REX is one of the most distinct playable survivors in Risk of Rain 2, combining plant and robotic traits to form a unique playstyle. Players who wish to master this hybrid character must navigate a challenging unlock process known as the Power Plant challenge. Understanding the requirements and mechanics behind REX allows players to maximize efficiency during difficult runs.
How to Acquire the Fuel Array
Unlocking REX begins in the very first stage of a playthrough by interacting with your landing capsule. Turning around to inspect the back panel of the escape pod allows you to extract the Fuel Array item. This item takes up your active equipment slot and carries a high-risk liability throughout the run.
Carrying the Fuel Array requires extreme caution because dropping below half health triggers an immediate explosion. This blast will instantly eliminate your survivor and end the unlock attempt. Managing incoming damage and choosing defensive items becomes critical during early stages.
Reaching the Abyssal Depths
Once you secure the item, your goal is to traverse stages until reaching the Abyssal Depths environment. You must avoid taking heavy hits from bosses and elite enemies to protect the volatile battery. Utilizing high-mobility survivors like Loader can make surviving environmental hazards and reaching the fourth stage substantially easier.
Upon spawning in the Abyssal Depths, navigate toward the upper elevated platforms in the zone. REX's broken chassis is located on the upper levels, waiting to be repaired. Insert the Fuel Array into the damaged unit to complete the challenge and permanently add REX to your roster.
Mastering REX Combat Mechanics
REX relies heavily on health-based abilities to deal damage while self-sustaining through innate lifesteal mechanics. Primary attacks fire a stream of syringe projectiles, with the final hit weakening enemies and healing your health pool. Managing health resources effectively ensures you can spam secondary skills without putting yourself at lethal risk.
For crowd control, abilities like Tangling Growth root groups of foes in place while leeching health over time. Pushing enemies into walls or off ledges using utility skills also inflicts significant damage. Balancing aggressive self-damage skills with healing abilities forms the foundation of a successful playstyle.
Item Synergy and Strategy
Building an effective item loadout is essential for compensating for REX's health costs. Healing items like Leeching Seed and Harvester's Scythe synergize extremely well with high attack speeds. Items that increase maximum health or grant mobility help offset self-inflicted damage during intense combat phases.
Debuffing items also complement REX's innate Natural Toxins passive, weakening targets automatically. Combining damage mitigation items like Tougher Times allows REX to sustain heavy pressure in later stages. Experimenting with different item combinations turns REX into a resilient force on any map.