Read this Risk Of Rain 2 guide for beginner's. This includes essential tips, what items to prioritize, everything you need to know & more!
Check Out All Character / Survivor Class List & Guide Here!Table of Contents
- Risk Of Rain 2 Basics
- Check Your Logbook For A Wealth of Information
- Get To Know Each Character's Skills
- Try Out Drizzle Difficulty First
- Get To Know Each Item Effect
- Familiarize Yourself With Item Silhouettes
- Know The Difference Between Chests
- Prioritize Looking For The Teleporters
- Keep An Eye Out For Drones And Sentries
- Watch Out For Shrines & Altars
- How To Survive: Combat And Survivability Tips
- Adjust Settings To Optimize Gameplay
Risk Of Rain 2 Basics & Overview
What Is Risk Of Rain 2
Risk of Rain 2 is the followup to Hopoo Games' 2013 indie hit roguelike platformer "Risk of Rain". Taking the same core mechanics, Risk of Rain 2 is now morphed into an action-packed, third-person shooter.
Objective Of The Game
In Risk of Rain 2, the objective is simple: survive for as long as you can. However, the longer the game goes, the harder the game becomes. You will have to rely on items you pick up in order to improve your survivability. The game can be played in single or multiplayer with up to 3 other players.
Fight Through Procedurally Generated Worlds
In this game, loot is placed all over each stage randomly, and teleporters are placed in a random position in the map. While each stage layout remains the same, elements, including bosses and enemies, of the map are always changing.
Game Routine
As an endless roguelike game, the game follows a routine as you progress through the stages:
| 1 | Drop into the stage |
|---|---|
| 2 | Gather money by killing enemies and looting money chests |
| 3 | Loot item boxes to get items |
| 4 | Look for and activate teleporter |
| 5 | Beat boss that spawns at the teleporter |
| 6 | Loot more boxes before moving to next stage |
| 7 | Convert remaining money to XP and teleport to the next stage |
Look For Teleporters To Progress
To progress the game, you'll have to navigate through the stage and look for a teleporter. Activating the teleporter summons the stage's boss. Your next level is random as well, so you'll never really know what's next!
Portals May Occasionally Appear
Portals will sometimes appear at random after defeating the boss and charging the teleporter. These portals will transport you to special & unique areas where you can buy items, complete challenges, and more!
Check Out What Are Portals Here!Don't Take Too Long Per Stage
Since the game becomes more difficult the longer it goes, try to complete each stage as fast as you can so you can progress more. However, make sure you are adequately equipped before moving to the next stage, since the difficulty also amps up when you go to the next stage!
Difficulty Scales Up As You Progress
As you progress through the stages as the game time runs, the difficulty increases. With higher difficulty, more and tougher enemies will spawn, and bosses become normal spawns in each stage.
- Easy
- Medium
- Hard
- Very Hard
- Insane
- Impossible
- I SEE YOU
- I'M COMING FOR YOU
- HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA...
Game Modes
There are multiple game modes to choose from when playing Risk of Rain 2, including single player, multiplayer, and a challenging Prismatic Trials mode.
Single Player
Play through the game alone and fight against hordes of enemies, while keeping all the loot and money to yourself.
Multiplayer
Team up with 3 other players for a 4-man squad, and work together to survive as long as you can!
Check Out The Multiplayer Mode Here!Prismatic Trials
In this game mode, there will be additional objectives before you can activate the teleporter. There are only two stages you need to complete. Compete for the fastest time against your friends, and on the Global Leaderboards!
Check Your Logbook For A Wealth of Information
Item & Equipment List Shows Unlocked Items
Your logbook hosts a treasure trove of info especially about the effect of items you unlock, as well as the requirements for unlocking certain items.
Complete Challenges To Unlock Characters & Items
Your logbook also shows a list of challenges you can complete. Challenges are achievements that players can complete in Risk of Rain 2. These usually have a set of objectives that need to be fulfilled in order to be completed.
