Remnant 2 Class Guide

In this Remnant 2 video, we will be showcasing all of the starting classes, plus a couple extra, so you will have an idea of what Archetype best suits your playstyle when playing Remnant II. There are a handful of Archetypes to choose from and it can be overwhelming, especially for new players who have not played the previous title.

Additionally, playing in Multiplayer is a major factor when choosing your Class since each has a distinct role in the field. Thus, understanding the pros and cons of the basic kit of each Archetype is a must, especially since players can now multiclass or equip two Archetypes, adding considerable depth to gameplay. Hopefully, this Remnant 2 Class Guide will point you in the right direction when planning out your future builds.

Players can equip two Archetypes in Remnant 2 enabling multiclassing.

Remnant 2 Dual Archetype System

Gunfire Games is making Remnant 2 much larger in almost every aspect. One major way they’re doing this is by introducing more diverse and interesting Classes to the game. Each Class is now more intricate and detailed than those from the previous title. They come with their unique mechanics, skills, advantages, and enhancements that you can mix and match as you advance through the game.

Second Archetype

Once you’ve made enough progress in the campaign, you’ll be able to use a Secondary Archetype, which lets you use abilities from two different Classes at the same time. These Secondary Classes have access to all the same features as the main class, like choosing one skill from three options and taking advantage of the Archetype Trait. The only difference is that you can’t use its Prime Perk. It is worth noting that the main Archetype slot will determine which Prime Perk will be active so make sure to read what these are, and slot them in the correct places. Just keep in mind that your second archetype will have its own progression, and will need to be leveled up as well to gain full benefit from the other Perks.

While unlocking your second Archetype slot can be done after progressing in the game, players can unlock more Archetypes by crafting special items called Archetype’s Engrams. These items will need to used in crafting in conjunction with other base materials which are scattered throughout the world. Most of the base materials for the starting classes can be unlocked in Ward 13, which is your main hub in the game. There will be no need to create a new character since all of these Archetypes can be changed on the fly, which is a major plus. We have covered this in our 12 Things You Must Know About Remnant II video along with other essential tips, and you can visit the official Remnant II Wiki for more helpful tips such as item locations.

Remnant 2 Archetype Passives and Skills Overview

In Remnant 2, Perks are special passive abilities that enhance your build. There are five types of Perks, and each class has one Perk of each type. You can unlock these by leveling up your Archetype, and as you make your way towards level 10, each Perk gets stronger.

The Perks always unlock in the same order for every class in the game. This order is Prime Perk, Damage Perk, Team Perk, Utility Perk, and Relic Perk. When you reach levels 6 to 10, the same cycle happens again, but this time these same Perks get upgraded to their final and more powerful version. Let’s do a quick rundown of each perk type to have a better understanding of its progression.

Damage Perks increase the damage that the player deals.

Team Perks provide helpful effects and buffs to the player’s allies or character itself if you’re playing alone.

Utility Perks, give small buffs that work well with the player class’s gameplay.

Relic Perks are strong abilities that give the player temporary benefits when you use Relics.

Prime Perks are special and defining abilities for each class. They can be considered the ultimate ability for the class and get two upgrades, one at level 5 and the final one at level 10.

Traits In Remnant 2

In Remnant 2, there are two types of Traits. Archetype Traits and Core Traits. Core Traits are the same for all Classes and provide general bonuses. These bonuses include increased Damage Reduction, Max Health, Max Stamina, or improving Mod Power Generation. These traits can be leveled up by assigning trait points that you can get when exploring the world or beating bosses. While Archetype Traits are unique traits tied to Archetypes. When you play a particular Class, Archetype Traits automatically level up as your Archetype levels up, with the maximum level being 10. Meaning, you don’t need to spend traits points on Archetype Traits.

The Archetypes in Remnant 2

There are eleven Archetypes playable in the game but for now, we will be focusing on the starting classes that you can select when starting your first playthrough. By now, you are aware that a second Archetype can be taken advantage so you have at least a little bit of leeway when picking your first class depending on the modes that you will play, especially multiplayer.

