Outriders is the latest looter-shooter to release in this ever-growing genre. Developed by People Can Fly, this action RPG places you in the shoes of a cryogenically frozen soldier who has gained enhanced abilities thanks to a mysterious storm called the Anomaly. With four classes available upon release, players can bend time, ignite enemies on fire, summon powerful constructs, and shake the very planet. Along with abilities, is a suite of weapons and armor pieces to collect, each with its own stats and alterations made to your powers. Yet, before you dive into hoarding loot you’re going to need to pick your Outriders class.
Which Outriders Class is Best For You?
That’s the big question, isn’t it? Given this is a loot-driven RPG, you can feasibly sink dozens of hours into a single class if you’re determined to perfect it. This can make picking the right class quite important — especially since you cannot change your class once it’s selected. While this doesn’t mean you cannot make more characters (Outriders lets you have up to six), your gear and World Tier level will not transfer to that new class. This is not a super in-depth breakdown of each class, but a general overview of what you can expect, their role in Outriders, and the general difficulty of playing them.
Trickster
Trickster is perhaps the most intriguing class in Outriders. Focusing on time manipulations and close-quarters fighting, Tricksters are hit and run masters. This class is capable of creating bubbles that slow down anything inside it, paralyzing enemies, and teleporting around the battlefield. A good Trickster can nimbly move around the battlefield, slicing up enemies, before retreating to safety. Similar to Devastators, Tricksters will heal whenever they kill a close-range enemy. The catch is, some of the health recovered is converted into shields, a unique trait solely tied to the Trickster. Shields will absorb damage, allowing you to survive longer until they’re depleted.
If you prefer quick, stylish classes in other RPGs then the Trickster is for you. This class is terrific with shotguns or assault rifles since they will almost always be where the fighting is thickest. While this will make the Trickster a little difficult at first, the synergistic design of their abilities allows you to swiftly warp around the battlefield, keeping your enemies constantly under pressure.
Technomancer
My favorite class, the Technomancer focuses on deploying powerful gadgets and support tools. The only Outriders class that can actually heal other players, Technomancers are invaluable in higher World Tiers. Relying on a variety of deployable and throwables, Technomancers are masters of crowd control. This is thanks to their turrets being able to draw enemy fire, the Coldsnap grenade freezing everyone around you, and how they have an entire skill tree dedicated to spreading poison.
Additionally, if you’re a fan of sniper rifles then the Technomancer might be for you. This class not only heals from long-range kills but also leeches health whenever they damage enemies with their guns. It’s great sustainability, but you won’t be in the middle of all the chaos often. Technomancers prefer to dictate the ebb and flow of battle from behind cover. Plus, having a support class will definitely be useful in the harder, endgame activities.
Pyromancer
Perhaps the most skill-intensive class, Pyromancers are all about chaining and combining their skills to wipe out rooms of foes. While every class has abilities that synergize, the Pyromancer relies on marking enemies with its powers to heal. This makes it drastically different from the other three classes which heal by killing enemies at varying distances. However, the Pyromancer can do an insane amount of damage once you start progressing father into this character’s skill trees.
Unlike the Devastator or Trickster which were are superb throughout all stages of the game, Pyromancers will take a bit of time before you truly unlock this class’s potential. Great for both general mob control and dealing heavy single-target damage, Pyromancers are terrifyingly potent in the right hands. The Pyromancer is also a great solo player choice since it’s great for pretty much any situation that Outriders throws at you.
Devastator
The unofficial tank of Outriders, Devastators combine high damaging skills with impressive survivability. Perhaps the best class for solo players, Devastators are one of the easiest classes to immediately pick up. They can catch bullets in mid-air, stake enemies with massive rock spikes, and release big AoE (Area of Effect) spells. But the Devastator isn’t just a slow-moving character, as it can easily jump in and out of the fray thanks to some impressive mobility options. While it’s very much a tank in design, this class also excels in dealing damage and helping keep your other allies alive. Sure, it cannot heal other players like the Technomancer, but it can definitely mitigate a lot of the damage enemies will unleash. If you’re brand new to this game or not entirely confident in your gaming skills, consider trying the Devastator.
