By Okay, so you’ve booted up Risk of Rain 2 and you’re staring at that swirling chaos like, “What the heck do I actually grab here?” Been there. I’ve lost count how many times I died chasing shiny items while completely ignoring the stuff I actually needed. And honestly? It’s a mess — but a fun one.
See, the whole point of this game isn’t just shooting stuff. It’s collecting the right Risk of Rain 2 Items that turn you from a squishy newbie into a walking disaster zone. You want your run to be legendary, not just “Hey, I didn’t die in the first 5 minutes.”
Rain. Mud. A shovel. That’s how my composting disaster began. Sorry, got distracted. Back to the loot.
Anyway, here’s the deal: I’m breaking down exactly what you want to grab, what to stack, and what to dodge like a bad burrito. Trust me, you’ll thank me next time you face down a teleport boss and don’t instantly get vaporized.
What’s the Deal With Item Tiers? (Because Yeah, It Matters)
So, first up — not all Risk of Rain 2 Items are created equal. Some are basic, some are “holy crap, I’m unstoppable,” and some will make you curse the RNG gods.
The Basics, in Plain English:
- Common (white): These are your bread and butter. Not sexy, but they add up fast.
- Uncommon (green): Slightly fancier. These start defining your playstyle.
- Legendary (red): The big guns. These can make your run go from “meh” to “oh, hell yeah.”
- Boss (yellow): Dropped after you finally kill the teleporter boss. Usually worth it.
- Lunar (blue): These are… complicated. Think of them like trading sanity for power.
- Void (purple): Corrupted, twisted versions of other items. Weird but interesting.
I know, the colors sound like a nerdy tie-dye shirt convention, but they actually tell you what’s worth your time.
Common Items: Don’t Sleep on These Basics
Look, I get it. “Common” sounds like, well, boring. But those Risk of Rain 2 Items are the foundation of every good run. Like how the cracked watering can from Pete’s Hardware on 5th Ave survived my overwatering phase — these basics keep you alive.
My Go-To Commons (because I’m lazy and efficient):
- Soldier’s Syringe: More attack speed = less crying.
- Tougher Times: Blocks damage sometimes. Like a sometimes hero.
- Lens-Maker’s Glasses: Crit chance is king. My first 100 crits felt like winning the lottery.
Stack these babies early and you’ll build momentum. The early game is like making coffee — start strong or end up jittery and sad.
Uncommon Items: The Playstyle Starters
Green items are where you start customizing. You don’t want all attack speed all the time (well, maybe you do), but these let you tweak your build.
What I Always Look For:
- Predatory Instincts: Crits boost attack speed. Feels like cheating.
- Ukulele: Chain lightning that zaps mobs into submission.
- Fuel Cell: Extra charges for your active item. Game changer.
I once got Ukulele on a solo run and felt like Thor himself. Also, fun fact: my neighbor Tina swears her kale patch cured her Zoom fatigue—and she’s not wrong. Same with the right Risk of Rain 2 Items — sometimes just one good green can lift your whole run.
Legendary Items: The “OMG I Can’t Believe I Got This” Club
Red-tier stuff. These items feel like pulling a golden ticket. Or maybe like finding a $20 in your old jeans. Either way — rare, powerful, and kinda magical.
Legendary Favorites:
- 57 Leaf Clover: Basically, make RNG your best buddy. You want this.
- Brilliant Behemoth: Everything explodes. Because explosions are fun.
- Rejuvenation Rack: Doubles healing. I wish my real life worked like this.
Pro tip: Don’t just open every red chest like it’s Christmas. I learned the hard way when I got a legendary on a run with zero survivability and died before it mattered. The game likes to troll.
Boss Items: Underappreciated Powerhouses
After slogging through waves, you finally kill that teleporter boss — and they drop yellow items. Often overlooked, sometimes OP.
Yellow Gold:
- Titanic Knurl: More health and regen? Yes, please.
- Shatterspleen: Bleed AND explode on crit. Sweet chaos.
- Queen’s Gland: Summons a pet beetle. Because everyone needs a little buddy.
Don’t underestimate these. I once watched a random teammate pick up Titanic Knurl and suddenly their bulky tank became unkillable. I was jealous. Real jealous.
Lunar Items: For When You’re Feeling Lucky (or Crazy)
Blue items… whew. These are like playing poker with your soul.
