Returnal is Housemarque's third-person roguelike shooter where astronaut Selene crash-lands on the alien planet Atropos and is trapped in a time loop. Each death resets the procedurally generated world, but permanent unlocks like weapon traits, ether currency, and traversal abilities carry between runs. The combat blends bullet-hell patterns with responsive third-person shooting, and the DualSense-inspired mechanics (adaptive triggers for alt-fire) translate well to PC. Two distinct acts with three biomes each offer a complete story that rewards repeated playthroughs with cryptic narrative reveals.
Your choice of equipment defines your damage output and playstyle. This guide ranks every major option, explains what makes each one strong, and tells you which builds they pair best with.
Equipment Rankings
| Equipment | Tier | Best For | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hollowseeker | S | All-around use, bullet-hell bosses, new players | Rapid-fire weapon with virtually no recoil. |
| Electropylon Driver | A | Boss killing, area denial, experienced players | Fires pylons that stick to surfaces and enemies, creating damaging electricity webs between them. |
| Dreadbound | A | Aggressive players, close-range combat, high-risk builds | Fires projectile shards that automatically return to you. |
| Rotgland Lobber | B | Boss fights, DoT builds, dodge-focused playstyle | Fires acid globules that apply strong damage-over-time effects. |
| Thermogenic Launcher | B | Room clearing, AoE damage, crowd control | Rocket launcher with high burst damage per shot. |
S-Tier: Hollowseeker
Rapid-fire weapon with virtually no recoil. Portal Beam trait creates an autonomous turret that fires where you aim. Combined with Serrated Rounds (DoT), it becomes a DPS machine that works at all ranges. The most consistent weapon across all biomes.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | S |
| Best For | All-around use, bullet-hell bosses, new players |
| Key Mechanic | adrenaline system |
| Recommended Build | Hollowseeker Main |
How to get it: Available from mid-game onward. See our walkthrough for the exact progression point.
Best builds using Hollowseeker: Pairs naturally with Hollowseeker Main thanks to stat scaling synergies.
A-Tier: Electropylon Driver
Fires pylons that stick to surfaces and enemies, creating damaging electricity webs between them. Pylon Web trait is considered the strongest single trait in the game. Set up webs in chokepoints and let enemies walk into them. Trivializes many boss fights.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Best For | Boss killing, area denial, experienced players |
| Key Mechanic | weapon trait unlocks |
| Recommended Build | Electropylon Driver Main |
How to get it: Accessible in the early-to-mid game. Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using Electropylon Driver: Pairs naturally with Electropylon Driver Main thanks to stat scaling synergies.
A-Tier: Dreadbound
Fires projectile shards that automatically return to you. The closer you stand to your target, the faster they return, massively increasing fire rate. At melee range, DPS exceeds every other weapon. Punishes cautious play but rewards aggression.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Best For | Aggressive players, close-range combat, high-risk builds |
| Key Mechanic | parasite risk-reward |
| Recommended Build | Dreadbound Main |
How to get it: Accessible in the early-to-mid game. Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using Dreadbound: Pairs naturally with Dreadbound Main thanks to stat scaling synergies.
B-Tier: Rotgland Lobber
Fires acid globules that apply strong damage-over-time effects. Trailing Rot leaves acid trails, and Explosive Rot adds AoE burst. The DoT continues while you dodge, making it ideal for bosses with complex attack patterns.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Best For | Boss fights, DoT builds, dodge-focused playstyle |
| Key Mechanic | malignant items |
| Recommended Build | Rotgland Lobber Main |
How to get it: Found in later areas. Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using Rotgland Lobber: Pairs naturally with Rotgland Lobber Main thanks to stat scaling synergies.
B-Tier: Thermogenic Launcher
Rocket launcher with high burst damage per shot. Full Auto trait removes the charge-up, turning it into a rapid-fire rocket launcher. Mega Rocket trait increases explosion size. Excellent for clearing rooms of smaller enemies.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Best For | Room clearing, AoE damage, crowd control |
| Key Mechanic | permanent upgrades |
| Recommended Build | Thermogenic Launcher Main |
How to get it: Found in later areas. Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using Thermogenic Launcher: Pairs naturally with Thermogenic Launcher Main thanks to stat scaling synergies.
Equipment Progression Path
The order you should acquire equipment as you progress:
- Starting gear → Enough to clear Overgrown Ruins
- Electropylon Driver → Your first real upgrade, available early
- Dreadbound → Mid-game upgrade with good scaling
- Hollowseeker → Best-in-slot, aim for this by late game
- Upgrade to max → The power spike from max upgrades is enormous
Equipment Tips
- Always upgrade your primary equipment before diversifying — one strong option beats three mediocre ones.
- Match your equipment to your build's stat priorities for maximum scaling.
- Adrenaline Level 3+ increases proficiency gain — maintaining adrenaline means finding higher-level weapons faster
- Check our tier list for how equipment rankings affect overall build effectiveness.
More Returnal Guides
- Returnal Returnal Overview
- Returnal Best Builds
- Returnal Tier List
- Returnal Walkthrough
- Returnal Beginner's Guide
- Returnal Tips & Tricks
- Returnal Combat Guide
- Returnal Boss Guide
- Returnal Maps & Locations
- Returnal Crafting Guide
- Returnal Classes & Characters
Similar Games
If you enjoy Returnal, check out these related guides:
- Risk of Rain 2 Weapons Guide — roguelike game with similar mechanics
- Hades Weapons Guide — roguelike game with similar mechanics
- Darkest Dungeon Weapons Guide — roguelike game with similar mechanics
