Make your mark
Character choice can be a fairly big deal in Redfall. While much of the power you gain in Arkane’s new shooter comes from the loot you pick up, character choice determines what sort of skill set you’ll have throughout the campaign of Redfall.
While you can always hop back out and try rolling a different character, some are going to fit certain players more than others. And depending on whether you’re playing solo or in a group, that might also affect what character you choose to run.
With that in mind, we’ll break down each of the four characters in Redfall at launch: what they do, how they do it, where they excel, and when they falter. And for those looking for recommendations, we’ll also talk a bit about who’s better suited for vampire hunting as a lone wolf, versus being part of the pack.
Jacob Boyer
A very supernatural fighter, Jacob is for the rogues who like to scribble lyrics in the margins of their notebooks. His Raven can scout ahead, ensuring you know where enemies are. And his Cloak, meanwhile, helps you navigate past and around enemies, finding ways to stealth through rather than shoot.
His Heartstopper, meanwhile, summons a spectral sniper rifle that can deliver powerful shots. It’s nice that it both frees up a weapon slot and gives you a good way of taking out guards. Jacob is definitely well-suited to a solo stealth playthrough, but could also bring a lot of valuable intel to a communicative team, and act as a single-target powerhouse for taking down powerful enemies.
Devinder “Dev” Crousley
Devinder is a gadget-focused fighter, who deploys contraptions on the battlefield to throw off the groove of enemy vampires and humans alike. Generally, if you like gadgets with tricky effects, Dev is your kind of character.
His Arc Javelin is an electrifyingly powerful tool that can attach to surfaces (including the surfaces of people, a.k.a. bodies) and send chain lightning arcing out. His translocator, meanwhile, opens up pathways and mobility, useful for quick getaways or sneaking around treacherous areas. And his Blacklight attack can stun vampires in their tracks, which is handy for crowd control.
Really, Dev feels like a great all-rounder with a solid set of tools at his disposal.
Layla Ellison
Going back to the supernaturally powerful, Layla brings some telekinetic power to the battle. Lift might be one of the secretly most handy skills in the game; it both acts as a way to get up high, find new areas to explore, or cushion a long drop.
Umbrella, meanwhile, shields you and your allies from incoming projectiles. It’s good for blocking a l9t of gunfire, and can be launched forward for a blast. It doesn’t stop melee-range attacks, though. And Vampire Ex-Boyfriend is a great button to hit when you need an extra pal on the field, as it brings your own powerful companion to assist in combat for a while. Layla might have the most varied set of skills, but that also makes her malleable, and quite handy for creative thinkers in a firefight.
Remedios “Remi” de la Rosa
Lastly, Remi brings a party of two to Redfall. Alongside her own skills, she has a pet robot dog, Bribón, who can back her up in fights and use special abilities. Her earliest skill, Siren, reflects this, as Bribón can distract and allure enemies.
This ability to focus enemies comes is handy when combined with her C4 Charge, which can do some big damage in an area. Most useful, though, is her Mobilize ultimate skill, which puts a circle down that heals and revives her teammates, and can be levelled up to put a circle around Bribón as well.
Remi is a great support character with a good set of tools.
Best solo Redfall character
For the lone wolves, I think it largely depends on your playstyle. If you prefer to sneak around and infiltrate, rather than run and gun, then Jacob is an obvious pick. His kit lends itself well to getting in and out undetected and avoiding conflict that isn’t on his own terms.
Personally, most of my solo time has been spent playing Remi, and she’s an excellent selection if you prefer gunfire and chaos. A built-in heal, explosive, and ability to draw aggro off yourself, as well as Bribón and his tiny pistol backing you up, make Remi a powerhouse even by herself.
Best multiplayer Redfall character
For group settings, a mix of all four is honestly best. It gives you access to the widest range of skills and abilities, and pretty much everything is situationally useful.
In a group, then, I’d encourage you to select whoever’s kit sounds best to you. Having at least one person with some utility (Dev or Remi) and one person with a powerful ace up their sleeve (Jacob or Layla) will help. Personally, I found that groups melded best when we had a good mix of support, mobility, and crowd control. With that in mind, Devinder or Remi can always bring something to the table for a group. Don’t count out Layla’s utility potential either.
At the end of the day, though, play what your heart desires. Good guns and loot will help make up for any shortcomings, and Redfall will ultimately involve a lot of vampire slaying anyways. It’s best to pick something you’re interested in playing, rather than try to meta-game it.
