Drones

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Drones are an Interactable in Risk of Rain Returns, providing the player valuable extra sources of damage, healing, and crowd dispersal often at the cost of money and the risk of them being destroyed.

Most drones when destroyed will revert back to an interactable nearby the player, and can be repurchased in order to repair the drone fully. A destroyed drone will inherit the current price relative to the scaling difficulty, a drone purchased on Stage 1 for $40 will cost significantly more to repair when destroyed on Stage 5. Some special drones however are destroyed completely, and cannot be reacquired with money.

Most drones level up partly with time and partly with player level. When enough time passes for the drone's time-based stats to level up, it won't gain those increased stats until broken and repaired, meaning it can become very expensive to keep a drone at or around enemy level so it can more easily stay alive. Only damage is based on player level.

Some Items affect how drones behave directly, such as Arms RaceArms Race
Drones are equipped with explosive weaponry. Summons a drone helper.
Drones gain a 5% (+5% per stack) chance on hit to fire a missile for 300% TOTAL damage, and a 9% chance on hit to fire a mortar for 85% (+85% per stack) TOTAL damage. Summons a unique drone which regenerates each stage. granting drones a chance to fire additional explosives, or the equipment Drone Repair KitDrone Repair Kit45s CD
Repair and empower all active drones. Summons a unique drone to assist.
All drones are repaired to full health and empowered for 8 seconds. Summons a unique drone. instantly repairing purchased drones and buffing them for a short duration. Drones will also activate on kill items such as GasolineGasoline
Killing enemies sets the ground on fire.
Killing enemies burns the ground for 60% (+40% per stack) damage. and Ceremonial DaggerCeremonial Dagger
Killing an enemy fires spirit bolts.
Killing an enemy fires out 4 (+2 per stack) heat seaking bolts that deal 100% damage..

Additionally Drones inherit invincibility from their owners such as from Shield GeneratorShield Generator45s CD
Become invulnerable for 8 seconds.
Become invincible for 8 seconds. and Loader's Debris Shield.

Drone Types

There are 5 primary drone types, 5 main upgraded drone types, 6 gilded drone types, and 4 drone types with unique behavior.

Primary Drones

Primary Drones are what will most frequently be seen during a run, namely the common Gunner and Healing drones.

Gunner Drone

Stats

HP	203.5 (+12.85 per level)
Regen	2.5 (+0.125 per level) hp/s
DPS	4x5 (4x+~1 per level) d/s

Stages

Any first stage

Damp Caverns

Hive Cluster

Healing Drone

Stats

HP	149 (+8.85 per level)
Regen	2.5 (+0.125 per level) hp/s
Heal	5 (for 4s) hp/0.5s
CD	8

Stages

Any first stage

Sky Meadow

Missile Drone

Stats

HP	285 (+18 per level)
Regen	2.5 (+0.125 per level) hp/s
DPS	4x9 (4x+~8 per level) d/0.5s
CD	2.5

Stages

Any second stage

Flame Drone

Stats

HP	501.5 (+21.55 per level)
Regen	5 (+0.25 per level) hp/s
DPS	6x6 (6x+~1 per level) d/s

Stages

Magma Barracks

Laser Drone

Stats

HP	469 (+29.6 per level)
Regen	5 (+0.25 per level) hp/s
Damage	33 (+~8 per level)
CD	3

Stages

Any third stage

Magma Barracks

• Gunner Drone - A versatile drone that aligns with enemies horizontally, and fires a single non-piercing bullet repeatedly. Upgrades increase fire-rate, damage, health, and regen.

Gunner drone.	Gunner drone shooting.	Damaged gunner drone.	Damaged gunner drone shooting.	Broken interactable.

• Healing Drone - A support drone that follows closely near the player, healing them when they are injured for pulses of 5 health. Upgrades increase how many times the drone can heal in one instance, health, and regen.

Healing drone.	Healing drone healing.	Damaged healing drone.	Damage healing drone healing.	Broken interactable.

• Missile Drone - A hard-hitting drone that launches volleys of strong missiles to enemies on screen, with long reloads in between firing. Upgrades either reduce or increase volley size and increase damage, health, and regen.

Missile drone.	Missile drone firing.	Damaged missile drone.	Damaged missile drone firing.	Broken interactable.

