through their associated quests and build your relationship with Crake.
In other words, you can’t simply meet Crake and immediately start his romance. You need to progress through the faction storyline first.
Can Crake Die During His Questline?
Yes.
Keeping Crake alive is an important part of successfully completing his romance.
The Manumit storyline contains situations where Crake can be placed in danger, so his survival needs to remain a priority while progressing through his quests.
The particularly important section is “What Moves the Dead.” Make sure you:
- Lead Crake out of the ruins.
- Take him back to the Manumit hideout.
- Help him with his injuries.
If Crake is no longer available because of an earlier outcome, you won’t be able to complete his romance afterward.
That’s why following his questline carefully matters just as much as choosing the correct dialogue.
More Legendary Gear Guides: Locking in the right choice matters just as much when you’re chasing a legendary set as it does in a romance scene. For more, check out our Bulwark Against Darkness guide covering all Arbiter Armor locations.
What Is the Final Crake Romance Scene?
The Crake romance culminates during “A Closer Look.”
After Coen and Crake discuss Ascar and Crake’s personal situation, the conversation reaches its emotional turning point.
The crucial reassurance is:
“Hey. Nothing you can say can change the way I see you.”
Afterward, the game gives you the opportunity to respond romantically.
Choose:
“kiss him back”
That completes the romantic portion of Coen and Crake’s relationship.
More Treasure & Collectible Trackers: A tidy reference table makes a huge difference when you’re trying not to miss anything. For more, check out our Onimusha: Way of the Sword guide to all 5 hidden treasure locations.
Who Is Crake in The Blood of Dawnwalker?
Crake is the leader of the Manumits, an anti-vrakhiri rebel group fighting as part of the game’s wider conflict.
The character is officially identified by Bandai Namco as Marat, while “Crake” is the name used throughout this romance route and its related coverage.
His personal storyline is deeply connected to the Manumits, which is why his romance cannot be separated from the faction’s questline.
This also makes his route more involved than simply choosing romantic dialogue. Coen needs to build trust with Crake while helping him and the Manumits through a series of increasingly dangerous missions.
Is Crake’s Romance Missable?
Yes.
Because the romance depends on the Manumit storyline and several specific interactions, you shouldn’t treat the relevant quests as optional if you intend to pursue Crake.
The safest approach is to make a manual save before major conversations, especially once you’re approaching “A Closer Look.”
The final romance decision itself is easy to understand, but reaching that decision requires successfully progressing through the earlier Manumit quests and keeping Crake alive.
More Series Order & Prerequisite Guides: Following the right sequence is just as important in massive franchise catalogs. For more, see our complete Kingdom Hearts games in order guide and the best way to play before Kingdom Hearts IV.
Full Crake Romance Walkthrough
Want the entire route condensed into one checklist? Follow this order:
1. Reach Infamy Level 4
Raise your Infamy until you become Notorious.
2. Complete “Where Loyalty Lies”
Join the Manumits and begin Crake’s storyline.
3. Complete “What Hunts the Night”
When Sara is discussed, comfort Crake rather than blaming him.
4. Complete “What Moves the Dead”
Lead Crake out of the ruins, return him to the Manumit hideout, and help with his wounds.
5. Complete “Who Pulls the Strings”
Ask Crake:
“How are the preparations going?”
6. Complete “Distant Shadows”
Remain undetected.
You can help Ascar if you want, but do not continue talking to him afterward.
7. Start “A Closer Look”
This is where the final romance conversation takes place.
8. Select the Six Required Responses
Choose these options in order:
- “May I join you, then?”
- “I’m worried about you. What’s wrong?”
- “I know what this is about.”
- “Ascar is your father, isn’t he?”
- “Why?”
- “Hey. Nothing you can say can change the way I see you.”
9. Kiss Crake
When the final romance option appears, choose:
“kiss him back”
That’s it. Complete those steps successfully, and Coen’s relationship with Crake progresses into a romance.
More Difficulty & Stakes Breakdowns: High-stakes survival isn’t limited to one companion questline. For more, read our MGS4 difficulty levels explained, covering why Big Boss Hard and The Boss Extreme remain so brutal.
Crake Romance: The Short Version
If you’re already in the middle of the game and just need the essentials, the route is:
Infamy Level 4 — Notorious → “Where Loyalty Lies” → join the Manumits → “What Hunts the Night” → comfort Crake about Sara → “What Moves the Dead” → rescue and help Crake → “Who Pulls the Strings” → ask about preparations → “Distant Shadows” → remain undetected → “A Closer Look” → choose all six required dialogue responses → “kiss him back.”
Keep Crake alive, don’t lose the Manumit storyline, and pay close attention to the dialogue during “A Closer Look.”
That’s the full path to completing Crake’s romance in The Blood of Dawnwalker without accidentally missing the choices that matter.
Image Credits:
- Featured Image: Rebel Wolves / YouTube @Wizard Worm
- Image 2: Rebel Wolves / YouTube @Wizard Worm
- Image 3: Rebel Wolves / YouTube @Wizard Worm
- Image 4: Rebel Wolves / YouTube @Wizard Worm
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