Arkane Austin’s co-op looter shooter Redfall has received its fair share of backlash since launch, due to bugs and design choices. Regardless, some are having fun with it, discovering what each character has to offer with their Skills.
Redfall’s four playable characters are Layla Ellison, Devinder “Dev” Crousley, Remi de la Rosa and Jacob Boyer. You can only stick with one character throughout a playthrough with no switching. Which one is worth trying out, and why is it Devinder? What are some of the different upgrades for each ability, and what should you go for?
First, check out our guide on farming XP. The game is somewhat stingy with it, especially for those who stick to the main story, and the level cap is 40. If you want to indulge in some vampire slaying, it will help. Also worth noting is that Skill upgrades are tiered, with Tiers 1, 2 and 3 costing one, two and three Skill Points, respectively, for each Skill. You also must be levels 3, 5 and 12 to access each tier.
There are also Perks which further enhance certain play styles. Each character has four, which unlock from levels 2 to 5 and require one Skill Point. Without further ado, here are each character’s abilities.
Layla’s Skills and Ultimate
Layla is in an interesting position as a character, capable of tanking damage and accessing higher ground while summoning Jason, her vampire ex-boyfriend, to attack enemies. Her Skills are as follows:
Umbrella
Unlocks at level 2. It can remain active for 20 seconds, absorbing damage from projectiles from the front and exploding after some time, though Layla moves slower. Pressing the button again also launches the Umbrella forward at enemies and damages them. However, it can also block projectiles from allies, so be careful when shielding them. The cooldown is 40 seconds.
Lift
Unlocks at level 3. Create an elevator of psychic energy to either catapult Layla and her allies or enemies when upgraded. It’s ideal for accessing high ground and gaining a vantage point on enemies. It remains active for seven seconds and has a 25-second cooldown.
Summon Vampire Ex-Boyfriend
Layla’s Ultimate becomes available at level 5 and brings Jason, her ex-boyfriend-turned-vampire, to the fray. Jason will attack enemies and heal teammates, remaining active for 20 seconds. Layla must collect Psychic Residue, which drops from slain vampires, to build her Ultimate.
Along with her active Skills, there are various ways to upgrade each. Let’s look at each of them below.
Umbrella Skills
Tier 1 Skills
Overcast
Umbrella recharges faster. Invaluable for those who want to tank damage, especially given the length of the base cooldown.
Bullet Hail
Deal more blast damage based on the amount of projectile damage absorbed before the Umbrella explodes. Also recommended since it increases Layla’s destructive potential.
Rain Collector
Gain regular ammo based on the damage dealt to Umbrella. Ammo doesn’t become all that hard to obtain after the first hour, so ignore this.
Tier 2 Skills
Made in the Shade
Absorb more damage with Umbrella and increase its duration. Recommended to further feed into Layla’s tankiness.
Thunderclap
Increases the damage and range of Umbrella’s blast. More damage in exchange for tanking is good, so get it.
Downpour
Since Ultimates need Psychic Residue, and you need to kill vampires to get it, having another source is invaluable. Downpour will grant Psychic Residue based on the damage absorbed by the Umbrella, thus ensuring Jason is on standby for far less time. Synergizing with other Skills, allowing you to nuke enemies and potentially call in Jason to finish them off, is also nice.
Tier 3 Skills
Thunderhead
Increases the range and damage of Umbrella Blast even more. Furthermore, any enemies you hit will create explosions, allowing for even more screen-clearing chaos. Recommended.
Lift Skills
Tier 1 Skills
Hold the Lift
Extend the duration of the Lift, keeping it in the air longer before it comes back down. Get this if Lift doesn’t hang around enough for your tastes.
Psychic Lobby
After summoning a Lift, summon another one. It can help provide more avenues for lifting allies while launching more enemies when playing solo (though you’ll need Top Floor to capitalize on it). Not amazing, but still worth trying out.
Psychic Sharpening
Bullet damage increases after using Lift and applies to the entire team. It only applies in mid-air, so unless you’re especially adept at shooting enemies while flying through the air (which is notoriously difficult on the Xbox controller), you can skip this. PC players who want to bunny hop and rain death may like it.
Tier 2 Skills
One More Floor
Increases the height that the Lift launches people. Good for surveying your surroundings, though not as useful when launching enemies compared to the base height.
Energized
Layla and her allies can reload weapons faster in mid-air after using this ability. If you don’t mind playing support, this works well. It also synergizes well with Psychic Sharpening, so that’s a plus.
