How to Obliterate on Monsoon

Risk of Rain 2 is a game that thrives on chaos, strategy, and persistence. Among its toughest challenges is completing the Obliterate ending on Monsoon difficulty, the highest standard difficulty mode in the game. For seasoned players, this task tests both your game knowledge and mechanical skills. Obliterating on Monsoon is not just about surviving it’s about understanding every step, enemy, item, and decision that gets you to the Obelisk. This guide will walk through everything you need to know about how to obliterate on Monsoon and emerge victorious.

Understanding the Term Obliterate in Risk of Rain 2

What Does It Mean to Obliterate?

In Risk of Rain 2, obliterating refers to a special ending sequence where the player reaches a specific location and chooses to end their run voluntarily at the Obelisk. This differs from defeating Mithrix or looping indefinitely. Obliteration grants a unique conclusion and can unlock powerful items or characters depending on your progress.

Monsoon Difficulty Overview

Monsoon is the hardest baseline difficulty in Risk of Rain 2. Enemies are stronger, the difficulty curve rises faster, and bosses hit harder. Unlike the lower difficulty levels (Drizzle and Rainstorm), Monsoon demands near-perfect execution and an efficient route through the stages. The risk is greater, but so is the reward.

Preparing for Monsoon: Before the Run

Choose the Right Survivor

Not all survivors are equally equipped to handle Monsoon difficulty. The best characters to obliterate on Monsoon are typically those who can move quickly, avoid damage, and scale well into the late game. Some strong choices include:

• Huntress– Great mobility and homing attacks
• Engineer– Turret-based damage and safety zones
• Railgunner– High burst potential and long-range power
• Void Fiend– Adaptable playstyle and survivability

Enable Artifacts (Optional but Helpful)

Artifacts can dramatically change the flow of your run. Some artifacts can make Monsoon easier, such as:

• Artifact of Command– Lets you choose your items, perfect for building strong synergies
• Artifact of Sacrifice– Items drop from enemies instead of chests, speeding up your run
• Artifact of Swarms– Doubles enemies but also doubles item drops from bosses

Starting the Run: Early Game Strategy

Prioritize Mobility and Healing

The first few stages on Monsoon are crucial. Focus on picking up items that improve your ability to dodge, move, and recover from damage. Prioritize these item types:

• Sprint speed– Energy Drink, Paul’s Goat Hoof
• Healing– Medkit, Cautious Slug, Leeching Seed
• Utility– Backup Magazine, Hopoo Feather, Wax Quail

Clear Quickly and Efficiently

Do not linger too long on any stage. The longer you stay, the harder enemies become. Learn to grab essential items, locate the teleporter quickly, and move on. Spending 3–5 minutes per stage is ideal on Monsoon difficulty.

Mid-Game Focus: Building for Survival

Stacking Core Items

Midway through your run, you should start to build synergy. Try to stack items that complement your survivor’s strengths. Some universally strong choices include:

• Ukulele– Area damage
• Tri-Tip Dagger– Bleed stacks for damage over time
• Tougher Times– Chance to block incoming damage
• Infusion– Increase max health with kills

Watch the Timer and Difficulty Bar

The game becomes drastically harder around 20 minutes. Start pushing teleporter events faster once you’ve reached Stage 4. From this point, enemies like Clay Dunestriders, Stone Titans, and Greater Wisps become regular threats. Don’t let your damage output fall behind.

Locating the Celestial Portal

When and Where It Appears

To obliterate, you need to access the Celestial Portal. This portal begins spawning from Stage 8 onward. You must complete the teleporter event and then look for a shimmering blue portal somewhere in the environment. It will take you to the Celestial Realm.

Tips to Increase Portal Visibility

Sometimes the portal spawns in an obscure location. Keep your eyes peeled after the boss fight. It’s easy to miss on stages with complex terrain like Sky Meadow or Abyssal Depths. Use pinging (if in multiplayer) or high mobility to explore quickly after each teleporter fight.

Inside the Celestial Realm

Platforming Challenge

Once inside the Celestial Realm, you’ll navigate a small platforming puzzle. It’s not timed, so take your time and avoid falling. Use your movement items like Hopoo Feathers and Wax Quail to make jumps easier. Survivors with weak vertical mobility may find this segment tricky.

Reaching the Obelisk

At the end of the floating platforms lies the Obelisk. Approach it and interact with it. You’ll be asked if you want to obliterate yourself from existence. Accepting this ends your run and completes the obliteration route.

Rewards for Obliterating

Lunar Coins and Unlockables

Choosing to obliterate grants you 5 Lunar Coins. This is one of the most consistent ways to earn Lunar Coins for future runs. Additionally, obliterating with specific characters unlocks alternate abilities or skins. For example, obliterating with the Mercenary unlocks his alternate skin.

Unlocking the True Ending

While the true final boss (Mithrix) lies beyond Commencement, obliteration offers an alternative ending for players who prefer not to loop indefinitely or face the final boss. It’s also a great way to unlock features early without committing to the full run duration.

Advanced Tips for Success

Looping First Before Obliteration

Some players prefer to loop once before obliterating. Looping (going back to Stage 1 with tougher enemies) can give you more time to build your item set. Just be cautious enemies scale rapidly during the loop, and death becomes far more likely.

Team Play on Monsoon

Playing with friends can ease the burden of Monsoon difficulty. Be sure to spread out item pickups evenly and coordinate teleporter charging. Have one player specialize in healing (with items like Bustling Fungus) and another focus on crowd control (e.g., Will-o’-the-wisp).

Mastering How to Obliterate on Monsoon

Learning how to obliterate on Monsoon in Risk of Rain 2 is a rewarding journey. It requires a combination of fast thinking, game knowledge, item synergy, and sometimes a bit of luck. From choosing the right survivor and gathering key items to surviving long enough to find the Celestial Portal, each step builds toward a satisfying conclusion. With practice and precision, you’ll find yourself obliterating consistently, proving your skill against the game’s toughest challenges and unlocking new possibilities along the way.