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Edgar Valden, also known as the Painter, is one of the 43 playable Survivors added to Identity V.
This page is a compilation of lore and story content for this character.
Backstory[]
Character Introduction[]
Edgar has long been weary of the gossips and hypocrisy. The only thing in this world that is worthy of his pursuit is the true essence of art and creative inspiration.[2]
Weibo Character Introduction[]
The only son of the Valden family, he showed an interest and high talent in art from childhood. Pampering from relatives and praise from social groups have led to his eccentric personality. He only has art in his eyes and has a high self-esteem. His perception of the world around him led to his belief that nobody else is worthy to speak to him about art.
He did not participate in the game for the prize. As the heir to the Valden family, money did not tempt him. So what made him participate in this game?[3]
Character Trailer[]
![Painter story trailer[4]](https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/id5/images/c/c3/Identity_V_-_Painter_Background_Story/revision/latest/scale-to-width-down/185?cb=20201001000434 "Identity V - Painter Background Story (11 KB)")
Trailer Transcript[]
All that is beautiful in this world were once my inspiration for painting.
Yet...they all eventually became...hideous...
Ordinary folks didn't respect art, for it is intangible...
Hypocritical...
Gluttonous...
Incompetent...
I failed to find anyone who could discuss the true meaning of art.
As this place no longer excites me,
I only wish that this playground will offer me unprecedented inspiration.
Deduction Quests[]
All completed Objectives reward the player with +335 Logic points for the Logic Path. After the character's deductions are completed, their Worn Clothes will be available.
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Letters[]
This section contains the letters received after completing all quests part of the Painter's Birthday event (April 23rd) each year. They are removed from the player's mailbox in a week, but can still be accessed through the Deduction Quest menu. Although his birthday was known in 2021, a letter and event was not released that year.
A Message Behind a Portrait (2022)[]
Happy 5th Birthday, Ella! I paint this portrait of you to wish you a speedy recovery!
By the time you reach 15, and I'm 17, I'll become a masterful painter.
Many will come to see my paintings, and you'll be the sister of the greatest painter..
..
I burst into laughter when I look back at the message from that day.
Most people in this world are vulgar and noisy. I don't need them to understand me, and all they do is bore me.
Only those who understand me can add a stroke of brilliance to my art.
When I was 6, mother left green behind in the carriage. When I was 8, my younger sister left white behind in the painting room. I can never forget their coughs that filled the night and their sickly countenances. But as time passed, the inspiration they gave me started to fade into obscurity.
Later on, Mr. Sarai was the only person who understood me, but sadly, he started revealing his true colors—he was a filthy liar.
The inspiration Mr. Sarai gave me dwindled. Will he leave? Will he leave with his lies?
Lately, I've heard the cries of the canvas and paintbrushes:
If you need his color, why don't you take it yourself?
A Page from Edgar Valden's Experiment File (2023)[]
Serial No. 5-?-1
Name: Edgar Valden
[Test Indicators]
1. Artist
2. Centrist
3. Arrogant Spectator
[Inclination]
The twisted ""devotee""
[Test Results]
1. Overall Evaluation
Subject 5-?-1 was the most rational test subject in the group. But his rationality stemmed from his twisted and almost inhumane goal. In the end, he devoted his life to his goal, and for him, it could be considered a ""perfect"" ending.
2. Methodology
In the group experiment, the test subjects were forced to face their pasts and engage in self-reflection by exposing their own scars. Their cultural background, values, and difference in class led to a string of conflicts, causing them to be clearly divided into factions even before the game began. But Subject 5-?-4 failed to enter the game.
Subject 5-?-1 remained neutral throughout the experiment and watched the others fight from the perspective of a bystander. He used vague and incomprehensible paintings to bring out the fear in others and playfully observed their reactions. He disdains mind games and sees through the trap set by Subject 5-?-5.
Someone as rational as Subject 5-?-1 should have had the chance to win the game, but it was his paintings that gave Subject 5-?-5 an opportunity to use his blood against him. At the final moment, Subject 5-?-1 did not fight back and realized that the ""swan song"" was his ultimate goal.