The five starting Archetypes in Remnant 2, are the Gunslinger, Challenger, Handler, Medic, and Hunter. Each offers an in-depth selection of abilities, skills, and support abilities to help boost your team and help them survive or even when playing solo. As a reminder we will be focusing on how each starting class works thus, we will not delve that much in terms of the second Archetype and it will be covered in our Build videos so stay tuned for those!

The Handler Archetype

The Handler Class comes with a companion which can help support you and your team. It is a jack-of-all-trades support class, able to do several things including damage, support your team, and distract enemies. This is all done through commands with your companion. Let’s dive into its passive and active skills.

All of the Archetype normal Perks in general are self-explanatory hence we decided to focus on each Archetype’s Prime Perks and Active Skills and these two define the gameplay of each Archetype. Feel free to pause the video if you want to check a specific perk in more detail.

Prime Perk – Bonded

Their Bonded Prime Perk focuses mainly on supporting the handler and their allies. If the Handler gets knocked down, the Companion will try to revive them with half of its maximum health. This ability can also be used to revive other allies if you command the Companion to do so. However, the ally who needs reviving must have a Dragon Heart available for this to work.

Guard Dog Active Skill

The companion loves to protect its master and its allies. As the player moves around, your companion will stay close to you and attract more attention from enemies, taking the pressure off of you. Additionally, your companion will take less damage from those enemies. This skill works well when dividing enemy attention or dividing the horde into groups so the party can clear waves with ease.

If you hold the command, your companion will emit a howl that reduces damage for all your allies within a certain range. This howl also gives your companion even more aggro from enemies, making them an even bigger distraction that lasts for a short period.

Support Dog Active Skill

As you journey, your loyal companion will stick with you and provide ongoing healing to allies within a short range providing healing over time.

When you press and hold the button, your companion will unleash a powerful effect. This ability bestows a significant healing effect on all allies within range and adds healing over time. Moreover, they will gain a substantial increase in movement speed, allowing them to move swiftly and skillfully as needed.

Attack Dog Active Skill

The offensive stance of the companion wherein accompanies you while gaining a damage boost. Dividing the enemy’s attention is one of the key skills of your companion but the Attack Dog skill may also provide an offensive buff to the party. You can expect hard hits with them mostly when using this skill.

If you hold the button, a powerful effect occurs. All allies within a certain range receive a damage buff increase, empowering them to deal more damage during critical moments.

Pros of the Handler

The handler is a versatile job, and one can focus their efforts by concentrating on its full support abilities, and aid the team with healing and powerful buffs that can be a game changer. The Handler is a must-have Archetype in a team at least in my opinion, if you don’t have at least one Medic in the party. I see the handler as the perfect job that adds further sustainability and other positive buffs.

While in single-player mode, your DPS will not be as high compared to the DPS Archetypes however, having a companion provides value. Not only it is fun to have your trustee partner at your side, but the ability of the companion to aggro enemies and deal additional damage is invaluable. Enemies will be forced to target your companion, which keeps you free to keep on shooting.

Cons of the Handler

One I can think of is the overall DPS, but it will solely depend on your playstyle or preference. The handler concentrates on supportive passives and skills, thus temper your expectations in terms of damage numbers.

Another major con, is that since your companion is a melee attacker, reaching floating targets will not be possible. Most of the Bosses in Remnant II stay midair so keep that in mind. However, making Handler your secondary archetype can rectify some of these issues. Pair it to a DPS Class and you will have a significant bump in DPS, while not needing to rely on your companion as much.

The Medic Archetype

The medic class is what you want to pick if you are a team player, focused on working with your allies. They heal much faster and more efficiently than any other class and can keep their team alive and in the fight. This Archetype provides shields to save the party in dire situations.

Prime Perk – The Regenerator

Once you have healed allies for a certain amount, you will automatically regain a spent Relic charge. A powerful perk that can keep the party alive in a restorative loop.

Wellspring Active Skill

The Medic uses healing energy to empower their fist, and when they punch the ground, a healing AOE spring is created. This healing spring restores health over time and significantly accelerates the Blight decay rate. The AOE spring lasts for a decent duration that can provide continuous heals to the party thus allowing them to tank damage during its duration.