• Flame Drone - A close-range drone that fires a constant piercing stream of flame, rapidly burning all enemies in its path. Upgrades create additional directions of flame and increase damage, health, and regen.

Flame drone.	Flame drone attacking.	Damaged flame drone.	Damaged flame drone attacking.	Broken interactable.

• Laser Drone - A charging drone that shoots a piercing beam horizontally across the screen, hitting all enemies on the way with high burst damage. Upgrades increase charge time, beam duration, health, and regen.

Laser drone.	Laser drone firing.	Damaged laser drone.

Damaged laser drone firing.	Broken interactable.

Upgraded Drones

Upgraded Drones are generally acquired through combining 3 Primary Drones of the same type at a Drone Upgrader, and rarely found on later stages, mainly the Attack and Medical drones.

Attack Drone

Stats

HP	Unknown
Regen	Unknown
Damage	3 (+~1 per level)

Stages

Any first stage after looping

Any stage besides Sky Meadow and fourth stages

Medical Drone

Stats

HP	554
Regen	Unknown
Heal	5 (for 4s) hp/0.5s
CD	8

Stages

Hive Cluster

Rocket Drone

Stats

HP	Unknown
Regen	Unknown
Damage	3x65 (3x+~45 per level)

Stages

Any second stage after looping

Blaze Drone

Stats

HP	Unknown
Regen	Unknown
Damage	9 (+~2 per level)

Stages

Ancient Valley after looping

Magma Barracks after looping

Risk of Rain

Beam Drone

Stats

HP	Unknown
Regen	Unknown
Damage	8x22 (8x+~48 per level)

Stages

Ancient Valley after looping

Magma Barracks after looping

Risk of Rain

• Attack Drone - An upgraded Gunner Drone with dual machine guns, firing several non-piercing shots in quick succession. Gilded upgrade increases fire-rate, health, regen, and damage.

Attack drone.	Attack drone shooting.	Damaged attack drone.

Damaged attack drone shooting.	Broken interactable.

• Medical Drone - An upgraded Healing Drone that follows closely near the player, healing them when they are injured for pulses of 5 health. Gilded upgrade increases total health given, health, and regen.

Medical drone.	Medical drone healing.	Damaged medical drone.	Damaged medical drone healing.	Broken interactable.

• Rocket Drone - An upgraded Missile Drone that launches volleys of strong, tracking missiles to enemies on-screen, with short volley capacity and long reloads in between firing. Gilded upgrade increases volley size, health, regen, and damage.

Rocket drone.	Empty rocket drone.	Rocket drone firing.	Damaged rocket drone.

Empty damaged rocket drone.	Damaged rocket drone firing.	Broken interactable.

• Blaze Drone - An upgraded Flame Drone with dual flamethrowers, firing two constant piercing streams of fire, rapidly burning all enemies in its path. Gilded upgrade increases health, regen and damage.

Blaze drone.	Blaze drone attacking.	Damaged blaze drone.

Damaged blaze drone attacking.	Broken interactable.

• Beam Drone - An upgraded Laser Drone with a massive, horizontal piercing laser burst with a longer charge time, lasting for longer and damaging all enemies on its path. Gilded upgrade increases beam duration, health, regen, and damage.

Beam drone.	Beam drone firing.	Damaged beam drone.

Damaged beam drone firing.	Broken interactable.

Gilded Drones

Combining three Upgraded Drones of the same type or three Friendly Constructs at a Drone Upgrader will net an even stronger Gilded version of that drone type, boasting increased health, health regeneration, fire-rate, damage, healing, a new golden paintjob, and a powerful blue attack or healing effect with no further visual differences. Obtaining any of these drones as HAN-D will unlock DRONE - BLASTDRONE - BLAST
Secondary
FIRE A DRONE THAT EXPLODES ON CONTACT FOR 500% DAMAGE, AT BLINDING SPEEDS, EXTENDING OVERCLOCK DURATION. GAIN DRONES BY KILLING ENEMIES.
Survivor: HAN-D and the achievement Sagitta Aurum.