3. Analysis Summary
Subject 5-?-1's rationality comes from his obsession with art, but in the end, it was art that led to his fall by making him give up all resistance and willingly sacrifice himself.
From the perspective of personal goals, Subject 5-?-1 got what he wanted and found the answer he sought — The way to sublimate a piece of art further is to devote a painter's life to transform it into a swan song. But both the answer and his insistence were pathological, paranoid, and twisted. Perhaps this is the result of the impact brought about by experiencing the death of loved ones and betrayal of mentors; or perhaps, it's a common illness suffered by the ""gifted?""
A single group experiment is insufficient to draw a solid conclusion. Test subjects similar to Subject 5-?-1 can be introduced in the subsequent experiments for further verification.
Rewards[]
Every letter comes with 30 Fragments, and depending on how many years the player has participated and completed the Birthday Event would determine which letter they receive and the extra reward.
- If this is the first time the player has completed the event, they would get a portrait and the 2022 letter.
- If this is the second time the player has completed the event, they would get a portrait frame and the 2023 letter.
Character Resources[]
The additional in-game and external documents for this character include:
The Character Relations menu shows how certain characters are connected and how they feel about each other. It also contains other personal information on characters that cannot be found anywhere else. It can be found in the Notebook, under the "Clues" tab. Although the Painter's Character Relations menu has not yet been released, we know a few of the characters that would be on it, which have been included below.
| Perfumer | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| First Officer | |||
| Cowboy | |||
| Enchantress | |||
| Wu Chang | |||
Birthday Questions[]
Only the questions and answers relating to his backstory were included here. The other questions not listed relate to gameplay.
- 2022 Birthday questions:
- Question 4: "Who was Edgar Valden's art teacher?" Answer: "Sarai"
- Question 5: "What painting subject is Edgar Valden worst at?" Answer: "Portraits"
- 2023 Birthday questions:
- Question 4: "What did Edgar Valden use to represent his impression of other?" Answer: "Color"
- Question 5: "Why did Edgar Valden go to the manor?" Answer: "All of the above: To find inspiration for his paintings, To create the ultimate masterpiece, To get away from the mundane crowds"
Quotations[]
- Deduction Star 2021 quotes:
- "I'm not afraid of being imitated. They'll never be better than me."
- "Hard work? I don't know what that is. I've always relied on my talent."
- "Ordinary folks aren't worthy of discussing art with me. You, on the other hand, are acceptable."
- 5th Anniversary Congratulatory Video quote:
- "Oletus's anniversary party, nice scenery. I must put this fantastic view on my canvas."[5]
- Valentine's Day 2023 Cards:
- "I used to think praise and appreciation were love, but later on, I found out that wasn't true. Love and inspiration are the most difficult to come by. Now, I only pursue artistic inspiration, so I hope you will get inspiration in love."
- "A card with flowers on it? Alright, this vividly displays your vulgar taste. It seems you haven't been influenced by my artistic ability. I must spend more time with you, or perhaps I should teach you how to paint."
- Deduction Star 2023 Best Performance quotes:
- "As I stand here, inspiration is calling me. I'll record the beautiful memory of today with my paintbrush."
- "If this painting is a window, I wish it would lead you into a world no one knows but me."
- 6th Anniversary Congratulatory Video quote:
- "Congratulations on reaching the 6th Anniversary. Are you the same as me and found the banquet too noisy and so came here? You have good taste—these are all paintings by renowned artists that Oletus Manor has long been collecting."[6]
Reply Web Events[]
| Reply Web Events | ||
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| Icon | Event | Quote |
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Valentine's Day 2021 | "I'm not good at making details. The soul of art in this chocolate I can't feel it?" |
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Halloween 2021 | "A costume party? I'm a pass. No, it won't go even if it's kneaded, right? … Ah, see, I'll give you this, so come early. Happy Halloween." |
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Valentine's Day 2022 | "Hmm, I will accept it then." "Something without artistic soul. If it's made by you, it can only be said... you are really brave." |
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Halloween 2022 | ຽ( ⊗‸⊗) [Chinese]: "Tsk, this kind of thing won't inspire any artistic inspiration even if you eat it. Give it all to you, I don't need it." [Japanese]: "Hmm, no matter how much you eat, it won't even give you ideas! I don't need them, so I'll give you everything." |
Japanese Twitter Replies[]
Please press "Expand" to see in-character replies from the official Japanese Twitter.[7]
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Edgar Valden does not yet have his official diaries released.
