How Archetypes & Classes work in Remnant 2
Related: Bosses & Enemies and Weapons & Gear in Remnant 2This has now been changed in Remnant 2 and your starting choice matters more in significantly shaping your experience with the game. This is because now, each Archetype follows a unique progression path, unlocking gameplay features that are exclusive to that particular Archetype.Archetypes in Remnant 2 are the new Semi-Classes. The game lets you pick two Archetypes – a Primary and a Secondary. The combination of two Archetypes is what makes a Class and the order of the Archetypes in the combination impacts the Class on the whole.👉 Click here to read more about how Classes work. 👉 Click here to learn how the New Archetype System. 👉 Click here for the List of Archetypes and their details.Archetypes still offer a customized gear set — featuring 1 distinctive armor set, 3 entirely unique weapons, and 1 signature trait.But in addition, they now also incorporate two new exciting add-ons: First – Archetype Perks and Second – Archetype Skills. These are new elements that players can unlock as they gain experience and level up their chosen Archetype.
So, does all of this mean that players will now be locked into their initial choices? Not at all – far from it, this is Remnant after all. This new overhauled system works to ensure that players can collect everything and that their efforts will be rewarded, while still being able to experience a game journey filled with a sense of discovery and awe.The idea is for your initial choice of Archetype to only guide your initial playstyle. You have the option to change weapons, armor, mods, rings, and more, so it is no surprise that the Archetype can be changed as well.Let’s take a closer look at everything step by step so you’re able to form a clearer picture of this new system.Archetype System:
List of Starting Archetypes:
List of Unlockable Archetypes:
First, we’ll look at the new Archetype system and how it works.
How to Unlock Archetypes?
Even if you start with a particular Archetype, you can unlock all other starting Archetypes as you play without starting a new game. The moment a new Archetype is unlocked, you can switch to it right away. However, please do note that leveling up the newly unlocked Archetype will be necessary to gain the benefits of its perks, skills, and traits.The developers have stated that unlocking Archetypes can be achieved in a variety of ways, leaving the specifics for the community to figure out.Based on the nature of the first game, unlocking an item, and by extension, an Archetype might involve a significant element of randomness (RNG). The nature of the game is such that players might find themselves cycling through gameplay, much like roguelike or ARPG games, to collect items, discover new areas, and enhance their character.The unlocking method for certain Archetypes, like the Gunslinger, might be more straightforward, potentially involving exploration in the game’s Ward 13. However, for other Archetypes, unlocking might hinge heavily on RNG. There’s a chance certain elements of an Archetype could be guaranteed, but if it turns out to be largely RNG-dependent, well, that’s part of the game’s charm.Since the game is still a few days away from its release, take these theories with a grain of salt. But it is evident from the statement that the developers have given, that unlocking Archetypes will likely come about in myriad ways.Classes & Dual Archetypes
Dual Archetypes are a significant feature in the game, allowing you to leverage 2 Archetypes simultaneously (Primary & Secondary), thereby doubling your Perks, Skills, and Traits.
As you progress in the game, you will gain the ability to combine any two Archetypes to form a unique Class. Within each Class, all Perks, Skills, and Traits of both Archetypes are represented, with the exception of the Prime perk. The Prime Perk of the Archetype in the first slot (the Prime Slot) will be activated, while the one in the second slot will not.The Prime Archetype also enjoys enhanced Skills, including increased effectiveness, additional charges, and shorter cooldowns, among others. Therefore, the specific arrangement of Archetypes in a Class makes a difference. For instance, a Class with a DPS Archetype (Prime) and a Support Archetype will function differently than the reverse arrangement. In the former case, the DPS Archetype being the Prime, will have its Prime Perk available, and its Skills will be enhanced, leading to improved DPS capabilities. In the latter scenario, the Support Archetype’s Prime Perk is available instead, with enhanced Support Skills for better overall support effectiveness.Every Dual Archetype Class combination gets its unique name, with the active Prime Perk serving as a prefix. For example, a DPS Class with the “Violent” Prime Perk combined with a Support Class might be named “Violent Guardian.”Archetype Perks
There are 5 Perk Types: Prime, Damage, Team, Utility, and Relic.
