Beginner’s Guide to Thriving in Remnant 2: Archetypes, Stats, and More

Embarking on the challenging world of Remnant 2 can be both thrilling and daunting. After immersing myself for over 100 hours and delving into numerous tutorials, I’ve compiled essential tips to enhance your journey. Let’s dive in!

Your archetype will impact how you play Remnant 2

Choosing and Unlocking Archetypes

In Remnant 2, your journey begins with the selection of an Archetype, each offering distinct abilities and playstyles. Initially, you can choose from five Archetypes:

  • Challenger: A resilient close-quarters combatant, the Challenger excels in melee engagements and can withstand significant damage. Their Prime Perk, Die Hard, allows them to survive fatal blows, making them ideal for frontline assaults.
  • Handler: Accompanied by a loyal canine companion, the Handler specializes in support and versatility. The dog aids in combat and can revive the Handler, providing a safety net during intense battles.
  • Hunter: Masters of ranged weaponry, Hunters focus on precision and critical hits. Their skills enhance long-range combat effectiveness, making them adept at eliminating threats from a distance.
  • Medic: Focused on healing and team support, Medics can restore health to themselves and allies. Their abilities are crucial for sustaining team vitality during prolonged encounters.
  • Gunslinger: Initially available as a pre-order bonus, the Gunslinger emphasizes rapid firearm use and ammunition efficiency. Their skills boost reload speeds and weapon handling, catering to players who favor aggressive shooting styles.

As you progress, the game introduces the Dual Archetype system, allowing you to equip a secondary Archetype. This feature unlocks after defeating the Labyrinth Sentinel in The Labyrinth. Equipping a secondary Archetype grants access to its skills, perks, and traits, except for the Prime Perk, which remains exclusive to the primary Archetype. This system enables diverse build combinations, enhancing gameplay flexibility.

To unlock additional Archetypes, you’ll need specific items obtainable from various in-game locations or vendors. For example, purchasing the Medic Pin from Dr. Norah in Ward 13 for 1,500 Scrap allows you to unlock the Medic Archetype by presenting it to Wallace. Each Archetype requires a unique item and a combination of Lumenite Crystals and Scrap for unlocking. Exploring different worlds and completing quests will lead you to these items, encouraging thorough exploration.

Mastering the Archetype system is crucial for adapting to the game’s challenges. Experimenting with different combinations will help you find the playstyle that best suits your approach, whether you prefer solo play or cooperative multiplayer experiences.

Stats will change with level and equipment changes

Navigating Advanced Stats in Remnant 2

In Remnant 2, understanding and optimizing your character’s stats is crucial for survival and effectiveness in combat. The game provides a comprehensive Advanced Stats screen, offering detailed insights into various attributes that influence your gameplay.

Accessing the Advanced Stats Screen

To view your advanced stats:

  • For Keyboard Users: Press the “R” key on the main character screen.
  • For Controller Users: Press the designated button (consult the in-game control settings if unsure).

This will display a detailed breakdown of your character’s attributes, allowing you to assess and adjust your build accordingly.

Key Attributes Explained

The Advanced Stats screen encompasses several critical attributes:

  • Health: Indicates your total health points. Increasing health enhances your survivability.
  • Stamina: Determines the duration you can perform actions like sprinting and dodging. Managing stamina is vital for mobility in combat.
  • Armor: Reflects the defensive value provided by your gear. Higher armor reduces incoming damage.
  • Weight: Represents the encumbrance from equipped armor, affecting dodge speed and stamina consumption. Weight categories include:
    • Light (0-25%): Fast dodge.
    • Medium (26-50%): Standard dodge.
    • Heavy (51-75%): Slow dodge.
    • Over-Encumbered (76-100%): Very slow dodge.
  • Power Level: A weighted average of your weapon and archetype levels, influencing enemy scaling and world difficulty.
  • Critical Chance and Damage: Determine the likelihood and impact of critical hits. Enhancing these stats increases damage output.
  • Skill Cooldown and Duration: Affect the recharge time and active period of your abilities. Optimizing these can lead to more frequent and prolonged skill usage.

For a comprehensive list of stats and their effects, refer to the Remnant 2 Wiki.

Understanding Power Level and World Scaling

Your Power Level is a crucial metric that determines the difficulty of the areas you explore:

  • Calculation: It’s a weighted average of your highest weapon levels and the sum of your two highest archetype levels. The formula is:
    • Weapon Level: (5 × Highest Weapon Level + Second Highest Weapon Level + Third Highest Weapon Level) ÷ 7
    • Archetype Level: Sum of the two highest archetype levels
    • Power Level: 0.6 × Weapon Level + 0.4 × Archetype Level
  • Impact on World Level: The game scales enemy difficulty based on your Power Level. Entering a new area sets its difficulty relative to your current Power Level, and this setting persists unless the world is re-rolled. Therefore, upgrading equipment and archetypes directly affects the challenges you face.

For an in-depth explanation of Power Level mechanics, consult the Remnant 2 Wiki.

