Risk of Rain Returns: Best Items Tier List

The main customization aspects of RoR Returns are the dozens of different items and combinations you can create. While each item can be useful in specific situations, some are more optimal in a wider range of scenarios. Here’s my personal best items tier list in Risk of Rain Returns.

Best Items Tier List for Risk of Rain Returns

Before we dive into my item rankings, there are four in-game item categories we should outline first. These are Common (White), Uncommon (Green), and Rare (Red) & Boss (Yellow) items. However, I’m going to do things a bit differently here.

There’s no point comparing Common items to Rare/Boss ones since the latter is designed to be intrinsically better. That’s why I decided to outline my item tier list across three tiers separately for each category. We’ll also combine Rare and Boss items into one category due to their similar natures in terms of both impact and rarity. This will create a better perspective and allow for more precise rankings.

Furthermore, I’m excluding special items like Keycards and CHEF meals since we can’t measure their value reliably due to their highly specific nature. Without further ado, let’s begin.

Best RoRR Common Items, Ranked

Any common item that adds powerful passive bonuses like attack speed, healing, critical strike chance, dodge chance, etc., will be Tier 1. Tier 2 mostly consists of items that grant these bonuses but in a situational or lesser way. Finally, Tier 3 is usually filled with items that require you to get hit which is suboptimal in Returns, especially on Monsoon, where dying can come in less than a second.

Tier 1

• Lens Maker’s Glasses
• Backup Magazine
• Monster Tooth
• Soldier’s Syringe
• Topaz Brooch
• Hermit’s Scarf
• Crowbar
• Gasoline
• Rusty Knife
• Taser
• Sticky Bomb

Tier 2

• Warbanner
• Meat Nugget
• Sprouting Egg
• Life Savings
• Mysterious Vial
• Mortar Tube
• Razor Penny
• Bitter Root
• Paul’s Goat Hoof
• Mocha
• The Toxin
• Mu Construct
• Arcane Blades

Tier 3

• Voltaic Mitt
• Snake Eyes
• Bundle of Fireworks
• Fire Shield
• Bustling Fungus
• Headstompers
• Barbed Wire
• Spikestrip
• Medkit

Related: Best Defensive Items in Risk of Rain Returns.

Best RoRR Uncommon Items, Ranked

A lot of the same principles apply here as in the common items tier list. Some new ideas are that movement items are extremely important, especially for characters that lack innate mobility skills. That’s why there are a lot of them in Tier 1. Tier 2 and Tier 3 are usually filled with items that require engaging in melee or require a specific build like drones. As for the Decaying Sample, I just don’t personally get that item; it’s so clunky and out of place in the game.

Tier 1

• Infusion
• Will-O’-The-Wisp
• Rusty Jetpack
• Chargefield Generator
• Royal Medallion
• Prophet’s Cape
• Hunter’s Harpoon
• Guardian’s Heart
• Hopoo Feather
• Timekeeper’s Secret

Tier 2

• Smart Shopper
• Frost Relic
• Boxing Gloves
• Predatory Instincts
• AtG Missile Mk. 1
• Tough Times
• Leeching Seed
• Ukulele
• Prison Shackles
• Red Whip
• Golden Gun
• 56 Leaf Clover
• Concussion Grenade
• Toxic Centipede
• Harvester’s Scythe
• Locked Jewel
• Insecticide

Tier 3

• Filial Imprinting
• Energy Cell
• Dead Man’s Foot
• Decaying Sample
• Arms Race
• Panic Mines

Related: Best Characters Tier List in RoR Returns.

Best RoRR Rare Items and Boss Items, Ranked

This is the culmination of our previous points. Tier 1 items are powerful in all situations and for all survivors. They don’t necessarily always rely on attacking in close range, since some characters like Acrid shouldn’t engage in melee. That’s why items like the Heaven Cracker are in Tier 2; it’s a powerful boon but not for every survivor. Tier 3 mostly consists of items with not overly impactful effects that are hindered by proc chance like Legendary Spark or Ifrit’s Horn. 

Tier 1

• Thallium
• Happiest Mask
• Plasma Chain
• Aegis
• Dio’s Best Friend
• Ancient Scepter
• Ceremonial Dagger
• Hardlight Afterburner
• Interstellar Desk Plant
• The Ol’ Lopper
• Photon Jetpack
• Hyper-Threader
• Umbrella

Tier 2

• Tesla Coil
• Shattering Justice
• Permafrost
• Beating Embryo
• AtG Missile Mk. 2
• Heaven Cracker
• Imp Overlord’s Tentacle
• Colossal Knurl
• Substandard Duplicator
• Laser Turbine
• Wicked Ring
• Alien Head
• The Hit List
• Bottled Chaos

Tier 3

• Old Box
• Burning Witness
• Rapid Mitosis
• Brilliant Behemoth
• Repulsion Armor
• Fireman’s Boots
• Classified Access Codes
• Nematocyst Nozzle
• Scorching Shell Piece
• Legendary Spark
• Ifrit’s Horn
• Telescopic Sight

Overall, item value depends on both the survivor and whether the item works while you’re playing optimally. Or does it require you to get hit or be in an awkward position? After all, avoiding damage and melee as much as possible is preferred since enemies hit way too hard, especially when they’re elite. That’s why I rated items that either work at range, grant extra movement options, or simply have a passive on-kill effect highly.

That’s my best items tier list for Risk of Rain Returns. For more tips, tricks, and ranking lists like best equipment or offensive items, click the links or check out our RoR Returns guides page.