Risk of Rain 2 Characters Guide — All Survivors, Unlocks & the Best Picks
Every Risk of Rain 2 survivor explained: the full roster (base game + DLC), how to unlock each one, REX and the Heretic, the best survivors for beginners and endgame, and the unlock requirements.
Risk of Rain 2 Characters Guide — All Survivors, Unlocks & the Best Picks
The short version: Risk of Rain 2 has ~16-18 playable survivors in 2026 (the base-game cast plus DLC survivors from Survivors of the Void and Seekers of the Storm). Most are unlocked by completing challenges — like REX, unlocked by finding a specific item in the Bazaar. This guide covers the full roster, how to unlock everyone, and the meta picks.
The Survivor Roster
Base game (all free)
| Survivor | Playstyle | Unlock |
|---|---|---|
| Commando | Starter — fast, ranged, reliable | Default |
| Huntress | High-mobility auto-aim | Default |
| MUL-T | Dual-weapon tank | Complete 5 stages |
| Engineer | Turrets & mines (place-and-forget) | Default |
| Artificer | Mage — big spells, cooldowns | Default (paid in older versions, now base) |
| Mercenary | Melee glass cannon | Complete 1 stage without... (challenge) |
| REX | Plant-robot, self-damage + heal | Find the "Squid Polyp" in Bazaar... (see below) |
| Loader | Heavy melee grappler | Challenge |
| Acrid | Poison tank | Challenge |
| Captain | Commander — orbital strikes | Complete the final stage |
DLC survivors
| Survivor | From | Playstyle |
|---|---|---|
| Railgunner | Survivors of the Void | Sniper — charge + massive single shots |
| Void Fiend | Survivors of the Void | Corruption-swapping damage machine |
| The Seeker | Seekers of the Storm | Martial-arts brawler, self-damage for power |
| The Chef | Seekers of the Storm | Reworked — ranged frying-pan mastery |
| False Son | Seekers of the Storm | The DLC boss as a playable survivor |
12 base survivors + ~4-5 DLC survivors (some are conditional/locked) = ~16-18 playable in a fully-DLC game. "ror 2 characters" / "risk of rain 2 all characters" searches usually want this full list.
How to Unlock Everyone (Key Unlocks)
- REX: Reach the Bazaar Between Time (newt altar + lunar coin portal), find the Squid Polyp interactable in the Bazaar... the challenge is to use the Squid Polyp to kill enemies (place it near a group). Actually: REX's unlock is triggered by finding and activating the Squid Polyp in the Bazaar Between Time — the community wiki details the exact trigger; the classic requirement is "kill 10 enemies with the Squid Polyp."
- Mercenary: Complete a stage without taking damage (challenge).
- Loader: The "Leadfoot" challenge — fall long distances.
- Captain: Reach the final stage (Sky Meadow / Commencement).
- DLC survivors: Unlock via their own challenges (Seeker = use 5 charged clears; Chef = cook X enemies, etc. — check the wiki for current specifics).
Gearbox has adjusted several unlock conditions across updates (especially around DLC 2). If a challenge doesn't trigger, check the current patch notes / wiki — the community wikis (riskofrain2.wiki.gg) track live conditions.
Best Survivors (Meta, 2026)
- Best for beginners: Commando (simple), Engineer (forgiving — turrets do the work), Huntress (mobility keeps you alive).
- Best for endgame/looping: Loader (huge damage, invulnerability windows), Bandit (crit backstabs — if unlocked), MUL-T (survives anything with the right loadout), Void Fiend (top DPS when corruption-managed).
- Best for cheesing: Engineer + bungus (fungus) builds melt bosses.
The Heretic (Secret Survivor)
The Heretic is a secret survivor obtainable through the Lunar system: swap all four of your items at the Bazaar Between Time for the four Heretic items (Visions of Heresy, Hooks of Heresy, Strides of Heresy, Essence of Heresy). Equip all four → you transform into the Heretic, a powerful high-risk survivor with massive stats but punishing downsides. It's a run-based transformation, not a permanent roster unlock in the classic sense (it appears as a selectable option after certain conditions).
Frequently Asked Questions
How many survivors are in Risk of Rain 2?
~16-18 playable in 2026 with both DLCs: 12 base + 4-5 DLC/conditional survivors.
How do I unlock REX in Risk of Rain 2?
Go to the Bazaar Between Time (newt altar + lunar coin), find the Squid Polyp, and use it to kill enemies. The unlock triggers from the Squid Polyp challenge.
Who is the best survivor in Risk of Rain 2?
Loader and Void Fiend lead the endgame meta; Commando, Engineer, and Huntress are the best beginner picks.
How do I unlock all characters?
Most unlocks are challenge-based (damage-free stages, item interactions, reaching the end). DLC survivors have their own challenges. Check riskofrain2.wiki.gg for the live list.
What is the Heretic in Risk of Rain 2?
A secret lunar survivor — equip all four Heresy items at the Bazaar to transform into the Heretic for that run.
Which survivor should I pick first?
Commando (simple), Huntress (mobile), or Engineer (forgiving turrets).