Gunfire Games' latest release Remnant 2 has rocketed to the tops of Steam charts and is taking over consoles around the world, as it looks to bring forth a new era of Soulslike gaming. With an expansive and ever-changing assortment of worlds, enemies, and dungeons for players to explore as any of the many character classes, the game promises to offer a plethora of experiences in one enormous, highly-replayable title.
Despite being optimized for co-op play, Remnant 2 still stands as a very user-friendly title for solo players, however different considerations need to be made about character selection to suit independent gamers. Without the support of a companion, the strengths and weaknesses of the game's classes must be considered in a whole new light. Here are the best options for players looking to rid the world of the Root Infection alone.
Updated August 6, 2023, by Tim Lord: Multiple discoveries have been made since the release of Remnant 2, which has seen a host of new playable Archetypes surfacing for players to acquire and customize their characters with. They take some work to unlock, but these hidden Archetypes are among the best in the game. To keep players up to date with these discoveries, new Archetypes (Invader, Archon, and Engineer) have been added to the list of best solo Archetypes in the game. Here's what players need to know.
11 Alchemist
A master of magical brews and concoctions, the Alchemist is a secret Archetype in Remnant 2 whose abilities are centered around its capabilities of providing elixirs to boost particular traits and statistics. While dishing out boosts in attack, defense, or other facets of gameplay can be incredibly useful and crucial to the success of a campaign, this Archetype does its best work by helping others.
As a solo player, the Alchemist is overshadowed in most areas of gameplay by the majority of alternative class options, from offense and defense to overall durability. At its most effective, this Archetype would be supporting stronger, offensive-minded teammates by enhancing their abilities to overcome the various challenges they face in the game. The Alchemist is a solid team player, but will likely struggle on its own.
10 Summoner
Another secret Archetype, the Summoner is unique in that it is the only character class capable of raising its own small army to support it in combat. As the name would suggest, this Archetype can summon a number of different Root beasts to help overcome the many varied threats within the worlds of Remnant 2. However, these summons come at a cost that can greatly hinder a player's chance of survival without the support of a comrade.
Depending on the Archetype skill the Summoner uses, procuring a bestial ally will cost the character a percentage of their overall health, from 10% up to 35%. While this won't kill the player, it can leave them in a very vulnerable position if the timing of the summons is not right. Because of this, the Summoner establishes itself among the lower echelon of playable characters for solo gamers.
9 Explorer
While it may not have offensive or defensive capabilities worth bragging about, the Explorer Archetype has an uncanny ability to acquire unique items, which is the basis of the character's persona. The Explorer's abilities and skills enable it to find rarer items with greater ease than its Archetypal counterparts, as well as boost a player's stats with the Golddigger Prime Perk.
While acquiring rare items can strengthen the Explorer by gaining a greater loadout, this Archetype is best utilized as a support for a teammate with greater combat skills, or as a secondary Archetype. In comparison to some of the other character classes that are better equipped to stand alone and survive, the Explorer won't fair as well as a lone soldier.
8 Challenger
The hard-hitting close-quarters combat specialist of the default Archetypes in Remnant 2, the Challenger is a fun introduction to the game and genre on account of its knack for dealing brutal blunt force trauma in great quantities. It is the most durable class in the game, making it the hardest character to put down, which bodes well for players who choose to play alone.
As an added benefit, the Challenger has one of the best Prime Perks in the game, Die Hard, which gifts the player a free revival when their character is first knocked down. The limitation this class has, however, is its offensive abilities from a distance. If players with this class encounter an enemy or boss that doesn't engage in close-quarters combat, they may find overcoming the challenge far more difficult than some other classes.
7 Hunter
Where the Challenger excels up close, the Hunter is at its best from a distance. The stealthiest class in the game, the Hunter has all the tools necessary to pick off adversaries from long-range and remain hidden while they're at it. Given its proficiency at remaining unseen, this class is an ideal option for solo players as much of its skillset supports being a lone ranger.