Healing Shield Active Shield

The Medic can shield their allies as well. In a swift motion, the user releases a burst of healing energy, enveloping all allies within a certain range with a protective shield equal to their maximum health. This shielding effect lasts for ten seconds. While shielded, allies experience the benefit of regeneration, restoring a chunk of their health over time.

Redemption Active Skill

When Redemption is activated, it releases a powerful shockwave that covers a certain range. This shockwave serves two purposes: it revives downed allies, bringing them back to life, and it heals them by restoring a significant amount of their maximum health over a period. Moreover, if you hold the skill button longer, the healing effect becomes even more potent. Each additional second of holding the button adds further healing potency.

Pros of the Medic Archetype

Its burst heals are unparalleled along with its heal-wide relic restorative powers that keep the party healthy or in good shape. A must-have Archetype when playing in Multiplayer especially when tackling advanced dungeons or playing on higher difficulties, especially if you don’t have a Handler Archetype in your group.

While in single-player mode beginners will find this Archetype a good starting Class, especially when trying to adapt to the game’s difficulty. The extra healing on top of your Relics will give players ample amount wiggle room for mistakes. Once you’ve progressed through the game, you will unlock the second Archetype anyway if you want to ramp up your DPS.

Cons of the Medic Archetype

Finding the Medic’s usefulness will vary depending on the player’s skill. Experienced players will find the Medic underwhelming in most cases since as a DPS-oriented player, the additional skill slot needs to be at least something that can be used to increase build damage. As your skill increases in Remnant, Medic falls off in favor of more potent Archetypes.

The Hunter Archetype

The Hunter excels in long-range, precise gunplay. They are skilled at identifying targets and eliminating them with precision, utilizing various perks that aid in picking off enemies. Additionally, they are valuable team players, providing support to their allies, and are particularly effective at dealing significant damage to an opponent’s weak points. Likely the strongest single-hit shots in the game if built properly.

Prime Perk – Dead to Rights

Whenever Hunters deal Ranged Weakspot Damage, the duration of their active hunter skills increases. This extension can go beyond the initial duration of the skill, allowing you to enjoy longer-lasting effects as you continue to hit weak spots with your ranged attacks.

Hunter’s Mark Active Skill

Enhances the hunter’s awareness by creating an aura that automatically applies the Mark to all enemies within a considerable range. Once marked, these enemies become visible even through walls, providing a significant advantage in tracking their movements. Moreover, the Mark increases the critical chance of the entire party, making it easier for everyone to land critical hits on the marked foes.

Hunter’s Focus Active Skill

Heightens the hunter’s senses which causes aiming at an enemy to apply Mark. Continuously aiming down sights uninterrupted and without shooting causes the hunter to enter a Focused state. When Focused, weapon speed, recoil, and sway are reduced, and overall range damage and range critical chance is boosted.

Hunter’s Shroud Active Skill

When the Hunter enters a shrouded state, their presence becomes less noticeable to enemies, making them harder to target while on the move. However, any attack, mod activation, or skill usage will instantly end the shroud. Upon leaving the shroud, the Hunter applies the Mark to all nearby enemies and gains the Ambush effect. Ambush significantly boosts the damage dealt by both ranged and melee attacks, but its effectiveness decreases gradually over time. Additionally, the Hunter will automatically enter the shrouded state again after a brief period if they don’t perform any offensive actions.

Pros of the Hunter Archetype

Snipers or long-range oriented players will love the Hunter. Equipped with DPS-oriented perks and skills that heavily rely on a specific range defines this class with clarity, making it relatively easy to build since you already have a direction to follow. Adept in Long Range Rifles that hit like a truck on a single shot, the hunter avoids enemy aggro most of the time, due to its positioning, especially when playing in Multiplayer. Expect high DPS and satisfying kills if this class is handled correctly.

Cons of the Hunter Archetype

Hunter has a high-skill floor and a high-skill ceiling, and this point also can be a pro or a con depending on your perspective. Precision and timing are the skills that one needs to master when playing this Archetype. And since the class is heavily reliant on weak spot damage, and zoning in on your targets can be a challenging task, beginners maybe find this class more challenging to play than they realized.

