RIFTSTORM Squad Composer

Three-player co-op is RIFTSTORM’s design ceiling. When every Weaver brings damage, nobody holds the door—and extract waves wipe squads that looked fine in the first five minutes. The Squad Composer is a planning worksheet: pick three roles (Frontline, Wave Control, Elite Hunter), map them to Weavers and weapons, then queue only after everyone confirms. Use it before PADDOCK Contingency missions, demo Operation 1411 marathons, or experimental Threat Level 3+ nights.

The three co-op roles

RIFTSTORM encounters mix trash density, elite Mythic targets, and telegraphed boss mechanics. Three roles cover those pressures without forcing rigid MMO trinity play—Weavers remain flexible, but intent must be clear.

Frontline

Job: Occupy space, face melee charges, and stabilize aggro so teammates aim safely.

Success looks like: Enemies stack on you while Wave Control clears; Elite Hunter deletes priority targets before you burn all dodge charges.

Weaver lean: Rook and durable kits that tolerate Rift Exposure Zones hazards.

Weapon lean: Close-to-mid range with sustain—shotguns, SMGs, or stable rifles with defensive Lythogram picks.

Player skill: Knows dodge timing from Keyboard and Gamepad Controls; calls when invulnerability frames are down.

Wave Control

Job: Clear packs, apply area denial, and reduce incoming projectile volume during double spawns.

Success looks like: Frontline survives swarm peaks; Elite Hunter has isolated targets instead of drowning in adds.

Weaver lean: Hertz and Botsy-style utility and AoE themes—verify current patch kits on Weavers Hub.

Weapon lean: AoE-capable primaries, status applicators, or explosives that do not friendly-fire your Frontline.

Player skill: Tracks spawn timers; saves burst for extract wave windows described in Extraction Checklist.

Elite Hunter

Job: Delete shields, elites, and priority mechanics targets before they buff the wave or one-shot the squad.

Success looks like: Dangerous enemies vanish within one dodge rotation; boss phases skip extra cycles.

Weaver lean: Starling and Caracal precision or burst profiles—see Trio Comps for seasonal examples.

Weapon lean: Precision rifles, marksmen tools, or single-target burst aligned with Forge Center blueprint investments.

Player skill: Target calling; communicates “elite left” faster than random ping spam.

Squad composition worksheet

Copy this table into Discord before lobby launch:

Slot	Player	Role	Weaver	Primary weapon archetype	Notes
1		Frontline		Close / sustain	Holds choke
2		Wave Control		AoE / utility	Clears packs
3		Elite Hunter		Precision / burst	Deletes elites

Rule: Exactly one primary Frontline unless all three agree to experimental double-Frontline on low Threat farming.

Weaver roster mapping (Early Access planned)

Five Weavers ship at Early Access: Rook, Starling, Hertz, Botsy, Caracal. No single official role lock exists—map by kit strengths:

Weaver	Typical role fit	Pair with
Rook	Frontline	Hertz + Starling
Starling	Elite Hunter	Rook + Botsy
Hertz	Wave Control	Rook + Caracal
Botsy	Wave Control / flex	Rook + Starling
Caracal	Elite Hunter / flanking	Rook + Hertz

Cross-check Weaver Tier List after balance patches—EA metas will move.

Threat Level adjustments

Threat	Squad composer tweak
1	Allow double DPS flex; teach roles
2	Enforce Elite Hunter callouts on shield elites
3+	No missing Wave Control; agree extract caller
Demo 1411	Frontline + Wave Control mandatory; Hunter snipes buff elites

Combat Power honesty table

Role plans fail when one player secretly under-gears:

Squad CP vs mission	Action
All at or above recommendation	Run composed roles as planned
One player 10%+ below	Down-tier Threat or they play Wave Control with safer kit
Host far above others	Host switches to Frontline to carry space, not DPS race

CP comes from Forge Center crafts and Periapt—not role labels alone.

Two-player squads

RIFTSTORM allows sub-three deployments. Compress roles:

Players	Role merge
2	Frontline + Elite Hunter/Wave Control hybrid; accept slower pack clears
1	Solo—rotate dodge discipline; under-tier Threat until Getting Started mastery

Recruit third via Lobby Invite Codes when possible—missions assume trio synergy.

Pre-deploy verbal checklist

Say aloud before gate countdown:

1. “Frontline is [name]—I hold [choke]”
2. “Wave Control is [name]—I clear adds first”
3. “Elite Hunter is [name]—call priority targets”
4. “Extract caller is [name] using Extraction Checklist”
5. “Threat [#] agreed; scar policy [cheap backups only / full send]“

Common composition mistakes

Mistake	Fix
Three Elite Hunter picks	Swap one to Wave Control
No one wants Frontline	Lowest ping player defaults Frontline
Ignoring Weapon Scarring	Bring backup primaries on Threat 3+
Role swap mid-mission without call	Freeze swap at hub only

Related pages

• Tools Hub — Other planning worksheets
• Trio Comps — Curated trio examples
• How to Co-op — Lobby setup after composing squad
• Missions Hub — Pick missions matching squad CP

RIFTSTORM Early Access is planned for August 11, 2026 and has not launched yet. Weaver kit details may shift—re-run the composer after major balance patches.