Hey guys! So you've just crash-landed on Petrichor V, the rain is relentless, and the creatures… well, they're not exactly throwing a welcome party. You're in the early game of Risk of Rain 2, and let's be real, it can feel like a brutal learning curve. But don't worry, we've all been there! This guide is your crash course on surviving and thriving in those first few crucial stages. We'll cover everything from item prioritization to enemy behaviors, so you can go from feeling like prey to becoming the apex predator. Buckle up, because the rain is just the beginning!
Understanding the Early Game Grind
In the early game of Risk of Rain 2, your primary goal is simple: survive and scale. The clock is ticking, and the difficulty is constantly rising. This means you need to efficiently gather items, level up your character, and defeat enemies to progress. But here's the catch: you're at your weakest in these early stages. Your damage output is low, your health pool is limited, and those seemingly harmless Lemurians can quickly overwhelm you if you're not careful. The key is to make smart decisions, prioritize your actions, and avoid unnecessary risks. Think of it as a delicate balancing act – you need to be aggressive enough to farm resources, but cautious enough to avoid getting swarmed. Mastering this balance is what separates the survivors from the… well, the ones who become monster chow.
Item Acquisition: The Heart of Your Build
Items are the lifeblood of any Risk of Rain 2 run, and acquiring powerful items in the early game is crucial for long-term success. These aren't just shiny collectibles; they're the building blocks of your character's power. A well-chosen item can dramatically increase your damage output, survivability, or utility, turning the tide of battle in your favor. But with so many items to choose from, how do you prioritize? The first thing you should do is unlock the engineer. The engineer is a great class to get powerful items with. Focus on white items first. White items, or common items, provide smaller, but crucial buffs that add up fast. Think of them as the foundation of your build. A few Soldier's Syringes (attack speed) or Paul's Goat Hooves (movement speed) can make a world of difference in your early game survivability and damage output. Don't neglect green (uncommon) and red (legendary) items, but be mindful of their cost. If you see a green item chest early on, it's often worth the investment, especially if it synergizes well with your character's abilities. However, opening every chest you see can drain your funds and delay your stage progression. Learn to identify items that complement your playstyle and prioritize chests that are likely to contain them. One great class for this is the huntress, you can run while attacking, and her Blink ability can get you out of sticky situations. The huntress is one of the best characters for item acquisition. The item choices you make in the first few stages will significantly impact your late-game potential. Choose wisely, survivor!
Enemy Prioritization: Know Your Foes
Not all enemies are created equal on Petrichor V. Some are annoying pests, while others are serious threats, especially in the early game. Understanding enemy behaviors and prioritizing your targets is essential for survival. Learn to identify the most dangerous foes and eliminate them quickly. For example, those pesky Lemurians might seem harmless at first, but their ranged attacks can quickly whittle down your health if you let them swarm you. Golems, with their high health and slow-moving projectiles, can be a major roadblock if you don't have the damage to take them down quickly. Wisps, those flying balls of energy, can also dish out a surprising amount of damage, especially in groups. The key is to focus your fire on the most threatening enemies first. Don't get bogged down in a protracted fight with weaker enemies while the bigger threats are still alive. Use your mobility and crowd control abilities to your advantage, and always be aware of your surroundings. Knowing your enemies is half the battle, guys. When you defeat enemies, you gain experience and gold. Experience points will level up your character, increasing your stats, and gold is used to purchase items from chests and interactables. Leveling up provides a boost to your character's base stats, such as health, damage, and movement speed. This makes you more resilient and increases your damage output, which is essential for tackling tougher enemies and progressing through the stages. As you defeat enemies, they drop gold, which is the primary currency in Risk of Rain 2. Gold is used to purchase items from chests scattered throughout the levels, activate interactable objects that grant temporary buffs or items, and even unlock drones that can provide additional firepower or healing.
Time Management: The Escalating Difficulty
The clock is your enemy in Risk of Rain 2. As time passes, the difficulty scales, and enemies become stronger and more numerous. Spending too long on a single stage can quickly lead to a game over, especially in the early game. The key is to find the right balance between looting and progressing. You want to gather enough items and experience to be strong enough to handle the increasing difficulty, but you don't want to linger too long and let the enemies outpace you. A general rule of thumb is to aim to clear a stage within 5-7 minutes, but this can vary depending on your character, items, and playstyle. Don't be afraid to leave some chests unopened if it means moving on to the next stage before you get overwhelmed. Learning to efficiently clear stages and manage your time is crucial for long-term survival. Remember, every second counts on Petrichor V! Time management is crucial because the difficulty of the game scales with time. The longer you spend on a stage, the more challenging the enemies become. This means that if you spend too much time looting and exploring, you risk being overwhelmed by stronger enemies. Conversely, rushing through the stages without gathering enough items can leave you underpowered and unable to handle the later challenges.
