One new hero has joined the cast ofDarkest Dungeon 2: the Runaway. This new hero is a versatile support character, capable of dealing significant damage herself through the new damage over time type: Burn. As the only new hero at the time of the game’s release, the Runaway plays into some of the game’s new combat features very well.
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Her skillset can widely vary. Her skills are diverse, offering direct damage, damage over time, and also marking and debilitating your targets as she fights. Many of her skills can be used from different positions in the party, andher hero paths grant substantial bonuses. To players coming over from the first game, the Runaway may seem complicated, but she’s a versatile fighter worth learning. Here’s a ranking of her formidable combat skills.
11Hearthlight
Hearthlight is a simple reveal skill designed to pull enemies out of Stealth. The Runaway can use it anywhere in your team’s ranks, and it hits all foes at once. Unless you’re dealing with enemies that can Stealth, however, there will be no effect, so it’s most useful if you know you’re dealing with such tricky types. When upgraded, the move ignores Blindness tokens, and can completely remove them from everyone on your team. It’s very niche as a result, then, and should only be brought to certain battles.
10Run And Hide
Run and Hide is the Runaway’s primary retreat skill. It moves her back one rank, while applying two stacks of Stealth. She can get two moves off before the enemy will be able to target her again. If she’s marked for attacks, it could be worth using her turn to break the enemy’s combo. When upgraded, Run And Hide grants the Runaway three Regeneration per turn, letting her recover slowly. Whether basic or mastered, the skill has a two-turn cooldown before you may use it again; conveniently as long as her Stealth tokens will last. As a result, it’s also rather limited in its uses.
9Controlled Burn
Controlled Burn is a decent method of dealing persistent Burn damage to the enemy team. The Runaway can target any enemy rank, ignoring Stealth as she does so. The initial hit deals no direct damage at all, but does apply some Burn to the enemy. What the skill really sets up is a fire hazard that persists on the rank you chose, not the enemy.
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Any enemy starting their turn in that hazard will be afflicted with Burn. Mastering the skill increases both the initial Burn by the skill, and the Burn given by the hazard. Only its lack of true targeting really holds this potent skill back.
8Cauterize
Cauterize is the only healing move the Runaway has access to, and a rather specific requirement must be fulfilled in order to use it. If the Runaway or any of her allies are bleeding, she can use Cauterize to cure the bleed DoT and heal the ally a specific amount. It restores 25% of their HP by default, and 33% when the move is mastered. There’s no cooldown to the skill, but it is limited to three uses per fight. Bleed is very common for enemies to inflict, so chances are the Runaway will have a chance to use Cauterize in any given fight, especially in the Shroud.
7Backdraft
Backdraft requires a fair bit of setup to be strong, but when performed strategically, it can deliver very high damage. First, you have to set up a lot of Burn on one enemy, and then you can hit the foe behind them with Backdraft. The skill ignores Guard, and it deals half the remaining cumulative Burn damage from the enemy in front of your target to your target. When upgraded, it will deal the full amount instead. It can be a little tough since you need to burn the front target without killing them, but the damage is intense if you can pull it off. Positioning is key to using this skill well, so be wary ofyour team compositionas well as that of the enemy.
Ransack is a versatile melee attack that deals higher direct damage than the Runaway’s usual basic attack. It pushes the Runaway forward one rank and pulls the enemy she strikes forward as well. When mastered, the move deals more damage and pulls your target forward two ranks instead of one. When hitting marked enemies, it can inflict Burn on a random adjacent target. Ransack is great for making your offense as disruptive as possible for the enemy team, and the fact the Runaway can use it from anywhere ensures she’s always able to go on the offensive.
5Dragonfly
Dragonfly is a skill that focuses on applying Burn damage to multiple enemies at once. The Runaway has to be in either of the two frontline ranks to use this powerful move, and she’ll be knocked back by her own attack one rank after it’s complete. The front two enemies take a minor hit, but can both be afflicted with Burn. It deals two Burn damage by default, and four when mastered.
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Since front-rank enemies commonly use Block, it’s a good way to clear their defenses and whittle them down, as damage over time effects cut through these defensive measures.
4Searing Strike
Searing Strike is the Runaway’s most basic attack. While in the front positions in the party, she strikes the enemy front ranks, dealing average damage with a chance to apply an additional burning effect. The attack can be used at any time, but when you set up a mark for it, the burning damage will double in intensity. The mastery upgrade increases both its direct and Burn damage. Using this move frequently can really pile up the persistent damage, especially on marked targets. It’s a skill that truly rewards methodic play, which is the key to surviving an expedition in the first place.
3Smokescreen
Smokescreen is a great tool in the Runaway’s arsenal. It works to support her and the rest of her team alike. The Runaway can use it from anywhere on your team’s side to hit the front three enemies. Enemies struck by the attack will be marked for combo attacks, and have a chance to gain a Blindness token. When upgraded, the move does all that while adding an extra Blind token, applying a token of Vulnerability in addition. It is well worth the mastery point and a spot on the Runaway’s equipped skills.
With Firefly, the Runaway throws a firebomb at any enemy except the one in the very first rank. As one of her ranged attacks, it deals lower direct damage, but the Burn the move can apply is more intense than most of her other moves. When upgraded, the Burn damage is increased from three to five damage per turn. When striking a marked target, it can spread Burn to a random adjacent enemy to your target. It’s a nice feature, but if there isn’t any target on one side of the enemy, the effect can still choose that side and miss. The Orphan hero path is great for boosting the Burn even further.