His original creator did create a set of diaries that are transcribed here, but please note that these are not canon due to the replacement of Edgar's original backstory.
| Event Appearances | ||
|---|---|---|
| Icon | Event | Role |
| The Oath of the "Traitors" (April 2021) |
Narcissus | |
| The Phantom of the Crystal Palace (Mentioned) (March - April 2022) | ||
| Lunar New Year (February 2021) |
Antique Appraiser | |
| New Splash of Color for the New Year (January - February 2023) | ||
| Dancing Dragons Usher in the New Year (January - February 2024) | ||
| Midsummer Misty Mountain (August 2022) |
Censer | |
| Bungo Stray Dogs Crossover Part I (Mentioned) (November 2022) |
Himself | |
| Letter on a Snowy Night (December 2023) |
Himself (Cozy Christmas Eve) | |
Painter has been mentioned in the following documents for other characters:
Letters[]
- Cowboy's Letter (2023)
- Enchantress' Letter (2023)
- First Officer's Letters (2021, 2022 & 2023)
- Perfumer's Letter (2021)
Deductions[]
None
Backstories[]
NoneCanon Manor Game[]
We can gather who was in a canon Manor Game together by information in Letters and Diaries, and very occasionally from character quotes during events. Painter was in the fifth Manor Game:
| Serial # | Hunter Identities | Survivor Identities | Notable Events | Cutscenes Available |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5-?-1 | Edgar Valden (Painter) | Cursed by Patricia[MG 3] Sacrificed by Patricia[MG 1][MG 4] |
no | |
| 5-0-2 | Vera Nair (Perfumer) | Cursed by Patricia[MG 3][MG 4] | no | |
| 5-0-3 | Jose Baden (First Officer) | Influenced by Wu Chang[MG 5] Cursed by Patricia[MG 3][MG 4] |
no | |
| 5-0-3-U[MG 6] | Wu Chang (Special test item)[MG 7] | Influenced Jose[MG 5] | no | |
| 5-?-4 | Kevin Ayuso (Cowboy) | Spared by Patricia[MG 8] Escaped in First Stage[MG 9] |
no | |
| 5-?-5 5-0-5 [MG 10] |
Patricia Dorval (Enchantress) | Cursed Edgar, Vera, and Jose[MG 3] Sacrificed Edgar[MG 1] |
no |
Compiled Overview[]
Background[]
Edgar was born as one of two children and the only son of the noble Valden family. He showed an interest and high talent in art from childhood. Pampering from relatives and praise from social groups have led to his eccentric personality and a high self-esteem. His younger sister Ella, who he had a close bond with, became ill at 5 and died a year later when Edgar was 8 which caused him to only have art in his eyes[8].
Some years later Mr. Sarai was introduced to the Valden family by an old friend, and made Edgar Valden's private art tutor[9]. However, Edgar quickly came to realize that Mr. Sarai did not pursue the true beauty of art, and was instead after the wealth and power of the Valden family[10] - Edgar, under the "guidance" of Mr. Sarai, was no longer able to express himself through his artwork properly as it was not being correctly appreciated, and went through a loss of inspiration due to this[11].
Mr. Sarai seemed to go missing shortly afterwards[12] (Possibly murdered by Edgar)[13]. This event led Edgar to his belief that nobody else is worthy to speak to him about art but himself. After this he departed to the Manor in search for new inspiration.
Events at the Manor[]
Before the game began, a series of arguments divided the participants into factions based on cultural background, values, and difference in class.[14] One of these arguments appeared to have consisted of Edgar and Jose pressuring Patricia from Kevin's perspective.[15] Though in Edgar's Experiment File, he was stated to have remained neutral in arguments and was rational during the experiment, contradicting this. This likely means that the experimenter viewed Edgar's actions as neutral but Kevin interpreted them as pressuring Patricia due to his protectiveness of her.
