Big Boi Loader Guide - Risk of Rain 2
The defacto big boi guide for Loader in Risk of Rain 2.
Abilities -
Loader has a passive called Scrap Barrier. Scrap Barrier prevents fall damage and gives the Loader barrier every time she hits enemies with her gauntlets (this is basically every ability but her special). This used to be one of the strongest abilities in Risk of Rain 2 pre-barrier nerf, but now it just adds some added tankiness to Loader and some small utility.
For Loader's Primary, you have her Knuckleboom. You swing at enemies for 320% damage. Remember, every hit grants you shield, so if you have your back at the wall, just keep swinging.
The secondary is the difference between grapple fist and spiked fist. The grapple fist sends you towards whatever you grappled to, while the spiked fist will pull in smaller enemies towards you. The Spiked Fist is just a better version of the grapple fist so always go for it. You can use this grapple to fly around the map like a robotic Georgina of the jungle, especially in conjunction with Loaders utility skill.
Loader has two choices of said utility skill. Charged Gauntlet and Thunder Gauntlet. Charged gauntlet, as the name implies, needs to be charged, Thunder Gauntlet does not, but does less damage as a result. By using Charged Gauntlet with your grapple fist, you can quickly zoom across the map at incredibly high speeds. This is what gives Loader her ridiculous mobility. Also, the faster you are going, the more damage the gauntlet attack will do, velocity = damage.
As for Loader's special, the Pylon, it really isn't anything special. It zaps up to six enemies for 100% of Loaders damage with a .5 proc coefficient. If you get enough on hits this becomes more relevant, but it still doesn't do much for Loader's overall kit.
Playstyle tips:
In general, you always wanna be keeping your range from enemies as Loader. While it is true that you are a melee survivor, certain enemies mean certain death in close quarters (that's the next section). So what you need to do as Loader is maintain distance during cooldowns and then use everything in a short period of time. Think of yourself as a burst survivor akin to Artificer.
Speed is everything on Loader keep that in mind.
Enemies/Bosses to be careful around - Alright enemies to be careful of as Loader. These are the generic Flame elites you will find walking or floating around. The flying ones are pretty deadly but traditionally the ground fire elites give you the most trouble. These are stone golems, bufflo, etc, with huge health pools and almost no safe way of killing them. Maintain distance and kill them last.
Magma worms and imps are the biggest barriers to Loader succeeding but even they aren't really that hard to deal with. Really, the only thing that stops a Loader dead in her tracks is a horde of many fire elites. Otherwise, you're golden.
item/build for Loader - So items for Loader.
Armor piercing rounds are super good for bursting down bosses early in the stages, as each gives a stacking 20% damage buff.
Crowbar helps with your burst damage by dealing 150% more damage to enemies above 90% health.
Focus crystal is most value on Loader for its 15% stacking damage buff when inside of melee range.
Goathooves are really good as they increase your speed thereby increasing Loaders damage.
ATG missile is stellar because it does damage based on total damage dealt and not base damage MEANING that if Loader crits with her charged gauntlet which is like 4000%+ damage the ATG will triple that damage. Pretty sick.
Guillotine is clutch for killing pesky elites like fire elites.
Razorwire for all the damage you are gonna end up taking.
and finally wax quail because I love hops.
AND THAT IS IT FOR THE GUIDE.
Intro: 0:00-0:38
Abilities: 0:39-3:14
Enemies: 3:15-4:10
Items: 4:11