The Challenger Archetype

The Challenger Archetype embodies the role of a powerful tank. Sporting thick armor and wielding formidable melee weapons, they excel at close-to-mid-range combat, specializing in demolishing enemies and enduring heavy assaults. Their unique abilities allow them to significantly reduce incoming damage, and enhance various aspects of their capabilities.

Prime Perk – Die Hard

When the Challenger is about to be defeated, they enter a brief invulnerable state, and during this time, they regenerate their maximum health. However, this ability can only be triggered once every ten minutes, so you cannot use it all that often, and hopefully you don’t need to.

War Stomp Active Skill

War Stomp is an offensive skill of the Challengers. This skill generates a powerful tremor that inflicts damage and causes additional stagger to enemies within a forward cone. When used at close range, it deals damage in all directions around the user, and is useful when clearing a group of enemies.

Juggernaut Active Skill

As the name implies, the Challenger becomes the Juggernaut of the battlefield. By activating this ability, the challenger becomes incredibly resilient, acquiring Bulwark, enhanced movement, faster melee speed, and a boost in melee damage. Furthermore, the amount of stagger damage you receive is significantly reduced during this state, making you nearly unstoppable in combat. Suitable in melee-oriented builds.

Rampage Active Skill

Rampage is a well-rounded skill that empowers the Challenger to great heights. When activated, the Challenger enters an intense state of battle, granting increased fire rate, quicker reload speed, and enhanced movement speed for a limited time. Moreover, dealing significant damage to enemies bestows a stack of Rage, which in turn boosts ranged damage. As the number of Rage stacks reaches a certain threshold, the Challenger goes Berserk, automatically reloading their current firearm and intensifying the effects of Rampage, doubling its impact on the battlefield.

Pros of the Challenger

Even though the challenger performs in mid-range combat where enemies can be overwhelming at times, its repertoire of skills and passives makes it formidable not just in damage but also when it comes to reducing incoming damage, making it the sturdiest Archetype. Beginner players will enjoy this class as it makes the difficulty of Remnant II a bit more forgiving. Its unique passives that empower melee playstyles are enticing as well, giving players more diversity when it comes to Remnant’s overall gameplay.

Cons of the Challenger

As the Challenger excels in midrange combat, players will find less damage compared to the other class especially when using a shotgun type of weapon when dealing with flying enemies or bosses. This can be alleviated by using a different type of loadout but it will defeat the challenger’s design. Although I would love to have a second life due to its Prime Perk, I find it less useful at endgame since you should not be planning on failure. However, this issue can be rectified by setting Challenger as your secondary Archetype, and using the Prime Perk of another Class.

The Gunslinger Archetype

Next is the Gunslinger. A master of firearms that possesses several perks that enhance their efficiency with the weapons in their arsenal. They excel at dealing massive damage, making the most of their ammunition, and firing bullets at a rapid rate. Check out our Loaded Sharpshooter Build for more details on the dual Gunslinger/Hunter.

Prime Perk – Loaded

A prime perk design to make the Gunslinger execute fluid gameplay in dealing damage. Upon activating any Gunslinger skill, both weapons undergo an instant reload, and all weapons gain infinite reserve ammunition for a brief duration.

Quick Draw Active Skill

The Gunslinger is known for its quick draws and quick-firing shots. Drawing its reliable sidearm and unleash a barrage of up to six shots from the hip, each dealing significant damage per shot. By pressing the button, you can immediately fire at all enemies within a certain range, and upon releasing the button, the shots will be evenly distributed among all targets. Holding down the skill will allow players to manually direct the shots to targets that deal greater damage.

Sidewinder Active Skill

By harnessing the power of the Desert Sidewinder snake, the Gunslinger experiences a surge in movement speed and a considerable boost in weapon draw and swap speed. When switching between weapons, the firearm will be automatically reloaded within a brief period, ensuring the Gunslinger stays ready for action.

Bulletstorm Active Skill

In this unleashed state, the Gunslinger reaches the peak of their power and speed. Conventional firearms transform into fully automatic weapons, while bows and crossbows gain enhanced projectile speed and critical chance. Additionally, the Gunslinger experiences a substantial increase in fire rate and reload speed for a certain duration, maximizing their combat efficiency.