While its abilities from long-range are formidable, it can struggle in close-quarters combat, meaning it may not thrive in dungeons and smaller passages when enemies are closing in. Since its skillset relies more heavily on one particular facet of offense, it lies just below the more well-rounded alternatives in Remnant 2.
6 Invader
The Invader is the best class in Remnant 2 when it comes to being elusive and causing distractions to disorient adversaries. Given that dodging is the primary form of defense in the game, this Archetype is an ideal choice for almost any play style, both as a primary or secondary class selection.
The Prime Perk of the Invader Archetype, Shadow, is a great tool for diverting the attention of enemies and getting the upper hand in combat scenarios, which is particularly useful for players who are experiencing the game solo. The Shadow perk summons a decoy whenever the Invader uses a skill, which will attract enemy attacks for three seconds and leave them vulnerable for a more potent assault. For players riding solo, this should be one of the top considerations for a secondary Archetype at the very least, on account of its defensive prowess.
5 Gunslinger
Of the secret Archetypes waiting to be discovered in Remnant 2, the Gunslinger is perhaps the most popular of the bunch. This Western-style character carries itself with the apparel and swagger of a cowboy, as well as its proficiency with a revolver. This Archetype is the best in the game at producing high-damage gunfire at an incredibly high rate while managing ammunition supplies better than anyone.
As far as a well-rounded offensive approach is concerned, the Gunslinger is among the top options from the Remnant 2 Archetypes, making this an ideal choice for solo players. The main limitation that the Archetype has, however, is its durability and lack of variety in healing options, which puts it just below the absolute best of the bunch.
4 Archon
The best-kept secret of the Remnant 2 Archetypes, the Archon was a challenge set by developers to puzzle even the most skilled data miners. As intended, the Archetype's very specific list of requirements was eventually met and the character was unearthed. With it, a powerful option for players as a primary or secondary Archetype becomes available.
The Archon favors boosting a player's Mods and the speed in which they are generated, meaning gamers will be able to use their weapon skills more frequently with greater effectiveness. This is a particularly appealing trait for solo players, as the right loadout of Mods can be a real difference-maker in difficult combat scenarios and boss battles.
3 Engineer
For players who love to spray the opposition with a storm of bullets, the Engineer class is the perfect heavy weapon Archetype for dealing damage in excessive amounts. A master of heavy machine guns and turrets, this character is capable of overwhelming opponents with a relentless array of rapid-fire offensive options.
Perhaps one of the most effective Prime Perks for an aggressive play style, the High Tech perk gifts players with a temporary boost in one of their weapons, enabling infinite ammunition, a higher fire rate, and a noticeable increase in weapon damage for a limited time. For solo players, the Engineer is a great option as it is capable of dispatching multiple opponents in quick succession with its incredibly effective arsenal.
2 Medic
No matter what difficulty players choose for their campaign in Remnant 2, there is no denying that the game is, at times, brutal and unforgiving. With plenty of dungeons providing a multitude of challenges and an array of bosses that will test player skills to their limits, management of health is incredibly important for the player's survival.
The Medic Archetype is the health specialist and is an effective character choice for both solo and co-op gameplay. However, its range of abilities to self-heal makes it stand out as perhaps the best option for players who go without assistance. While its strengths lie in its regeneration skills, the Medic can still hold its own in combat on account of its strong starter weapons that are ideal for downing foes great and small alike.
1 Handler
Even without its skillset, the Hunter will be a popular option for all Remnant 2 players for the simple fact that their character gets to face all the trials and tribulations of the game with a furry best friend. The dog is an invaluable asset for solo players as it provides an additional source of offense, a diversion to attract the attention of some enemies, and a lifeline when players are downed.
It could be argued that the Handler isn't really a "solo" character since it is never alone, nonetheless, players who don't connect with others in Remnant 2 can still experience the game with many of the perks that come with co-op play. With the dog at its side, the Handler is able to command their pet to execute a few different strategies, from support to attack, and can also be revived by their companion when they would otherwise die, a skill that is only otherwise available with the Challenger Archetype.
Remnant 2 is now available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC