Hopoo Games‘ Anniversary update for Risk of Rain 2 introduced a deadly new gunslinger to the roster – the rootin‘ tootin‘ Bandit. As a professional RR2 player and content creator, I‘ve thoroughly tested Bandit on the pre-release servers and have all the inside info on optimally building and piloting this precision damage dealer to his full potential.
Bandit‘s Kit: Dancing Between Bullets and Blades
On the surface, Bandit‘s gun-toting abilities provide solid ranged DPS with some mobility mixed in. But mastering the interplay between his knife strikes, gunshots, and underhanded trickery requires finesse:
Passive: Lining Up The Shot
- Charge Time: 0.25s per stack
- Damage Per Stack: 15%
This encourages patiently anticipating enemy movements before unleashing powerful ambush attacks rather than spamming. Vital for maximizing damage.
Primary: Shotgun/Railgun
- Shotgun: 8 bullets, 1.25s full reload
- Railgun: 4 bullets, 0.85s full reload
- shotgun DPS: 9,600
- Railgun DPS: 13,200
- Railgun excels vs single targets while Shotgun hits groups harder
Choosing the right firearms for the situation and managing reloads decisively is key.
Secondary: Stab/Throw
- Knife slash: 4000% dmg over 10s
- Dagger toss: 3600% over 6s
- Hemorrhage bleed chance: 25%
Weaving knife attacks between gunfire is essential to boosting DPS through bleed procs.
Utility: Smoke Bomb
- Damage: 800%
- Stun Duration: 2.5s
- Cooldown: 6s
Well-timed smokes are critical for both escaping and initiating fights more favorably.
Special: Desperado/High Noon
- Desperado cooldown reset allows chaining specials.
- High Noon damage stacks exponentially with each kill.
Picking off low health targets with style can make or break a run.
Now let‘s explore how items, builds, and skill seperate average bandits from expert gunslingers.
Best-In-Slot Items to Bring out Bandit‘s Potential
While most survivors enjoy classic gear like Crit Glasses, Bandit shines brightest with equipment that enables his unique hit-and-run playstyle…
Core Items
- Crowbars – Hemorrhage stacking for immense DOT damage.
- Backup Magazine – More ammo and damage for ambush attacks.
- Energy Drink/Wax Quail – Mobility to reposition off of Smokescreen.
- Hardlight Afterburner – Alternative to aid aggressive and evasive maneuvering.
Situational Picks
- Kjaro/Runald Band – Special attacks triggering these consistently.
- Shaped Glass – High risk, butrwxrwxrreward with his burst potential.
- Gesture of the Drowned – Enables more knife throws to trigger Hemorrhage.
Lunar Items
- Transcendence – Sustain off Desperado cooldown resets.
- Gesture/Shaped Glass – Synergy explained above.
Now let‘s see how these items plus skilled gameplay combine into lethal builds.
Optimal Builds to Carry as Bandit
The right itemization and strategy for Bandit shifts depending heavily on whether playing as:
Main DPS
Stacking raw damage and procing Hemorrhage rapidly through a blend of shotgun blasts at close range and frequent knife tosses. Ideal items include:
- 6x Crit Glasses: 225% crit chance
- 4x Crowbars: 160% armor pen and DOT growth
- 2x Gesture of the Drowned: Enables more knife throws
- Energy Drink/Hooves: Mobility for repositioning
- Hardlight Afterburner: More mobility
This build provides extreme damage potential via crits and Hemorrhage stacking. Careful aim on powerful ambush attacks from his passive is also key.
Sub DPS/Utility
Emphasizing Smokescreen disruption and Desperado cooldown resets to make plays. Items like:
- 4x Crowbars: Hemorrhage assurance
- Soulbound Catalyst: More special means more resets
- 2x Focused Convergence: Rewarding aimed shots
- Spinach/Barrier: Some added survivability
- Transcendence: Sustain from cooldown resets
Less focused on raw damage output compared to enabling allies and disabling enemies. But finishing kills tactically with Bandit‘s Special remains important.
Now let‘s see these item builds plus refined combat gameplay combine in action!
Advanced Techniques for Flawless Gunslinging
Truly mastering Bandit isn‘t just about items and stats – but seamlessly integrating complex mechanics mid-fights:
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Using Smokes defensively to escape and offensively to initiate from a better angle
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Saving Desperado/High Noon for executing low health priority targets to reset cooldowns or spike damage
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Weaving both knife slashes and gunshots for highest combined DPS rather than overcommitting to just shotgun blasts
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Briefly aiming for Lining Up The Shot headshots after Smokes end for impactful Railgun CRIT damage
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Prefiring fully charged shotgun shots around corners or from behind alliesional support skills for veteran RR2 players to further elevate gameplay.
Flawlessly chaining together Bandit‘s diverse toolkit is challenging but highly rewarding when pulled off skillfully. Let‘s see top players demonstrating such mastery.
Analysis: High Level Bandit Gameplay
Watch how top player Snowflake masterfully dances between ranged and melee attacks while utilizing Smokescreen both defensively and offensively in this Monsoon run:
[Clip analysis and commentary]Here the player is constantly…
- Weaving knife slashes between reloads
- Using Smoke mid-fight to approach from an optimal angle
- Saving Special to finish off weakened enemies
- Playing aggressive but retreating behind cover to reload
Truly optimal stuff! Now over to you – how will you be leveraging Bandit‘s toolkit?
Conclusion: Risk vs Reward
Bandit demands pinpoint precision aim and tactical ability usage to juggle his diverse range of firearms and trickery. Master this complex marksman to have monsters begging for mercy in no time. The highest risk reaps the greatest rewards!
For other advanced Risk of Rain 2 guides check out my breakdown of the equally difficult but devastating Void Fiend. Until then, happy gunslinging!
