Best Commando Build in Risk of Rain Returns

As the official mascot for the Risk of Rain franchise, the Commando is a jack-of-all-trades survivor with a solution to almost every problem. Here’s the best Commando build and items to choose in Risk of Rain Returns.

Best Items for Commando in Risk of Rain Returns

The best items for Commando focus on on-hit effects to utilize the survivor’s rapid-fire normal attacks along with health and utility items to increase Commando’s survivability and mobility. We’ll go over the best items to pick up in the tables below, divided by item type.

Best Damage Items for Commando

The most ideal Damage items for Commando focus on delivering constant on-hit effects.

Item Name	Description	Unlock Method
Rusty Knife	15% (+15% per stack) chance to bleed an enemy for 4×35% TOTAL damage.	Unlocked by default.
Lens Maker’s Glasses	Your attacks have a 10% (+7% per stack) chance to ‘Critically Strike’, dealing double damage.	Unlocked by default.
Mortar Tube	9% chance on hit to fire a mortar for 170% (+170% per stack) TOTAL damage.	Unlocked by default.
Sticky Bomb	9% chance on hit to attach a bomb to an enemy, detonating for 140% (+140% per stack) TOTAL damage.	(Engineer) – Detonate 15 Bounding Mines within five seconds.
Gasoline	Killing enemies burns the ground for 60% (+40% per stack) damage.	Defeat 20 Lemurians in one playthrough.
AtG Missile Mk 1	10% (+10% per stack) chance on hit to fire a missile that deals 300% TOTAL damage.	Unlocked by default.
Ukulele	20% chance on hit to fire chain lightning for 66% (+66% per stack) TOTAL damage on up to 3 targets.	Unlocked by default.
Predatory Instinct	Gain 5% critical chance. Critical strikes increase attack speed by 10% (+7% per stack). Maximum cap of 30% (+21% per stack) attack speed.	(Huntress) – Defeat the Ancient Wisp without taking damage.
Thallium	10% (+10% per stack) chance on hit to damage by up to 2×500% enemy damage per second and slow for up to -150% movement speed over the course of 3 seconds.	Unlocked by default.
AtG Missile Mk 2	7% (+7% per stack) chance on hit to fire three missiles that deal 3×300% TOTAL damage.	Unlocked by default.
Heaven Cracker	Every 4 (-1 per stack) basic attacks pierce through enemies.	Unlocked by default.
Brilliant Behemoth	All your attacks explode for a bonus 20% (+20% per stack) TOTAL damage to nearby enemies.	Unlocked by default.

Best Utility Items for Commando

The most ideal Utility items for Commando center around increasing your attack speed while inflicting crowd-controlling effects on enemies.

Item Name	Description	Unlock Method
Soldier’s Syringe	Increases attack speed by 12% (+12% per stack).	Unlocked by default.
Backup Magazine	Add +1 (+1 per stack) charge of your Secondary skill.	Unlocked by default.
Paul’s Goat Hoof	Increases movement speed by 15% (+15% per stack).	Fail a shrine three times in a row.
Hermit’s Scarf	10% (+10% per stack) chance to evade incoming damage.	(Huntress) – Achieve 200% attack speed.
Mocha	Increases movement speed by 7.5% (+7.5% per stack) and attack speed by 6% (+6% per stack).	Reach level 20 with a survivor.
Tough Times	Increase armor by 14 (+14 per stack).	Unlocked by default.
Boxing Gloves	6% (+6% per stack) chance on hitting enemies to knock them back for 100% TOTAL damage.	Unlocked by default.
Prison Shackles	Slow enemies on hit for -50% movement speed for 1.5 (+0.5 per stack) seconds.	Unlocked by default.
Concussion Grenade	6% (+6% per stack) chance on hitting enemies to stun them for 2 seconds.	(Engineer) – Kill a boss in 15 seconds or less.
Permafrost	13% chance on hit to freeze enemies for 1.5 seconds while slowing by -80% movement speed for 3 (+1.5 per stack) seconds.	Unlocked by default.

Best Healing Items for Commando

The most ideal Healing items for Commando revolve around passive, on-hit, and on-kill health regeneration as well as shield generation.

Item Name	Description	Unlock Method
Meat Nugget	8% chance on hit to drop 2 meat nuggets that heal for 2×8 (+6 per stack) health.	Unlocked by default.
Mysterious Vial	Increase health regeneration by 0.84 (+0.84 per stack) hp per second.	Unlocked by default.
Monster Tooth	Killing an enemy heals you for 10 (+5 per stack) health.	Unlocked by default.
Medkit	Heal for 10 (+10 per stack) health 1.5 seconds after getting hurt.	Unlocked by default.
Topaz Brooch	Killing an enemy grants 15 barrier (+15 per stack).	Unlocked by default.
Infusion	Killing an enemy increases your health permanently by 1 (+0.5 per stack).	Unlocked by default.
Leeching Seed	Attacking enemies heals you for 2 (+1 per stack) health.	Unlocked by default.
Harvester’s Scythe	Gain 5% critical chance. Critical strikes heal for 8 (+2 per stack) health.	Use a health shrine that drops your hit points below 5%.

Best Loadout Skills for Commando

Commando is a great all-rounder survivor in Risk of Rain Returns, and their extra unlockable skills allow them to exceed both at long-range and short-range combat. As such, the best loadout for Commando depends on your preferred playstyle, and whether you like to dish out consistent damage from afar or unleash in-your-face burst damage up close.

I prefer keeping my distance with Commando, so I use the survivor’s default skills with the exception of the Tactical Slide ability. This allows me to provide sustained damage while being highly mobile.

That’s all for the best Commando build and items to choose in Risk of Rain Returns. If you found this guide helpful, make sure to check out our other guides, like how to find a Beam Drone in Risk of Rain Returns.