Gilded Attack Drone

Stats

HP	Unknown
Regen	Unknown
Damage	10 (+~11 per level)

Gilded Rocket Drone

Stats

HP	Unknown
Regen	Unknown
Damage	5x181 (5x+~105 per level)

Gilded Blaze Drone

Stats

HP	Unknown
Regen	Unknown
Damage	17 (+~2 per level)

Gilded Beam Drone

Stats

HP	Unknown
Regen	Unknown
Damage	12x44 (12x+~72 per level)

Gilded Friendly Construct

Stats

HP	Unknown
Regen	Unknown
Damage	71 (+~7 per level)

• Gilded Attack Drone - An upgraded Attack Drone with increased fire-rate, health, regen, and damage.

Gilded attack drone.	Gilded attack drone shooting.	Damaged gilded attack drone.

Damaged gilded attack drone shooting.	Broken interactable.

• Gilded Medical Drone - An upgraded Medical Drone with increased total health given, health, and regen.

Gilded medical drone.	Gilded medical drone healing.	Damaged gilded medical drone.	Damaged gilded medical drone healing.	Broken interactable.

• Gilded Rocket Drone - An upgraded Rocket Drone with increased volley size, health, regen, and damage.

Gilded rocket drone.	Empty gilded rocket drone.	Gilded rocket drone firing.	Damaged gilded rocket drone.

Empty damaged gilded rocket drone.	Damaged gilded rocket drone firing.	Broken interactable.

• Gilded Blaze Drone - An upgraded Blaze Drone with increased health, regen and damage.

Gilded blaze drone.	Gilded blaze drone attacking.	Damaged gilded blaze drone.

Damaged gilded blaze drone attacking.	Broken interactable.

• Gilded Beam Drone - An upgraded Beam Drone with increased beam duration, health, regen, and damage.

Gilded beam drone.	Gilded beam drone firing.	Damaged gilded beam drone.

Damaged gilded beam drone firing.	Broken interactable.

• Gilded Friendly Construct - An upgraded Friendly Construct with increased health, regen, and damage.

Gilded friendly construct.	Gilded friendly construct attacking.	Damaged gilded friendly construct.	Damaged gilded friendly construct attacking.	Gilded friendly construct dying.

Unique Drones

Friendly Construct

Stats

HP	Unknown
Regen	Unknown
Damage	28 (+~7 per level)

Stages

Any first stage

Any second stage

• Friendly Construct - A melee "drone" that floats adjacent to enemies, and strikes repeatedly with slam attacks. Costs health to purchase. Removed permanently when destroyed. Gilded upgrade increases health, regen, and damage.

Friendly construct.	Friendly construct attacking.	Damaged friendly construct.	Damaged friendly construct attacking.

Friendly construct dying.	Broken interactable.

• Arms RaceArms Race
  Drones are equipped with explosive weaponry. Summons a drone helper.
  Drones gain a 5% (+5% per stack) chance on hit to fire a missile for 300% TOTAL damage, and a 9% chance on hit to fire a mortar for 85% (+85% per stack) TOTAL damage. Summons a unique drone which regenerates each stage. Drone - A slow-firing shotgun drone that fires a short, piercing blast. Automatically granted when picking up the Arms RaceArms Race
  Drones are equipped with explosive weaponry. Summons a drone helper.
  Drones gain a 5% (+5% per stack) chance on hit to fire a missile for 300% TOTAL damage, and a 9% chance on hit to fire a mortar for 85% (+85% per stack) TOTAL damage. Summons a unique drone which regenerates each stage. item. Removed when destroyed, but respawns when advancing a stage. ^{Only one can exist at a time.}