Check Out All Challenge List Here!Get To Know Each Character's Skills
When you first start out Risk of Rain 2, you are given one character / survivor named Commando to start with. Complete challenges in order to unlock the rest of the 6 playable characters! Each character has a different play style and set of skills for you to master.
Here's How To Unlock All Characters!List of Characters and Tips
| Survivor | Overview |
|---|---|
| Commando | As your first character, Commando will give you a feel of the game. He uses pistols to deal ranged damage. His Suppressive Fire ability also stuns enemies, disabling them allowing you or your team to focus fire while stunned. |
| MUL-T | MUL-T is a character / class that works well in both single & coop. Holding two equipment at once, it can switch between rapid fire shots or heavy-damage bullets. |
| Huntress | Huntress is high DPS but with low health & defense. Huntress is able to use Strafe while sprinting and Laser Glaive can hit multiple enemies for up to 6 times. |
| Artificer | Artificer deals big AoE elemental damage and specializes is dealing with large groups. Focus on getting items that improve your chain damage such as Ukelele and the Unstable Tesla Coil |
| Engineer | Engineer is a character / class that requires strategic placement and timing of use of his tools. Prioritize items that improves skill cooldowns and damage |
| Mercenary | The Mercenary is one of the few melee oriented character in Risk of Rain 2. Laser Sword and Whirlwind specialize in high-damage sword attacks. Focus getting items that improve survivability such as a Portable Shield Generator and Healing Drones |
Try Out Drizzle Difficulty First
To get the feel if the game, try playing at Drizzle difficulty first. This will help you familiarize yourself with the game mechanics, map layouts, enemy types, and of course item effects.
Check Out The Differences In Difficulty Here!Get To Know Each Item Effect
Items you pick up bring passive benefits, or can even act as an additional skill in the case of equipment items. They can either bring passive healing, increase your damage, improve cooldowns and more! Hoard as many items as you can to become even more powerful!
Check Out The Best Items Here!Items Stack For Improved Item Effects
Collecting the same kind of item improves the effect of that item. Your inventory is always displayed on the HUD on top, so check which items to stack up on!
Be Wary Of Using Lunar Items
Lunar items boost your character but gives you a certain disadvantage, such as trading your health for shields, AOE damage including yourself and teammates, and more. Be careful when using these items. These items are purchased using Lunar Coins.
Hunt For Equipment Items
Equipment items act as another active skill you can use during the game. Be always on the lookout for these to help you in your quest for survival.
Familiarize Yourself With Item Silhouettes
You'll have to rely on your item familiarity to know the items that are on the ground. There's no indicator or text describing items on the ground, and on 3D printers and terminals. Item effects are only displayed when you pick them up.
Get To Know Item Rarities
The color of the items you pick up usually indicate the rarity of items, with higher rarity items usually providing more powerful effects.
- Common
- Rare
- Legendary
- Lunar
- Boss Item
- Usable Equipment
Know The Difference Between Chests
Barrels Reward Money
Cylindrical blue chests often contain money which you can use to buy items.
Chests Are Item Boxes
Rectangular chests contain a random item, but requires money to open. These vary also in terms of rarity, as well as how much is required to open them.
Item Chests Have Different Rarities
| Common | Blue colored chests. Drops a random common item |
|---|---|
| Rare | Blue chests with a green outline. Drops a random rare item |
| Legendary | Red colored chests that drop a random Legendary item |
| Hidden Cache | Requires a rusted key to open. Drops a common or rare item |
Multishop Terminals Dispense Items
These act as vending machines which you can choose 1 out of 3 displayed items. Once used, the terminal closes.
Trade In Item at 3D Printers
3D printers take a random item from your inventory to produce its displayed item.
Equipment Barrels Unlock Equipment
These are orange colored barrels that unlock Equipment items, which act as another skill you can use.
Prioritize Looking For The Teleporters
Teleporters usually emit red particles in their immediate vicinity, and is located far from where you drop. Be on the lookout for these particles to quickly locate them.
How To Find TeleportersSpend Your Money Before Moving To The Next Stage
After defeating the stage boss, you are free to roam the map to grab chests and acquire more items. If you progress and move on to the next stage, your money is converted to experience. Items bring more benefits, so it's recommended to use them as much as you can.