Pros of the Gunslinger

In terms of range damage, Gunslinger can provide an unparalleled experience. Especially if you love to play with weapons that have high fire rates, the Gunslinger can play a pivotal role in enhancing these types of builds. Relatively easy to build as well and most of its foundation can be accessed at the start of the game. I can’t stress enough how important the reload speed and ammo capacity are in this game and the Gunslinger can manage these two avenues well and concentrates on damage alone. DPS-oriented players will love this class and it can work with a vast array of weaponry.

Cons of the Gunslinger

All of the other Archetypes have damage-mitigating perks or skills that may aid beginner players in early game that the Gunslinger does not have. Since the Gunslinger is a pure DPS Archetype, it requires a little bit of advanced play at the start. You may find this job squishy at first however, your skills will improve over time to offset this con.

The Explorer Archetype

The Explorer is a specialist with exceptional skills in discovering valuable items and offering vital support to the team. Their expertise enables them to generate extra items and rare drops when defeating powerful enemies. Using a range of abilities, the Explorer can improve their ability to find loot, increase the team’s damage, reveal hidden treasures, and boost the movement speed of all allies. This Archetype is acquired from completing the game.

Prime Perk – Lucky

This trait overall increases the chances of the party getting rare loot when defeating enemies. Helpful when running dungeons when gathering in-game currencies or crafting materials.

Plainswalker Active Skill

The Archetype is generally a support-oriented class and Plainswalker increases the party’s overall movement speed and stamina consumption, useful when exploring extensive areas like dungeons. This skill contributes greatly in combat as players often use most if not all of their Stamina while avoiding enemies. The more Stamina, the more rolls that party can do.

Gold Digger Active Skill

The Explorer will dig into the ground and spring a fountain that provides various buffs. There’s a little bit of RNG in here however the general buffs that a player can get range from added damage dealt to damage reduction and healing over time.

Fortune Hunter Active Skill

Upon using this skill, the Explorer will scan the map in a certain range, revealing the items that the party can loot. Greatly useful when hunting specific items when exploring dungeons.

Pros of the Explorer Archetype

Explorer is a unique Archetype that focuses on items and materials hunting. The ability to scan the area for possible items is a huge time saver. This archetype is loaded with passives that increase material drop rates or affect the quality of the items you get in chests. The Explorer may lessen the burden of exploration by buffing the party with a movement speed increase to cover as much ground as possible in a short period.

Beginners will find this Archetype useful especially when optimizing their first builds. Players can commit to a pure support type build with the Explorer when playing in multiplayer since you can rely on your teammates to deal damage while you focus on supporting your allies. With a secondary support type Archetype, like a Medic, for example, Explorer can be a viable part of a build. Whether hunting new items in multiplayer or solo play, one can appreciate the explorer’s value.

Cons of the Explorer Archetype

The explorer heavily relies on a second class, preferably a DPS Archetype due to it not having any offensive skills when playing Solo. The main issue with this class in solo play is its longevity. Once you get your desired gear or materials, it is likely that you will not use this job again unless its passives are needed in builds that rely on movement speed.

The Alchemist Archetype

The Alchemist is a character who focuses on supporting the party by applying helpful buffs. Its unique abilities enhance item effectiveness, increasing its overall effects and longevity. Equipped with supportive skills that can increase fire rate, damage reduction, and even revives. This Class can be obtained by defeating Manticora in the Manticora from the Drain Event at Losomn.

Prime Perk – Spirited

Concoctions are useful items that add various helpful buffs. Most of these buffs are powerful in general such as further increase of fire rate or mod power generation. Thanks to its Prime Perk, the Alchemist can have three concoction buffs simultaneously.

Vial: Stone Mist Active Skill

The Stone Mist active skill makes the user a moving tank. Adding further damage reduction and status ailment resistance, this skill works wonders with a tank build, like with the Challenger for instance. Note that all of the Vials can be thrown to specific locations so the party can access the AOE pool and have the buffs.

Vial: Frenzy Dust Active Skill

Frenzy Dust applies positive buffs that increase the target’s fire rate, movement, reload, and melee speed. An overall boost for the party to enjoy useful when bursting down targets.

