Kenshi is a squad-based open-world RPG with zero hand-holding set in a post-apocalyptic desert wasteland. You start as nobody — literally the weakest entity in the world. Your character can't fight, can't run fast, and will lose to a single starving bandit. Through getting beaten, captured, enslaved, and nearly killed repeatedly, your squad gets stronger. The game simulates an entire living world where factions war, caravans trade, and slavers hunt regardless of your involvement. Kenshi doesn't care about you — and that indifference is what makes every achievement feel earned. Building from nothing to a self-sufficient fortress with a trained army is one of gaming's most satisfying power fantasies.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hiver | A | Hit-and-run combat using speed advantage. Hivers fight best with fast weapons (katanas, sabres) that benefit from their high dexterity. | Katana (speed weapons match Hiver dexterity), light armor, thief gear |
| Shek | S | Charge into combat with heavy weapons, tank damage with high Toughness, and overwhelm enemies through brute strength. | Heavy weapons (Falling Sun, Fragment Axe), heavy armor, backpacks |
| Greenlander | A | Flexible — Greenlanders fill any role competently. Use them for Holy Nation diplomacy and as all-rounders in your squad. | Any weapon type, medium armor, versatile equipment |
| Skeleton | S | Skeletons are your best long-term combat investment. They never need food, have extreme stat ceilings, and can be repaired from near-death. Build a Skeleton squad for your elite fighting force. | Heavy weapons, skeleton-specific repair kits, heavy armor |
| Scorchlander | B | Use Scorchlanders as scouts, thieves, and crossbow support. Their stealth bonuses make them ideal for infiltration missions and assassination training. | Crossbow, stealth gear, light armor, lockpicks |
A-Tier: Hiver
Hivers are insectoid humanoids with weak limbs but fast movement. Hiver Workers are excellent at labor (mining, farming) with high dexterity. Hiver Soldiers have slightly better combat stats. Their main advantage is speed — a Hiver squad outruns most threats.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Meitou Weapons | The highest quality weapon tier, held by faction leaders and elite NPCs. |
| Core Gear | Katana (speed weapons match Hiver dexterity), light armor, thief gear | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Dexterity (natural bonus), Athletics, Toughness | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | squad management | You control a squad of up to 30 characters, each with individual stats, equipment, and jobs. |
How to Play Hiver
Hit-and-run combat using speed advantage. Hivers fight best with fast weapons (katanas, sabres) that benefit from their high dexterity.
Hivers are insectoid humanoids with weak limbs but fast movement. Hiver Workers are excellent at labor (mining, farming) with high dexterity. Hiver Soldiers have slightly better combat stats. Their main advantage is speed — a Hiver squad outruns most threats.
What makes this build work: The synergy between Meitou Weapons and squad management creates a gameplay loop that outperforms other options. Core gear like Katana (speed weapons match Hiver dexterity), light armor, thief gear amplifies this further.
Pros:
- Highest overall performance
- Clear stat priority (Dexterity (natural bonus), Athletics, Toughness) makes gearing straightforward
- Works in all content types
Cons:
- Popular pick, resources may be contested
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
S-Tier: Shek
Shek are a warrior race with the highest combat stats. They start with bonus Strength and Toughness and take less damage from combat. Their weakness is slower skill training for non-combat tasks. A squad of trained Shek warriors is the strongest fighting force you can build.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Falling Sun | An enormous heavy weapon (blunt type) that deals devastating damage per hit. |
| Core Gear | Heavy weapons (Falling Sun, Fragment Axe), heavy armor, backpacks | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Strength (natural bonus), Melee Attack, Toughness | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | base building | After researching building technology, you can construct a settlement anywhere on the map. |
How to Play Shek
Charge into combat with heavy weapons, tank damage with high Toughness, and overwhelm enemies through brute strength.
Shek are a warrior race with the highest combat stats. They start with bonus Strength and Toughness and take less damage from combat. Their weakness is slower skill training for non-combat tasks. A squad of trained Shek warriors is the strongest fighting force you can build.
What makes this build work: The synergy between Falling Sun and base building creates a gameplay loop that offers reliable performance. Core gear like Heavy weapons (Falling Sun, Fragment Axe), heavy armor, backpacks amplifies this further.
