Risk of Rain 2 Enforcer Build Guide: Skills and Strategies

Mastering the Enforcer Playstyle

The Enforcer is a defensive powerhouse introduced in the Hallowed Concepts expansion for Risk of Rain 2. Unlike more mobile survivors, the Enforcer excels at holding ground, using his impenetrable shield to weather incoming attacks while positioning himself to counter-attack. Because he is a "massive" character with higher armor (base 30), he is built to stay in the fight rather than constantly dodging.

To succeed with this survivor, you must balance the "Defensive Stance" with the need for mobility. While blocking damage is your primary strength, standing still makes you vulnerable to being surrounded or overwhelmed by area-of-effect attacks. Successful Enforcer builds focus on mitigating this lack of speed through itemization and smart use of his utility skills.

Recommended Loadout and Skill Synergies

Your loadout defines how you handle both swarm encounters and boss fights. While the default kit provides a solid foundation, understanding how to use these abilities in tandem is crucial.

• Primary (Trenchbroom): This is your bread and butter. In his default state, it fires a slug for 350% damage. However, when you enter Defensive Stance, it shifts to rapid-fire piercing shells (6x70% damage). This is excellent for shredding tanky enemies at close range.
• Secondary (Steel Protection): This is the core of the Enforcer’s kit. It activates your shield. Reactivating it allows you to knock away, stun, and parry enemies for 300% damage. Using this to parry is not just defensive; it is a primary source of damage and crowd control.
• Utility (Shield Tackle): Essential for closing the gap or escaping. It deals 600% damage per second and knocks enemies back. You can hold the button to consume more charges for increased distance, which helps you reposition quickly if you get caught out of position.
• Special (Rally Point): This skill provides a significant survivability boost by granting a Temporary Barrier on kills and teleporting stationary minions to your side. It is particularly useful for sustaining your health during chaotic teleporter events.

Best Items for Enforcer Builds

Because the Enforcer has lower base mobility, your item priority should focus on bridging the gap between his defensive nature and the need to traverse the map effectively.

Mobility and Utility

• Hopoo Feather: Essential for the Enforcer. It allows you to reset momentum in the air and adds verticality, which is otherwise difficult to achieve.
• Backup Magazine: Since your Utility and Secondary skills are vital for repositioning and damage, having extra charges of Shield Tackle or Ripcord can save your run.
• Wax Quail: Since the Enforcer is slow, the burst of speed from a jump can help you dodge attacks that your shield might not cover.

Damage and Proc Items

• Fire and Ice Bands: The Enforcer’s ability to hit multiple times rapidly (especially with Trenchbroom in Defensive Stance) makes him a prime candidate for proc-based items.
• Shattering Justice: Highly effective because of your rapid-fire primary. It applies a debuff that shreds armor, allowing you to melt bosses quickly.
• Crowbar: If you are using the Desperado-style playstyle or focusing on high-damage single hits, Crowbars help secure the initial damage needed to trigger the Enforcer's passive impact damage.

Combat Tactics and Positioning

The most common mistake when playing the Enforcer is attempting to stand still for the entire duration of a fight. While "Defensive Stance" is powerful, it is a tool, not a permanent state.

1. Parry Timing: Use your Secondary (Steel Protection) to parry incoming boss attacks. The damage reflection and stun are invaluable for creating space.
2. Sprint-Canceling: Even as a tank, you should be moving. Sprint between volleys of fire. If you are not in Defensive Stance, you should always be sprinting to minimize your hitbox and stay mobile.
3. Managing Swarms: If you are surrounded, don't just hold the shield up. Use your Utility (Shield Tackle) to charge through the crowd, knocking them back, and then immediately enter Defensive Stance to finish them off with your primary.
4. Boss Fights: For bosses like Mithrix, patience is key. Wait for the boss to commit to an attack animation, block/parry, and then counter-attack. Do not get greedy with damage; the Enforcer's strength is his ability to outlast the enemy, not necessarily out-dps them in a raw race.

FAQ

How do I unlock the Enforcer? The Enforcer is available by default when you have the Hallowed Concepts DLC enabled. Ensure the DLC is active when starting your run.

Is the Enforcer good for beginners? Yes, the Enforcer is generally considered beginner-friendly due to his higher health pool and the ability to block incoming damage, which provides a safety net that high-mobility, low-health survivors lack.

Should I always stay in Defensive Stance? No. Defensive Stance reduces your movement speed significantly. Use it to mitigate specific telegraphed attacks or to shred enemies at close range, but remain mobile otherwise to avoid being flanked.