Passenger Resonance
Generate shockwaves when you or an ally take the Lift, causing enemies to become staggered. It adds a nice crowd-control element to the Skill though not mandatory.
Tier 3 Skills
Top Floor
If you’re committed to launching enemies with Lift, get this, even though it unlocks much later. Not only do enemies become vulnerable, but the shockwaves from Passenger Resonance deal damage while having a larger radius and the damage from Psychic Sharpening is increased. If that weren’t enough, Layla conjures another Lift. It’s mandatory if you’re speccing into the Lift play style, so pick this up. If nothing else, it should make the previous Skills much smoother to use.
Vampire Ex-Boyfriend Skills
Tier 1 Skills
Time After Time
Increase Jason’s duration. Get this.
Died in Your Arms
Jason will attack enemies more frequently. Both this and Time After Time are your go-to if you’re leaning heavily on him.
Out of Nowhere
Staggers enemies near Jason when he teleports. Not super mandatory, but it’s a nice crowd-control element to have.
Tier 2 Skills
No Mountain High Enough
Increases the range of Jason’s attacks. Again, a mandatory pick if you want the most DPS out of him.
Wrecking Ball
You’ll also want to pick this up since it further increases the damage of Jason’s attacks.
I Will Survive
An invaluable ability if playing solo (which many likely will, due to the lack of matchmaking). While this ability is active, Jason revives Layla if she falls, giving her a second chance.
Tier 3 Skills
Go Your Own Way
Turns Jason into another party member, improving his damage, range and the number of attacks he can inflict. He also heals Layla and surrounding allies for a portion of the damage dealt by his attacks providing even more survivability to everyone.
Layla’s Perks
College Diet
When eating food, Layla will recover an additional amount of health. It’s decent, though not amazing.
Telekiwhatsis
Take less damage from effects like Death Mist and hazards like fire and electricity. Death Mist can be annoying, so get this.
Telekiwhosis
Extends Layla’s damage reduction from Death Mist and other hazards to her allies, though they must be close by. Not exactly worth it if you’re playing solo, so skip it.
Sensitive
Gain a bonus amount of Psychic Residue when picking up a Psychic Residue orb, which is extremely valuable for bringing Jason into the fight sooner.
Dev’s Skills and Ultimate
Devinder is probably the best character. He has great crowd control, strong damage, and excellent mobility. If you want the best of the best, then he’s worth trying out.
Arc Javelin
Unlocked at level 2, Dev throws a javelin that shocks enemies and chain lightning. The damage repeats after a one-second delay. The Skill lasts about seven seconds and has a cooldown of 25 seconds.
Translocate
Throws a device to which Dev can teleport. Unlocks at level 3. Activating throws it, and doing so again will teleport Dev. The device will remain up for 15 seconds and even leaves behind a portal for 12 seconds that you can teleport back to, making it an exceptional getaway tool. It also has a 30-second cooldown.
Blacklight
Dev’s Ultimate puts down a UV light which staggers human foes and freezes vampires, making them easy pickings from regular attacks. It remains active for 12 seconds, unlocks at level 5 and can combo with Arc Javelin quite well. As with all Ultimates, this requires collecting Psychic Residue to use.
Here are all the upgrades for Dev’s skills with our recommendations:
Arc Javelin Skills
Tier 1 Skills
High Voltage
Increases the range of electric pulse, making it more effective when dealing with multiple foes. Worth getting.
Shock Lance
When throwing Arc Javelin, it takes a moment before releasing electricity. Shock Lance bypasses that delay when hitting an enemy, so if you’re precise, it can cause serious damage in a hurry. Another worthwhile upgrade.
Shakedown
Hitting enemies with the electric pulse has a chance to drop items. Not a bad upgrade if you’re hurting for valuables, but it can be skipped if the damage is more important.
Tier 2 Skills
Power Surge
Deal more damage with each electric pulse, causing it to scale well against stronger foes as the game progresses. The pulses also happen more often, further increasing damage output. More damage equals more dead enemies, so get it.
Just Physics
Enemies take significant damage when hit by the Arc Javelin, which goes well with Shock Lance and Power Surge. Once again, this is great for single-target damage, especially against bosses and when going toe to toe with enemies like the Rook.
Energize
Firearms and melee attacks deal more electric damage when within Arc Javelin’s range. It affects Dev and his allies, so you nail one enemy with the Arc Javelin and have it mop up any surrounding foes while sticking close and dealing more damage.
