Bend Studio brought Days Gone to PC on 18 May 2021, two years after the PlayStation 4 release, with unlocked frame rates, a wider field of view and ultrawide support. Deacon St. John rides through post outbreak Oregon across six regions, from Cascade in the north down to Crater Lake, and his bike is the only transport he gets. Hordes are the reason to stay: the Old Sawmill horde alone packs roughly 500 Freakers into one moving mass, and there is no version of that fight you win by standing still.
Choosing the right role shapes your entire experience. This guide breaks down every option: what they're good at, what they struggle with, and which one matches your playstyle. For optimized builds with full gear sets, see our builds guide.
Quick Comparison
| Role | Tier | Playstyle | Best Weapons | Beginner Friendly? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stealth Trapper | A | Balanced | Drifter Crossbow | Yes |
| Horde Runner | S | Scout the horde's route in daylight while it sleeps, set traps at the chokepoint, wake it with an attractor and keep backing away in a wide loop, never letting the crowd get an angle around you. | MWS | Moderate |
| Marksman Bounty Hunter | A | Balanced | Chicago Chopper | Yes |
| Melee Brawler | B | Fight in doorways and narrow paths so only one or two Freakers reach you at a time, and always keep a spare melee weapon since durability runs out mid fight without warning. | SMP9 | No |
| Explosives Specialist | A | Bait groups into pre placed remote bombs, use attractors to move Freakers away from a camp before entering it, and keep Molotovs strictly for Breakers and Ragers rather than ordinary Swarmers. | .50 BFG | Yes |
New player? Start with Horde Runner. See our beginner's guide for why.
Stealth Trapper
Stealth Trapper is a strong option in Days Gone.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Playstyle | Balanced approach |
| Best Weapons | Drifter Crossbow |
| Stat Priority | Balanced stats |
| Core Gear | Best available |
| Key Mechanic | Bike fuel and durability |
Strengths
- Highest overall performance across all content types
- Solid all-around choice
- Pairs well with Drifter Crossbow
Weaknesses
- Popular choice, competition for resources
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
Recommended Progression
- Start in Cascade to learn Stealth Trapper-specific mechanics
- Focus on Bike fuel and durability. It's this role's primary system
- Prioritize Drifter Crossbow as your first major upgrade
- See our full Stealth Trapper build guide for the optimal gear progression
Horde Runner
The build the whole game points toward. High Stamina, a crowd control primary and a bag full of explosives, used to funnel 300 or more Freakers through a gap where the crowd cannot spread out.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | S |
| Playstyle | Scout the horde's route in daylight while it sleeps, set traps at the chokepoint, wake it with an attractor and keep backing away in a wide loop, never letting the crowd get an angle around you. |
| Best Weapons | MWS |
| Stat Priority | Stamina first and by a wide margin, then Health, then Focus |
| Core Gear | Chicago Chopper, attractors, pipe bombs, Molotovs, napalm where available, maximum Stamina injectors |
| Key Mechanic | Camp Trust and credits |
Strengths
- Most versatile, adapts to any situation
- Scout the horde's route in daylight while it sleeps, set traps at the chokepoint, wake it with an attractor and keep backing away in a wide loop, never letting the crowd get an angle around you.
