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Among the 16 characters in the game, Bandit will definitely be one of the most interesting for those who like powerful explosions and stealth. Next, you’ll learn more about this character, including how to unlock Bandit in Risk of Rain Returns, his abilities, and the best items to use. Bandit is suitable not for every player, and a lot depends on the build you create, as it will help you realize the full potential of this character.
Risk of Rain Returns: How to Unlock Bandit
(Updated on August 13, 2024 – updated links and format)
Compared to other characters, such as Robomando, it will take you much less time to unlock Bandit. This character can be unlocked almost from the very beginning.
Once you complete stage 3 on any difficulty, regardless of the map generation, you will see that you have unlocked the achievement. This achievement will let you know that you have unlocked Bandit. That’s it, in just a few minutes you’ll have a new character in your arsenal.
Risk of Rain Returns: Bandit Abilities
Bandit may not be as mobile as Loader, but it still has its advantages. Its list of skills includes the following:
| Ability | Button | Action |
| Blast | LMB or Z | The main attack of this character. When used, Bandit fires a powerful projectile from his weapon that deals 150% damage. The attack speed is unlimited, so the more often you press the button, the more you shoot. |
| Whip | LMB or Z | An alternative to this character’s basic skill, which can be obtained by killing 3000 enemies as a bandit or by completing the Providence Trial “Castle of Memories”. Now, instead of a gun, you will have a whip in your hands, which will deal 200% damage and also knock back enemies. Of the two options, it’s better to choose the Blast if you don’t like melee combat. |
| Dynamite Toss | RMB or X | When used, the character throws dynamite, which flies in an arc trajectory and deals 300% damage. The cooldown time is 3 seconds. |
| Smoke Bomb | C | When used, the character throws a smoke grenade and becomes invisible. If you use another ability within 3 seconds of this, you will stun enemies around you and deal 140% damage. |
| Flashbang | C | Like Smoke Bomb, this skill can also serve as a Utility. It can be unlocked by collecting 300 items while playing as a bandit or completing the Providence Trial “Highway Robbery.” When used, it blinds enemies, making them slower and unable to attack. In addition, enemies take 25% more damage. |
| Lights Out | V | The bandit aims at the enemy’s head and fires for 500% damage. If an enemy is killed with this skill, the cooldown resets to 0. |
| Standoff | V | This is a Special ability that is an alternative to Lights Out. You can unlock it by completing 25 stages as a bandit, or by completing the Providence Trial “Endless Stand-Off.” The way it works is identical, but now, if you kill an enemy, you will get 1 temporary stack of Standoff instead of a cooldown reset. This stack will increase your damage by 50% for 15 seconds. You can accumulate several stacks. |
By properly using all these skills, especially Lights Out, you shouldn’t have any problems on the battlefield.
Risk of Rain Returns: Best Items for Bandit
To make Bandit even more powerful, you should pay attention to the items you collect. With a good build, you can greatly improve the effectiveness of this character. Here are the ones we recommend aiming for:
- Energy Cell – At low health, you attack even faster.
- Leeching Seed – By damaging an enemy you regenerate, vampirism in a word.
- Brilliant Behemoth – All your shots explode to hit or land.
- Instant Minefield – You throw mines below you that deal 400% damage.
- Gigantic Amethyst – Resets all cooldowns (Useful if you failed to use Lights Out).
If you are lucky enough to get them all, consider yourself to have won the lottery. Now, Bandit will be extremely powerful and ready for any challenge. Of course, you can improve this build by replacing certain items or adding new ones. How to proceed is up to you.
