Risk of Rain 2 is a difficult game that only gets harder the longer a run progresses. Repeatedly dying and making no progress can be disheartening for new players, but as with all roguelikes, it's part of what makes the game fun.
Simply using the best characters in ROR 2 won't be enough to salvage a run. There are plenty of things to learn in this game, and for those who want to make that learning process a little faster, here's a collection of tips and tricks meant to help new players find their footing.
Risk of Rain 2: How To Unlock REX
REX is a half-plant, half-robot survivor that's tied directly to the Fuel Array item in Risk of Rain 2. Here's how to unlock this playable character.
7 Mind The Clock
The Difficulty Is Always Increasing
As players should know by now, Risk of Rain 2's difficulty rises over time, punishing overly-cautious players. The difficulty level chosen before starting a run only dictates how quickly things escalate, giving players less time to scrounge for items.
Players will need to learn how to spend their time wisely during a run. Ideally, stages should be completed as quickly as possible without forsaking too many chests in the process. A good rule of thumb is to get at least one item per minute spent on a level.
6 Use Utility Skills Wisely
Utility Skills Can Help Players Dodge Everything
Moving and jumping around is a given for games like this, but not all incoming attacks can be dodged by just bobbing and weaving. Utility skills (Commando's Tactical Dive, Bandit's Smoke Bomb, etc) give players extra means of evading damage, whether by propelling themselves away, disrupting the enemy, or both.
Utility Skills can save players from the laser attacks of Stone Golems, fire breath attacks of Elder Lemurians, and even fall damage. Managing the cooldown of these abilities is something all players should practice.
Risk of Rain 2: Seekers of the Storm - Shrines of Shaping Guide
Soul Shrines, otherwise known as Shrines of Shaping, are a new part of the Seekers of the Storm DLC for Risk of Rain 2. Here's what they do exactly.
5 Play On Monsoon
Trial By Fire
Considering how difficulty is handled in this game, it is strongly recommended that players try Monsoon difficulty as soon as they're comfortable with it. Failing is part-and-parcel of any roguelike, and Monsoon will teach players all the best ways to play Risk of Rain 2 naturally.
The one thing all players must keep in mind is that time is of the essence. Those who spend too long in one stage without getting any items to show for it will eventually fail in the showdown against the final boss of ROR 2. Be fast, be deadly, be efficient.
4 Blitz Through The First Three Stages
They're Just Not Worth It
Continuing the time trend, players will want to get through the first three stages of their run within five minutes or so. The enemies here don't give enough gold or EXP to warrant spending any more time on them. Grab four or five items, then hit the teleporter as soon as you can.
The fourth stage typically has more valuable enemies as well as a secret chest that guarantees a Legendary item. If players just so happen to get one of the best red items in ROR 2, they'll be set for the rest of the run.
Risk Of Rain 2: How To Install Mods
If you're starved for variety, there are plenty of Risk of Rain 2 mods out there that you can try, provided that you know how to make them work.
3 Know Your Characters
Master Your Hero
Every character has a unique playstyle with small nuances that can make a huge difference. The Commando, for example, is one of the best characters for exploiting ROR 2's hidden Proc Coefficient mechanic. The Mercenary can ignore incoming damage using his Special Skill, Railgunner converts critical hit chance to critical hit damage, Loader deals more damage based on her momentum, and so on.
Some items are also better on specific characters. Death Mark, for one, is much easier to activate with characters like Chef or REX. There are plenty of little details like this, and it will take time before players discover all of them for themselves.
2 Use Scrappers And 3D Printers
Recycle Your Unwanted Items
Speaking of items, scrappers and 3D printers play an important role in regular gameplay. Players who want to make the craziest builds in Risk of Rain 2 will want to stack all the right items for their character, and they can do that by offering scrap to a 3D printer. Try not to go overboard, though.
This is more of an advanced tip, as it requires broader knowledge of characters and items they synergize with the most. For new players, here are some items that work great when stacked:
- Gasoline (for AOE damage)
- Lens-maker's Glasses (for critical hit chance)
- Armor Piercing Rounds (for boss damage)
- Focus Crystal (for melee/close-range damage)
- Tri-Tip Dagger (for DoT)
1 Get The Artifact of Command
The Best Way To Learn Items And Builds
The Command artifact in Risk of Rain 2 lets players pick whatever items they want. Instead of having a random item pop up when opening a chest, a weird-looking object will appear that will let players choose an item based on rarity. This is the best way to discover possible builds and item synergies, and everyone can do it on any difficulty.
Unlocking the Artifact of Command in ROR 2 will take a bit of effort, but it's nothing that can't be handled. Use the artifact to find strong item combinations or to create the most overpowered character possible without breaking the game.
Risk of Rain 2
- Released
- September 11, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen // Blood, Drug Reference, Fantasy Violence
- Developer(s)
- Hopoo Games
- Publisher(s)
- Gearbox Publishing
- Engine
- unity
- Multiplayer
- Online Multiplayer
- Franchise
- Risk of Rain
- Platform(s)
- Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC, PS4
- Genre(s)
- Third-Person Shooter, Roguelike