Tier 3 Skills
Lightning Storm
Increases the range, damage and duration of Arc Javelin. Enemies affected by an electric pulse are damaged by another bolt which chains. Highly recommended.
Translocate Skills
Tier 1 Skills
Ambient Recharge
Reduces the cooldown on Translocate, allowing you to use it more often. You’ll want this since more translocating means more mobility, and being able to reposition at the first sign of danger is invaluable.
ION Exchange
Swap places with enemies near the beacon when you Translocate. Not a bad way to steal advantageous positions away from enemies, especially when sneaking around. Not mandatory, but still a decent option.
Reverse Entropy
Remove negative statuses and gain healing over time when translocating, which also applies to allies. Additional survivability is always good, especially with such low investment.
Tier 2 Skills
Efficient Battery
Terminals will stay around longer, which means you can place one down, battle any enemies for longer and teleport when the going gets rough. It’s recommended for those who rely on Translocate as an escape tool in combat or even if you’re playing solo.
Discordant Conjunction
Create a shockwave at the translocation point of entry and exit that staggers and damages enemies. While this is good for escaping danger, you can use it to enter the fray against enemies. If minor crowd control while jumping in and shotgunning fools sounds good, get it.
Wave Destabilization
Briefly deal more weapon damage when translocating, which applies to allies. It synergizes well with Discordant Conjunction, so if you’re getting up close and personal, it’s worth it.
Tier 3 Skills
Quantum Kerfuffle
Increases the duration of Translocate and recovers more health with Reverse Entropy. Create a decoy when used, which enemies will attack. In terms of survivability and crowd control, this Skill is simply great. You can place a beacon down somewhere, fight off enemies, and upon translocating away, attack from afar or recoup while they’re busy attacking the decoy.
Blacklight Skills
Tier 1 Skills
Lumen Intensity
Blacklight gains a larger radius, letting you petrify more enemies. Get it.
Photon Sharpening
Vampires petrified by Blacklight remain so for longer. Highly recommended for crowd control benefits and just letting you take some time before slaying them.
Light Therapy
Heals you and allies within Blacklight’s range. Though it’s only useful when your Ultimate is ready, it can still provide much-needed healing on demand while keeping enemies at bay.
Tier 2 Skills
Energy Redistribution
Blacklight has a longer duration. With how potent it is as an Ultimate, having it remain longer is much better.
UV Saturation
Affected enemies receive more damage, which is fantastic when going against bosses or The Rook. Since they take additional damage from any source, you can combo this with Arc Javelin and Just Physics for serious DPS.
Particle Adherence
Gain bonus firearm and melee damage when near Blacklight, which also applies to allies. Again, just another great bonus in addition to UV Saturation and Energy Redistribution since it means more damage.
Tier 3 Skills
Ultraviolent Light
Increases the radius and duration of Blacklight, but also makes it an AoE nuke for vampires, since it explodes and shatters any petrified vampires upon expiry. The explosion should be enough to take down or severely weaken human enemies, letting you put it down and either retreat or focus on other targets.
Dev’s Perks
Go Get ’em Dev
When noticed by an enemy, Dev deals more damage with melee attacks and firearms. Perfect for when you jump into the fray and want to score some quick kills.
Much About
Salvaging gear provides more support.
Night Hunter
When attacking with firearms and melee strikes, vampires become vulnerable sooner and remain so longer. Considering how important it is to weaken vampires before staking them, this Perk is also invaluable.
Color Commentary
Nearby allies can deal bonus damage to vampires. Again, useless for solo play but worth picking up for group play.
Remi’s Skills and Ultimate
If you want to focus purely on support while still dealing massive amounts of damage, Remi is the ticket. She has several avenues for healing and drawing aggro from enemies while contributing at close range. Here are her abilities:
Siren
Bribón, Remi’s companion, generates noise to attract and distract enemies while becoming more defensive to take additional damage. You can specify a location for Bribón to go. Siren’s effects last for 10 seconds, and has a cooldown of 35 seconds. It’s unlocked at level 2.
C4 Charge
Throw an explosive and remotely detonate or shoot it mid-air. Attachable on just about any surface, you can attach it to Bribón and send it to distract enemies before detonation. Available at level 3 and has a 20-second cooldown.
Mobilize
Remember Destiny 2’s Well of Radiance? Mobilize is similar, creating a zone where allies can heal and revive. Available at level 5 and lingers for 10 seconds after activation. Collect Psychic Residue to recharge it.