Practical Tips for Stat Management

  • Regular Monitoring: Frequently check your advanced stats, especially after acquiring new gear or leveling up, to understand their impact on your character.
  • Balanced Upgrades: While it’s tempting to focus solely on weapon upgrades, remember that archetype levels significantly contribute to your Power Level. Balancing both ensures a smoother progression.
  • Strategic Exploration: Be mindful that the game’s areas lock their difficulty based on your Power Level upon first entry. If you plan to upgrade gear substantially, consider doing so before venturing into new zones to set a favorable difficulty level.

By mastering the Advanced Stats screen and understanding the interplay between your attributes and the game’s scaling mechanics, you can tailor your character to your preferred playstyle and navigate the challenges of Remnant 2 more effectively.

There are plenty of weapon customization options

Efficient Weapon Upgrades

In Remnant 2, weapon upgrades are pivotal for enhancing combat effectiveness and adapting to escalating challenges. A strategic approach to upgrading ensures optimal resource utilization and sustained performance.

Understanding Upgrade Materials

Weapons can be upgraded up to +20, with each tier requiring specific materials:

  • Iron Variants:
    • Iron: Up to +5.
    • Forged Iron: Up to +10.
    • Galvanized Iron: Up to +15.
    • Hardened Iron: Up to +19.
    • Simulacrum: Required for +20.

These materials are obtainable through exploration, defeating enemies, and purchasing from vendors like Cass in Ward 13.

Unique Weapons necessitate additional resources, such as Lumenite Crystals, which drop from elite enemies and bosses.

Strategic Upgrade Approach

  1. Prioritize Core Weapons: Focus on upgrading weapons that align with your playstyle. Investing in a select arsenal ensures efficient use of scarce materials.
  2. Balance Upgrades: Maintain a consistent upgrade level across your primary, secondary, and melee weapons. This balance influences the quality of material drops, as higher average weapon levels yield better resources.
  3. Resource Management: Allocate Scrap and Iron judiciously. Avoid overcommitting to early-game weapons if you anticipate acquiring superior gear.
  4. Plan for Unique Weapons: Be prepared to gather additional materials like Lumenite Crystals for upgrading unique weapons, as they have distinct requirements.

Enhancing Weapon Performance

Beyond upgrades, augment weapons with Mods and Mutators to tailor their functionality:

  • Mods: Provide active abilities, such as elemental attacks or healing zones. Some are fixed to specific weapons, while others can be interchanged.
  • Mutators: Offer passive enhancements, like increased critical hit rates or faster reload times. These can be swapped to adapt to different combat scenarios.

Consult Rigs in Ward 13 for upgrades and McCabe for crafting and equipping Mods and Mutators.

Armor impacts many game mechanics in Remnant 2

Balancing Armor and Mobility

Your choice of armor significantly influences both defense and mobility, directly impacting your combat effectiveness. Understanding how armor weight affects your character’s movements and stamina is crucial for optimizing your build.

Armor Weight and Its Impact

Each piece of armor contributes to your total Encumbrance, which determines your Weight Class. This classification affects dodge speed, stamina consumption, and overall agility. The weight categories are:

  • Light (0-25%): Fast dodge with no stamina penalty.
  • Medium (26-50%): Standard dodge with a 25% stamina cost penalty.
  • Heavy (51-75%): Slow dodge with a 50% stamina cost penalty.
  • Ultra Heavy (76-100%): Very slow dodge with a 75% stamina cost penalty.

Maintaining a lower weight class enhances mobility, allowing for quicker evasive maneuvers and reduced stamina expenditure. Conversely, higher weight classes provide increased damage mitigation at the expense of agility.

Balancing Defense and Mobility

Selecting armor involves balancing protection against mobility:

  • Light Armor: Offers less damage reduction but facilitates rapid dodging and minimal stamina penalties, suiting agile playstyles.
  • Heavy Armor: Provides substantial damage reduction, beneficial for absorbing hits, but results in slower dodges and higher stamina costs.

Your chosen Archetype can influence this balance. For instance, the Challenger Archetype possesses the Strong Back trait, which increases the weight threshold for each class, allowing for heavier armor without compromising mobility.

Strategic Armor Selection

To optimize your build:

  1. Assess Playstyle: Determine if you prefer agility or tankiness. For example, a Hunter may favor light armor for swift dodging, while a Challenger might opt for heavy armor to endure frontline combat.
  2. Monitor Encumbrance: Regularly check your weight percentage to stay within the desired weight class, ensuring your dodge type and stamina usage align with your strategy.
  3. Utilize Traits and Equipment: Leverage traits like Strong Back or items such as the Bright Steel Ring, which allows for fast dodging regardless of weight, to mitigate the drawbacks of heavier armor.
Make sure to explore the entire map!

Exploring Thoroughly

thorough exploration is paramount to uncovering the game’s myriad secrets and maximizing your character’s potential. Venturing beyond the main storyline not only enriches your experience but also provides valuable resources and unique items.

Importance of Exploration

Diligent exploration allows you to:

  • Acquire Resources: Collect essential materials like Scrap, Iron, and Lumenite Crystals, which are vital for upgrading weapons and crafting.
  • Discover Hidden Items: Find rare weapons, armor, rings, and amulets that enhance your build and offer unique abilities.
  • Engage in Side Dungeons: Encounter optional dungeons featuring distinctive bosses and exclusive rewards.

