How to Unlock All Characters in Risk of Rain 2 (Complete Guide)
Learn how to unlock every playable survivor in Risk of Rain 2. This guide covers requirements for base game characters and those in the Survivors of the Void and Seekers of the Storm expansions.
Published: Risk of Rain 2 Wiki Editorial Team
Table of Contents
Getting Started with Survivor Unlocks
Risk of Rain 2 features a diverse roster of survivors, each with unique playstyles and mechanics. While you start with a handful of characters, the majority must be earned by completing specific challenges. These challenges range from simple stage completions to complex item-gathering quests.
Please note that some characters are locked behind paid expansions. If you do not own the Survivors of the Void or Seekers of the Storm DLCs, you will not have access to the survivors exclusive to those packs.
Default and Expansion Survivors
You do not need to perform any special tasks to play these characters, provided you meet the ownership requirements.
Commando: Unlocked by default. He is the standard starting character, perfect for learning the game's mechanics.
Huntress: Unlocked by default. She is a mobile "glass cannon" capable of high damage output.
Railgunner: Unlocked by default if you own the Survivors of the Void DLC. She functions similarly to the Sniper class from the original Risk of Rain.
Seeker: Unlocked by default if you own the Seekers of the Storm DLC. She is a support-focused survivor capable of healing and reviving allies.
Unlocking Base Game Survivors
These survivors are available in the base game. You must complete specific challenges to add them to your roster permanently.
Bandit: Complete the "Warrior" challenge by beating the first three stages without dying. This can be done on any difficulty.
MUL-T: Complete the first teleporter event five times. These completions are cumulative across multiple runs.
Engineer: Complete a total of 30 stages. This is tracked across all your playthroughs, not just a single run.
Artificer: Purchase her in the Bazaar Between Time. You will need 11 Lunar Coins: one to open the portal to the Bazaar and ten to purchase her from the merchant.
Mercenary: Obliterate yourself at an Obelisk. This requires reaching a Celestial Portal, which spawns on the third stage after completing one loop.
Rex: Find and power him with a Fuel Array. You must take the Fuel Array from the back of your drop pod on the first stage, carry it through to the Abyssal Depths (fourth stage), and interact with the damaged robot. Be careful: carrying the Fuel Array lowers your health, and if you drop below 50% HP, it will explode.
Loader: Defeat the Alloy Worship Unit in the Siren's Call stage. You must destroy five egg nests to spawn this boss.
Acrid: Complete the Void Fields challenge. Access the Null Portal in the Bazaar Between Time to enter the Void Fields and survive all nine waves of enemies.
Captain: Beat the game. You must reach the final stage, Commencement, defeat the final boss, and escape the planet.
Expansion-Specific Unlocks
These characters were added in expansion packs and require specific in-game actions to unlock.
Void Fiend: Escape the Planetarium or complete wave 50 in the Simulacrum. You can reach the Planetarium by accessing the Void Locus from the Void Fields.
False Son: Defeat the False Son while holding the Halcyon Seed. You must first acquire the seed by defeating Aurelionite in the Gilded Coast, then reach the Prime Meridian on the Path of the Colossus to face the False Son.
Chef: Complete the recipe in the Reformed Altar. You must deliver a Cautious Slug, a Bison Steak, and an Infusion to the Chef’s wok in the Reformed Altar stage. This progress is saved between runs.
The Heretic: A Unique Case
The Heretic is distinct from other survivors because you cannot "unlock" her in the character selection menu. Instead, she is a transformation. To play as the Heretic, you must collect all four "Heresy" Lunar items in a single run:
Visions of Heresy
Hooks of Heresy
Essence of Heresy
Strides of Heresy
Once you pick up the final item, your survivor will transform into the Heretic. This transformation is temporary and lasts only for the duration of that specific run.
Community Note on Save File Editing
Some players may come across methods involving editing the game's save file (.xml or similar formats in your Steam user data folder) to force-unlock all characters, items, and artifacts. While this is technically possible, it bypasses the intended progression experience. Always back up your original save file before attempting any manual edits, as modifying these files incorrectly can lead to data loss or save corruption. For the intended gameplay experience, we recommend unlocking characters through the challenges provided by the game.
