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The dimensions the crystal inRemnant 2drags you into are incredibly dangerous places. There are a lot of exotic and strange creatures wandering around these foreign and bizarre locales and all of them want to take a bit meaty chunk out of your hide if they’re given the chance.
Thankfully there’s a solid class system known as Archetypes available that lets you spec into a range of unique, useful, and downright powerful builds. Whether you’re creating the ultimate scavenger for solo play or filling a role in a squad through co-op, there’s a lot of variety available for everyone’s particular play style. There are plenty of them to get through, so here are the Archetypes in Remnant 2, explained.
Updated on August 02, 2025, by Mohamed El Ouardighi:With Ritualist from the Awakened King and now Invoker from the Forgotten Kingdom, the second DLC for Remnant 2, here’s an updated version of our all archetypes guide that includes Invoker.
What Are Archetypes?
For those new to the series,Archetypes are essentially a class you choosefor your run through the game. In total,there are ten of themand you can create up tofive new characters at one time, so you can have anice collection of scavengersready to go for any occasion if you’re dedicated enough.
Each one of them is unique,unlocks their own types of perks and powersaccording to their play style, fills a particular role in a team andtheir starting gear is all distinct. For example,the Medic starts off with a hefty machine gun, whilst theHunter gets a bolt-action rifleand theGunslinger gets a surprisingly solid six-shooterto play around with. You can alsocollect other weaponsas the game goes on, orbuy them from Brabus.
How To Change Your Archetype
It’sincredibly easy to choose your Archetypein Remnant 2. It’s something you do almost at thestart of the game, you just have toclear the Tutorial and intro sequence first, then after arriving at the Hub,speak to Ford.
Exhaust all his dialogue and he’ll then tell you togo speak to Wally. This strange chap can befound by the crane near the water. He’llgive you your first Archetype, or as he calls it a “Path”. OtherArchetypes can be unlockedeither throughsecret methods in certain worldsor byspeaking to certain NPCslike Mudtooth orbuying special itemsfrom the vendors in the Hub.
you’re able to alsoreset your character’s progressby purchasing anOrb Of Undoing from Wallyas well asswitching out your Archetypefrom theArchetype Menuwhenever you unlock a new one.
The Archetypes
As mentioned previously,there are ten Archetypesand whilst you canpick the main four options(orfive if you pre-ordered to get the Gunslinger), some of them arehidden awayand you can miss them if you’re not aware.
Some of theabilities of the Archetypesare also arguably alot better than the others, so it can be quite tricky to figure outwhich one is going to pay off the mostin the long haul. So to help you with your choices, here’s abrief rundown of each one.
You can alsobring in a Secondary Archetypeon top of your equipped one allowing you totake advantage of their abilitiesexcept for theirPrime Perk. To unlock a Secondary Archetype,level up your current class to level 10then use theArchetype Menuto switch them out.
Alchemist
An elemental tinkering Archetype that excels atboosting stats and buffing their broswith variousvapor cloudsthat addunique effects. It’s a greatSupport Archetypethat is also hidden away and requires arun-in with a sewer monster in Losomnin order to unlock.
The Alchemist’s perks are good forincreasing damage resistancebut the three Vapour clouds of Stone Mist, Frenzy Dust, and Elixir Of Lifeadd a lot of versatility. They’re ok on their own, but theywork best in a groupas they can drop some reallypowerful buffsright before a boss fight, and you’ll always need it.
Engineer
Another of the unlockable Archetypes, theEngineer loves their big gunsand they’re an absolute god in small, confined dungeons. This turret-tossing,heavy weapon expertcanOverlock themselves, which not only gives youinfinite ammobut alsoenhances fire rateand gives a healthy 25 percent to ranged damage.So they’re quite a beast.
Found onN’Erud at the Eon Vault in the fog, it’s tricky to find but thisGatling-wielding demonis worth it. As a final selling point, the Engineer can alsoput down three types of turrets. These are theVulcan,Flamethrower, andImpact Cannon Turretsand they’re great forholding chokepointsor reinforcing the team during a wave of monsters.