PRIME: The Prime Perk forms the core essence of an Archetype and typically offers an advantage that no other Archetype can replicate.We already explained how this perk works in the Classes & Dual Archetypes section right above this one.DAMAGE: Damager Perk enhances the damage capacity of the player’s character and becomes more effective as the Archetype levels up.For instance, one Archetype might receive a boost to Ranged and Melee damage, while another could see an increase in Mod Power or Skill Damage.TEAM: Team Perk affects all allies whether the player is playing solo or in a group. This can involve various benefits like increased ammo drops, shared healing, or boosted team defense.Each Team Perk is unique and not only adds a bit of spice to the gameplay but also aids in a cooperative scenario.UTILITY: The Utility Perk is viewed as a “Quality of Life” perk. It usually gives a minor advantage that complements the overall gameplay elements of the Archetype.If an Archetype’s gameplay loop is focused on Sprinting and Evading, their Utility Perk could potentially reduce Stamina costs.RELIC: The Relic Perk activates a temporary effect for a limited period after using a Relic (Dragon Heart). These boosts can potentially swing a battle in your favor but are contingent on the availability of Relic Charges.Depending on the Archetype, Relic Perks can be damage-based for damage Archetypes or support-based for support Archetypes. Using a Relic provides a boost, but it’s important to remember, they are also the primary source of healing!Archetype Skills
Archetype Skills are unique abilities, each tied to a specific Archetype. Unlike the original game’s Weapon Mods, which provided an alternate fire mode and could be transferred among weapons, these Skills are exclusive to their respective Archetypes.
Another distinct feature of Archetype Skills is their usage based on a Cooldown system, a departure from the Weapon Mods’ Mod Power Buildup system. These Skills, which offer potent buffs, auras, or even pure damage or healing effects, are time-restricted to prevent overuse, emphasizing their strategic deployment.Each Archetype comes with three Archetype Skills to select from. Although an Archetype can equip only one Skill at a time, players have the flexibility to switch among unlocked Skills outside of combat, free of charge. Skills are not a replacement for Weapon Mods, they are an additional feature and mods continue to be a part of Remnant 2.Archetype Traits
The Trait system in Remnant 2 has evolved with a few important tweaks. First off, Traits are bound to their specific Archetypes and cannot be shared among different ones.
As you level up your chosen Archetype, you automatically get a +1 boost to the relevant Trait and this comes at no cost (of any points) to you. This is critical in Remnant 2, given that the pool of total Trait Points you can earn is now limited. You can’t max out every Trait (unlike in the first game), so you’ve got to be wise and strategic about where to spend your Trait Points.However, there’s a silver lining. If you manage to max out an Archetype, the corresponding Trait becomes universally available but with a catch—if the Trait isn’t native to your chosen build, you’ll need to spend Trait Points to use it.For example, if your DPS Archetype has a Trait enhancing DPS effectiveness, you can use this Trait for your Support character, but it will cost you Trait Points.Now let’s look at the list of Archetypes that have been revealed so far and their details.
GUNSLINGER
This archetype is all about dealing damage. Its perks are designed to maximize the damage per second (DPS), supporting uninterrupted offense with fast reloads, rapid weapon swapping, and a steady supply of ammunition.
A unique feature of the Gunslinger’s perks is the ‘Prime Loaded’, which automatically reloads both weapons. The Gunslinger archetype also sports impressive skills.SKILLS
- The first skill, Quick Draw, releases a concealed six-shooter that automatically targets nearby adversaries.
- The second skill, known as Sidewinder, boosts aiming and movement speed, speeds up weapon swapping, and instantaneously reloads weapons as you switch between them.
- The third skill, Bullet Storm, turns all firearms into fully automatic ones, increases the rate of fire, and boosts reload speed.
TRAIT
The Gunslinger’s archetype trait is Ammo Reserves, which increases the total ammo capacity, ensuring that players never run out of ammunition during critical battles.Players who like intensive shooting will find the Gunslinger extremely enjoyable.HANDLER
Handler is a unique Archetype with two characters – a Handler and a dog (their faithful companion) that work hand in hand, using teamwork to bring down formidable enemies.