During Vera's first night at the manor, she experienced "hallucinations" brought on by one of Edgar's paintings.[16] Edgar and Vera would team up against Jose to use him for their own benefit. After Kevin's escape in First Stage, the two put the blame on Jose, leading him to nearly have a breakdown.[17] Additionally, Edgar became one of the participants cursed by Patricia.[18] She used blood from his own painting to curse him but he chose to accept it, seeing the devotion of his life to art as an acceptable "swan song", one’s final lasting gesture, and the completion of his goal.[14]
Alternate Theories and Conclusions[]
- According to Perfumer's 2021 letter, "a coddled, normal, young nobleman" is mentioned along with and a painting that smelled odd. This was suspected to be either Painter or The Ripper, but was confirmed to be Painter in Perfumer's 2022 Birthday Questions.
- Given that Count Barriere letter to the Valden family is "filled with flattery and praise", it is suggested that he had ulterior motives while interacting with the Valden family, presumably financial[19].
- Edgar most likely murdered Mr. Sarai in order to truly express himself through his artwork and find new inspiration - he is implied to have used a letter opener to commit the deed.[13]
Gallery[]
Character Design Contest[]
References[]
- ↑ Age obtained from the Original Creator's character submission on Weibo. While many aspects of this are not canon, the ages of Postman and Embalmer were accurate to those chosen by their original creators, so it has been applied to Painter.
- ↑ Backstory from the official Identity V website - https://idv.163.com/character/index.html
- ↑ Weibo Painter character release notes - Weibo
- ↑ His original creator posted an animated video for his birthday in April 2020, prior to his release.
- ↑ Translation by @IdentityV__Sub.
- ↑ Translation by jaesti.
- ↑ Translations by @fc_idv.
- ↑ Painter Letter (2022)
- ↑ Painter's Deduction #4: Convinced
- ↑ Painter's Deduction #7: Growth
- ↑ Painter's Deduction #8: Clamor
- ↑ Painter's Deduction #9: New Color
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Painter's Deduction #10: New Inspiration
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 See Edgar's 2023 Letter
- ↑ See Kevin's 2021 and 2023 Letters. Kevin describes them as "two absolutely ungentlemanly guys" and Edgar and Jose are the only other male participants in the game.
- ↑ See Vera's 2021 Letter
- ↑ See Jose's 2022 Letter
- ↑ See Patricia's 2023 Letter: "(Redacted), may you be surrounded by rivers of blood and sing your swan song in repent."
- ↑ Painter's Deduction #2: Love
Manor Game Table References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 In Painter's 2023 Letter, it is stated that Edgar willing let himself be sacrificed by Patricia and mentions his "swan song."
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Wu Chang's 2022 Letter confirms the location as Lakeside Village
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 See Enchantress's 2022 Letter
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 In First Officer's 2023 Letter seemingly implies that Edgar, Vera, and Jose finished their Manor Game. But as Edgar is implied to be dead from his 2023 Letter so those were likely Jose's delusions.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 In Wu Chang's 2022 Letter, it appears First Officer was affected by the umbrella in some way, however it is currently unknown what happened as a result.
- ↑ It should be noted Wu Chang's serial number is referring to their umbrella.
- ↑ Based on the current information given by Wu Chang's 2022 Letter, it is known that the Manor were using the power of Wu Chang's umbrella to affect on First Officer in some way, rather than using them as a hunter in the Game.
- ↑ Enchantress's 2023 Birthday Questions state that Cowboy was the only one spared by Enchantress but it is unknown what she spared him from but it is possible that Kevin was spared from the death of poison he had drank to protect her.
- ↑ Cowboy's 2022 and 2023 Letters heavily imply that Kevin had already escaped the Manor before the Manor Game began.
- ↑ Perfumer's 2022 Letter uses 5-0-5 while other letters use 5-?-5.