Keep An Eye Out For Drones Companions
Drones fly around you to bring different benefits to your characters, such as healing, and can even help in combat. Make sure to get them when you can.
Check Out The Drones & Companions List Here!Multiple Types of Drones Can Be Picked Up
There are different kinds of drones that can help you in battle.
| Drone | Overview |
|---|---|
| Healing Drone | Heals you and your other drones over a period of time |
| Missile Drone | Shoots powerful missiles against enemies |
| Gunner Drone | Mobile gunner drone that shoots enemies around you |
| Gunner Turret | Stationary machine gun turret |
| TC-280 Prototype | A giant drone that has two mounted chain guns |
| Strike Drone | Summoned by using The Back-up Equipment Item |
Get Gunner Turret Only When Near Teleporter
Gunner Turrets are stationary turrets that fire powerful shots at enemies, however, since they are stationary, it's not recommended to get them outright. Get them only if they spawn near teleporters.
Watch Out For Shrines & Altars
There are different Shrines & Altars in the map that can bring various benefits to your character, however, there are also shrines like the Shrine of Mountain, which doubles your boss fight during the teleport event.
Check Out Interactive Environment Elements HereTypes Of Shrines & Altars
| Shrine | Description |
|---|---|
| Shrine of Chance | Pay for a chance to receive a random item or nothing at all. Each use increases the money required |
| Shrine of Combat | Summons enemies for you to fight |
| Shrine of Woods | Requires money to activate. Heals the party within the area of the shrine |
| Shrine of Mountain | Doubles the amount of bosses you fight in the Teleporter event |
| Shrine of Blood | Sacrifice a portion of your HP to receive money |
| Shrine of Order | Spend one Lunar coin to reroll all the items on your inventory |
| Altar of Gold | Requires a hefty sacrifice of money to unlock a portal to the Gilded Realm, where a powerful boss awaits |
Be On The Lookout for Newt Altars
Newt Altars allows you to open up a portal to the Bazaar Between Time in exchange for 1 Lunar Coin. In this area, you can unlock the Artificer survivor, purchase Lunar Items, or exchange your items for higher rarity ones.
All Newt Altar Location List & GuidePing Points Of Interest
If you come by a point of interest, remember to ping it! This is a great way to keep track of points of interest for you and your team! This will keep the point of interest's location pinpointed even when it is out of your line of sight!
How To Survive: Combat And Survivability Tips
Survival Is Utmost Priority
In any case, you must do your best to survive. If caught in a firefight, you can always run away to heal and recover.
Prioritize Getting Passive Healing Items
Items like the Med Kit and Cautious Slug are crucial for survival, so be on the lookout for these items when you can.
Shield and Stealth Items Boost Survivability
The Old War Stealthkit can help you escape by turning you invisible and increases your movement speed when taking damage, while the Personal Shield Generator adds a shield on top of your health. Get these items early on!
Keep An Eye Out For AoE and Damage Buff Items
In order to survive the stages, you have to fight back and fend off enemies. Get AoE damage items like the Brilliant Behemoth and damage buff items like the Crowbar and Lens-Maker's Glasses to take out enemies faster.
Balance Survivability and Combat Capability
In later levels, you must find the right balance between survivability and damage items. Otherwise, you might run the risk of having a tanky character, but little DPS, or a glass cannon with very high damage but can easily be overrun by enemy damage.
Adjust Settings To Optimize Gameplay
Turn Down Some Graphics Settings For Smoother Gameplay
The game can get frantic later on so if you feel that your game feels sluggish, try turning down some graphical options and resolution. Make sure that your game runs as smooth as possible.
Change Sensitivity and Keybindings For Comfortable Play
Though the controls are fairly simple, it's best to modify your keybindings and sensitivity to a level you're comfortable with.
Calibrate Your Brightness Settings
Some areas can be pretty dark and hard to navigate, so tweak your gamma boost or your screen's brightness settings as necessary.
