- The Outlast Trials rigs are your active support tools: Stun, Heal, X-Ray, and Barricade.
- Stun and Heal rank highest for most players and squads.
- X-Ray carries solo players and map learners through route planning.
- Upgrade one Rig first instead of spreading Therapy Tokens across everything.
- Save Rig charges for revives, objectives, and the final extraction push.
What Are Rigs in The Outlast Trials?
Rigs are the core active equipment system for every Reagent. Unlike consumable items such as bottles, bricks, and antidotes, a Rig is a reusable tool with charges that recharge over time, defining how you handle pressure during a Trial. Choosing the right Rig shapes your role in a squad just as much as your Prescriptions or Amps.
Each Rig covers a different need: crowd control, healing, information, or area denial. No single Rig is mandatory for every Trial, so the correct choice depends on whether your team needs emergency escapes, sustained recovery, route awareness, or defensive positioning during objectives.
You can learn more about the game's systems on the official Red Barrels website and the Steam store page.
Rig Overview Comparison
| Rig | Role | Charges Recharge | Key Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stun | Crowd control | Over time | Interrupt enemies, rescue teammates |
| Heal | Team recovery | Over time | Restore health, reduce item pressure |
| X-Ray | Information | Over time | Spot enemies and objectives through walls |
| Barricade | Area denial | Over time | Block doors during objectives and escapes |
Rigs do not replace stealth. They create windows - a stun to open a revive, a heal after a chase, an X-Ray scan before entering a patrol zone. Use them to enable your plan, not to fix a broken one.
Rigs Tier List
This tier list weighs utility, team value, difficulty coverage, and suitability for solo, duo, and four-player Trials. Ratings reflect the current understanding of the game's balance; patches can shift enemy behavior and Rig interactions, so review the newest official patch notes before committing to a high-difficulty strategy.
| Tier | Rig | Best For | Team Value | Upgrade Priority |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| S | Stun Rig | Solo, duo, high-pressure objectives | Excellent | High |
| S | Heal Rig | Duo and four-player teams, long Trials | Excellent | High |
| A | X-Ray Rig | Solo, objective-focused teams, map learners | Very good | Medium to high |
| A | Barricade Rig | Duo and four-player teams, objective defense | Very good | Medium |
Stun Rig - S Tier
- Interrupts or disables dangerous enemies
- Creates space for revives and objectives
- Strong escape tool when trapped or chased
- Requires good timing to maximize value
Heal Rig - S Tier
- Restores team health between objectives
- Reduces reliance on consumable healing items
- Supports repeated mistakes without ending runs
- Less useful during an active chase
X-Ray Rig - A Tier
- Reveals nearby threats through walls
- Improves route planning on unfamiliar maps
- Cuts time spent searching for objectives
- Value depends on communicating findings
Barricade Rig - A Tier
- Secures doors and access points
- Safer windows for healing and reviving
- Strong when defending a fixed position
- Needs advance placement and planning
Tier lists describe general value, not strict rules. A Barricade Rig in a coordinated four-player group defending a generator objective can outperform a poorly timed Stun. Pick based on your team's actual pressure points.
Solo vs Co-op Rig Choices
Solo and duo players face different pressures than full squads. Solo, there is no teammate to revive you, so escape tools and information matter most. In a four-player team, healing and area control scale across the whole group.
| Scenario | Recommended Rig | Why It Works |
|---|---|---|
| Solo Trials | X-Ray or Stun | Information prevents bad encounters; Stun saves failed stealth |
| Duo teams | Stun or Heal | Crowd control plus recovery covers most mistakes |
| Four-player teams | Heal or Barricade | Recovery and area denial scale with group size |
| Learning new maps | X-Ray | Reduces time lost to searching and wrong routes |
| High difficulty (Program X / Ultra) | Stun | Emergency control prevents chain-downs |
A balanced four-player squad often runs two Stun Rigs plus one Heal and one X-Ray. This covers emergency control, recovery, and scouting without duplicating too many charges of the same type.
Rig Upgrade Order: Step by Step
Upgrading Rigs requires Therapy Tokens, earned through player progression and Trial advancement. Spreading tokens across every Rig leaves you with several weak tools. Focus your investment instead.
Pick One Primary Rig
Choose the Rig that matches your role and most common party size. Solo and duo players generally pick Stun or X-Ray; squad players lean Heal or Barricade.
Upgrade It Fully Before Branching Out
Max out your primary Rig's charges and effects first. A fully upgraded Rig outperforms two half-upgraded ones in almost every Trial.
Add Supporting Amps
Invest in Amps that complement your Rig, such as faster recharge or stun-duration improvements. Amps multiply Rig value rather than replacing it.
Unlock a Second Rig for Flexibility
Once your main setup is solid, unlock a second Rig so you can swap roles when your squad composition changes between Trials.
Reassess After Major Patches
Balance changes to enemy behavior and Rig interactions can shift priorities. Review official patch notes before grinding the next upgrade tier.
New players get the most value from a focused setup: one dependable Rig, a small group of supporting Amps, and Prescriptions for stamina and noise reduction. A focused stealth, healing, or rescue build is easier to learn than several partial builds.
Practical Rig Usage Checklist
Knowing when to press the Rig button matters more than which Rig you carry. These are the moments where a well-timed charge saves an entire Trial.
| Situation | Rig to Use | Correct Action |
|---|---|---|
| Teammate down near a patrol | Stun | Stun the enemy, then revive safely |
| Group low on health after a chase | Heal | Heal during a safe objective window |
| Unfamiliar objective room | X-Ray | Scan before committing to entry |
| Loud objective attracting enemies | Barricade | Block the main access door first |
| Final extraction push | Stun or Heal | Save charges for the last stretch |
| Pusher gas cloud | X-Ray | Move out immediately, use Antidote if needed |
Enemy pressure often increases near the end of a Trial. Burning every Rig charge on early objectives leaves your team exposed during extraction, which is statistically the most dangerous phase of most runs.
Rig Mastery Milestones:
- Fully upgrade one primary Rig
- Learn stun timing against a Prime Asset
- Complete a solo Trial using X-Ray for routing
- Coordinate Rig usage across a four-player squad
- Reserve at least one charge for final extraction
FAQ
Q: What is the best Rig in The Outlast Trials?
Stun and Heal are the strongest overall picks. Stun provides emergency crowd control for solo players and duos, while Heal delivers sustained team recovery in three- and four-player squads. The best choice depends on your role, party size, and the Trial's pressure type.
Q: Can I change my Rig after selecting one?
Yes. Rigs are equipment loadouts rather than permanent class choices. You can swap Rigs between Trials, and upgrading a second Rig later adds flexibility when your squad composition changes.
Q: Which Rig should solo players use?
X-Ray or Stun. X-Ray helps solo Reagents plan safe routes and avoid encounters before they start, while Stun creates an escape window when stealth fails and no teammate is available to help.
Q: How do I upgrade Rigs efficiently?
Earn Therapy Tokens through Trial completion and progression, then invest them in one primary Rig first. Complete the main objective, collect optional evidence only when safe, and extract alive - a consistent completion with moderate performance levels you up faster than repeatedly failing for a perfect rating.
Related Content
Explore more The Outlast Trials mechanics guides or head back to the The Outlast Trials Wiki homepage for the latest coverage.