Nobody saw this crossover coming, and that is exactly what makes it so good. Dave the Diver’s In the Jungle DLC dropped a completely unannounced surprise for Wuthering Waves fans: Rover, the playable protagonist from Wuthering Waves, shows up at Bancho’s Grill and can join your restaurant staff. If you want to recruit him and make the most of his skills, here is exactly how to do it.
What You Need to Know Before Starting
The In the Jungle DLC requires you to own and have progressed through the base game of Dave the Diver. There is also a point of no return once you head into the jungle region, so make sure you are ready before making the transition. The DLC offers roughly 10 or more hours of new story and gameplay content, so there is plenty to work through before Rover appears.
How to Unlock Rover from Wuthering Waves in Dave the Diver
To unlock Rover in Dave the Diver: In the Jungle DLC, you need to complete the Taste of Fish VIP Mission in Utara Village. The mission is triggered by the villager Bonita, who visits Bancho’s Grill complaining about the smell of fish. She typically appears around Chapter 2 to 3 of the DLC, often after a restaurant shift, and sometimes after her optional Water Chestnuts side quest, though that earlier quest is not a strict prerequisite.
Once you accept the VIP Mission, Bancho gives you two days to gather all the required ingredients. Here is everything you need within that deadline:
| Ingredient | Quantity | Where to Find It |
|---|---|---|
| Black Caiman Tail | 1 | Defeat the Black Caiman in the freshwater lake |
| Thai Chilies | 2 | Glowing cooking pots in the lake, or buy from Lintha at 3 hearts |
| Palm Sugar | 1 | Glowing cooking pots in the lake, or buy from Lintha at 3 hearts |
Once you have all three ingredients ready before or on the final day, the Taste of Fish quest completes and Rover casually strolls into the scene after the cutscene, asking to work at Bancho’s Grill. His appearance is not missable since it triggers as part of the quest cutscene, meaning any Wuthering Waves fan playing through the DLC will encounter him naturally.
How to Find Thai Chilies and Palm Sugar
Thai Chilies and Palm Sugar are available inside glowing cooking pots, which appear as red pots with a green aura, scattered across the freshwater lake. However, the lake’s environment reshapes itself after each dive, so there is no guaranteed spawn. If you come up empty, run a second dive after resetting the area for another chance.
A more reliable and often faster route is through Lintha, the village herbalist. Raising her relationship to three hearts unlocks access to a wider herb and spice shop that includes both Thai Chilies and Palm Sugar, each costing around 12 Doni (the DLC’s new currency used for upgrades and gifts). The easiest way to raise her hearts quickly is by completing her early quest, which simply asks for Bamboo Shoots located conveniently behind her hut.
If you already have enough Doni saved up, buying directly from Lintha is often the fastest option and saves you from relying on RNG pot drops entirely.
How to Find and Defeat the Black Caiman
The Black Caiman is a large alligator located on the right side of the freshwater lake, roughly 10 to 15 meters below the surface. Before heading into the fight, visit the researcher near your tent and upgrade your Jungle Gun across multiple combat modes for the best results. Managing your O2 during this fight is also important, so make sure your gear is fully upgraded before diving in.
Here are the key combat tips for taking down the Black Caiman:
- Aim for its soft underbelly for critical hits, since its tough hide resists damage from other angles.
- Stay close and circle-strafe to keep exposing the underbelly, since the Caiman’s bite is most dangerous at closer range when you hold still.
- The fight typically takes one to two full magazines from the Jungle Gun.
- If you run out of ammo, ammo crates are available nearby, and you can leave the area to resupply and return without losing progress, as long as you do not resurface from the dive.
- After defeating the Caiman, use a Drone instead of carving to collect the tail. This gives you a higher chance of obtaining the Caiman Tail and also yields more of its valuable meat.
What Can Rover Actually Do in Your Restaurant?
Once you unlock Rover and bring him on as staff, he works best as a server or dispatcher thanks to his two skills. His base Appeal stat sits at 65, which is among the highest in the DLC’s staff roster, reflecting his popularity among Wuthering Waves players.
Here is a breakdown of his skills and best roles:
| Skill | Effect | Unlocks At |
|---|---|---|
| Resonance | Customers leave more and bigger tips, great for Doni farming | Available from the start |
| Dispatch Master | Finds more items during Dispatch runs | Unlocks at Level 5 |
However, keep in mind that Rover has low cooking stats, so avoid assigning him to cooking stations. You can also talk to Rover at the beach outside of work hours, where he drops references and flavor dialogue that Wuthering Waves fans will immediately recognize.
It is worth prioritizing Rover early in the DLC to build up a Doni stockpile using his Resonance tipping skill. However, once more customers start flowing in, you will likely want to swap him out for a more specialized server and keep him active through Dispatch missions instead.
Key Facts About the Rover Crossover
- The Rover cameo was completely unannounced, catching both the Dave the Diver and Wuthering Waves communities off guard.
- Rover appears rendered in Dave the Diver’s signature pixelated art style, consistent with how other guest characters are handled in the game.
- Bonita, the VIP Mission quest giver, is written as a die-hard Rover fan who collects his merchandise, which is a fun nod to Wuthering Waves fans.
- The crossover is a confirmed official collaboration, described as stemming from a developer friendship rather than a large business deal.
- Dave the Diver has a history of fun crossovers, with previous collaborations including Godzilla, Dredge, and Like a Dragon. The developer has stated publicly that continuing these kinds of collaborations is a long-term goal.
Key Takeaways
- The In the Jungle DLC requires the base game and has a point of no return when heading to the jungle.
- Complete the Taste of Fish VIP Mission from Bonita in Utara Village, which typically triggers around Chapter 2 to 3.
- Collect one Black Caiman Tail, two Thai Chilies, and one Palm Sugar within two days.
- Look for glowing red cooking pots with a green aura in the freshwater lake for the spices, or raise Lintha to three hearts to buy them directly for around 12 Doni each.
- Aim for the Black Caiman’s underbelly, use a Drone after the fight, and keep ammo crates in mind for resupplying mid-dive.
- Rover’s best roles are server and dispatcher, not cook, and his Resonance skill is excellent for early Doni farming.
- Talk to Rover at the beach for Wuthering Waves flavor dialogue once he joins the staff.
The Rover crossover is one of Dave the Diver’s most charming surprises to date, and the unannounced nature of the reveal made it hit even harder for fans of both games. Push through the Taste of Fish quest and you will not be disappointed.
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