It Takes Two is Hazelight Studios' GOTY-winning cooperative adventure that can only be played with a partner. You play as Cody and May, a divorcing couple magically transformed into dolls by their daughter's tears. Each chapter introduces entirely new mechanics — one level you're a third-person shooter, the next a rhythm game, then a Diablo-style dungeon crawler. The asymmetric design means both players always have different abilities that must be combined to progress. With the Friend's Pass allowing a second player to join free, it's the most accessible premium co-op game available.
Picking the right build determines how your experience plays out. These builds are ranked by overall effectiveness — factoring in damage, survivability, gear requirements, and how well they scale into endgame.
Quick Rankings
| Build | Tier | Playstyle | Core Gear |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cody (Player 1) | S | Support-oriented player who sets up combos and accesses unique puzzle paths. | Chapter-specific abilities (sap, magnets, size-shift, time clone) |
| May (Player 2) | S | Action-oriented player who executes combos and handles direct combat. | Chapter-specific abilities (match gun, nails, shrink ray, time reversal) |
| Ranged Specialist | A | Covers partner from range and handles distant threats. | Match gun, sap grenades, long-range chapter abilities |
| Melee Specialist | A | Close-range fighter who draws enemy attention and protects the partner. | Hammer, ground pound, close-range chapter abilities |
| Puzzle Solver | S | Shot-caller who reads the environment and directs both players' actions. | Voice communication, patience, environmental awareness |
S-Tier: Cody (Player 1)
Cody's abilities tend toward support and setup — sap grenades create explosive zones, magnets pull and hold objects, and size-shifting accesses tiny passages. His kit often sets up May's more direct abilities. Best for players who enjoy strategic thinking.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Cody's Sap Grenades (Tree) | Throwable sap that sticks to enemies and surfaces. |
| Core Gear | Chapter-specific abilities (sap, magnets, size-shift, time clone) | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | N/A — abilities change each chapter | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | asymmetric co-op | Cody and May always have different abilities in every chapter. |
How to Play Cody (Player 1)
Support-oriented player who sets up combos and accesses unique puzzle paths.
Cody's abilities tend toward support and setup — sap grenades create explosive zones, magnets pull and hold objects, and size-shifting accesses tiny passages. His kit often sets up May's more direct abilities. Best for players who enjoy strategic thinking.
What makes this build work: The synergy between Cody's Sap Grenades (Tree) and asymmetric co-op creates a gameplay loop that outperforms other options. Core gear like Chapter-specific abilities (sap, magnets, size-shift, time clone) amplifies this further.
Pros:
- Highest overall performance
- Clear stat priority (N/A — abilities change each chapter) makes gearing straightforward
- Works in all content types
Cons:
- Popular pick, resources may be contested
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
S-Tier: May (Player 2)
May's abilities are typically more direct and action-oriented — match gun ignites Cody's sap, nails pin objects in place, and her hammer smashes through obstacles. Her kit tends toward the 'execute' role in the combo. Best for action-focused players.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | May's Match Gun (Tree) | Fires flaming matches that ignite Cody's sap on contact. |
| Core Gear | Chapter-specific abilities (match gun, nails, shrink ray, time reversal) | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | N/A — abilities change each chapter | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | genre-shifting gameplay | Each chapter is essentially a different game genre. |
How to Play May (Player 2)
Action-oriented player who executes combos and handles direct combat.
May's abilities are typically more direct and action-oriented — match gun ignites Cody's sap, nails pin objects in place, and her hammer smashes through obstacles. Her kit tends toward the 'execute' role in the combo. Best for action-focused players.
What makes this build work: The synergy between May's Match Gun (Tree) and genre-shifting gameplay creates a gameplay loop that offers reliable performance. Core gear like Chapter-specific abilities (match gun, nails, shrink ray, time reversal) amplifies this further.