Some distinct features of this archetype that stand out are:- Increased movement and revival speeds for the entire team.
- Automatic healing for the companion when in the proximity of the handler.
- Quicker rate of healing through friendly gestures.
BEHAVIORS
As a handler, you get to assign behaviors to your companion. Instead of having typical archetype skills, the Handler uses commands to guide the companion during battles. These commands can prompt the companion to attack, return to the Handler, protect an ally, or use their special abilities.- The first behavior, Guard Dog, passively makes the companion a more attractive target for enemies but also reduces the damage it receives. It also has a special ability that further attracts enemies and provides a temporary defensive boost to the team.
- The second behavior, Support Dog, passively heals any ally in close proximity over time. Its special ability increases both the healing effect and range.
- The third behavior, Attack Dog, passively enhances the companion’s damage output. Its special ability gives a damage boost to the whole team, perfect when the team wants to go on the offensive.
TRAIT
The Handler’s trait, Kinship, lessens all friendly fire, both inflicted and received. This trait helps keep everyone in the battle longer and also offers a bit more freedom when using explosive weapons.The dog bleeds when injured but even when beaten in a fight, can never die (a conscious choice made by the developers). Instead, the companion gets tired and loses its will to fight. But even that is only until the Handler motivates them to return to the fight.CHALLENGER
This is the perfect archetype for intense close-to-mid-range combat scenarios. The Challenger’s perks are all about dealing heavy damage, donning heavy armor, and considerably reducing the damage inflicted by all surrounding enemies.
The Die Hard perk kicks in when the Challenger is hit with what could be fatal damage. In response, the Challenger pounds the ground in anger, signaling to their enemy that it’s not their time to fall yet. This grants the Challenger a second shot at finishing the fight.SKILLS
- War Stop is the Challenger’s first skill. It causes the ground to shake and sends a high-impact shockwave towards the enemies. Having multiple charges of this skill makes it a breeze to handle enemy swarms or to stagger robust elite foes.
- Juggernaut, their second skill, transforms the Challenger into a force to be reckoned with. They receive significantly less damage, effortlessly resist impacts, and receive a boost to their movement speed, melee speed, and damage output.
- The third skill, Rampage, turns the Challenger into an absolute killing machine. They instantly receive a boost to their fire rate, reloading speed, and movement speed. As they dish out damage, they gather rage stats, which further increase their range damage. Once they max out these stats, they enter a berserk mode, doubling all of their bonuses.
TRAIT
The final piece in their skill set is the archetype trait called Strongback.This trait diminishes the burden of heavy armor, allowing players to wear heavier protection without the usual drawbacks of slowed movement. It’s an excellent feature that fits well with any build aiming for both resilience and agility.MEDIC
Being particularly adept at healing their own injuries and resistant to interruptions while using Relics, the Medic heals more effectively than any other archetype, and its perks are designed to keep the team up and fighting.
The Medic’s unique healing capabilities are anchored by the prime perk named Regenerator. This perk is activated when the Medic restores a certain amount of health to themselves or to their allies, including the companion characters. Once activated, they regain a charge of their Relic. Both the healing effects of the Relic and the Medic’s skills contribute towards this regeneration.SKILLS
There are three main skills for the Medic that allow for different styles of healing.- Wellspring allows the Medic to generate a well of healing energy by punching a hole in the ground. Although this is the most effective healing skill, it is limited by its fixed location and size.
- Healing Shield creates a protective barrier around all allies. As long as the shield remains active, it provides a constant, albeit small, health regeneration for all players inside it – an excellent choice for critically wounded allies.
- Redemption can be charged up to deliver a potent heal over time. More than just healing, Redemption also has the power to revive all downed allies and provide them with massive health regeneration.
TRAIT
The Medic’s abilities are enhanced by the archetype trait called Triage, which increases the effectiveness of all healing.HUNTER
The final starting archetype in Remnant 2, the Hunter specializes in identifying and eliminating targets often before the battle even starts. The perks of this archetype are crafted to ensure that every shot counts.
