One of the focuses of the recently released RPG-shooter Remnant II is build crafting, with the game’s new Archetypes being at the core of that experience. While the classes in the first Remnant game just determined your starting gear and a basic trait, Remnant II’s Archetypes determine how your character will develop throughout the entire game. So, choosing your starting Archetype is important! Eventually, you’ll be able to switch Archetypes and even rock two at once, but that takes a while, so that starting Archetype is not a choice to take lightly.
Here’s a rundown of the five Archetypes you can choose from at the beginning of the game. I’ve ranked each one from 1 to 4 stars based on how beginner-friendly they are and how well they’ll fit in with a team if you’re looking to play co-op…
Challenger
This is your tank with high defense and perks that can boost your melee damage. You can even automatically return from death once. The Challenger is pretty simple – just wade into the fray and start swinging – and as such, some beginners may like them. That said, I don’t feel like Remnant II is really designed around melee combat and some bosses will eat you for lunch even with your higher defense. Having a tank that can distract enemies and deal out melee combat is a nice option if you’re running a 3-person co-op team though.
- Beginner Friendliness: **
- Co-op Usefulness: ***
Hunter
The hunter is your sniper, with a focus on long-range precision shooting. The Hunter’s perks allow them to better take advantage of enemy weak points and deal burst damage. The flip side of that is the Hunter is pretty fragile. While Remnant II’s shooting isn’t too difficult (it has pretty aggressive aim assist) this is still definitely an Archetype for Remnant vets and shooter experts. The Hunter can contribute well to co-op teams, but you may find two other people running around the field distracting.
- Beginner Friendliness: *
- Co-op Usefulness: **
Handler
This is essentially Remnant II’s version of Borderlands 3’s Beastmaster, as you have a dog companion that can help you out in battle and even revive you when you’re down. This makes the Handler a great beginner Archetype, particularly for those who will mostly be playing solo. That said, the Handler is also a solid option for co-op play too, as some of your perks will buff your whole team and your dog can revive your companions too. The best starting Archetype, in my humble opinion.
- Beginner Friendliness: ****
- Co-op Usefulness: ***
Medic
As you’ve likely already gathered, the Medic is your healer, but they’re not completely helpless either with a strong starting loadout of weapons. If you want to play conservatively and heal often, they can be a passable solo option for beginners, but there are more rounded options. That said, they’re a must-have for a balanced co-op team, as long as you accept that your job is to help your friends, not hog the glory.
- Beginner Friendliness: **
- Co-op Usefulness: ****
Gunslinger
Note: The Gunslinger is only a starting Archetype if you pre-ordered Remnant II. Otherwise, you’ll have to unlock them later in the game.
The Gunslinger is a unique Archetype that largely focuses on oft-overlooked stats – loading and firing speed. Some of their perks also help you hoard ammo. In other words, this is the Archetype for those who would rather mow enemies down with automatic weapons than pick them off sharpshooter-style. That makes them semi-beginner-friendly (moreso than the Hunter), but getting the most of their abilities still takes some skill. They’re also a solid addition to a co-op team, but there are other Archetypes that serve more useful, specialized purposes.
- Beginner Friendliness: **
- Co-op Usefulness: **
There you have it – a quick guide to Remnant II’s starring Archetypes. Of course, there’s no wrong answer, but choosing a beginner or co-op friendly Archetype (depending on how you plan to play) may save you some frustration early on in the game.
Remnant II is available now on PC, Xbox Series X/S, and PS5. You can check out Wccftech’s Remnant II guides here. Expect a full review of the game soon.
