R.E.P.O. is a co-op horror extraction game where you and up to 5 friends work as repo agents collecting valuable items from haunted locations to pay off an ever-growing debt. Think Lethal Company meets GTFO — you scavenge furniture, electronics, and cursed objects from procedurally generated buildings while ghosts, traps, and environmental hazards try to kill you. The physics-based item carrying system makes every extraction chaotic and hilarious as your team struggles to shove a grand piano through a doorway while something screams in the next room.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grabber | S | Follow the Scanner's callouts, grab the highest-value items first, and sprint them back to the truck as efficiently as possible. | Grabber Tool (upgraded grip), Stamina Boost, Heavy Lifting upgrade |
| Runner | A | Grab lightweight high-value items and sprint them to the truck in rapid succession while the Grabbers handle heavy objects. | Sprint upgrades, Flashlight (extended battery), lightweight shoes |
| Scanner | S | Enter rooms first, scan everything, call out high-value targets to Grabbers, and monitor ghost activity to warn the team. | Scanner (upgraded range), Radio, extra batteries |
| Fighter | B | Position between the ghosts and your Grabbers, use flares and light to stun or redirect threats, and sacrifice yourself if needed to save a high-value extraction. | Flares (bulk supply), upgraded Flashlight, noise makers |
| Driver | B | Stay near the truck, organize incoming items for maximum space efficiency, deploy carts to the building entrance, and call departure warnings. | Cart, truck upgrades (capacity, engine), Radio |
S-Tier: Grabber
The primary item carrier who does the heavy lifting — literally. Grabbers prioritize strength upgrades and stamina to carry heavy items faster. A good Grabber memorizes item values and grabs the most expensive things first, maximizing quota efficiency.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Flashlight | Your primary tool for visibility and ghost interaction. |
| Core Gear | Grabber Tool (upgraded grip), Stamina Boost, Heavy Lifting upgrade | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Stamina, carry speed, grip strength | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | debt repayment | Your team has a debt quota that increases each day. |
How to Play Grabber
Follow the Scanner's callouts, grab the highest-value items first, and sprint them back to the truck as efficiently as possible.
The primary item carrier who does the heavy lifting — literally. Grabbers prioritize strength upgrades and stamina to carry heavy items faster. A good Grabber memorizes item values and grabs the most expensive things first, maximizing quota efficiency.
What makes this build work: The synergy between Flashlight and debt repayment creates a gameplay loop that outperforms other options. Core gear like Grabber Tool (upgraded grip), Stamina Boost, Heavy Lifting upgrade amplifies this further.
Pros:
- Highest overall performance
- Clear stat priority (Stamina, carry speed, grip strength) makes gearing straightforward
- Works in all content types
Cons:
- Popular pick, resources may be contested
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
A-Tier: Runner
The Runner focuses on speed to shuttle small-to-medium items quickly between the building and truck. With sprint upgrades, a Runner can make two trips in the time it takes a Grabber to make one heavy haul. Essential for meeting tight time limits.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Grabber Tool | The primary item-carrying tool that increases grip strength and carry speed when upgraded. |
| Core Gear | Sprint upgrades, Flashlight (extended battery), lightweight shoes | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Speed, stamina regeneration, inventory slots | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | item extraction | Items must be physically carried back to the truck before the extraction timer runs out. |
How to Play Runner
Grab lightweight high-value items and sprint them to the truck in rapid succession while the Grabbers handle heavy objects.
The Runner focuses on speed to shuttle small-to-medium items quickly between the building and truck. With sprint upgrades, a Runner can make two trips in the time it takes a Grabber to make one heavy haul. Essential for meeting tight time limits.
What makes this build work: The synergy between Grabber Tool and item extraction creates a gameplay loop that offers reliable performance. Core gear like Sprint upgrades, Flashlight (extended battery), lightweight shoes amplifies this further.