A unique attribute of the Hunter, the prime perk Dead to Rights allows them to extend the duration of an active skill beyond its initial limit if they hit a target’s weak spot from a distance.Additionally, a distinctive ability named Marking lets the Hunter mark enemies, making them visible through walls and more vulnerable to critical hits from the entire team.SKILLS
- The first skill, Hunter’s Mark, enables the Hunter to reveal and mark all enemies within a broad range. Once this skill is activated, it automatically marks every enemy for the team.
- With the second skill, Hunter’s Focus, the target gets automatically marked when the Hunter is aiming down sights. If the Hunter can stay focused and refrain from shooting, they gain significant boosts to their accuracy, damage, and chances of inflicting a critical hit.
- The last skill, Hunter’s Shroud, can help the Hunter disappear into the shadows, avoiding incoming damage while on the move. After using Hunter’s Shroud, the Hunter’s next attack will mark nearby enemies and provide a significant buff to ranged and melee damage. If the Hunter abstains from attacking for a brief period, they will instantly re-shroud, or become invisible again.
TRAIT
Rounding off the Hunter’s arsenal is the archetype trait Long Shot which extends the effective range of all firearms, whether they are rifles, shotguns, or anything in between.These were the 5 starting archetypes. Following are the details of the 3 additional hidden archetypes that you can unlock in Remnant 2.SUMMONER
The Summoner class offers three different types of minions, making it a powerful choice for early gameplay as the minions can draw enemy attacks away from the player.The three types of minions are Root Hollow, Root Flyer, and Root Reaver. Each minion type has its own unique summoning and sacrificing abilities, which can be utilized for different strategic purposes.A unique feature of the Summoner Archetype is its prime perk that allows the player to harm their own minions, triggering a temporary rage effect that boosts the minions’ damage output, attack speed, and movement.
HOW TO UNLOCK SUMMONER?
You can unlock the Summoner Archetype in Remnant 2 by heading over to Yaesha biome.In Yaesha’s overworld areas, you will encounter a group of floating pink orbs that show up during a Blood Moon. Shooting these orbs down gives you something called the Blood Moon Essence, which you are going to need.
PERKS
- The Summoner’s Prime Perk is Ruthless. This perk causes any minion that the Summoner damages to become enraged, increasing their damage, attack speed, and movement speed by 30% for 20 seconds. The effect of this perk can be upgraded at levels 5 and 10, increasing the bonuses to 40% and 50%, respectively.
- The Summoner’s Damage Perk is Dominator. While a minion is active, this perk boosts the Summoner’s mod and skill damage by 3.5%. If a minion is sacrificed, it further increases the Summoner’s ranged and melee damage by 3% for 30 seconds or until another minion is summoned. The perk effect scales with the Summoner’s level.
- The Summoner’s Team Perk is Residue. This perk creates a 3-meter aura around any expired minion that heals 2.5% health per second for 10 seconds. This perk can be upgraded at level 7 to also increase healing by 20%.
- The Summoner’s Utility Perk is Outrage. This perk grants the Summoner 3% lifesteal for each minion sacrificed, lasting 10 seconds. An upgrade becomes available at level 8, adding a 15% increase in movement speed to the lifesteal effect.
- The Summoner’s Relic Perk is Incite. Using a relic with this perk active will heal minions for 5% of their maximum HP per second and increase their damage by 15% for 30 seconds. At level 9, an upgrade becomes available that also boosts minions’ critical chance by 15%.
SKILLS
The Summoner has three unique skills to summon minions.- Minion: Hollow Skill – When the Summoner uses this skill, a Root Hollow Minion is summoned to fight by their side. The cost to summon this minion is 15% of the Summoner’s maximum health. However, it will not lead to the Summoner’s death. The Summoner can have up to two Root Hollow Minions at a time. Moreover, the Summoner can choose to sacrifice a Root Hollow Minion, causing it to explode and deal 150 damage within a 2-meter radius. The remaining health of each sacrificed minion determines the degree of reduction in skill cooldown, which can be up to 50%. This skill has a cooldown of 29.4 seconds.
- Minion: Flyer Skill – Unlocks when the Summoner reaches level 5. Upon using this skill, a Root Flyer Minion is summoned, costing the Summoner 10% of their maximum health. Again, this won’t result in the Summoner’s death, and up to two Flyer Minions can be active at the same time. The Summoner can also choose to sacrifice all Root Flyer Minions, dealing 50 damage within a 3-meter radius and launching three homing projectiles. These projectiles explode upon contact, dealing 150 damage each. The cooldown time for this skill is 44.1 seconds.
