Pass the Fear puts you on a corrupted island as a demon hunter racing to escape before dawn, and the character you pick shapes how each roguelite run plays out. The full release adds several hunters beyond the demo lineup, most of them locked until you clear the opening stages. Once they open up, some pull ahead thanks to raw damage and forgiving kits, while others reward patience and timing.
Quick answer: Long Tong and Jenny are the strongest launch picks. Elena, Marcus, and Jester are reliable mid-tier choices, and Lanny sits lower because his coin-based kit needs careful micromanagement.
| Tier | Hunters |
|---|---|
| S | Long Tong, Jenny |
| A | Elena, Marcus, Jester |
| B | Lanny |
This ranking reflects the launch build of the game. Placements weigh how much damage a hunter can put out, how consistent their kit is across a full run, and how much practice they demand to reach their ceiling. Stella is not yet unlocked, so she is left off until she can be tested.
S-tier hunters: Long Tong and Jenny
Long Tong never fights alone. Her dragon companion, Amber, stays at her side through every encounter, and her core talent lets Amber breathe fire that deals 80% of your main weapon’s elemental damage while applying dragon flame for damage over time. Her ultimate, Fury, sends Amber into a rage state that raises Final Damage and Attack Speed by 100% for 10 seconds. The extra source of constant, scaling damage makes her one of the easiest hunters to succeed with.
Jenny earns her spot two ways. First, every 7 weapon parts you dismantle hands you a new weapon part at random, and since long runs involve constant dismantling, that steady return adds up. Second, her ultimate is arguably the strongest in the game. She throws a wildcat bomb within 1,000 range that deals 1,000% of your current weapon damage to every enemy caught in the radius. The combination of that damage, its area coverage, and its reach makes her a standout pick.
A-tier hunters: Elena, Marcus, and Jester
Elena hits as hard as anyone in the game, but she is harder to pilot. Her whole rhythm runs on the Demon Hunting Silver Arrow. After she shoots, her next dodge fires a Silver Arrow at the nearest enemy for 100% of your current weapon’s damage. Unlocking her dash adds mobility and raises the payoff on her ultimate. The shoot-dodge-shoot loop sounds simple, but landing it consistently takes real practice.
Marcus is built around flooding the screen with bullets. His Fatal Silver Bullet fires extra rounds that deal bonus damage on a critical hit. There is some RNG in when certain abilities trigger, so his output can feel unpredictable early. Leveling him and unlocking skills like Bullseye and Spray and Slay smooths that out and gives you more control over his damage.
Jester is free from the very start, and that should not fool you. His kit centers on chaining Novice’s Luck and Justice Heart. Novice’s Luck lets you dodge the next incoming attack, which is a lifesaver during boss fights, and Justice Heart raises his fire rate and reload speed by 60% for 8 seconds. Timed well, that pairing makes him a strong answer to tougher endgame bosses.
B-tier hunter: Lanny
Lanny is not weak, but he is not for everyone. His specialization revolves around coins, so you have to manage your spending carefully to get value from his kit. Play it right and you can secure guaranteed rare spawns from the in-game shop. His ultimate boosts his damage while also increasing the damage he takes from enemies, so it is a trade-off you need to learn to balance as you gain experience with him.
If you want the smoothest path through the early acts, start with Long Tong or Jenny and grow into the more technical hunters once you know the boss patterns. Elena, Marcus, and Jester all reward mastery, and Lanny becomes far better in experienced hands. Expect this ranking to shift as Stella comes online and later balance changes land.