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| Character Navigation | |||||
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| THE SURVIVORS | |||||
| DEFAULT | 
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Doctor (Season 0)
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Lawyer (Season 0)
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Thief (Season 0)
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Gardener (Season 0)
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Explorer (Season 1)
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The Mind's Eye (Season 1)
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Priestess (Season 1)
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Perfumer (Season 1)
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| SEASON 2-3 |
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Female Dancer (Season 2)
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Seer (Season 3)
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Embalmer (Season 3)
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| SEASON 5-7 |
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Enchantress (Season 5)
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Wildling (Season 6)
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Acrobat (Season 6)
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First Officer (Season 7)
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| SEASON 8-11 |
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Postman (Season 9)
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Grave Keeper (Season 10)
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"Prisoner" (Season 10)
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Entomologist (Season 11)
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| SEASON 13-17 |
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| Painter (Season 13)
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Batter (Season 14)
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Toy Merchant (Season 16)
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"Psychologist" (Season 17)
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Patient (Season 17)
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| SEASON 18-22 |
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| Novelist (Season 18)
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"Little Girl" (Season 18)
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Weeping Clown (Season 19)
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Professor (Season 21)
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Antiquarian (Season 22)
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| SEASON 24-30 |
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| Composer (Season 24)
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Journalist (Season 26)
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Aeroplanist (Season 27)
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Cheerleader (Season 28)
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Puppeteer (Season 30)
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| SEASON 31 |
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| Fire Investigator (Season 31)
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| THE HUNTERS | |||||
| DEFAULT | 
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| Hell Ember (Season 0)
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| SEASON 1-4 |
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| Smiley Face (Season 1)
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Gamekeeper (Season 1)
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The Ripper (Season 1)
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Soul Weaver (Season 1)
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Geisha (Season 1)
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| The Feaster (Season 1)
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Wu Chang (Season 2)
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Photographer (Season 2)
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Mad Eyes (Season 3)
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Dream Witch (Season 4)
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| SEASON 5-9 |
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| Axe Boy (Season 5)
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Evil Reptilian (Season 6)
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Bloody Queen (Season 7)
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Guard 26 (Season 8)
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"Disciple" (Season 9)
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| SEASON 11-16 |
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| Violinist (Season 11)
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Sculptor (Season 12)
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"Undead" (Season 13)
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Breaking Wheel (Season 15)
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Naiad (Season 16)
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| SEASON 18-25 |
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| Wax Artist (Season 18)
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"Nightmare" (Season 18)
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Clerk (Season 20)
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Hermit (Season 22)
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Night Watch (Season 25)
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| SEASON 27-31 |
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| Opera Singer (Season 27)
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"Fool's Gold" (Season 29)
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The Shadow (Season 31)
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| IDENTITY SWITCH CHARACTERS | |||||
| Novelist ⇌ "Nightmare" | Smiley Face ⇌ Weeping Clown | Evil Reptilian ⇌ Professor | |||
| "Little Girl" ⇌ Journalist | Prospector ⇌ "Fool's Gold" | - | |||
| STORY RELATED CHARACTERS | |||||
 Reporter |
 Detective |
and many others... | |||
| BETA/UNUSED CHARACTERS | |||||
 Graveyard Girl |
 Stranger 1 |
 Stranger B | |||
| Painter Navigation | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Painter | Painter/Lore | Painter/Cosmetics | Painter/Gallery |
| Tool | External Traits | ||
| Canvas | Artistic Sensitivity • Aesthetic Resonance • Intuition • Self Fulfillment | ||
| Costumes | |||
| S-Tier (Gold) | Golden Ratio • Narcissus | ||
| A-Tier (Purple/Silver) | Censer • Cozy Christmas Eve • Da Vinci • Rampo Edogawa • Runaway | ||
| B-Tier (Blue) | Antique Appraiser • Exhibition Designer • Housepainter • Palette • The Final Sketch • Turpentine • Wanderer | ||
| C-Tier (Green) | Original • Worn Clothes • Blue Paint • Brown Paint • Green Paint | ||
| Accessories | |||
| S-Tier (Gold) | Pandora | ||
| A-Tier (Purple/Silver) | Scheele's Green | ||
| B-Tier (Blue) | Glasses • Letter Opener • "Starry Sky" | ||
| Other Customizations | |||
| Graffiti • Emotes • Standby Motions | |||