Pros:
- Most versatile option
- Clear stat priority (Speed, stamina regeneration, inventory slots) makes gearing straightforward
- Works in all content types
Cons:
- Lower peak damage than S-tier
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
S-Tier: Scanner
The Scanner identifies valuable items through walls and prioritizes the team's collection route. Without a Scanner, the team wastes time grabbing low-value junk. The Scanner tool shows item values and ghost proximity, making this role the team's eyes and ears.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Scanner | Shows item values through walls in a cone-shaped area. |
| Core Gear | Scanner (upgraded range), Radio, extra batteries | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Scanner range, battery life, movement speed | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | ghost encounters | Different ghost types have unique behaviors and triggers. |
How to Play Scanner
Enter rooms first, scan everything, call out high-value targets to Grabbers, and monitor ghost activity to warn the team.
The Scanner identifies valuable items through walls and prioritizes the team's collection route. Without a Scanner, the team wastes time grabbing low-value junk. The Scanner tool shows item values and ghost proximity, making this role the team's eyes and ears.
What makes this build work: The synergy between Scanner and ghost encounters creates a gameplay loop that offers reliable performance. Core gear like Scanner (upgraded range), Radio, extra batteries amplifies this further.
Pros:
- Best survivability
- Clear stat priority (Scanner range, battery life, movement speed) makes gearing straightforward
- Works in all content types
Cons:
- Slower clear speeds
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
B-Tier: Fighter
Fighters focus on distracting or slowing ghosts to buy time for the extraction team. Most ghosts can't be killed, but they can be stunned with flares, flashlights, and specific items. The Fighter keeps threats occupied while Grabbers work.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Cart | A wheeled platform that holds multiple small-to-medium items simultaneously. |
| Core Gear | Flares (bulk supply), upgraded Flashlight, noise makers | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Health, stamina, flare capacity | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | team coordination | The game is built around teamwork. |
How to Play Fighter
Position between the ghosts and your Grabbers, use flares and light to stun or redirect threats, and sacrifice yourself if needed to save a high-value extraction.
Fighters focus on distracting or slowing ghosts to buy time for the extraction team. Most ghosts can't be killed, but they can be stunned with flares, flashlights, and specific items. The Fighter keeps threats occupied while Grabbers work.
What makes this build work: The synergy between Cart and team coordination creates a gameplay loop that provides a unique approach. Core gear like Flares (bulk supply), upgraded Flashlight, noise makers amplifies this further.
Pros:
- Strong in group/team content
- Clear stat priority (Health, stamina, flare capacity) makes gearing straightforward
- Excels in its niche
Cons:
- Weaker solo performance
- Requires deep game knowledge
B-Tier: Driver
The Driver manages truck logistics — organizing cargo space, positioning the truck near exits, and ensuring departure timing is optimized. On larger maps, a good Driver repositions the truck closer to the building entrance to cut transit time.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Flares | Throwable light sources that stun ghosts in a radius when they ignite. |
| Core Gear | Cart, truck upgrades (capacity, engine), Radio | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Truck capacity upgrades, cart management, timing awareness | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | truck management | The truck is your extraction point and mobile base. |
How to Play Driver
Stay near the truck, organize incoming items for maximum space efficiency, deploy carts to the building entrance, and call departure warnings.
The Driver manages truck logistics — organizing cargo space, positioning the truck near exits, and ensuring departure timing is optimized. On larger maps, a good Driver repositions the truck closer to the building entrance to cut transit time.
What makes this build work: The synergy between Flares and truck management creates a gameplay loop that provides a unique approach. Core gear like Cart, truck upgrades (capacity, engine), Radio amplifies this further.
Pros:
- Unique, rewarding playstyle
- Clear stat priority (Truck capacity upgrades, cart management, timing awareness) makes gearing straightforward
- Excels in its niche
Cons:
- High skill floor, punishing when misplayed
- Requires deep game knowledge
Build Progression Path
- Start with Runner — the most forgiving option for learning the game
- Transition to Grabber once you understand core mechanics and have access to Flashlight
- Keep a Scanner setup for content that keeps killing you
- Try Driver for a fresh experience once you've mastered the basics
Gearing Tips
- Invest in your primary equipment first — it gives the biggest power spike
- Items near the entrance are intentionally low-value — the game rewards pushing deeper into dangerous areas where high-value items spawn.
- When carrying a heavy item with a partner, both players must move in the same direction. If you pull opposite ways, you drop it and waste stamina.
- 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.