The Engineers Turret can be incredibly useful in boss fights as they not onlydeal a lot of damage but also draw aggroaway from you whilst they’re active.
Summoner
Classes that let you toss out a lot ofdistracting minionsare always tons of fun and theSummoner Archetypein Remnant 2 does just that. Another of the hidden Archetypes in the game, the Summoner requirespicking up the Faded Grimoir at the Bloodmoon Altar in Yaesha, then giving it to Wally. It’s alittle pricey, but they’re worth the investment.
Primarily asupport Archetype, the Summoner canspawn two of three different types of Root Minions. Their Perks then compliment their utility further byapplying buffs to team hit pointsas well as grantinglife-stealor spawninghealing auras. They struggle a little on their own, but they’regreat in a teamas their minions are pretty tanky and can cause a lot of distracting chaos.
Invader
The Invader is another of thehidden Archetypesin Remnant 2. They’re unlocked by going on a bit of a side quest as well astaking down a special boss. But they’re worth the extra steps as they’re an absolutepowerhouse of damageand they’reideal for solo playersor endgame high-level adventures.
Think of them like aDungeons And Dragons Rogue. The Invader is aboutcreating decoys, exploiting perfect dodges, and using ateleport skill to phase into battlewhilst dumping a healthy300 percent damage. You need tokeep movingto use them effectively, plus their various perks and skills require alot of micro-management. So they’re perfect for players looking for a fairlyadvanced Archetype.
If you’re standing still with The Invader, you’re doing it wrong.Keep mobile and teleport as often as you may.
Challenger
TheChallenger Archetypein Remnant 2 is a hammer, and every problem to them is a nail. It just needs enough whacks. They’re abulwark against damageand take a lot of punishment whilst leavingpiles of corpsesin their wake. They’reavailable right from the startand are always a welcome sight in any party.
The Challengers' perks are where the fun begins as they provide things likebrief invulnerability, 40 percent ranged and melee damage, abuff that reduces damagedealt by enemies as well asreducing stamina regeneration delayand buffing damage wheneverRelicsare used. Their abilities also range fromdeadly stomps, receiving amassive buff to damage resistance, or being able to enter into aberserk fury. It’s some fun toys that can turn any Challenger into anunstoppable Gladiator.
Handler
If you’re looking for asolid all-rounderthat comes with afuzzy good boy, then the Handler is where you should start. ThisSupport Archetypeis all aboutusing their dog to buff the party, revive downed allies, boost revive speed, andraise damage resistance.
They’re a great addition to any team and theirdog is perfect for drawing aggroor dispatching at targets like afuzzy angry missile. They can do well on their own, but theywork better when combined with a group. Also yes,you can pet the dog.
The Handler’s Dog Revive is agreat Second Wind for solo-players.
Hunter
Along-range deadeyethat can deal out death with ease, the Hunter is anotherstarting Archetypethat can be pickedafter the tutorial ends. Their gimmick is dealing a lot of damage inprecise hits to weak pointsas well asmarking targetsfor the team.
The Hunter’s perks focus onextra weak spot damage, 50 percentboosts to ammo drops, faster reload speed, andextending the duration of skills, speaking of. The Hunter’s skills add a variety ofbuffs to range and weak spot damagewith each of the three powers providing varying methods and ranges formarking targets. They can alsocloak themselveswith theirHunters Shroud.
Medic
Thelifeline that can keep a party alive, especially in the higher difficulty settings, theMedic Archetypeis your standard healer and it’salways worth having one on your crewor as your second Archetype. Available from thestart of the game, it’s easy to get up and running with thisdeadly Doctor.
The Medics’perks are primarily focused on healing, as you would expect, and they can also buff damage,increase Relic efficiency and Relic use speed. Their abilities are equally strong as they can create aHealing Spring, provide aHealing Shield, or pop off afull party instant revive. So it’s asolid selection of Healer toysto tinker with.
Relicsare items such as theDragon Heart. So fasterhealing animationsare a great bonus.
Gunslinger
The rootin', tootin', shootingdamage dealer on the team. The Gunslinger is yourclassic cowboythat comes with a lot of great perks forpreserving that ammo pooland putting out the pain.
The Gunslingers Perks are all focused onenhancing fire rate, ranged damage, andreload speedas well asboosting ammo pick-ups. Plus their skills are suitably Western-esque as they feature ahammer fan of their revolverfor multi-target or single-focused big number damage,enhanced draw speed, or turning all their firearms briefly intofully automatic monster mulching machines. They’re extremelygood at crowd control, keeping the team’sammo reserves high, and doingbig crit damageon tough targets.
Explorer
The Explorer isavailable after you finish the campaign. That’s quite the Herculean effort, but it’s worth it for thebest farming class in the game. The Explorer’s abilities are more niche, but when you’regrinding the endgamethey’re incredibly useful.
For starters, their perksfocus on increasing item drop yieldanditem rarity, providingstackable buffsas well as minorboons to ammo capacity and damage. Their abilities are also pretty strong as they enhance movement speed, reveal nearby treasure, orspawn a fountain that provides a random buff.
It’shighly recommended to have this class as either your main or secondary Archetypeat all times in the endgame. Mainly because theirmovement and farming buffsmake clean-up and power leveling a lot quicker.
Archon
Asuper secret classthat wasinitially only found by data minerswho dug into the depths of the game, the Archon is potentiallyone of the most powerful and difficult Archetypes to getin the game. This alien-looking character is theepitome of supportand is all aboututility and buffing Mod generation.
To unlock the Archon you’ll need tobeat the gameand have quite aneclectic collection of items to craft the required engram. But it’s worth it. The Archons trick is that theyconstantly generate Mod Powerand whenever a Mod is used, you’ll get a50 percent Mod Regenfor a few seconds. This amountincreases the stronger they become, so you’ll be able to pop off those bizarre weapon abilities pretty often. Their Perks alsoreduce Mod requirements, buffteam Mod regeneration,and using Relics also gives a nice chunk of200 Mod Power for both your weapons.
All in all, a prettyspectacular support class, and their abilities cansummon Slow fields, buff friendly damage, orturn them into their Havoc Formwhereby they canfire lightningat a fast casting rate andraise energy shieldswhilstteleporting aroundto evade attacks.
The Archon is themost time-consuming Achetype to unlock, so save it for postgame adventures.
Ritualist
The Ritualist is a surprisingly strong Archetype that’s all aboutbig AOE’s and crippling debuffs for crowd controlor using buffs on themselves from the statuses they inflict in order to dealnasty amounts of damage to one big juicy target. It’s a pretty versatile class that requires thinking ahead, but put them in a group and they’ll help clear house with ease.
For example, their active skills areEruption, which creates an explosion that deals damage, increases status effect damage, and resets any current Status Effectson a target. There’sMiasmawhich casts anAOE burst of Bleeding, Burning, Coroded, and Overloadedat once. And finally,Death Wish, whichdrains 300 percent of your health but increases damage by 35 percent, and 10 percent of that is used as Lifesteal as well.
Then there are also solid perks likeWrath,Terrify,Dark Blood, andPurgewhich mess withStatus Effects on enemiesand do a bunch of unique and detailed damage types. So all in all, it’s a great class worth having in your team, especially in some of the more minion-heavy boss fights.
The Ritualist, like a few other secret classes,requires some extra steps to unlock. Namely finding anitem in a specific area of Losomn known as the Cursed Effigy Engram. We have an in-depth guide on how to unlock The Ritualist (available here).
Invoker
Remnant 2 consistently delivers fresh content with each DLC release, andthe Invoker Archetypeis no exception. It’s a potent class that offers numerous possibilities for creating powerful builds. The Invoker focuses on skill usage,reducing cooldowns, anddoubling skill charges through its Prime Perk, Visionary. Other perks enhance elemental damage,increase skill damage, and evenextend skill duration.
