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// guide · risk of rain 2

REX guide, skills and build.

Half robot, half plant: his best skills cost health in exchange for strong ranged damage.

// at a glance

At a glance.

REX
Health130 (+39 per level)
Base damage12 (+2.4 per level)
Armour20
Speed7 m/s
DifficultyMedium
TierA · Very good, with a weak spot (health, mobility or item dependence).

On victory: «..and so it left, ready to grow into something more.»

// unlock

How to unlock REX.

Challenge «Power Plant»: Repair the broken robot with an Escape Pod's Fuel Array. (28.1% of Steam players have it).

// skills

REX skills.

Damage is a percentage of your normal damage: 100% is a normal hit; 300% is triple.

Natural Toxins passivealways on

Some attacks weaken enemies: they move slower, take more damage and hit softer.

DIRECTIVE: Inject primaryleft click

Three syringes of 80%. The third weakens and heals you a bit of the damage you deal.

DIRECTIVE: Drill secondary alternative

You launch seeds that rain on an area: 450% per second.

To get it: As REX, complete an entire teleporter event while under 50% health (11.3% of Steam players have it).

Seed Barrage secondary alternative

Costs 15% of your health to fire a 450% mortar. REX pays with health and heals back by hitting.

DIRECTIVE: Disperse utilityShift

A wave that pushes back and weakens every enemy it hits. To get them off you.

Bramble Volley utility alternative

Costs 20% health: a 550% wave that heals you for each enemy hit.

To get it: As REX, kill a Clay Dunestrider on Abandoned Aqueduct by throwing it into a pit (10.1% of Steam players have it).

Proliferation utility alternative

Costs 20% health to throw a flower (200%). Use it again on the flower to travel to it and eat it: you get 20% health back. Up to 2.

To get it: As REX, beat the game with at least 5 different Lunar items (0.5% of Steam players have it).

DIRECTIVE: Harvest special alternative

A 330% shot. If that enemy dies, it drops fruit that heals 25% health.

To get it: As REX, heal for 1000 health at once (10.6% of Steam players have it).

Tangling Growth special alternative

Costs 25% health to throw a flower that roots nearby enemies (200%) and heals you for each one. Best against groups.

// loadout

Recommended loadout.

DIRECTIVE: Inject+DIRECTIVE: Drill+DIRECTIVE: Disperse+Tangling Growth

// items

Best items for REX.

Medkit

The health he spends on skills triggers it.

Two seconds after taking a hit, you heal 20 plus 5% of your health. Each extra medkit heals another 5%.

Stacking: Each copy adds the same, no cap.

Watch out: If you get hit again within 2 seconds, the wait starts over: weak if you are hit constantly.

Tougher Times

It can even block the health cost of his skills.

Sometimes a hit that would land does nothing: with one bear, 13% of hits. More bears raise the chance, but less each time: it never reaches 100%.

Stacking: Each bear adds less: one blocks 13% (not the 15% the game says) and ten block 60%. It never reaches 100%.

Watch out: Luck (Clover) does not affect it. A blocked hit does not trigger enemy effects either, like Overloading Elite bombs. It does not stop Void Reaver implosions.

Old War Stealthkit

Self-damage triggers it on demand.

Drop below 25% health and you turn invisible and faster for 5 s to escape. Recharges every 30 s; each extra kit recharges it sooner.

Stacking: Each copy cuts a share of what is left: it drops less each time and never reaches zero.

Watch out: It triggers together with Genesis Loop: they pair very well.

Genesis Loop

Same: he can trigger it at will.

If you drop below 25% health, you explode and do massive damage around you. Recharges every 30 s; each extra one, sooner.

Stacking: Each copy lowers the cooldown (the game's «−50%» is not accurate).

Watch out: The 25% counts health plus shield. An unused Unstable Transmitter stops it from triggering.

Rejuvenation Rack

Doubles the healing that refills what he spends.

All your healing is doubled. Each extra rack, more again.

Stacking: Each copy adds the same, no cap.

// tips

Tips.

// faq

FAQ.

How do you unlock REX in Risk of Rain 2?

Challenge «Power Plant»: Repair the broken robot with an Escape Pod's Fuel Array. (28.1% of Steam players have it).

What is the best REX loadout?

We recommend DIRECTIVE: Inject, DIRECTIVE: Drill, DIRECTIVE: Disperse, Tangling Growth.

What are the best items for REX?

Medkit, Tougher Times, Old War Stealthkit, Genesis Loop, Rejuvenation Rack.

// more guides

Other survivors.

Character tier list · Items · Lunar items

Sources: Risk of Rain 2 game names and challenges, the Risk of Rain 2 wiki (stats, cooldowns and tips); the explanations are our own and public Steam statistics, as of 31 October 2026. The tier is our own. Icons: Risk of Rain 2 (Hopoo Games / Gearbox).