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Providence Trials

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Tactical Quick Answer

Providence Trials are 49 short, curated challenges accessible from the main menu, each dropping you into a custom bite-sized level with a locked skill loadout and a specific goal. Every trial has two thresholds: a Goal that clears it and claims its reward, and a harder Gold Rank. The main reason to play them is that they unlock alternate abilities for your survivors.

Providence Trials are short, curated challenges accessible from the main menu. They offer a completely different experience from the standard roguelike runs. These trials test your mastery of specific survivor mechanics, platforming skills, and combat efficiency under strict constraints.

The mode is itself an unlock. You get it by unlocking any survivor, which is the Divine Intervention challenge, and Commando and Huntress do not count because you start with them. The first time you load in, the only trial available is Commando's "A Colossal Feat". There are 49 trials in total: 48 regular ones plus Judgement.

Trial Structure​

Each trial places you in a custom-built, bite-sized level with a specific goal and a locked skill loadout. You might have to race through an obstacle course, defeat a set number of enemies using only a specific skill, or survive a gauntlet with restricted movement.

The loadout lock covers skills, not items. Items are often the whole point. "A Colossal Feat" starts you with $15 and gives you two chests, two barrels, and an equipment barrel holding a Gigantic Amethyst. "Get Off My Lawn!" hands you two Harvester's Scythes up front.

Trials have exactly two thresholds, not a ladder of medals. Each one has a Goal you must reach to complete it and claim its reward, and a second, harder Gold Rank. There is no bronze or silver. The numbers are specific to each trial and are measured in whatever that trial is about, so "Main Systems Offline" wants 200 points to clear and 900 for gold, while "A Colossal Feat" wants a time under 5:00 to clear and under 1:35 for gold.

Gold ranks are optional and their rewards are cumulative. Five golds unlock the Royal Medallion item, and fifteen unlock the Artifact of Prestige. Nothing ranks above gold, though some trials let you keep scoring past the gold requirement if you want the challenge.

Unlocking Alternate Skills​

The primary reason to engage with Providence Trials is to unlock alternate abilities for your survivors. Most alternate skills are tied to a specific trial.

When you unlock a new survivor in the main game, check the Providence Trials menu. New trials tailored to that character will appear. Clearing these trials provides you with new loadout options that can drastically change how that survivor plays.

If a trial is beating you, it is not the only route. Every trial that grants an alternate skill also lists a second condition on the same challenge: defeat 3,000 enemies, collect 300 items, or complete 25 stages as that survivor. Either path awards the same skill. Twelve alternate skills skip trials entirely and come from ordinary in-run challenges instead.

Unlocking New Trials​

You do not have access to all trials immediately. Trials sit on a grid, and opening a new one takes two things at once. You need the relevant survivor unlocked, and you need to have already cleared at least one trial adjacent to it on that grid. Unlocking Engineer alone will not open his trials if you have not cleared one of their neighbors.

If a trial feels impossible, leave it and come back later. The trials are designed to be challenging puzzles. You often need to execute a very specific strategy or exploit a nuanced mechanic of a character's skill set to reach the Gold Rank.

Trial Tips​

  • Read the objectives carefully: Do not just run in and start fighting. The objective dictates your strategy. If the goal is speed, do not waste time killing enemies unless required.
  • Experiment with the provided kit: Trials force you to use specific skills. Use this as an opportunity to learn the intricacies of abilities you might normally ignore in standard runs.
  • Watch the clock: Many trials are strictly time-based. Optimize your pathing and minimize unnecessary movements.
  • Accept failure: You will fail trials repeatedly. They require trial and error to figure out the optimal route or combat sequence. Restarting is instant, so keep trying until the execution clicks.

Frequently Asked Questions​

What are Providence Trials in Risk of Rain Returns?

Forty-nine short, curated challenges you launch from the main menu, made up of 48 regular trials plus Judgement. Each one places you in a custom-built level with a locked skill loadout and a set goal, such as racing an obstacle course, killing a set number of enemies with one skill, or surviving a gauntlet with restricted movement.

How are Providence Trials scored?

Each trial has two thresholds. Reaching the Goal completes the trial and claims its reward, and a harder Gold Rank sits above it. There is no bronze or silver tier. The numbers differ per trial and can be points, counts, or times.

How do you unlock alternate abilities in Risk of Rain Returns?

Mostly by clearing Providence Trials. Every trial-gated skill also has a second route on the same challenge, so you can instead defeat 3,000 enemies, collect 300 items, or complete 25 stages as that survivor. Twelve alternates come from ordinary in-run challenges and not trials.

How do you unlock more Providence Trials?

You need two things at once: the relevant survivor unlocked, and at least one trial adjacent to it on the trial grid already cleared. Unlocking a survivor by itself will not open their trials.

What should you do if a Providence Trial feels impossible?

Leave it and come back later, or take the alternative unlock route instead. The trials are built as challenging puzzles, and a Gold Rank often requires one very specific strategy or a nuanced use of a character skill. Restarting is instant, so keep repeating until the execution clicks.