Siren Skills
Tier 1 Skills
Extra Annoying
Increases the duration of Siren, which is good for aggroing enemies for longer, which works well with…
Deadly Distraction During Siren’s effect, distracted enemies take additional damage. Since this applies to all damage sources, you can combo this with the C4 Charge for some heavy damage. Get it.
Self-Repair
During Siren, Bribón will heal, which makes for a good survival tool. You can send out Bribón when low on health to draw aggro away from teammates while benefitting from healing.
Tier 2 Skills
Wireless Recharge
Reduces the cooldown on Siren. You’ll want to have Bribón out often, so this is good.
Electrostatic Feedback
Bribón causes electric damage to enemies that strike it while Siren is active. It pairs well with Deadly Distraction, so get it.
Reinforced Components
Despite Bribón’s defensive stance during Siren, it can still be worn down by excessive damage before the effect ends. This grants it more health, ensuring he tanks heavier hits and keeps Siren going. Not mandatory, but a good bonus to have overall.
Tier 3 Skills
Robot Rock
Shocks enemies close by and further increases Bribón’s survivability by allowing him to regain health. Worth picking up, especially if you passed on Reinforced Components.
C4 Charge Skills
Tier 1 Skills
OOMPH
Increases the range of C4 Charge’s explosion. More range means a bigger boom. Get it.
Quick Assembly
Reduces the cooldown on C4 Charge. Less cooldown equals more frequent boom. Get this too.
Gel Pack
When damaged by C4 Charge, enemies briefly take more damage from all sources. If you don’t invest in Deadly Distraction, then this is a worthy substitute for increasing damage on enemies, though the former is preferable since it lasts for as long as Siren’s effect is active.
Tier 2 Skills
Directed Charge
Increases the damage of the C4 Charge. Combined with the range of OOMPH, you’ll take down more enemies, so get it.
Flashbang
Staggers enemies damaged by the C4 Charge’s blast. Again, a decent crowd-control option, though it would’ve been better to have an actual flashbang effect.
BOOM
Jump If caught in the C4 Blast, Remi and her allies are launched up, like rocket jumping. Good for accessing high ground, though not mandatory.
Tier 3 Skills
Cluster Bomb
C4 Charge deals more damage and has a larger radius. When detonated, it also creates additional explosives, further increasing the number of explosions. Combined with increased range and damage, this could be the ultimate enemy clear for Remi.
Mobilize Skills
Tier 1 Skills
Command Voice
Increase the area of effect for Mobilize. It’s a good quality of life addition, but not quite mandatory.
On Your Feet
The initial burst of healing from Mobilize regenerates more health. Get this for more survivability.
Resonance
A second Mobilize field, half the size of the regular version, is created around Bribón. If you need a portable healing station that also revives players, especially if speccing into healing Skills for Bribón.
Tier 2 Skills
Lingering Inspiration Increases the duration of Mobilize. Again, worth it, since it means more survivability.
Perseverance When healed by the first pulse from Mobilize, you and the team briefly take less damage. It would’ve been better if active throughout the Skill’s effect. For now, it’s a decent quality-of-life feature.
Constant Inspiration When near Bribón, Remi and her allies receive healing over time, though it is a small amount. Recommended, once again, if you’re going the support route.
Tier 3 Skills
Beacon of Hope Improves the radius, duration and amount of healing from Mobilize while increasing the damage reduction from Perseverance. The radius of Bribón’s healing and Resonance area increases while Constant Inspiration heals more over time. If that weren’t enough, Mobilize deals damage over time to enemies, making it a decent offensive tool for Remi.
Remi’s Perks
Always Prepared
Allows for carrying more Medical Supplies.
I Can Make That
Discounts Support Currency items, but only for Remi.
All Up In
Damage against human enemies at close range is increased. It’s recommended for those who want to get up close and personal.
Mi Familia
Allies close to Remi deal more close-range damage to human enemies. Again, useless for co-op, but decent for party play.
Jacob’s Skills and Ultimate
Jacob is a stealth and sniper specialist, capable of tagging and seeing enemies through walls. He’s probably the best option for Xbox players on a controller since his Ultimate has auto-aim. Here are all his abilities:
Raven
Send out his psychic bird to tag enemies, making them visible through walls. Available at level 2 and has a 12-second cooldown.
Cloak
Become invisible for 10 seconds, with a cooldown of 20 seconds. Unlocked at level 2, Cloak is deactivated when attacking.
