Risk of Rain 2: 10 Pro Tips to Dominate Loop Runs and Unlock All Survivors

1. Prioritize Mobility Items Early

Movement speed is critical in Risk of Rain 2. Early on, grab items like Energy Drink, Paul's Goat Hoof, or Wax Quail to dodge attacks and navigate maps faster. This lets you explore for chests and escape tight spots, especially during the Teleporter event.

2. Learn Each Survivor's Strengths

Every survivor plays differently. Commando is versatile with steady damage, while Huntress excels at mobility but is fragile. Engineer shines with turrets and area denial. Spend time with each to find your style and unlock abilities via challenges.

3. Harness the Power of Proc Chains

Items like Tri-Tip Dagger (bleed) and AtG Missile Mk. 1 (missiles) trigger on hit. Combine multiple of the same item to stack effects. For example, a few Sticky Bombs can obliterate bosses. Focus on items that proc often for massive chain reactions.

4. Don't Rush the Teleporter

While it's tempting to activate the Teleporter immediately, explore the map first to collect money and chests. The Teleporter event scales difficulty based on time. Better to spend 5 minutes looting than to fight with weak items.

5. Master the Art of Stacking

Item stacking is key. Some items have linear scaling (e.g., Soldier's Syringe), while others have exponential (e.g., Will-o'-the-wisp). For big numbers, stack Crowbar for first-hit damage or Razorwire for a defense-turned-offense build.

6. Use the Environment to Your Advantage

Hide behind pillars to avoid projectiles, use ledges to escape melee enemies, and lure monsters into Fire Shrines or Pressure Plates to deal extra damage. Certain stages like Abandoned Aqueduct have environmental hazards that can kill swarms.

7. Loop Strategically for Long Runs

After the first loop (completing Stage 5), difficulty spikes. If you're not ready, consider taking the Celestial Portal to skip stages. Looping is for overpowered builds. On Loop 2, prioritize Hardlight Afterburner for extra equipment charges and Alien Head for cooldown reduction.

8. Know Which Equipment to Use

Equipment items can turn the tide. Royal Capacitor deletes single targets, Disposable Missile Launcher clears crowds, and Spinel Tonic gives a massive buff but requires Brittle Crown synergy. Always carry a healing item like Rejuvenation Rack if possible.

9. Unlock Survivors via Challenges

Each survivor has specific unlock conditions. For example, Mercenary requires completing the third stage while having 35+ lunar coins, and Artificer needs to complete two stages without taking fall damage. Check the Challenges menu and aim for these during runs.

10. Understand Scaling and Difficulty

The game's Director scales enemy health and damage based on time. After 15 minutes, elite enemies spawn more often. Keep an eye on the timer—if your build isn't strong by 20 minutes, consider restarting. Also, Monsoon difficulty amplifies scaling, so practice on Drizzle or Rainstorm first.

With these tips, you'll survive longer, unlock more survivors, and eventually master the Art of Looping. Good luck, Survivors!