Pros:
- Most versatile option
- Clear stat priority (N/A — abilities change each chapter) makes gearing straightforward
- Works in all content types
Cons:
- Lower peak damage than S-tier
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
A-Tier: Ranged Specialist
In chapters with ranged combat (The Tree, Space), one player handles crowd control while the other focuses targets. The ranged-focused player should prioritize covering their partner and managing ammo-equivalent resources.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Cody's Magnet (Shed) | Attracts or repels magnetic objects and nails. |
| Core Gear | Match gun, sap grenades, long-range chapter abilities | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | N/A — no persistent stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | ability swapping | Some chapters swap Cody and May's abilities at midpoints, forcing players to learn both sides. |
How to Play Ranged Specialist
Covers partner from range and handles distant threats.
In chapters with ranged combat (The Tree, Space), one player handles crowd control while the other focuses targets. The ranged-focused player should prioritize covering their partner and managing ammo-equivalent resources.
What makes this build work: The synergy between Cody's Magnet (Shed) and ability swapping creates a gameplay loop that offers reliable performance. Core gear like Match gun, sap grenades, long-range chapter abilities amplifies this further.
Pros:
- Best survivability
- Clear stat priority (N/A — no persistent stats) makes gearing straightforward
- Works in all content types
Cons:
- Slower clear speeds
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
A-Tier: Melee Specialist
Several chapters feature close-range combat where one player tanks while the other deals damage. The melee-focused player draws aggro and uses defensive abilities to protect the ranged partner.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | May's Nails (Shed) | Fires nails that stick into surfaces and can be used as platforms or pins. |
| Core Gear | Hammer, ground pound, close-range chapter abilities | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | N/A — no persistent stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | minigame competitions | 25 hidden competitive minigames are scattered throughout levels — whack-a-mole, chess, volleyball, shuffleboard, and more. |
How to Play Melee Specialist
Close-range fighter who draws enemy attention and protects the partner.
Several chapters feature close-range combat where one player tanks while the other deals damage. The melee-focused player draws aggro and uses defensive abilities to protect the ranged partner.
What makes this build work: The synergy between May's Nails (Shed) and minigame competitions creates a gameplay loop that provides a unique approach. Core gear like Hammer, ground pound, close-range chapter abilities amplifies this further.
Pros:
- Strong in group/team content
- Clear stat priority (N/A — no persistent stats) makes gearing straightforward
- Excels in its niche
Cons:
- Weaker solo performance
- Requires deep game knowledge
S-Tier: Puzzle Solver
The player who naturally takes the lead on puzzle sections, calling out solutions and coordinating timing. Many puzzles require precise simultaneous actions, so clear verbal communication from the puzzle-solver role is critical.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Cody's Size-Shift (Pillow Fort) | Ability to shrink and grow, accessing tiny passages and becoming giant to interact with large objects. |
| Core Gear | Voice communication, patience, environmental awareness | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Communication > Observation > Timing | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | narrative integration | Gameplay mechanics directly reflect the story themes. |
How to Play Puzzle Solver
Shot-caller who reads the environment and directs both players' actions.
The player who naturally takes the lead on puzzle sections, calling out solutions and coordinating timing. Many puzzles require precise simultaneous actions, so clear verbal communication from the puzzle-solver role is critical.
What makes this build work: The synergy between Cody's Size-Shift (Pillow Fort) and narrative integration creates a gameplay loop that provides a unique approach. Core gear like Voice communication, patience, environmental awareness amplifies this further.
Pros:
- Unique, rewarding playstyle
- Clear stat priority (Communication > Observation > Timing) makes gearing straightforward
- Excels in its niche
Cons:
- High skill floor, punishing when misplayed
- Requires deep game knowledge
Build Progression Path
- Start with May (Player 2) — the most forgiving option for learning the game
- Transition to Cody (Player 1) once you understand core mechanics and have access to Cody's Sap Grenades (Tree)
- Keep a Ranged Specialist setup for content that keeps killing you
- Try Puzzle Solver for a fresh experience once you've mastered the basics
Gearing Tips
- Invest in your primary equipment first — it gives the biggest power spike
- Use the Friend's Pass — only one copy of the game is needed; the second player downloads a free trial that accesses the full game in co-op
- Every chapter's abilities are self-contained; don't worry about 'wasting' anything between levels
- Don't spread upgrade resources across multiple builds until endgame
See our tier list for current meta rankings, or the beginner's guide if you're just getting started.