- Pairs well with MWS
Weaknesses
- Lower peak damage than S-tier options
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
Recommended Progression
- Start in Cascade to learn Horde Runner-specific mechanics
- Focus on Camp Trust and credits. It's this role's primary system
- Prioritize MWS as your first major upgrade
- See our full Horde Runner build guide for the optimal gear progression
Marksman Bounty Hunter
Marksman Bounty Hunter is a strong option in Days Gone.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Playstyle | Balanced approach |
| Best Weapons | Chicago Chopper |
| Stat Priority | Balanced stats |
| Core Gear | Best available |
| Key Mechanic | Freaker hordes |
Strengths
- Best survivability for learning hard content
- Solid all-around choice
- Pairs well with Chicago Chopper
Weaknesses
- Slower progression speed
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
Recommended Progression
- Start in Cascade to learn Marksman Bounty Hunter-specific mechanics
- Focus on Freaker hordes. It's this role's primary system
- Prioritize Chicago Chopper as your first major upgrade
- See our full Marksman Bounty Hunter build guide for the optimal gear progression
Melee Brawler
A resource light build for players who want to stop spending ammunition on Newts and Swarmers. Crafted melee weapons like the spiked bat and the fire axe kill in one or two swings and are rebuilt from scrap in seconds.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Playstyle | Fight in doorways and narrow paths so only one or two Freakers reach you at a time, and always keep a spare melee weapon since durability runs out mid fight without warning. |
| Best Weapons | SMP9 |
| Stat Priority | Health, then Stamina, then Focus |
| Core Gear | Spiked bat or fire axe, crafting materials for melee repairs, Health injectors, bandages |
| Key Mechanic | NERO checkpoints and injectors |
Strengths
- Excellent in group and cooperative content
- Fight in doorways and narrow paths so only one or two Freakers reach you at a time, and always keep a spare melee weapon since durability runs out mid fight without warning.
- Pairs well with SMP9
Weaknesses
- Less effective solo
- Requires deep game knowledge to use effectively
Recommended Progression
- Start in Cascade to learn Melee Brawler-specific mechanics
- Focus on NERO checkpoints and injectors. It's this role's primary system
- Prioritize SMP9 as your first major upgrade
- See our full Melee Brawler build guide for the optimal gear progression
Explosives Specialist
A build around crafted ordnance rather than guns, which suits the ammunition scarcity of the first half of the game. Pipe bombs, remote bombs and Molotovs cost scrap and rags that the world hands out constantly.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Playstyle | Bait groups into pre placed remote bombs, use attractors to move Freakers away from a camp before entering it, and keep Molotovs strictly for Breakers and Ragers rather than ordinary Swarmers. |
| Best Weapons | .50 BFG |
| Stat Priority | Stamina, then Health, then Focus |
| Core Gear | Pipe bombs, remote bombs, Molotovs, attractors, a suppressed sidearm for cleanup |
| Key Mechanic | Survival Vision and Focus |
Strengths
- Highest skill ceiling with unique mechanics
- Bait groups into pre placed remote bombs, use attractors to move Freakers away from a camp before entering it, and keep Molotovs strictly for Breakers and Ragers rather than ordinary Swarmers.
- Pairs well with .50 BFG
Weaknesses
- Steep learning curve, punishing mistakes
- Requires deep game knowledge to use effectively
Recommended Progression
- Start in Cascade to learn Explosives Specialist-specific mechanics
- Focus on Survival Vision and Focus. It's this role's primary system
- Prioritize .50 BFG as your first major upgrade
- See our full Explosives Specialist build guide for the optimal gear progression
Which Role Should You Pick?
For Beginners
Horde Runner is the clear winner. It's forgiving, teaches core mechanics, and remains competitive into endgame. Follow our beginner's guide for the best first-session experience.
For Maximum Performance
Stealth Trapper is the top pick once you understand the game's mechanics. Pair it with Drifter Crossbow for the strongest overall setup.
For a Challenge
Explosives Specialist offers the highest skill ceiling. It's punishing when misplayed but incredibly rewarding when mastered. Only recommended after you've completed the game with another role.
For Group Play
Melee Brawler shines in cooperative content with utility and team support capabilities.
More Days Gone Guides
- Days Gone Days Gone Overview
- Days Gone Best Builds
- Days Gone Tier List
- Days Gone Walkthrough
- Days Gone Beginner's Guide
- Days Gone Tips & Tricks
- Days Gone Weapons Guide
- Days Gone Combat Guide
- Days Gone Boss Guide
- Days Gone Maps & Locations
- Days Gone Crafting Guide
Similar Games
If you enjoy Days Gone, check out these related guides:
- Helldivers 2 Classes Guide: action game with similar mechanics
- Black Myth: Wukong Classes Guide: action game with similar mechanics
- Monster Hunter Wilds Classes Guide: action game with similar mechanics