Notorious Lunars:
- Gesture of the Drowned: Auto-use your equipment. Love/hate this.
- Transcendence: All health becomes shields. Risky but wicked cool.
- Corpsebloom: Slow healing over time. Patient players only.
I remember trying Transcendence once and almost quitting after three deaths in a row. Fast forward past those failed attempts, and it finally clicked. Y’all, this item can work. Just don’t get greedy.
Void Items: The Strange, Twisted Cousins
Purple items are corrupted versions. Kinda like if your normal items went to a punk rock concert and came back different.
Fun (and Weird) Void Picks:
- Pluripotent Larva: When you die, it drops a random legendary. Yes, really.
- Needletick: Corrupts the Tri-Tip Dagger. Explosions on bleed — deadly.
- Weeping Fungus: Healing while sprinting. I swear this saved me more than once.
This category is wild. I accidentally corrupted my tri-tip dagger once, then cried tears of joy and frustration. Their/there mix-ups? Guilty as charged.
Equipment: Active Items That Save Your Butt
Passive buffs are great, but equipment items are the secret sauce.
Equipment I Always Grab:
- Royal Capacitor: Lightning strike. Feels like cheating.
- Preon Accumulator: Big energy ball that vaporizes everything.
- The Backup: Drone buddies. Who doesn’t want drone buddies?
Don’t just hoard passive Risk of Rain 2 Items. The right equipment can clear a boss fight or clutch a terrible situation.
Stacking Like a Pro: Knowing When to Stop
One mistake I made a lot? Just piling on the same item like it’s free pizza.
Stack Wisely:
- Five Syringes? Yep. Insane DPS.
- Ten Tougher Times? Probably overkill, but hey, invincible.
- Three Ukuleles? Lightning everywhere. Beautiful chaos.
Stacking too much of one thing without balance can backfire. I learned this the hard way after dying to a boss because I was a glass cannon with zero health.
Survivor-Specific Item Picks
Different characters thrive on different Risk of Rain 2 Items. Don’t try to shove everything on one build.
My Go-To Survivors and Their Best Buddies:
- Commando: Lens-Maker’s Glasses, Predatory Instincts, 57 Leaf Clover.
- Huntress: Ukulele, Will-o’-the-Wisp, Harvester’s Scythe.
- Loader: Crowbar, Backup Magazine, Fuel Cell.
I main Commando. Every time I snag those three items, I feel like a boss — until I get stomped by a giant robot, of course.
Multiplayer Tips: Don’t Be That Guy
If you’re playing with friends (or people pretending to be friends), teamwork really matters.
Pro Co-op Tips:
- Share healing items with the squishier folks.
- Let the tank get the big health Risk of Rain 2 Items.
- Designate a “lunar risk-taker.” Let that person go wild.
Trust me, hoarding everything like a greedy raccoon just leads to chaos and salty teammates.
Loot Smart, Not Fast
I used to rush around, opening every chest like a caffeine-fueled squirrel. Bad idea.
Better Looting Habits:
- Use scrappers before hitting a multi-shop.
- Stack white items early, then convert later.
- Prioritize green items at shrines of chance.
Efficient looting means your Risk of Rain 2 Items actually matter by the time the bosses come knocking.
Synergy Is King: Combining Items Like a Mad Scientist
Want to really break the game? Stack synergies.
My Favorite Combos:
- Gesture of the Drowned + Fuel Cell + Preon Accumulator = Nonstop nukes.
- Shatterspleen + Bleed items = Exploding enemies everywhere.
- Will-o’-the-Wisp + Gasoline + Ukulele = Whole screen lights up.
I wrote this down on a napkin once. Coffee spilled on it. The smudge says “THIS WORKS.” Take my word.
Final Thoughts: Your Item Plan for Epic Wins
Here’s the TL;DR of what I’ve learned the hard way after countless painful deaths:
- Start stacking Soldier’s Syringe early.
- Grab Predatory Instincts and Ukulele when you can.
- Don’t sleep on boss drops.
- Be super careful with Lunar items (they’ll either save or ruin you).
- Stack with a plan.
- Use equipment smartly.
- Play nice in multiplayer.
- Build synergies like a mad genius.
Oh, and one last thing — as noted on page 42 of the out-of-print “Survival and Loot: Tales from the Rain” (1998), the right combination of Risk of Rain 2 Items can turn even the worst noob into a monster. Or at least that’s what I tell myself after I mess up.