SCP: Secret Laboratory is a free multiplayer horror game set inside a Foundation site during a full containment breach. Each round assigns your role at random: Class-D trying to escape, a Scientist waiting on rescue, a Facility Guard, or one of the anomalies hunting everybody else. Death is permanent for that round, and the facility runs on hard timers that will kill you whether or not anything else does.
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. New to the game? Start with our beginner's guide first.
Quick Rankings
| Build | Tier | Playstyle | Core Gear |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class-D Personnel | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Scientist | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Facility Guard | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Nine-Tailed Fox | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Chaos Insurgency | A | Balanced | Best available |
For detailed meta rankings, see our SCP: Secret Laboratory tier list.
A-Tier: Class-D Personnel
Class-D Personnel is a top-performing option in SCP: Secret Laboratory.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | COM-15 | A slow firing 9x19mm sidearm from PG Arms with high damage per shot. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Role assignment and respawn waves | You spawn as Class-D, a Scientist, a Facility Guard or an SCP with no say in the matter. |
How to Play Class-D Personnel
Class-D Personnel focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this build works: COM-15 does the damage and Role assignment and respawn waves keeps it running, which is why this sits at the top of the list. See our weapons guide for detailed equipment breakdowns.
Pros:
- Highest overall performance
- Straightforward gearing path
- Works in all content types
Cons:
- Popular pick, resources may be contested
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
A-Tier: Scientist
Scientist is a strong option in SCP: Secret Laboratory.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | FSP-9 | The standard issue submachine gun of Facility Guards: light damage per hit, high rate of fire, and a magazine that empties quickly if you panic. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Keycard access levels | Doors and lockers are gated by keycard permissions, running from low tier Janitor and Scientist cards up to O5. |
How to Play Scientist
Scientist focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this build works: Pair FSP-9 with Keycard access levels and the build stops depending on a good start, so it holds up across most content. See our weapons guide for detailed equipment breakdowns.
Pros:
- Most versatile option
- Straightforward gearing path
- Works in all content types
Cons:
- Lower peak damage than S-tier
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
A-Tier: Facility Guard
Facility Guard is a strong option in SCP: Secret Laboratory.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Crossvec | A compact automatic weapon sitting between the FSP-9 and the rifles, controllable enough to land headshots in a corridor fight without a rifle's weight. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | SCP-914 refinement | The clockwork machine in Light Containment has five settings: Rough, Coarse, 1:1, Fine and Very Fine. |
How to Play Facility Guard
Facility Guard focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this build works: SCP-914 refinement covers the gap Crossvec leaves open, so the build stays usable even when a fight goes badly. See our weapons guide for detailed equipment breakdowns.
Pros:
- Best survivability
- Straightforward gearing path
- Works in all content types
Cons:
- Slower clear speeds
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
A-Tier: Nine-Tailed Fox
Nine-Tailed Fox is a specialized option in SCP: Secret Laboratory.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | MTF-E11-SR | The Nine-Tailed Fox rifle and the strongest general purpose firearm in the game, which is why an organised respawn wave usually flips the direction of a round. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Light Containment decontamination | At 11 minutes 45 seconds into the round, Light Containment starts decontaminating and then kills everything still inside, SCPs included. |
How to Play Nine-Tailed Fox
Nine-Tailed Fox focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this build works: This one leans on Light Containment decontamination rather than raw numbers, and MTF-E11-SR is what makes that trade pay off. See our weapons guide for detailed equipment breakdowns.
Pros:
- Strong in group/team content
- Straightforward gearing path
- Excels in its niche
Cons:
- Weaker solo performance
- Requires deep game knowledge
A-Tier: Chaos Insurgency
Chaos Insurgency is a specialized option in SCP: Secret Laboratory.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Logicer | The Chaos Insurgency light machine gun, carrying enough ammunition to keep firing through the window where everyone else has to reload. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Emergency Power Stations and the Alpha Warhead | Three Emergency Power Stations sit in Heavy Containment, and activating all three re-contains SCP-079. |
How to Play Chaos Insurgency
Chaos Insurgency focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this build works: Logicer and Emergency Power Stations and the Alpha Warhead pull in the same direction here, which separates this from the safer picks above. See our weapons guide for detailed equipment breakdowns.
Pros:
- Unique, rewarding playstyle
- Straightforward gearing path
- Excels in its niche
Cons:
- High skill floor, punishing when misplayed
- Requires deep game knowledge
Build Progression Path
- Start with Scientist: the most forgiving option for learning the game
- Transition to Class-D Personnel once you understand core mechanics and have access to COM-15
- Keep a Facility Guard setup for content that keeps killing you
- Try Chaos Insurgency for a fresh experience once you've mastered the basics
Follow our walkthrough for the optimal progression path through each area.
Gearing Tips
- Invest in your primary equipment first, since it gives the biggest power spike. See our weapons guide for rankings.
- Decontamination begins at 11 minutes 45 seconds, earlier than the fifteen minute figure players quote. Start your own clock at round start and be out of Light Containment with a full minute in hand.
- SCP-173 is frozen while any living player has it in view, so a group should have one person walking backwards watching it while everyone else moves. The moment all of them turn to run at once, the group dies.
- Don't spread upgrade resources across multiple builds until endgame
More SCP: Secret Laboratory Guides
- SCP: Secret Laboratory SCP: Secret Laboratory Overview
- SCP: Secret Laboratory Tier List
- SCP: Secret Laboratory Walkthrough
- SCP: Secret Laboratory Beginner's Guide
- SCP: Secret Laboratory Tips & Tricks
- SCP: Secret Laboratory Weapons Guide
- SCP: Secret Laboratory Combat Guide
- SCP: Secret Laboratory Boss Guide
- SCP: Secret Laboratory Maps & Locations
- SCP: Secret Laboratory Crafting Guide
- SCP: Secret Laboratory Classes & Characters
Similar Games
If you enjoy SCP: Secret Laboratory, check out these related guides:
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- Lethal Company Builds: horror game with similar mechanics
- Dead by Daylight Builds: horror game with similar mechanics