Character-Specific Early Game Strategies
Each survivor in Risk of Rain 2 has their own unique abilities and playstyle, which means that early game strategies can vary significantly from character to character. What works for the Commando might not work for the Huntress, and vice versa. Understanding your character's strengths and weaknesses is crucial for making the most of the early game. Here's a brief overview of some popular characters and their early game strategies:
The Commando: The Jack-of-All-Trades
The Commando is a well-rounded character that's a great starting point for new players. His abilities are simple and effective, making him a reliable choice in any situation. In the early game, focus on maximizing your damage output with items like Soldier's Syringe and Lens-Maker's Glasses. Use your Tactical Slide to reposition and dodge enemy attacks, and your Phase Blast to deal burst damage to priority targets. The commando is not the fastest character, so you must make sure you manage time efficiently. Don't be afraid to use your Suppressive Fire to stun enemies and create some breathing room. The Commando's strength lies in his versatility. He can handle most situations adequately, but he doesn't excel in any particular area. This means that your item choices are crucial for defining his role in the late game. Experiment with different builds and find what works best for you. He is effective at dealing with both single targets and groups of enemies, making him a versatile choice for the early game. His mobility is decent, allowing him to reposition effectively in combat. However, the Commando's abilities have relatively low base damage, making item acquisition crucial for scaling his damage output.
The Huntress: The Agile Assassin
The Huntress is all about mobility and burst damage. Her Blink ability allows her to quickly reposition and evade enemy attacks, while her Arrow Rain can deal massive damage to groups of enemies. In the early game, prioritize movement speed items like Paul's Goat Hoof and Energy Drink to maximize your mobility. Use your Blink to dodge attacks and reposition for optimal damage output. Her mobility allows her to traverse the environment quickly and reach chests and interactables efficiently. Focus on acquiring items that enhance her damage output and survivability. She is a ranged character with high mobility, making her excellent at kiting enemies and dealing damage from a safe distance. In the early game, focus on utilizing her Blink ability to evade attacks and maintain distance from enemies. Her primary fire, Laser Glaive, can bounce between enemies, making her effective at clearing groups of weaker foes. However, the Huntress is relatively fragile, so prioritize items that enhance her survivability, such as Tougher Times or Personal Shield Generator. Her ultimate ability, Arrow Rain, deals massive damage to a large area, making it an excellent tool for clearing out swarms of enemies or dealing burst damage to bosses.
The Engineer: The Turret Master
The Engineer is a unique character that relies on his turrets to deal damage. In the early game, focus on placing your turrets in strategic locations to maximize their effectiveness. Items that increase turret damage, such as Tri-Tip Dagger and Hunter's Harpoon, are particularly valuable. The Engineer's playstyle revolves around strategic turret placement and utilizing his abilities to control the battlefield. In the early game, focus on placing your turrets in defensible locations to create chokepoints and control enemy flow. His Bubble Shield ability provides a protective barrier for himself and his turrets, making him more resilient in combat. Items that enhance turret damage and survivability, such as the Kjaro's and Runald's Bands or the Repulsion Armor Plate, are particularly valuable for the Engineer. However, the Engineer's mobility is limited, so positioning and awareness are crucial for survival. He excels at holding down areas and dealing sustained damage, but may struggle against highly mobile enemies or in open environments.
Common Early Game Mistakes to Avoid
The early game in Risk of Rain 2 is full of potential pitfalls. Avoiding common mistakes can significantly increase your chances of survival and success. Here are a few key errors to watch out for:
Ignoring the Timer
As we've discussed, the clock is your enemy. Spending too long on a stage is a recipe for disaster. Don't get bogged down in unnecessary exploration or prolonged fights. Keep an eye on the timer and move on to the next stage when appropriate. It's tempting to meticulously explore every nook and cranny of the map in search of chests and secrets. However, this can be a costly mistake in the early game. Spending too much time on a stage allows the difficulty to scale, making enemies tougher and more numerous. While looting is important, it's crucial to strike a balance between exploration and progression. If you find yourself spending excessive time on a stage, it's often better to move on to the next area, even if you haven't found every chest. The increasing difficulty will quickly negate the benefits of any extra items you might find.
Overspending on Chests
Items are important, but you don't need to buy every chest you see. Be selective and prioritize chests that are likely to contain items that synergize well with your character and build. Wasting your gold on low-value chests can leave you broke when a truly valuable item appears. Gold is a precious resource in Risk of Rain 2, especially in the early game. While acquiring items is crucial for scaling your character's power, overspending on chests can leave you short on funds when you need them most. Be selective about the chests you open and prioritize those that are likely to contain valuable items. Consider the cost of the chest relative to the potential benefit. Opening every chest you see might seem like a good strategy, but it can leave you vulnerable in the long run.
Neglecting Movement
Standing still is a death sentence in Risk of Rain 2. Learn to constantly move and dodge enemy attacks. Use your character's mobility abilities to reposition and avoid getting surrounded. Good movement is essential for survival, especially in the early game when your health pool is limited. Enemies in Risk of Rain 2 are relentless and will quickly overwhelm you if you stand still. Mastering movement techniques, such as strafing, jumping, and dodging, is crucial for avoiding enemy attacks and maintaining a safe distance. Utilizing your character's mobility abilities, like the Huntress's Blink or the Commando's Tactical Slide, can provide valuable opportunities to reposition and evade danger. Practice moving fluidly and unpredictably to make yourself a more difficult target.
Conclusion: Mastering the Early Game
The early game in Risk of Rain 2 is a challenging but rewarding experience. By understanding the fundamentals of item acquisition, enemy prioritization, time management, and character-specific strategies, you can significantly increase your chances of survival and success. Avoid common mistakes, learn from your failures, and most importantly, have fun! The rain may be relentless, but with the right knowledge and skills, you can weather the storm and become a true survivor on Petrichor V. Now get out there and show those monsters who's boss, guys!