Heartstopper
Conjure a psychic sniper rifle at level 5 that lasts 10 seconds or when firing all five shots. When aiming down sights, it automatically targets enemies. Once again, collect enough Psychic Residue to use it.
Raven Skills
Tier 1 Skills
Bird’s Eye
Raven’s scan radius becomes larger, allowing it to pick up on more targets. For stealth and tagging purposes, this is essential.
Pervasive Memory
Further increases Raven’s scan radius while it flies. It may seem overkill, but tagged enemies remain marked longer, so it’s worth getting.
Early Bird
Reduces the cooldown on Raven. This is skippable unless you opt for DPS Raven since the 12-second cooldown is already pretty short.
Tier 2 Skills
Marked for Death
Enemies marked by Raven receive more damage from all sources. Whether you’re playing solo or with others, it’s pretty good, so get it.
Killer Corvus
Raven will damage enemies, which can chain, and also destroys vulnerable vampires. It also travels farther at a faster speed. This Skill pretty much goes against Jacob’s entire stealth play style. However, those keen on dealing damage with the Raven, get it.
Deadeye
Aiming down sights will briefly mark an enemy. Pretty standard Skill but still worthwhile. Opt for this if Killer Corvus doesn’t suit your style.
Tier 3 Skills
Unkindness
Creates additional ravens when the Raven hits an enemy. It also increases scan radius and duration so that targets remain marked. When aiming down sights, Jacob also marks targets at a faster rate.
Cloak Skills
Tier 1 Skills
Battery Efficiency
Increases the duration of Cloak. When Heartstopper isn’t up, Jacob’s self-healing is limited, so Cloak will be the best way to keep enemies off you.
Camouflage Field
While Cloak is active, you gain damage resistance. This effect persists for Jacob and any allies close by when Cloak ends. Ideal when you suddenly de-cloak in front of enemies and need to escape. If timed right with teammates, it can grant some damage resistance after firing the first shot, but the temporary effect doesn’t seem worth it.
Vicious Strike
Deal more damage to enemies when cloaked. Essential for both snipers and stealth assassins, especially when Hidden Strike becomes available.
Tier 2 Skills
Battery Recharge
Reduces the cooldown time on Cloak. Get this and go invisible much more often.
Air Supercavitation
Jacob can pass tripwires without setting them off while cloaked. When cloaked with Camouflage Fields, he and his allies also move faster. Ideal when you don’t want to fuss about tripwires, but is otherwise niche.
Hidden Strike
Attacks when cloaked no longer cause it to expire. However, each attack will reduce its overall duration. It’s still pretty good, so we recommend it.
Tier 3 Skills
Perfect Ghost
Jacob deals more damage when cloaked and can attack more before its duration runs out. Enemies that look at him also become marked. Cloak’s cooldown reduces while its duration and the amount of damage resistance it provides increases. Good bonuses all around, so get it.
Heartstopper
Tier 1 Skills
Extended Magazine
Grants more shots to Heartstopper while also increasing its duration. Given the damage that it causes, this is worthwhile.
Shock and Awe
Heartstopper kills will knock down enemies in range. Decent, but not mandatory, especially if targets are far apart.
Transfusion
Heals Jacob when killing enemies with Heartstopper. Pretty decent good and should help keep him alive if you can quickly aim down sights and slay enemies.
Tier 2 Skills
Flatline
Slaying an enemy causes Heartstopper to snap to another. It pairs well with Transfusion and makes the weapon that much better.
Heart Burst
Heartstopper kills will inflict damage over time to any enemies within range for a short time. Even if you’re using the weapon as a clearing tool, it might not be ideal if the enemies are far apart.
Adrenaline Rush
Jacob regains health while Heartstopper is active. Arguably better than Transfusion since you don’t need to kill enemies to heal.
Tier 3 Skills
And You’re to Blame – Jacob can now shoot marked enemies through walls with Heartstopper. Its duration and damage also increase while Jacob receives more healing, making this essential.
Jacob’s Perks
Deeper Pockets
Jacob can carry more lockpicks and rewire kits.
Melee Training
Deal increased melee damage. Good if you’re sneaking around and assassinating enemies from behind or while Cloaked. Otherwise, pretty useless in the middle of a firefight.
Sharpshooter
When fighting humans, Jacob deals additional headshot damage. Even more damage for a sniper-focused character? Yes, please.
Drill Instructor
Nearby allies gain more headshot damage to human enemies. It’s good in a group, and skippable when playing solo.
Redfall is available for Xbox Series X/S and PC. Check out our official review here.
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