Spelunky 2 is the sequel to the genre-defining roguelike platformer, expanding the original's tight gameplay with branching paths, rideable mounts, liquid physics, and layers of hidden content that take hundreds of hours to uncover. Every run through the procedurally generated caves, jungles, and volcanos is different, and the physics-based emergent gameplay creates stories no scripted game could match. Reaching the Cosmic Ocean (the true final area) requires mastering a sequence of secret objectives across multiple playthroughs. Spelunky 2 is punishing, fair, and endlessly replayable.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Classic Spelunker | A | Standard run — explore, collect resources, avoid unnecessary risks, reach the exit. | Whip, bombs, ropes, whatever you find |
| Tina Flan | A | Leverage extended whip range for safer combat, otherwise standard approach. | Extended whip, standard equipment |
| Roffy D. Sloth | B | Survive hits that would kill other characters, use extra HP to learn dangerous sections. | Extra HP, standard equipment, defensive play |
| Au | B | Collect extra gold, buy powerful shop items (paste, climbing gloves), build advantage through purchases. | Gold attraction, shop-focused strategy |
| Pilot | B | Standard play until finding a jetpack, then leverage extended fuel for aerial dominance. | Jetpack (when found), standard equipment |
A-Tier: Classic Spelunker
The default character with standard stats. No special abilities but no weaknesses either. The Classic Spelunker is the baseline for learning the game's mechanics without character-specific gimmicks.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Whip | Your default melee weapon with short range and specific attack timing. |
| Core Gear | Whip, bombs, ropes, whatever you find | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Game knowledge, whip timing, resource management | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | physics platforming | Everything interacts physically — thrown objects bounce, bombs blast terrain, enemies ragdoll, and liquids flow. |
How to Play Classic Spelunker
Standard run — explore, collect resources, avoid unnecessary risks, reach the exit.
The default character with standard stats. No special abilities but no weaknesses either. The Classic Spelunker is the baseline for learning the game's mechanics without character-specific gimmicks.
What makes this build work: The synergy between Whip and physics platforming creates a gameplay loop that outperforms other options. Core gear like Whip, bombs, ropes, whatever you find amplifies this further.
Pros:
- Highest overall performance
- Clear stat priority (Game knowledge, whip timing, resource management) makes gearing straightforward
- Works in all content types
Cons:
- Popular pick, resources may be contested
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
A-Tier: Tina Flan
A character with a wider whip range, making combat slightly easier. Tina's extended reach gives a meaningful advantage against enemies that punish close approach.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Shotgun | The most powerful weapon in the game — kills almost anything in one shot and launches the player backward with recoil (useful for aerial movement). |
| Core Gear | Extended whip, standard equipment | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Whip combat, range advantage exploitation | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | whip combat | Your whip is the default weapon with short range and specific timing. |
How to Play Tina Flan
Leverage extended whip range for safer combat, otherwise standard approach.
A character with a wider whip range, making combat slightly easier. Tina's extended reach gives a meaningful advantage against enemies that punish close approach.
What makes this build work: The synergy between Shotgun and whip combat creates a gameplay loop that offers reliable performance. Core gear like Extended whip, standard equipment amplifies this further.
Pros:
- Most versatile option
- Clear stat priority (Whip combat, range advantage exploitation) makes gearing straightforward
- Works in all content types
Cons:
- Lower peak damage than S-tier
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
B-Tier: Roffy D. Sloth
A slow character with extra starting health. Roffy trades speed for durability — taking hits without dying. Better for learning boss patterns and dangerous areas.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Freeze Ray | Freezes enemies solid, allowing you to pick them up and throw them as weapons. |
| Core Gear | Extra HP, standard equipment, defensive play | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | HP management, safe pathing, learning-focused | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | bomb management | You start with 4 bombs and 4 ropes per run. |
How to Play Roffy D. Sloth
Survive hits that would kill other characters, use extra HP to learn dangerous sections.
A slow character with extra starting health. Roffy trades speed for durability — taking hits without dying. Better for learning boss patterns and dangerous areas.
What makes this build work: The synergy between Freeze Ray and bomb management creates a gameplay loop that offers reliable performance. Core gear like Extra HP, standard equipment, defensive play amplifies this further.
Pros:
- Best survivability
- Clear stat priority (HP management, safe pathing, learning-focused) makes gearing straightforward
- Works in all content types
Cons:
- Slower clear speeds
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
B-Tier: Au
A golden character unlocked through achievement. Au attracts gold, making shop purchases easier. The extra money enables buying paste, climbing gloves, and other powerful shop items consistently.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Boomerang | A returning projectile that deals moderate damage. |
| Core Gear | Gold attraction, shop-focused strategy | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Gold collection, shop item priority, resource accumulation | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | shortcut unlocks | Shortcuts to later levels can be unlocked by delivering specific items (bombs, ropes, gold, keys) to shortcut NPCs across multiple runs. |
How to Play Au
Collect extra gold, buy powerful shop items (paste, climbing gloves), build advantage through purchases.
A golden character unlocked through achievement. Au attracts gold, making shop purchases easier. The extra money enables buying paste, climbing gloves, and other powerful shop items consistently.
What makes this build work: The synergy between Boomerang and shortcut unlocks creates a gameplay loop that provides a unique approach. Core gear like Gold attraction, shop-focused strategy amplifies this further.
Pros:
- Strong in group/team content
- Clear stat priority (Gold collection, shop item priority, resource accumulation) makes gearing straightforward
- Excels in its niche
Cons:
- Weaker solo performance
- Requires deep game knowledge
B-Tier: Pilot
A character with jetpack affinity. When the Pilot finds a jetpack, its fuel lasts longer. Since jetpack is one of the strongest mobility items, the Pilot has a meaningful advantage in runs where one appears.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Machete | A melee weapon with better range and damage than the whip. |
| Core Gear | Jetpack (when found), standard equipment | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Jetpack fuel efficiency, aerial combat, mobility | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | secret paths | Multiple secret areas and paths exist: the Jungle vs. |
How to Play Pilot
Standard play until finding a jetpack, then leverage extended fuel for aerial dominance.
A character with jetpack affinity. When the Pilot finds a jetpack, its fuel lasts longer. Since jetpack is one of the strongest mobility items, the Pilot has a meaningful advantage in runs where one appears.
What makes this build work: The synergy between Machete and secret paths creates a gameplay loop that provides a unique approach. Core gear like Jetpack (when found), standard equipment amplifies this further.
Pros:
- Unique, rewarding playstyle
- Clear stat priority (Jetpack fuel efficiency, aerial combat, mobility) makes gearing straightforward
- Excels in its niche
Cons:
- High skill floor, punishing when misplayed
- Requires deep game knowledge
Build Progression Path
- Start with Tina Flan — the most forgiving option for learning the game
- Transition to Classic Spelunker once you understand core mechanics and have access to Whip
- Keep a Roffy D. Sloth setup for content that keeps killing you
- Try Pilot for a fresh experience once you've mastered the basics
Gearing Tips
- Invest in your primary equipment first — it gives the biggest power spike
- Whip has priority over most enemy attacks if timed right — attack BEFORE the enemy reaches you, not reactively. Learn the whip's active frames.
- Turkeys can be ridden for double jumps — mount turkeys found in levels for extra mobility. Turkeys also absorb one hit for you.
- 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.