Speaking of skills, the Invoker offers a diverse range. For offense, there’sWay of Kaeula, whichunleashes a Tidal Wave to damage all enemies in its path. On the flip side,Way of Meidra provides support by allowing you to heal your allies. Finally,Way of Lydusa applies the Brittle effect, boosting critical chance and damage for both ranged and melee attacks. It also lets yougenerate sand devils through damage or kills, which can beconsumed to cast a sand blast, damaging a wide area upon skill reactivation.
Of course, Remnant 2 always hides its secrets well, and the Invoker is no exception to that. So, if you want to unlock it,we have a guide on how to do so.
Which One Suits Your Needs?
Now that everyone is up to speed on the classes and what they do, it’s worth breaking them down a little bit further to provide you with thebest recommendationfor your particular play style.
Whilst you canhit the end of the game with each oneregardless, if you’re dipping intoAdventure Modewhere you canre-roll worldsagain and again forendgame content, having the right role can often matter, especially in aparty of players. So here arerecommendations for each Archetypeand their particular role.
Tank
The enemies in this game really like torush you down, so having someone who can stand out front,draw aggro, and take the hitscan make the game so much easier. Whilst you canload up on trinkets and ringsto buff your armor, having a dedicatedbig-boy destroyeron the team can trivialize some pretty tough sections.
For those looking forall-out aggression and violence, it’s worth usingthe Challenger. This buff ladpacks a lot of punchwith their powerful perks and superb skills. So they’re thebest optionfor those who like to play as thetip of the spear.
DPS
The creatures you’ll come acrossout in the wilds of those far-off worldscan take a lot of damage. Whilst the majority of them will haveweak points to exploit, your trigger finger will get tired quickly as youlaboriously chip them down. That’s why having aDPS demon on the teamdefinitely matters.
For those that like to see thosebig damage numbers popyou have a couple of options. For starters there’s the Gunslinger, with ahigh ammo reserve, buffs to fire rate, and aRevolver fan blastthat can hit multiple targets or useone big high-powered shot, it’s great at absolutelydeleting tough enemies. The Hunter is also a good choice as theyfocus on weak point crits, have increased damage for standing still, and are generally all aboutputting a lot of pain into as few hits as possible. Though they’re not too great if anything gets too close.
Finally, there’s the Invader, who’sgreat for fast attacks and stealthy ambushes. Though they melt quickly if they’re pinned, they’re an absolutedamage-dumping machinein the right hands.
Healer
Whilst you can technicallymake any Archetype a pseudo-healerwith the right weapon mods, nobody does it better than the Medic. Since their wholeclass is about big heals, they’re borderline mandatory if you’re playing on the higher difficulties.
Though the Summoner has somehandy healing abilities, they pale in comparison to the Medic. Also, they’re theonly Archetype that comes with a revive ability. It’s a move thatrezzes an entire partyand with how often entire wipes can come out of nowhere,especially on higher difficulties, the Medic is probably one of themost useful Archetypesin Remnant 2.
Support
For those who prefer to hang back and help out the team, there are alot of good picks worth looking into. The best picks amongst them are the Archon whodramaticallyboosts team Mod Power, the same with The Ritulaist’s minion-melting debuffs. Finally, The Handler is great as well as thisdoggy duocan be incredibly useful in a pinch and The Ritualist. TheHandlers team buffsare perfect for those who like to lend a helping hand. Plus, theirpet psycho with teethcan draw a lot of aggro if you’re getting swamped. Thesame applies to the Summonerand the host of minions that they can bring in.
But if you’re looking for aSupport class that can stand on their ownor help push the firing line then look into the Engineer. Theirturrets and heavy weaponsare great for putting out plenty ofsuppressive fire. This is perfect for some of the moretanky monstersor players that prefer tohide behind destructible shieldsthat you can whittle down.
On a final note, if you want alot of defensive buffsthen consider the Alchemist, or if you want toenhance your team’s return from farming dropsthen use the Explorer.
