How to unlock Acrid in Risk of Rain Returns

Acrid is a returning character in the Risk of Rain remake. And adding him to your list of Survivors is roughly the same as always. To unlock Acrid in Risk of Rain Returns, you gotta beat him into submission.

That sounds a bit harsh, but it’s true: Unlocking Acrid requires you to find him and beat him in a fight. Unlike many Survivors in the game, this is the only way to make him a playable addition.

Related: All new Survivors in Risk of Rain Returns.

Acrid can be found in the third area of Risk of Rain Returns

Acrid is called an “experiment” in Risk of Rain. He’s not technically part of the crew and doesn’t exactly reach the planet’s surface in the relative safety of a drop pod. No, Acrid is a beast locked in a cage, and that’s where you’ll find him in the game.

To unlock Acrid in Risk of Rain Returns, you need to find him in the ‘Sunken Tombs’ area. Keep in mind that getting the Sunken Tombs in your run is random, typically showing up as the third stage. And Acrid’s location is also not guaranteed. If you make it to the Sunken Tombs, search for Acrid’s crate somewhere in the top-rightmost section of the map.

Acrid attacks once he’s released, forcing you to take him down. In my run, he didn’t use his most damaging abilities. Instead, he gave chase while slashing with his claws and spitting Neurotoxin.

Once he’s defeated, you’ll get a ‘Challenge Complete’ notification, signaling that Acrid is now unlocked and ready to rock in Risk of Rain Returns.

Acrid abilities and play style

Acrid is a melee-focused Survivor that uses caustic toxins to whittle away enemy health. At default, most of his abilities cause damage over time.

Acrid’s abilities

• Festering Wounds
  • Close-range melee attack that causes poison damage per second.
• Neurotoxin
  • A medium-range fires a shot of bile that damages and stuns enemies in a line.
• Caustic Sludge
  • Acrid leaves a trail of poison that speeds up allies while slowing and damaging enemies.
• Epidemic
  • A ball of “deadly disease” that poisons and spreads to two targets after one second.

Acrid is a powerful Survivor, but is arguably not the best choice for newer players. He needs to be in the thick of things, whereas many easier characters to play as use long-range weaponry. Acrid’s bread-and-butter Skill is the Caustic Sludge. Use the move while kiting to leave a trail of poison that damages and slows enemies. Stop on occasion to use Epidemic or Neurotoxin while enemies are grouped up. My advice is to focus on getting items that add long-range damage while increasing Acrid’s defense and speed.