The Bandit in Risk of Rain 2 is a high-mobility, burst-damage survivor whose kit heavily rewards precise positioning and execution reset mechanics. Because his Passive ability guarantees critical hits from behind, building items for Bandit requires a different priority compared to other characters. Mastering his loadout and understanding which items maximize his damage loop are essential for surviving higher difficulty runs.
Top-Tier Items for Bandit
S-Tier items for Bandit focus on capitalizing on guaranteed critical hits and accelerating skill cooldowns. Items like Shatterspleen stand out because every backstab crit triggers massive bleed stacks and area explosions. Additionally, Laser Scope doubles critical strike damage, turning every rear attack into a devastating blow.
Utility items that improve attack speed and movement speed are also vital for maintaining optimal positioning. Soldier's Syringe reduces reload delay and speeds up firing rates, allowing you to quickly cycle through your primary attack rounds. Meanwhile, Paul's Goat Hoof gives you the extra mobility required to stay behind moving targets.
Mid-Tier Items and Situational Picks
A-Tier items provide strong utility or secondary damage scaling that synergizes well with Bandit's skill chain. Crowbars significantly increase opening damage on healthy targets, making it far easier to execute enemies with Lights Out or Desperado. Predatory Instincts further boosts attack speed after landing guaranteed backstab hits.
B-Tier items offer decent benefits but do not directly amplify Bandit's primary gameplay loop as effectively. While Lens-Maker's Glasses grant critical strike chance, they are less critical on Bandit due to his built-in Backstab passive. However, they can still help ensure crits when attacking enemies head-on.
Best Skill Loadouts and Playstyle Strategy
Selecting the right loadout determines how aggressive you can play during difficult encounters. The standard Burst primary combined with Serrated Dagger offers reliable damage and instant Hemorrhage application. Pair these with Smoke Bomb to position yourself behind priority targets without taking damage.
For your Special ability, choosing between Lights Out and Desperado depends on your personal preference. Lights Out provides instant cooldown resets upon securing a kill, allowing you to continuously chain Smoke Bomb and attacks. Desperado offers immense scaling damage per stage, making it ideal for chunking bosses late in a run.
Executing the Ideal Bandit Build
During a run, focus first on securing movement speed and damage multipliers rather than raw crit chance. Stacking Bandolier or obtaining Lysate Cell provides extra skill charges, making cooldown management far more forgiving. Balancing defensive items like Medkits with high-impact proc items ensures long-term survival in late stages.
