How to Unlock and Play Captain in Risk of Rain 2: A Comprehensive Guide

Unlocking the Captain

To add the Captain to your roster in Risk of Rain 2, you must complete a run by defeating the final boss, Mithrix. You can reach the arena by progressing to Sky Meadows and entering the portal without adjusting the outer rings. There is no specific difficulty requirement, so feel free to play on Drizzle if you want to secure the unlock as quickly as possible. Once you have defeated him, the Captain will be available for all future runs.

Captain's Playstyle and Passive

The Captain is a heavy-hitter who excels at mid-range combat, defined by his lack of innate mobility and his powerful defensive passive.

• Defensive Microbots: This unique passive automatically shoots down enemy projectiles. A key strategy noted by the community is that every drone you purchase gains its own set of microbots, effectively creating a protective shield around you.
• Vulcan Shotgun: Your primary fire is a high-damage shotgun. Charging the attack narrows the spread, making it more effective for long-range targets, while uncharged shots are best for crowd control.
• Mobility Management: Since the Captain lacks a dash or jump ability, prioritize movement items like Goat Hooves, Energy Drinks, or the Hopoo Feather. Players often suggest using the "M1 -> R -> Sprint" input sequence to maintain momentum and fire rate.

Mastering Supply Beacons

The Captain’s Special ability allows you to call down two beacons per stage. These are your "trump card," and choosing the right combination can define your run.

• Hacking Beacon: Widely favored by players for its economy-breaking potential. It reduces the cost of any interactable—including legendary chests—to zero. Use this early in each stage to maximize your item count.
• Healing Beacon: Provides consistent sustain for you and your allies, useful if you find yourself struggling during long teleporter events.
• Shocking Beacon: Offers crowd control by locking down non-boss enemies. Note that this can stun-lock enemies until they take 10% of their maximum health in damage.
• Resupply Beacon: Refreshes equipment cooldowns, which is highly situational but powerful if you are running equipment like the Preon Accumulator or Royal Capacitor.

Unlocking Alternate Skills

To fully optimize your Captain, you can unlock alternate abilities through specific challenges:

Community Tip: When attempting the "Captain Smush" challenge for the Diablo Strike, players recommend using the Artifact of Command to stack Armor-Piercing Rounds and Crowbars, ensuring the final blow comes from your beacon rather than your other items.

Essential Tips for Success

• Hidden Realms Warning: Be aware that your orbital strikes and beacons are disabled in hidden realms such as the Gilded Coast, Void Fields, or the Artifact Reliquary. You will be limited to your shotgun and taser in these areas.
• Item Synergy: Because the Vulcan Shotgun has a high proc coefficient, on-hit items like Sticky Bombs, Ukuleles, and ATG Missiles are exceptionally effective. Pairing these with the Hardlight Afterburner will grant you additional charges for your utility strikes, significantly increasing your burst damage.
• Trigger Discipline: When using your Orbital Strike, remember there is a delay before the blast occurs. Use your Power Tazer to stun enemies in place, ensuring they don't move out of the strike zone before the impact hits.