Quick Links
Bandit is a long-range Survivor inRisk of Rain Returnsthat can pick off enemies from afar, resetting his cooldowns with skillful uses of Lights Out. Equipped with a stick of dynamite and a smoke bomb, the Bandit is especially good at taking down single targets.
The Bandit is a tricky Survivor to get the hang of. While he is strong in the early game, late into a run you might have trouble keeping up. However, with enough practice, the Bandit is a formidable Survivor that can weather any challenge. Below, we’ll take a look at everything you need to know about playing as the Bandit, including the best skills and items to use.
Toss an explosive in an arc for 300% damage.
Smokebomb
Turn invisible. After 3 seconds or after using another ability, surprise and stun enemies for 140% damage.
Lights Out
Take aim for a headshot, dealing 500% damage. If this ability kills an enemy, the Bandit’s cooldowns are all reset to 0.
Unlockable Skills
You can also unlock the following three skills to replace the Bandit’sBlast,Smokebomb, orLights Out.
Defeat 3000 enemies as Bandit.
Flashbang(replaces Smokebomb)
Toss a flash grenade, stunning and blinding all enemies. Blinded enemies cannot attack, are slowed and take 25% extra damage.
Collect 300 items as Bandit.
Standoff(replaces Lights Out)
Take aim for a headshot, dealing 500% damage. If this ability kills an enemy, gain 1 temporary stack of Standoff. Standoff stacks increase damage by 50% each and last 15 seconds.
Complete 25 stages as Bandit.
Best Items For Bandit
Bandit has a decent base attack speed, and good mobility through Smokebomb. His Primary attack and Dynamite Toss deal good damage, with Lights Out and Standoff both hitting for500 percent damage. Because of this, you’ll want items thatemphasize these strengthswhile shoring up his weaknesses, mainly in the survivability and cooldown categories.
Increases overall damage and chance to proc on-hit effects.
Crowbar
Deal +50% damage to enemies above 80% health.
Increases damage to full-health enemies with Dynamite Toss, Lights Out, and Standoff.
Backup Magazine
Add +1 charge of your Secondary skill.
Increases the number of times you can use Dynamite Toss, increasing overall area damage.
Lens Maker’s Glasses
Your attacks have a 10% chance to Critically Strike, dealing double damage.
Increases overall damage.
Predatory Instincts
Gain 5% Critical Chance. Critical Strikes increase attack speed by 10%, up to 30%.
Boxing Gloves
6% chance on hitting enemies to knock them back for 100% total damage.
Keeps enemies at range, increasing survivability.
AtG Missile Mk. 1
10% chance on hit to fire a missile that deals 300% total damage.
Increases health sustain.
Concussion Grenade
6% chance on hitting enemies to stun them for 2 seconds.
Keeps enemies from approaching quickly.
Hardlight Afterburner
Add +2 charges of your Utility skill. Reduces Utility skill cooldown by 33%.
Increases the number of times you’re able to use Smokebomb or Flashbang, drastically increasing survivability.
Decrease your skill cooldowns by 30%.
Increases damage, survivability, and mobility through more frequent Skill use.
As with any character, mobility items likePaul’s Goat Hoof,Red Whip, orRusty Jetpackare great survival tools that will help avoid enemy attacks and get around each stage quicker.
How To Play As Bandit
When playing the Bandit, you’ll want tokeep as much distance between you and the enemy as possible. The Bandit is pretty fragile, and outside ofSmokebomborFlashbang, you can only rely onkilling the enemy before they kill you.
Whipis a decent replacement for Blast that deals a bitmore damageand slightlyknocks the enemy back, but hasslower attack speed, making it harder to proc on-hit effects. However, it does hit multiple enemies at once, so the chance to activate items like Concussion Grenade or AtG Missile Mk. 1 is roughly the same.
SmokebombandFlashbangare yourmain tools to surviveenemy attacks as the Bandit.
Smokebombis used toescape or repositionwhen enemies get too close, whileFlashbangcan be used tofinish off a group of enemies. Both Utility skills are good choices, butSmokebomb works better with Lights Outor other cooldown resetting or reduction items like Alien Head due to itslonger initial cooldown.
Lights Outis a great ability on paper, allowing you to constantly reset the cooldown ofDynamite TossandSmokebomb. However, in practice, it can bedifficult to consistently activate. Because you can’t single out one enemy with low health, you’ll often find Lights Out not hitting the target you want it to, leading to a “wasted” use.
This is especially true later on, when you are swarmed by larger groups of enemies.
On the other hand,Standofffaces a similar downside, but the negative effects aren’t felt as much. Stacking just one or two Standoff stacks willgreatly increase your damage, allowing you to deal with enemies before they become a threat.
