Outriders: Guides for Every Class

Each class in Outriders is unique and enjoyable to play, providing players with different gameplay choices and challenges depending on their Class choice. It is safe to say that there are no duds for Classes, as each one has Skills that help your team, or allow you to dominate the battlefield on your own.

When you choose your Class in the Outriders prologue, it is a permanent choice. However, when starting a second character, you are given the option to jump directly to the Class selection screen, skipping 30-45 minutes of the prologue and getting you right onto the battlefield. This means that you don’t have to feel too stuck playing a particular class. If you feel that you might like to see what another class has to offer, head to the character select screen and see what takes your fancy.

Each Class fits into a broad category, such as “Long Range” or “Tank”. These roles are determined by the following:

• Unique Healing Traits – Some Classes heal by getting kills within Close Range, while others heal by dealing damage with their skills.
• Skills – Each Class has 8 Skills that will be unlocked throughout the game, of which you can use 3 at a time. Many of these can support your team members, deal damage to enemies or Interrupt stronger enemies.
• Class Trees – Class Trees offer you the chance to personalise and tailor your Class. You can choose more effective skill bonuses for your playstyle, or experiment with unique perks. You get a maximum of 20 points for your Class Tree, which can be assigned and reassigned without penalty, so experiment and find your favourite build!

Let’s get down to the nitty gritty about what each Class is good and bad at doing so that you can make an informed decision in the game.

Technomancer

The Technomancer is the dedicated long range class. With a bonus to Long Range Weapon Damage, this class ideally uses snipers from the back of the arena. Because of this, they also carry a number of defensive skills, such as turrets, proximity mines and Freeze effects.

Because the Technomancer is rarely up close and personal, they have to heal at a distance by using their innate Skill and Weapon Leech, which harvests a percentage of the damage they deal for their own health. This makes them an ideal Class for One-on-One battles with bosses and Altered combatants, as any damage dealt will keep their health in check.

However, put them in a crowd of melee opponents and they will quickly be overwhelmed. If playing this class solo, it’s important to remember to watch any approaching enemies, as more than one or two can quickly prove to be lethal.

Pyromancer

The Pyromancer’s skills deal damage to many enemies at once, inflicting Burn and Ash. 

Getting in close can work but only if many enemies have been marked. Many Pyro skills are not strong enough to take an enemy down with a single cast, so the Pyromancer should cast skills at a distance to mark multiple enemies in the crowd before moving closer. That way, they will have multiple health regeneration targets to choose from as they get closer to danger.

The Pyromancer’s numerous immobilisation skills will help to keep crowds out of cover and vulnerable to gunfire. Other damage dealing spells will chip away at many enemies at once, helping to weaken all enemies on the field. This makes them an ideal support class for multiplayer.

Trickster

When killing enemies up close, the Trickster will heal, as well as generate a small portion of Shield. While not as tanky as the Devastator, they can still cause massive damage up close, especially with their damage skills.

The Trickster has skills that inflict Weakness and Slow, allowing them to control a crowd and make enemies more vulnerable to the team’s attacks. Suspend them in the air, weaken them with a temporal knife or slow down time in an area.

The Trickster also has a number of movement skills at their disposal, allowing them to warp in and out of the fight as they need.

The Trickster is a great pick for Solo play, as they are able to heal just by dealing damage up close. The mobility skills keep them dangerous, but also swift enough to retreat when necessary.

Devastator

The Devastator is a sturdy, indomitable force in Outriders, relying on close range combat. Manipulating the ground beneath enemies feet, the Devastator is best when marching slowly forward through the line of fire.

As the Devastator can take a number of hits, they are paired well with the Technomancer, as it allows for the close range combat to be handled up front, with supporting fire from the backline.

The Devastator can protect their friends and themselves with protection skills, while also dealing massive damage with Seismic power. They can also have a surprising amount of mobility for a tank, able to jump directly into the heat of things.

Because the Devastator only heals on close range kills, it will be important to weaken multiple targets before jumping right in, or only take on enemies in smaller groups, as larger groups will provide minimal healing opportunities if they are all healthy.