TBH: Task Bar Hero starts you with a single deployable hero, even though the Formation screen clearly shows two empty slots sitting behind that first character. Those slots are not tied to a story unlock or a stage clear. They open through the Rune section, and you pay for them with in-game Gold.
Where Hero Slots are unlocked in TBH: Task Bar Hero
The party can grow from one hero up to three total. Both additional slots are purchased inside the Rune section, which is a node tree that applies upgrades to your whole team. Every node costs Gold, and the prices climb steeply as you move deeper into the tree.
Because the upgrades share one currency, you are choosing between raw stat and economy boosts and the slot unlocks themselves. That trade-off matters most for the third slot, which is one of the more expensive purchases available early on.
Unlock the second Hero Slot
Step 1: Open the Rune section and find the starting point of the node tree. Move two nodes downward from there.
Step 2: Look just below the Rune of Growth node. The first Hero Slot unlock sits in that position, and it is relatively cheap, so you can grab it early without straining your Gold.
Step 3: Purchase the node. The slot opens immediately, letting you deploy a second hero from the Formation tab.
Unlock the third Hero Slot (third class)
The third slot is gated behind a side branch and a much larger Gold cost.
Step 1: From the first Hero Slot unlock you just bought, follow the branch that runs to the left.
Step 2: Pass through the two Rune of Expansion nodes along that path. These raise your inventory space and act as the route toward the final slot.
Step 3: Buy the node at the end of the branch to unlock the third class slot. This costs 150,000 Gold, so make sure your economy can absorb it.
Slot unlock reference
| Slot | Location in Rune tree | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Second Hero Slot | Two nodes down from the start, below the Rune of Growth | Cheap (early purchase) |
| Third Hero Slot | Left branch from the first slot, past two Rune of Expansion nodes | 150,000 Gold |
How to confirm the slots are active
After buying a slot node, return to the Hero Menu and open the Formation tab. The previously locked slot becomes selectable, and you can choose any available class, then click Deploy and assign it to the open position. Note that DLC characters cannot be picked during initial character creation, so they are added here through the Formation tab once a slot is free.
Each new hero can have its gear and skills customized after it levels up enough to meet the relevant requirements. Running a full three-hero party speeds up farming considerably compared to a single character, which is why opening both slots is one of the higher-priority early goals.