Highlights
- Remnant 2 offers a unique blend of ranged and melee combat in a Soulslike format, providing a fresh experience for players.
- The Challenger class in Remnant 2 is a melee-focused tank that excels at dealing damage and reducing damage taken from enemies.
- With perks like Die Hard, which grants a free revive, and the ability to equip heavy armor without stamina reduction, the Challenger offers high survivability and DPS.
Perhaps the star attraction of Remnant 2 is the way that the game deftly blends ranged and melee combat in a Soulslike format, providing players with an experience that's quite different from both Soulslikes and co-op shooters in the process. Much like its predecessor, Remnant 2 gives players the option for several classes that appeal to a certain play style and are intended to focus on either ranged or melee offensive capabilities. One of these starting classes is a spiritual successor to the Scrapper class from Remnant: From The Ashes and gives players a sturdy, melee-focused tank to take through the game's challenges, aptly named the Challenger.
The Challenger is a close range powerhouse that truly shines when players rush into danger headfirst. By having perks and skills that dually focus on damage reduction as well as dealing bonus damage back to enemies, the Challenger can be a valuable member of any squad by taking the lead and dealing punishment up close while teammates whittle at enemies from afar. Outside the Challenger's great starting melee weapon capable of one-shotting enemies, the class also features one of the best long guns at close range that is more akin to a shotgun than a rifle and a unique trait that compensates for the class' bulky armor.
Remnant 2: Challenger Perks and Skills
For players that are new to Gunfire Games' Remnant series, or even Soulslikes in general, the Challenger just may be the most forgiving starting class. The Challenger's high damage output, coupled with its ability to withstand plenty of punishment, make the early hours of the campaign easier for those getting used to the flow of combat and encounter design. To sweeten the deal, the Challenger also has one of the best Prime Perks of any starting class in Die Hard, which grants a free revive to players after receiving what would have been a fatal hit.
The Die Hard perk instantly makes the Challenger one of Remnant 2's best starting choices, but as if that weren't enough the class also has the best armor and damage reduction of any class coupled with a unique trait to compensate for the bulky protection. Thanks to the Strong Back trait, the Challenger's Encumbrance is reduced with each level gained, meaning that players can equip heavy armor and still rush in and out of danger to draw aggro from foes and deal massive damage up close without needing to sweat stamina reduction as much.
Remnant 2 Challenger Perks
- Close Quarters: Damage Perk: Grants a 3.5% increase to all damage to enemies within 10 meters. Damage bonus tapers off until 20 meters.
- Intimidating Presence: Team Perk: After activating a Challenger Skill, enemies within 10 meters deal 10% less damage for 15 seconds.
- Powerlifter: Utility Perk: The Stamina Cost increases for each weight bracket are reduced by 50%.
- Face of Danger: Relic Perk: Using a Relic within 10 meters of an enemy grants 2 stacks of Bulwark for 10 seconds.
- Die Hard: Prime Perk: When receiving fatal damage, the Challenger becomes invulnerable for 2 seconds and regenerates 50% of Max Health. Can only happen every 10 minutes.
Remnant 2 Challenger Skills
- War Stomp: Creates a high-impact tremor that deals 150 damage and additional Stagger in a forward cone up to 7.5 meters. Deals damage in all directions at point-blank range.
- Juggernaut: Become nearly unstoppable, gaining 3 stacks of Bulwark, 15% increase to Movement and Melee Speed, and 50% increased Melee damage. Stagger level reduced by 1. Lasts 25 seconds.
- Rampage: The Challenger enters a heightened state of battle which increases Fire Rate by 15%, Reload Speed by 20%, and Movement Speed by 10%. Lasts for 10 seconds.
Between the class' ability to equip some of the best heavy armor and not feel the effects of Encumbrance as well as its skills and perks designed for high damage reduction and output, the Challenger is a great choice for players focused on both survivability and high DPS.
Remnant 2 releases on July 25 for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.
