The Chained Beasts characters are eight beasts: Rhino, Ibex, Wolf, Panther, Bear, Eagle, Lion and Monkey, each with variants that change its stats and abilities. For a safe first pick, choose Rhino I: it takes 30% less damage and its shields last twice as long. The Wolf unlocks after Survive Carthage and the Eagle after Survive The Senate.
What are all the Chained Beasts characters?
The playable beast roster is Armored Rhino, Agile Ibex, Ferocious Wolf, Deadly Panther, Hulking Bear, Lethal Eagle, Proud Lion, and Monkey.
Compare these starting variant abilities before you pick:
| Beast | Variant I ability | What you trade or need |
|---|---|---|
| Armored Rhino | Shields last twice as long; take 30% less damage. | A defensive choice built around damage reduction and shield durability. |
| Agile Ibex | Faster movement; dodges cost 50% less stamina. | A mobility choice if you want cheaper dodges. |
| Ferocious Wolf | More dismemberments; enemy body-part damage bonus. | Pick up and use enemy body parts to benefit from the damage effect. |
| Deadly Panther | More damage, less health. | You trade your health cushion for damage. |
| Hulking Bear | More health, slower movement; brief invulnerability and fury after taking damage. | Extra health comes with less mobility. |
| Lethal Eagle | Powerful throws after melee kills. | Get a melee kill to trigger the throw benefit. |
| Proud Lion | Posing to a wild crowd after kills boosts damage and speed. | The benefit needs both the kill and the pose. |
Which Chained Beasts character is the best pick for your playstyle?
Choose Rhino I for damage reduction, Ibex I for mobility, or Panther I if you accept less health for more damage. Start with the problem you want your beast to solve.
For a practical Chained Beasts tier list, compare the variant and trigger, rather than ranking animal names alone. Eagle I rewards melee kills, while Eagle II rewards backstabs. Wolf I boosts fighting with enemy body parts, while Wolf II pays gold when you pick them up. Those are different reasons to choose the same beast.
Panther's damage comes with a smaller health cushion, so getting greedy for another hit carries a clear cost. Bear I gives you more health and a defensive reaction to taking damage, but its slower movement is a tradeoff if you prefer repositioning. Rhino I is my recommendation for a defensive starting point because its damage reduction does not require a kill, pose, or backstab.
If dodging and attack timing are what you want to improve, pair your choice with the Chained Beasts tips. For a shared run, discuss which abilities you plan to trigger before choosing your Chained Beasts co-op combination.
How do Chained Beasts classes and variants work?
The beasts work as the game's classes: your beast and its variant set your stats and abilities, and fighting with that beast earns XP to unlock new variants.
| Beast variant | Ability change | What it asks you to do |
|---|---|---|
| Agile Ibex II | Faster movement; permanent vigor while below 25% health. | Meet the health condition for vigor. |
| Ferocious Wolf II | More dismemberments; earn gold when picking up body parts. | Collect body parts for gold. |
| Hulking Bear III | More health, slower movement; revive with 10% health and permanent fury upon dying. | The revival leaves you with only 10% health. |
| Lethal Eagle II | Powerful throws after backstabs. | Trigger the benefit with a backstab. |
Ibex II's health condition is a reason to watch your health closely, not a reason to assume you can safely take another hit. Bear III's revive also leaves little health to work with. For Ibex's effect, continue to Chained Beasts vigor.
How do you unlock the Wolf and Eagle in Chained Beasts?
Look for Survive Carthage for the Wolf and Survive The Senate for the Eagle. Their unlock panels identify both the beast and its starting combat effect.
- Complete Survive Carthage. The reward panel reads UNLOCKED THE WOLF, followed by MORE DISMEMBERMENTS. DEAL +200% DAMAGE WITH ENEMY BODY PARTS.
Wolf's damage effect is tied to enemy body parts, so choose it when you want to turn dismemberments into weapons. Wolf II changes that payoff to gold from picking up body parts.
- Complete Survive The Senate. The reward panel reads UNLOCKED THE EAGLE and POWERFUL THROW AFTER MELEE KILLS.
Keep fighting with your chosen beast for variant XP, and see Chained Beasts unlocks for everything else you can earn.