Vial: Elixir of Life Active Skill

Applies continuous healing to the party and regenerates health over time and protects the team from fatal damage. What is even more powerful is this skill can revive allies as well.

Pros of the Alchemist Archetype

The Alchemist provides impressive buffs that may improve the overall party’s performance. Another support Archetype that plays with consumables and concoctions, improving overall efficacy of teammates. Players who love to tinker with items will find this job enjoyable. Playing with different types of item effects may add another layer of complexity to builds. The Alchemist can perform well in both single and multiplayer modes due to its versatile skills and passives.

DPS-oriented Archetypes may be paired well with Alchemist and an example would be Melee & Damage Reduction type Challengers. Its tanking capabilities will be significantly improved when using the Alchemist’s damage reduction skills.

Alchemists can contribute greatly when building a pure support-oriented archetype. Its ability to revive allies like Medic does, is a great addition to a support character’s repertoire. Having two revive abilities may tremendously help in difficult fights when playing in Multiplayer.

Cons of the Alchemist Archetype

Like the other support class, the Alchemist requires a DPS class to perform in solo play. Pure DPS-type of players may find other Archetypes useful depending on their build. Playing with consumables may be fun when using concoctions, but this gameplay is a niche in most cases.

The Summoner Archetype

The Summoner possesses exceptional skills in controlling and directing minions to carry out their commands. By provoking their minions, they can enhance their damage, attack speed, and movement, while sacrificing minions temporarily empowers the Summoner’s own attacks. Minions that reach the end of their lifespan create healing auras and utilizing Relics enhances minion health and damage capabilities. With a variety of minion types at their disposal, including Root Hollow, Flyer, and Reaver, the Summoner wields a formidable range of abilities. To unlock this Archetype players first need to obtain Faded Grimoire which can be crafted at Bloodmoon Altar using Blood Moon Essence.

Prime Perk – Ruthless

The Summoner has the ability to enrage its minions, thanks to its prime perk. Being enraged grants significant buffs to minions such as an increase in damage, attack, and movement speed.

Minion: Hollow Active Skill

Summon up to two Hollows that can quickly engage enemies at high speed. Can be sacrificed and explode to damage its surroundings. The Hollows can effectively engage ground targets, but they cannot engage airborne enemies.

Minion: Flyer Active Skill

Flyers are interesting minions that stay in midair and shoot projectiles at their targets. One major plus of this minion is the ability to engage both ground and airborne targets with ease. When sacrificed, an explosion deals damage to surrounding targets and spawning homing projectiles that deal more damage. Second to the reaver, I find the Flyer effective in various situations making it a viable summon.

Minion: Reaver Active Skill

The hardest-hitting minion of a Summoner. Very effective against ground targets and also has the ability to hit airborne enemies. Its large health pool is perfect against incoming damage. The main drawback of this minion is you can only summon one at a time.

Pros of the Summoner Archetype

The Summoner is an excellent choice for players who love variety, build complexity, and unique gameplay. This Archetype can deploy summons that may aid the traveler in the field. Each summons has its strength and weaknesses and its own unique abilities with different types of mechanics and executions that players may find fun to play with.

The Summoner’s minions can effectively direct enemy attention to them, making the player safe from incoming attacks. Not only do the minions provide protection to the traveler to some degree, but their overall damage can also wipe out enemy hordes effectively. A further addition to minions is the Handler‘s companion. If used as a Second Archetype the companion may add a further boost of parameters to the Summoner’s minions making it a powerful build.

Cons of the Summoner Archetype

The Summoner class may be complex at times and beginners may find this archetype’s gameplay advanced and overwhelming, especially when dealing with hordes of enemies. Players who prefer straightforward gameplay or style may refrain from using this Archetype. To maximize the value of this class, players need to constantly check their minion’s health points. Once its HP is low, it is advisable to detonate it providing additional DPS and a healing circle that the player can take advantage of.

That wraps up our Classes Beginners Guide, and we hope you found this helpful. Remember to check the wiki or more tips and locations!

Stay tuned for more Remnant 2 content as we update the other Builds, and be sure to drop by our Twitch Channel if you have questions about the game. If you need something specific, check out our Remnant 2 wiki as well as our Remnant 2 Guides.