- Minion: Reaver Skill – Unlocks at level 10. Using this skill summons a Root Reaver Minion, costing the Summoner 35% of their maximum health. Only one Reaver Minion can be active at a time. Sacrificing the Reaver Minion results in a 200 damage impact within a 6-meter radius, and the spawning of Spore Bombs that bounce and explode upon contact, dealing 200 damage each. The remaining health of the sacrificed minion determines the extent of cooldown reduction, which can be up to 50%. The cooldown for this skill is 117.6 seconds.
TRAITS
The Summoner’s unique trait, Regrowth, increases the rate of health regeneration. When fully leveled up, this trait reduces the time it takes for health to regen by 1.5 seconds.WEAPONS
The Summoner class begins with a Crossbow as the main weapon, a secondary MP60-R SMG weapon, and a Rebellion Spear for melee combat.ALCHEMIST
Much like the Medic, the Alchemist too is an archetype that stands out in a support and utility role. Their primary function is to boost their allies’ performance through the use of various vials and consumables.
HOW TO UNLOCK ALCHEMIST
In order to unlock the Alchemist Archetype, you will need to craft the Philosopher’s Stone Engram.To craft this engram, you first need to obtain a material called the Philosopher’s Stone.This material can be procured by defeating an enemy called the Manticora in the Manticora from the Drain Event located at Losomn. After you beat this Beast, it will drop the Philosopher’s Stone.Once you have the Philosopher’s Stone, head back to Wallace in Ward 13 who will let you craft the Philosopher’s Stone Engram in exchange for the Philosopher’s Stone, 10 Luminite Crystals, and 1000 Scrap.PERKS
- The Alchemist’s Prime Perk is Spirited. This perk allows the Alchemist to maintain an additional Concoction buff. Upon reaching levels 5 and 10, this perk is upgraded, allowing for two and three additional buffs respectively.
- The Alchemist’s Damage Perk is Liquid Courage. Grants the Alchemist a 2.5% boost to all damage dealt, which escalates with the Alchemist’s level. Once the Alchemist reaches level 6, this perk sees an upgrade, providing a hefty 25% increase to all damage and an additional 5% to critical chance. The Alchemist’s Team Perk is Panacea. Unlocked at level 2, the Panacea perk offers a team-wide benefit, applying curative effects to all allies within 15 meters while also granting 15 extra Resistance. At level 7, it upgrades to enhance allies with an additional 10% resistance against status and blight.
- The Alchemist’s Utility Perk is Gold to Lead. This perk unlocks at level 3 and gives a 15% chance for the Alchemist to receive Ammo upon picking up Scrap. This perk sees an upgrade at level 8, where both scrap and metal pickups offer the same chance to provide Ammo.
- The Alchemist’s Relic Perk is Experimentalist. This perk unlocks at level 4 and introduces an intriguing new mechanic whereby using a relic bestows a random buff on the Alchemist for a duration of 30 seconds that cannot be overridden. When upgraded at level 9, this buff is applied not only to the Alchemist but also to any allies within a 20-meter radius and lasts for an entire minute.
SKILLS
- Vial: Stone Mist – When used, this skill creates a 10-second vapor cloud, providing the effect of “STONESKIN”. STONESKIN lessens incoming damage by 25%, significantly increases the decay rate of Blight Buildup, minimizes Stagger by 1, and offers immunity to Status Effects for a duration of 15 seconds. The vial can either be slammed on the ground for immediate effect or thrown at a location to create the same effect there, with a cooldown of 72 seconds.
- Vial: Frenzy Dust – Unlocks at level 5. This skill also generates a 10-second vapor cloud, this time bestowing the “FRENZIED” effect. This state increases the Fire Rate, Reload Speed, and Melee Speed by 20%, as well as Movement Speed by 15% for a duration of 15 seconds. Similar to the previous skill, this vial can be used directly at the Alchemist’s location or thrown elsewhere, with the same cooldown time.