By meticulously exploring each area, you ensure that no stone is left unturned, leading to a more rewarding gameplay experience.

Navigating Side Dungeons

Side dungeons are optional areas that present additional challenges and opportunities:

  • Identification: These dungeons are marked with specific icons on the map, often featuring rounded symbols.
  • Rewards: Completing side dungeons can yield unique items, such as the Neckbone Necklace or the Ring of Diversion, which are exclusive to these areas.
  • Procedural Generation: The game’s procedural generation ensures that side dungeons vary between playthroughs, offering fresh experiences and encouraging multiple explorations.

Engaging with side dungeons not only enhances your arsenal but also provides deeper insights into the game’s lore and world-building.

Tips for Effective Exploration

  • Thoroughly Search Areas: Investigate every corner of the map to locate hidden paths, secret rooms, and valuable loot.
  • Listen for Audio Cues: Pay attention to in-game sounds that may indicate nearby secrets or hidden items.
  • Interact with the Environment: Some puzzles and hidden areas require interacting with objects or solving environmental challenges.
  • Revisit Locations: Returning to previously explored areas with new abilities or items can unlock additional secrets and rewards.
You can find and buy many types of useful materials in Remnant 2

Managing Resources Wisely in Remnant 2

effective resource management is crucial for progression and survival. The primary currency, Scrap, is essential for upgrading equipment, purchasing items, and unlocking archetypes. Implementing strategic methods to acquire and conserve Scrap will enhance your gameplay experience.

Methods to Acquire Scrap

  1. Defeating Enemies: Regularly engage foes, as they often drop Scrap upon defeat. Areas with high enemy density, such as The Hatchery in N’Erud, are ideal for farming. This dungeon features numerous enemies, providing ample opportunities to collect Scrap and experience.
  2. Opening Chests and Breaking Objects: Thoroughly explore environments to find chests and destructible objects containing Scrap and other valuable items. Smashing breakable objects can yield additional resources, contributing to your Scrap reserves.
  3. Selling Unused Items: Dispose of surplus consumables, equipment, and materials by selling them to vendors in Ward 13. Exercise caution when selling crafting materials, as they are vital for upgrades. Prioritize selling items that are easily replaceable or abundant.
  4. Utilizing Adventure Mode: Re-roll specific zones to repeatedly challenge bosses and enemies, accumulating Scrap and other resources. This mode allows for targeted farming without affecting main campaign progress.

Enhancing Scrap Acquisition

  • Equip Scrap-Boosting Gear: Items like the Scavenger’s Bauble increase Scrap pickups by 50% and automatically collect nearby materials, streamlining the farming process. This amulet can be found as a random world drop in Yaesha.
  • Optimize Farming Routes: Identify and repeatedly clear areas with high enemy concentrations and valuable loot. Efficient routes minimize downtime and maximize resource gains.

Prudent Scrap Management

  • Prioritize Essential Upgrades: Focus on enhancing primary weapons and gear that align with your playstyle. Avoid over-investing in items that may become obsolete as you progress.
  • Be Cautious with Purchases: While vendors offer a variety of items, assess their necessity before buying. Conserve Scrap for critical upgrades and indispensable supplies.
  • Plan for Archetype Unlocks: Unlocking new archetypes requires significant Scrap. Allocate resources accordingly to expand your character’s capabilities without hindering other aspects of progression.
Remnant 2 is a challenging, but rewarding looter shooter

Master Your Journey in Remnant 2

Remnant 2 is a labyrinth of opportunities and challenges that reward strategic thinking and exploration. From mastering archetypes and understanding advanced stats to optimizing weapons, armor, and resource management, every decision shapes your path forward. By diving into the intricate mechanics and embracing the thrill of discovery, you can transform into a formidable adventurer equipped to conquer any challenge the game throws your way.Whether you’re battling fierce foes, solving hidden puzzles, or crafting the ultimate build, remember that adaptability and persistence are your greatest tools. Keep exploring, keep experimenting, and unlock the full potential of Remnant 2. In the next guide, we’ll go over everything from solving puzzles to understanding prisms!

6 Comments
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FuzzyPenguin
FuzzyPenguin
5 months ago

Such a fantastic read! The balance between armor and mobility is something I’ve struggled with. Now I feel ready!

LuckyCharm88
LuckyCharm88
5 months ago

This article made learning about resource management fun! I can’t wait to apply these strategies in-game!

StarGazer99
StarGazer99
5 months ago

Great advice on exploring! I always miss hidden items, but now I’ll be more thorough. Thank you!

HappyFeet42
HappyFeet42
5 months ago

I appreciate how detailed this post is! The weapon upgrade tips will help me a lot in my next playthrough.

CoolCat123
CoolCat123
5 months ago

Wow, so much information! The advanced stats section really opened my eyes. Thanks for sharing!

SunnyBunny
SunnyBunny
5 months ago

This guide is super helpful! I love the tips about archetypes. Can’t wait to try out the Challenger!