Unlocking the Clown Prince of Crime in Metropolis
You are staring at the character selection screen in Suicide Squad Kill the Justice League, your squad of Harley, Deadshot, King Shark, and Captain Boomerang ready to deploy. But you have heard the whispers, seen the clips online. The Joker is here, a wild card playable character added after launch. The burning question isnt if you can play as him, but how. This guide cuts through the confusion and gives you the exact, step-by-step path to adding the Clown Prince of Crime to your roster.
First, the crucial detail. The Joker is not available from the start of the main story campaign. He was introduced as part of the games first seasonal update, Season 1: Fear and State of Mind. This means accessing him is tied to engaging with the games evolving endgame and seasonal content structure. Dont worry, it doesnt require a separate purchase if you own the base game, but it does require some focused play.
Prerequisites Before You Begin
Before you can even start the Jokers unlock quest, you need to meet a few baseline requirements. Think of these as getting your foot in the door of Arkhams new Metropolis branch.
You must own a copy of Suicide Squad Kill the Justice League. The Joker is available in both the Standard and Deluxe Editions.
Your game must be fully updated. Ensure you have downloaded and installed the latest title update, which includes Season 1 content.
Most importantly, you must have completed the main story campaign. This means seeing the credits roll and reaching what is called “Endgame.” The entire seasonal narrative, including the Jokers story, takes place after the events of the base game. The game world will change, and new mission givers will appear.
Navigating Season 1 and Initiating the Journey
Once the main story is complete, you will return to a transformed Metropolis. Here is where your hunt for the Joker begins in earnest. The process is not a simple “unlock” button; it is a short, dedicated story arc.
Look for the new mission giver in the Hall of Justice. After completing the campaign, a new character associated with the season, likely Riddler or another figure tied to the seasonal narrative, will have a marker there.
Accept and complete the introductory seasonal mission chain. This series of missions will set the stage for Season 1, explaining the new threat and mechanics. You cannot skip this.
After finishing the introductory chain, the specific mission to unlock the Joker will become available. It is typically named something like “A Man of His Word” or directly references the Joker. This is your key objective.
Completing the Jokers Unlock Mission
This mission is a unique, story-driven instance. Do not expect a standard open-world fight. It is designed as a narrative showcase and tutorial for the character.
The mission will walk you through a self-contained story explaining how this version of the Joker, plucked from a different universe within the multiverse, arrives in Metropolis and agrees to work with Amanda Waller.
You will take control of the Joker during this mission. Pay attention, as it serves as his gameplay tutorial. You will learn the basics of his movement and combat style firsthand.
Upon successful completion of this mission, the Joker is permanently added to your character roster. You can now select him from the squad screen back in the Hall of Justice, level him up, and equip him with gear just like any other member of the Suicide Squad.
Mastering the Jokers Unique Playstyle
Unlocking the Joker is just the beginning. To truly play as him effectively, you need to understand what makes him different. He is not a reskin of Harley Quinn; he brings a completely unique kit to the battlefield.
His traversal method is the standout feature. While other characters use grapple guns, jetpacks, boomerangs, or super jumps, the Joker uses a rocket-powered umbrella. This allows for a hilarious and highly mobile floating and gliding movement style. Tapping the traversal button performs a quick boost, while holding it lets you glide. Mastering the rhythm of boost-and-glide is key to navigating Metropolis with him.
His combat revolves around chaos and crowd control. His primary weapons are a pistol and a joy buzzer melee weapon, but his true power lies in his skills.
He can deploy explosive laughing gas grenades that disorient and damage groups of enemies.
His “Party Time” special ability summons a giant jack-in-the-box that damages and terrifies foes in a wide area.
He has unique traversal attacks, allowing him to strike enemies while zooming around with his umbrella.
Gear and skill points will modify these abilities, allowing you to build him as a high-mobility damage dealer or a controller who sets up enemies for your teammates.
Leveling and Gearing Your Joker
When you first unlock him, the Joker will start at a low level. You have two main paths to power him up.
You can play missions directly as the Joker. This is the most straightforward way. Any XP earned while playing him will go toward his level, unlocking new skill tree nodes.
Alternatively, you can use the games XP sharing mechanic. If your Joker is in your squad but not the character you are actively controlling, he will earn a portion of the XP. This lets you slowly level him up while playing your main, though it is slower.
For gear, you will need to equip him with loot dropped during missions. His gear slots are the same as other characters: weapons, shields, and neck bombs with various perks. Farm endgame missions and incursions to find high-tier gear for his build.
Troubleshooting Common Unlock Issues
Sometimes, the path is not perfectly smooth. If you are stuck, here are the most common issues and their fixes.
If the seasonal mission giver is not appearing, double-check your game completion. The trigger is specifically finishing the final story mission and watching the credits. If you are sure you have, try returning to the main menu and reloading your endgame save.
Ensure your game is connected to the internet. Seasonal content requires an online connection to verify and activate. Check for any server status issues from the developer.
If the Jokers specific unlock mission is not appearing, you may not have completed the entire introductory seasonal quest chain. Open your mission log and look for any seasonal story missions marked as incomplete. You must finish the prologue to the season first.
Remember, the Joker is a seasonal character. If you are reading this during a later season, the method to unlock him may have changed. Generally, past seasonal characters become available via a different, often simplified, unlock method in later seasons, such as through a vendor or a dedicated quest in the Hall of Justice. Always check the latest in-game news or official patch notes.
Alternative Methods and Future Availability
As the game progresses through its seasonal roadmap, the availability of the Joker may evolve. Understanding this can save future frustration.
During his debut season, the method described above is the primary path. It is part of the free seasonal battle pass track.
In subsequent seasons, developers often add a way for new players to acquire past seasonal characters. This might involve a new, shorter quest line available from the start of the endgame, or purchasing the character unlock from an in-game vendor using a seasonal currency earned by playing.
There is also a possibility, though not guaranteed, that a character unlock pack could be sold for real money in the platform store for players who want immediate access without playing the seasonal content. The ethical and most rewarding path, however, remains playing the game to earn him.
Your Next Steps in Metropolis
Now that you know the roadmap, the plan is clear. Your immediate goal is to finish the main story campaign if you have not already. Once the credits roll, return to Metropolis and seek out the new seasonal narrative. Complete the introductory missions, then focus on the Jokers dedicated unlock quest. It is a rewarding piece of content that adds a fantastic new layer of gameplay.
After unlocking him, invest time in mastering his rocket-umbrella traversal. It feels different from any other character and can be a huge asset in both combat and navigating the city. Experiment with his skill tree to find a playstyle that suits you, whether you prefer raining down explosives or getting up close with his joy buzzer.
The Joker brings a desperately needed dose of chaotic energy to the Squad. By following these steps, you will stop wondering how to play as him and start causing beautiful mayhem across the skies of Metropolis. The mission is waiting, and a certain clown is eager to make his entrance.