- Vial: Elixir of Life – Unlocks at level 10. This skill lets the Alchemist create a vapor cloud that persists for 10 seconds, applying the “LIVING WILL” effect. This grants 5 Health Regeneration per second and a protective shield against fatal damage. Notably, this effect can even revive downed players if it restores their health completely. After being revived, however, allies cannot benefit from Living Will for 180 seconds. Like the previous skills, this vial can be either used at the Alchemist’s feet or thrown, but this time it has a slightly longer cooldown of 86.4 seconds.
TRAITS
The Alchemist possesses an exclusive Archetype Trait known as Potency. This highly beneficial trait enhances the duration of all consumables by a certain percentage. When the player manages to reach the maximum level, Potency doubles the duration of these consumables.WEAPONS
Alchemists are equipped with a Wrangler 1860 Long Gun as their primary. They also have a secondary weapon, the Double Barrel Handgun, for close-range combat. Additionally, they wield a melee weapon, the Bone Chopper Melee Axe, for situations requiring close combat.EXPLORER
The Explorer Archetype is revered for its talent in discovering valuable items and offering critical assistance to its team.
HOW TO UNLOCK EXPLORER?
Players can unlock the Explorer Archetype by crafting the Golden Compass Engram.To do this, they first need to obtain the Broken Compass, by defeating Annihilation who is the final boss that players must face. This immense adversary offers a lengthy and significant challenge to players. To encounter Annihilation, players must make their way to the location known as the Blackened Citadel, which is situated in Root Earth.Once you defeat this Boss in battle, it will drop the Broken Compass.Tale the Broken Compass and (yes you already know it) go meet Wallace in Ward 13 who will let you craft the Golden Compass Engram in exchange for the Broken Compass, 10 Luminite Crystals, and 1000 Scrap.PERKS
- The Explorer’s Prime Perk is Lucky. This perk provides the player with a 10% chance to find additional items and rarer drops after defeating powerful enemies. As the player levels up, this perk gets more potent. At level 5, the spawn chance increases to 20%, and at level 10, it reaches a 35% chance of spawning additional items and rarer drops.
- The Explorer’s Damage Perk is Scavenger. This perk increases all damage dealt by 0.5% per stack for 15 seconds each time the player picks up an item. Additional stacks can extend this duration up to a maximum of 60 seconds, with a limit of 5 stacks. Upon reaching level 6, the Scavenger perk also increases the player’s critical hit chance by 5% while it’s active.
- The Explorer’s Team Perk is Metal Detector. This perk unlocks at level 2 and enhances the entire team’s gameplay by increasing the drop rate chance for ammo, currency, and metal by 10%. An upgrade at level 7 with Prospector Perk also increases the chance of obtaining consumables from chests.
- The Explorer’s Utility Perk is Prospector. Unlocking at level 3, this perk ensures that the relic fragments discovered by the player are of higher quality. Upon upgrading at level 8, the perk also gives the player a 5% chance of picking up an additional gem of the same type and quality each time they pick up a gem.
- The Explorer’s Relic Perk is Self Discovery. Unlocking at level 4, the Self Discovery Perk allows the player to instantly fill Scavenger stacks and prevents stack decay for 15 seconds each time they use a relic. Upon upgrading this perk at level 9, the player gains an additional 30 stacks and prevents stack decay for 1 second after using a relic.
SKILLS
- Plainswalker: This skill increases the movement speed of all allies by 20% and reduces their stamina cost by 80%. These effects last for 30 seconds and the skill has a cooldown of 58.8 seconds.
- Gold Digger: Unlocking at level 5, the Gold Digger skill allows the player to dig into the ground and create a fountain that provides a random buff. These fountains exist for 45 seconds, and their buffs, which could be a 10% increase in damage, a 15% reduction in damage taken, a health regeneration rate of 1.5 per second, or HASTE, last for 15 seconds. The cooldown for this skill is 44.1 seconds.
- Fortune Hunter: Fortune Huner unlocks at level 10. It enhances the Explorer’s ability to sense treasures, revealing special items within a 40-meter range for all allies. This skill lasts for 60 seconds and has a cooldown of 88.2 seconds.
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