Chained Beasts Characters and Classes: All Beasts, Starting Perks, Variants and Best Picks
✓ Last verified 2026-10-16 · How we check facts
Quick answer
Chained Beasts characters are 8 unlockable beasts, each a gladiator in an animal mask with its own starting perk, plus variants with different stats, abilities and cosmetics. There is no fixed class system; roles come from beasts, weapons and perks.
Chained Beasts characters are gladiators who put on animal masks to win over the crowd, and each beast changes how you start a run. The full game has 8 beasts to unlock, plus variants with different stats, abilities and cosmetics. This guide covers what is known about Chained Beasts characters, the starting perks players have seen, and how roles work without a class system.
How Chained Beasts Characters Work
In the tutorial, your gladiator is handed a costume and told to grab a weapon and make a spectacle, so the crowd will know you as a beast. As one player put it, "we're dudes wearing animals." Each beast is a starting package: a trait or perk that shapes the first fights, on top of the skills you learn during the run.
| Official detail | Source |
|---|---|
| 8 different beasts to unlock | Developer launch post |
| Beast variants with different stats, abilities and cosmetics | Developer launch post |
| New characters with powerful abilities | Steam store description |
| A fifth playable beast with a unique starting twist | Demo announcement |
Known Beasts and Starting Perks
The developer has not published a full roster table. The list below comes from player experience in the demo and launch videos, so values may differ in the current build.
| Beast | Reported starting perk or trait |
|---|---|
| Rhino | Shields last twice as long and 30 percent less damage taken |
| Wolf | Starts with three random skills but also a two-skull debuff; one player says the wolf likes grabbing body parts to throw |
| Lion | 50 percent more damage on special attacks |
| Lioness | Longer chains and 10 percent movement speed |
| Goat | Seen in early runs alongside the rhino |
| Bear | Seen in co-op footage |
Previews of the 2025 playtest also described "animal personas with distinct traits, from lions to wolves." Each beast also levels up individually, and creators note that leveling a beast unlocks different starting perks for it.
Chained Beasts Classes: Why There Are None
Players often search for Chained Beasts classes. Neither the Steam page nor the developer lists named classes. Roles come from four layers: the beast you pick, your weapon, the skills from training and the afflictions you accept. That keeps builds flexible and means two players using the same beast can end up very different.
| Role a team needs | Good fit |
|---|---|
| Tank and shield wall | Rhino with a shield |
| Burst damage | Lion with a heavy weapon |
| Mobility and chain control | Lioness |
| Risky high-skill start | Wolf |
Weapons That Pair With Each Beast
Weapons are found or bought during a run rather than tied to a beast. Players use swords, spears, maces, flails, bows and shields. A spear can pierce enemies when thrown; the flail hits hard but makes you slow; the mace has a different heavy attack when you hold the button. Shields break after a few hits, which is why the Rhino's longer-lasting shields are popular. The developer also added a way to throw shields after players asked for it, showcased with the "Reckless Rhino."
Choosing Your First Beast
Picking between Chained Beasts characters is mostly about how much risk you want early.
- New to roguelikes: Rhino. Extra shield durability and damage reduction forgive mistakes.
- Confident in combat: Lion, for stronger special attacks.
- Playing in a chained four-stack: Lioness, since longer chains reduce tangling.
- Want a gamble: Wolf, with random skills and an early affliction.
For how afflictions interact with these picks, read our afflictions guide, and for unlocking more beasts through wins, see the hard mode guide.
Official Source
The Chained Beasts Steam page lists the official feature set and patch news that may change beast balance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How many Chained Beasts characters are there?
The full game has 8 beasts to unlock, plus variants with different stats, abilities and cosmetics.
Q: Does Chained Beasts have classes?
No fixed classes. Roles come from the beast you choose, your weapon, training skills and afflictions.
Q: Which Chained Beasts character is best for beginners?
The Rhino is the most forgiving, with longer-lasting shields and 30 percent less damage taken, based on player reports.
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