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Remnant 2 best traits to level up

Find out what the best Remnant 2 traits are to level up first and grab so you can be as powerful as possible in a fight on PS5, Xbox, or PC.

Remnant 2 Best Traits: The Handler can be seen

Thinking about the Remnant 2 best traits as you are putting your class together? These are akin to passive boosts that are leveled as you progress further in the campaign. This guide discusses which ones you should prioritize when allocating a limited number of Trait Points.

On PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S, as you continue to build your character, you might want to learn about the best Remnant 2 weapons to equip alongside your class and the traits in this list. These top traits were picked out during our time for our Remnant 2 review, after spending dozens of hours with the game.

Remnant 2 best traits

The best Remnant 2 traits are:

  • Vigor – best basic trait
  • Endurance – best basic trait
  • Expertise – best basic trait
  • Spirit – best basic trait
  • Kinship – best archetype trait
  • Triage – best archetype trait
  • Fortify – best archetype trait
  • Barskin – best unlockable trait
  • Scholar – best unlockable trait

On top of the basic traits, each Remnant 2 archetype or class has its own unique trait. These will also increase in level as the class gains levels/XP. Once maxed out (i.e., level 10), the unique trait can be selected even if the archetype isn’t “equipped.” Unfortunately, its rank will also reset. You’ll need to reallocate points to it or re-equip the archetype if need be. Remnant 2 also has traits that can be discovered or acquired as you progress further in the campaign. 

For our Remnant 2 best traits guide, we’ve opted to list them here starting off with basic traits, archetype traits, and then the unlockable ones as you progress.

Remnant 2 Best Traits: The Traits menu can be seen

Vigor

Vigor increases your maximum health, up to +30 HP at level 10. Naturally, this also improves your survivability.

Endurance

Endurance increases your maximum stamina, up to +30 stamina at level 10. Given how often you’ll sprint and dodge during combat, it’s important to have enough stamina to spare.

Expertise

Expertise reduces your skill cooldowns, It will let you use class abilities more often.

Spirit

Spirit improves your mod power generation. It is great as it allows you to use your weapon specialisms more.

Remnant 2 Best Traits: A player can be seen with a boss

Kinship

Kinship is from the Handler archetype. It reduces friendly fire damage dealt and received by 80% (at level 10). This is almost an absolute necessity if you like to try co-op multiplayer. There’s a chance that people aren’t well-coordinated, leading to chaotic moments, where everyone is just lobbing explosives or firing rounds wildly. As such, you can lessen the hassles, somewhat, while also ensuring that you don’t accidentally down your teammates.

In most cases, however, you won’t need to put points into Kinship, especially if you always have the Handler archetype as your “main” (i.e., the left-hand side of the menu). That’s because of the class’ Prime Perk, Bonded, which allows your dog companion to revive you or your teammates.

Triage

Triage is from the Medic archetype, and it increases healing by 50% (at level 10).  Triage is a great choice if you have the Trait Points to spare, and if you don’t plan on equipping the Medic archetype just for that healing boost.

Fortify

Fortify comes from the secret Remnant 2 Engineer class. Each level you gain grants a boost to armor effectiveness, up to 50% at level 10. This means your defenses will unilaterally buff your damage reduction, too, making you even tankier. This is also a viable alternative to the no-damage build.

Remnant 2 Best Traits: A player can be seen

Barkskin

Barkskin provides much-needed damage reduction, up to 10% at level 10. To obtain it, you’ll need to reach Yaesha – The Dappled Glade. There, you’ll find an NPC named Meidra, who will ask you several questions before giving you either the Doe’s Gift or the Ravager’s Gift.

The one you want is the Doe’s Gift, as it nets you the Barkskin trait. Make sure that you choose answers that coincide with the Doe’s nurturing yet somewhat naive and uncompromising nature.

Scholar

Lastly, there’s the Scholar Trait, which is one of the best Remnant 2 traits even though it comes so late in the game. To obtain it, you’ll need to defeat the final boss.

Remnant 2 Best Traits: The menu can be seen

Once you have it, you’ll see that it grants an XP bonus, up to 15% XP at level 10. As such, you’ll want to respec immediately so you can allocate points to it. With it, you’ll be able to level other classes more effectively during your post-campaign, campaign reroll, or Adventure Mode runs.

That covers what you need to know about the best Remnant 2 traits. In addition to finding traits that suit your playstyle, you will want to be sure you have chosen the Remnant 2 best class for you. Our guide will help you out there, on top of everything else in our Remnant 2 walkthrough article.