Pros:
- Most versatile option
- Clear stat priority (Strength (natural bonus), Melee Attack, Toughness) makes gearing straightforward
- Works in all content types
Cons:
- Lower peak damage than S-tier
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
A-Tier: Greenlander
Humans with balanced stats suitable for any role. Greenlanders have no penalties but no racial bonuses either. They're accepted by the Holy Nation (which hates other races), making them the safest choice for early-game trading in HN territory.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Fragment Axe | A heavy cutting weapon with excellent damage against armored targets. |
| Core Gear | Any weapon type, medium armor, versatile equipment | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Whatever role you need filled — combat, crafting, or stealth | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | skill training | Every stat trains through usage. |
How to Play Greenlander
Flexible — Greenlanders fill any role competently. Use them for Holy Nation diplomacy and as all-rounders in your squad.
Humans with balanced stats suitable for any role. Greenlanders have no penalties but no racial bonuses either. They're accepted by the Holy Nation (which hates other races), making them the safest choice for early-game trading in HN territory.
What makes this build work: The synergy between Fragment Axe and skill training creates a gameplay loop that offers reliable performance. Core gear like Any weapon type, medium armor, versatile equipment amplifies this further.
Pros:
- Best survivability
- Clear stat priority (Whatever role you need filled — combat, crafting, or stealth) makes gearing straightforward
- Works in all content types
Cons:
- Slower clear speeds
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
S-Tier: Skeleton
Mechanical beings that don't need food (saving massive resources), don't bleed, and can be repaired with Skeleton Repair Kits. They're hated by the Holy Nation but loved by the Tech Hunters. Skeletons have the highest potential stats at max level. Their only weakness is they can't swim and rust in acid rain.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Plank | A blunt weapon that's literally a piece of wood. |
| Core Gear | Heavy weapons, skeleton-specific repair kits, heavy armor | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Strength, Toughness (trains from damage like other races), Robotics skill for self-repair | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | faction relations | Dozens of factions with individual relations toward you. |
How to Play Skeleton
Skeletons are your best long-term combat investment. They never need food, have extreme stat ceilings, and can be repaired from near-death. Build a Skeleton squad for your elite fighting force.
Mechanical beings that don't need food (saving massive resources), don't bleed, and can be repaired with Skeleton Repair Kits. They're hated by the Holy Nation but loved by the Tech Hunters. Skeletons have the highest potential stats at max level. Their only weakness is they can't swim and rust in acid rain.
What makes this build work: The synergy between Plank and faction relations creates a gameplay loop that provides a unique approach. Core gear like Heavy weapons, skeleton-specific repair kits, heavy armor amplifies this further.
Pros:
- Strong in group/team content
- Clear stat priority (Strength, Toughness (trains from damage like other races), Robotics skill for self-repair) makes gearing straightforward
- Excels in its niche
Cons:
- Weaker solo performance
- Requires deep game knowledge
B-Tier: Scorchlander
Dark-skinned humans with slightly better dexterity and stealth but lower strength. They excel as thieves, assassins, and crossbow users. Not discriminated against by any faction. Good secondary combat units and the best choice for stealth operations.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Topper | A hacking weapon (hybrid between cutting and blunt) with balanced stats. |
| Core Gear | Crossbow, stealth gear, light armor, lockpicks | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Dexterity, Stealth, Assassination, Thievery | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | open world sandbox | The entire world is accessible from the start with no level gates. |
How to Play Scorchlander
Use Scorchlanders as scouts, thieves, and crossbow support. Their stealth bonuses make them ideal for infiltration missions and assassination training.
Dark-skinned humans with slightly better dexterity and stealth but lower strength. They excel as thieves, assassins, and crossbow users. Not discriminated against by any faction. Good secondary combat units and the best choice for stealth operations.
What makes this build work: The synergy between Topper and open world sandbox creates a gameplay loop that provides a unique approach. Core gear like Crossbow, stealth gear, light armor, lockpicks amplifies this further.
Pros:
- Unique, rewarding playstyle
- Clear stat priority (Dexterity, Stealth, Assassination, Thievery) makes gearing straightforward
- Excels in its niche
Cons:
- High skill floor, punishing when misplayed
- Requires deep game knowledge
Build Progression Path
- Start with Shek — the most forgiving option for learning the game
- Transition to Hiver once you understand core mechanics and have access to Meitou Weapons
- Keep a Greenlander setup for content that keeps killing you
- Try Scorchlander for a fresh experience once you've mastered the basics
Gearing Tips
- Invest in your primary equipment first — it gives the biggest power spike
- Toughness is the most important stat — it determines how much damage you can take before going down and how fast you recover. Train it by getting beaten up (non-lethally). Hungry bandits are perfect training opponents.
- Buy a building in The Hub for 3000 cats (currency) as your first base. Assign characters to mine copper outside, sell ore at the shop, and use profits to recruit more squad members.
- 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.