Arms RaceArms Race Drones are equipped with explosive weaponry. Summons a drone helper. Drones gain a 5% (+5% per stack) chance on hit to fire a missile for 300% TOTAL damage, and a 9% chance on hit to fire a mortar for 85% (+85% per stack) TOTAL damage. Summons a unique drone which regenerates each stage. drone.	Arms RaceArms Race Drones are equipped with explosive weaponry. Summons a drone helper. Drones gain a 5% (+5% per stack) chance on hit to fire a missile for 300% TOTAL damage, and a 9% chance on hit to fire a mortar for 85% (+85% per stack) TOTAL damage. Summons a unique drone which regenerates each stage. drone with KS-I upgrade.	Arms RaceArms Race Drones are equipped with explosive weaponry. Summons a drone helper. Drones gain a 5% (+5% per stack) chance on hit to fire a missile for 300% TOTAL damage, and a 9% chance on hit to fire a mortar for 85% (+85% per stack) TOTAL damage. Summons a unique drone which regenerates each stage. drone shooting.	Damaged Arms RaceArms Race Drones are equipped with explosive weaponry. Summons a drone helper. Drones gain a 5% (+5% per stack) chance on hit to fire a missile for 300% TOTAL damage, and a 9% chance on hit to fire a mortar for 85% (+85% per stack) TOTAL damage. Summons a unique drone which regenerates each stage. drone.	Damaged Arms RaceArms Race Drones are equipped with explosive weaponry. Summons a drone helper. Drones gain a 5% (+5% per stack) chance on hit to fire a missile for 300% TOTAL damage, and a 9% chance on hit to fire a mortar for 85% (+85% per stack) TOTAL damage. Summons a unique drone which regenerates each stage. drone shooting.	KS-I upgrade given to drones.

• Drone Repair KitDrone Repair Kit45s CD
  Repair and empower all active drones. Summons a unique drone to assist.
  All drones are repaired to full health and empowered for 8 seconds. Summons a unique drone. Drone - Identical to a Gunner Drone, featuring a hard-hat for safety. Granted when using the Drone Repair KitDrone Repair Kit45s CD
  Repair and empower all active drones. Summons a unique drone to assist.
  All drones are repaired to full health and empowered for 8 seconds. Summons a unique drone.. Removed when destroyed, but can be replaced by using the equipment at any time. Only one can exist at a time.

Repair drone.	Repair drone firing.	Damaged repair drone.	Damaged Repair drone firing.

• The Back-upThe Back-up45s CD
  Call drones for backup. Lasts 10 seconds.
  Create 4 drones to fight for you for 10 seconds. Drone - An emergency drone with a short lifespan, but with a rapid-fire gun bundled with 4 (8 if Beating EmbryoBeating Embryo
  Equipment has a chance to have double the effect.
  Equipment has a 30% (+30% per stack) chance to deal double the effect. activates) total drones. Granted when using The Back-upThe Back-up45s CD
  Call drones for backup. Lasts 10 seconds.
  Create 4 drones to fight for you for 10 seconds.. Self-destructs after 10 seconds.

Strike drone.	Strike drone attacking.

Most Drones are used in two Interactables themselves, the Drone Upgrader and the Drone Scrapper. The Drone Upgrader combines 3 identical drones and creates a more powerful single drone, offering higher durability and more effectiveness in the drone's type, with the drawback of a higher single cost to repair if the drone is destroyed. The Drone Scrapper consumes a random drone and drops an Item.

Associated Challenges

Challenge	Unlocks	Requirement
Sagitta Aurum	DRONE - BLASTDRONE - BLAST Secondary FIRE A DRONE THAT EXPLODES ON CONTACT FOR 500% DAMAGE, AT BLINDING SPEEDS, EXTENDING OVERCLOCK DURATION. GAIN DRONES BY KILLING ENEMIES. Survivor: HAN-D	HAN-D: Obtain a golden drone.
Mechanic	Engineer	Repair 40 drones total.
Recycled	Drifter	Recycle 6 drones in one playthrough.
Mechanized Militia	The Back-upThe Back-up45s CD Call drones for backup. Lasts 10 seconds. Create 4 drones to fight for you for 10 seconds.	Have 4 drone helpers at once.
Amplified	V.0.2 Prototype Laser TurretV.0.2 Prototype Laser Turret25s CD / Special Drop a turret that charges up over 8 seconds and fires for 1300% damage per hit, inheriting all of your items. Fragile, rapidly damaging itself while firing. Survivor: Engineer	Engineer: Acquire a Beam Drone.

Trivia

• The attack drone's bullet shells unexpectedly disappear in one of the attack animation's frames but don't in the gilded upgrade's attack animation, suggesting it's a frame that wasn't added to the gilded upgrade's attack animation:

• The rocket drone and gilded rocket drone are the only drones to have empty sprites:

• The friendly construct and gilded friendly construct are the only "drones" to have a death animation: