iTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more
Short answer: If you need one starting point for Tartarus, choose Selena 2. It is the safest provisional all-round option because it ranked highly on both the previous season’s starter and geared lists. That is not a verified SS14 result: Tartarus has not launched as of October 15, 2026, so no build has confirmed Netherrealm clear data yet.
Erika 1, Youga 2, and Thea 3 are the other low-gear starters worth considering. Pick among them by goal—early currency, budget boss damage, or a different playstyle—then re-check the exact trait and build after SS14 goes live.
What “best” means before Tartarus launches
Torchlight: Infinite’s SS14 Tartarus season is scheduled for October 15, 2026 at 7:00 p.m. PDT on the official season page. A game-database listing gives the corresponding local time as October 16 at 10:00 GMT+8. Until players can enter the new content and publish repeatable results, any ranking is a starting hypothesis rather than a measured Netherrealm tier list.
PC Slower Than It Used to Be?
A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Outdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchThe official preview describes Tartarus as a Netherrealm board activity in which you capture Caged Beasts and fight prison Riots for rewards. It also introduces Followers—Wolf, Rat, Lion, and Mammoth companions that fight beside you in the Netherrealm—and a new Youga trait, The Ultimate One. New active and support skills are announced as well. Those systems can change which builds excel at pack clearing, boss damage, survivability, or low-input play.
#1 Best Overall
The practical consequence is simple: use the SS13-based recommendations below to begin a character, but do not treat them as proof that one build will dominate Tartarus. The official preview itself says, “A wave of new Active Skills and Support Skills is here, opening up more build paths.” Verify every skill, item interaction, trait number, and control detail against the current SS14 patch notes and in-game data.
Best provisional starters at a glance
| Build | Best use before SS14 data | Budget expectation | What the pre-launch evidence supports | Confidence for Tartarus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Selena 2 | Safest general-purpose start; campaign into early Netherrealm | Low-gear friendly according to the SS13 starter list | High on both the SS13 starter and endgame lists | Highest provisional confidence, not a confirmed SS14 ranking |
| Erika 1 | Fast early progression and currency farming | Listed among starters that progress quickly with little gear | Tier-list characterization emphasizes early currency generation | Provisional; actual Tartarus economy may differ |
| Youga 2 | Budget boss killing | Listed as a low-gear starter | Tier-list characterization emphasizes inexpensive boss damage | Uncertain until The Ultimate One and Tartarus bosses are tested |
| Thea 3 | Alternative low-gear progression for players who prefer its mechanics | Listed among quick-progressing starters | Included in the SS13 starter recommendations | Provisional; no SS14-specific performance data |
These labels come from an October 11, 2026 pre-launch tier list that explicitly bases its SS14 advice on end-of-SS13 rankings. It does not provide a defined sample, measured clear times, or a numerical performance study. “High tier” therefore means a useful editorial signal, not a guaranteed damage or speed result.
Selena 2: the safest single pick
Why it leads the provisional list
Selena 2 is the only recommendation that the pre-launch source places highly in both its starter and geared endgame categories. That combination matters for a new season: a build that functions with modest equipment is less likely to strand you during the campaign, while endgame recognition suggests a plausible path toward more demanding content.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
Choose Selena 2 when you want one character that can begin immediately without committing to a narrowly specialized farming or bossing role. It is the best answer to “Which build should I start if I do not know what Tartarus will reward?” because it has the broadest support in the available SS13 evidence.
What the recommendation does not prove
Selena 2 has not been measured in Tartarus. Followers could alter damage windows, target selection, or survivability; Caged Beast objectives could favor movement and broad area coverage; prison Riots could reward a different balance of single-target damage and defenses. Do not spend expensive resources or lock in a final setup solely because Selena 2 is the provisional top pick.
Before copying any guide, confirm the exact Selena trait number. Torchlight: Infinite gives heroes multiple traits, and changing the trait can change the rotation, scaling and input pattern enough to make two “Selena 2” references materially different. Treat the hero-and-trait combination—not the hero name alone—as the build identity.
Other low-gear starters
Erika 1: prioritize early currency
The pre-launch tier list describes Erika 1 as the strongest option for early currency farming. That makes it attractive if your first objective is to generate resources quickly for later characters or upgrades rather than to maximize first-day boss kills.
Recommended Free Tools
Currency farming is an editorial characterization, not an independently timed test. Tartarus may change the value of fast ordinary-map clearing if board objectives, Caged Beast captures, or prison Riots contribute a larger share of rewards. Use Erika 1 when you enjoy a fast farming loop, and reassess once reward rates and encounter layouts are known.
Youga 2: a budget bossing route
Youga 2 is identified as a budget boss killer and is also listed as a starter that progresses with little gear. It is the logical choice for players who would rather finish bosses reliably than chase the fastest pack clear.
Rank #2
- Randomization – Game level layouts are randomly created, so each adventure will always be unique.
- Easy, approachable interface – Torchlight is designed to be easy to play right from the beginning. With an intuitive interface, players can dive right in!
- Character Classes – Players will create and customize a character, choosing from 3 main Classes: The Destroyer, The Alchemist, or The Vanquisher.
- Pets – choose a pet to accompany your character. Pets can level up along with the player; they can also fight, carry items, and perform helpful tasks.
SS14 adds The Ultimate One, a new Youga trait. That addition is precisely why old Youga assumptions need verification: the new trait could improve the recommended route, create a stronger alternative, or change which support skills and defensive layers are required. Do not infer its final strength from the existence of the trait alone.
Thea 3: another inexpensive entry point
Thea 3 appears in the same SS13 low-gear starter group as Selena 2, Erika 1 and Youga 2. The available material does not assign it a unique numerical advantage, so choose it primarily when its mechanics and input style suit you better than the alternatives.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteBecause no Tartarus-specific tests are available, Thea 3 should be treated as a credible second-choice starter rather than a hidden confirmed winner. Read a current guide for its exact trait and required items, then test its survivability at the difficulty you actually intend to run.
Strong geared builds are not automatically good starters
The pre-launch SS13 endgame list names Rosa 2, Gemma’s Frostbitten Heart, Bing 1, Iris 2, and Sage among the strongest builds by player data. These are candidates for a geared character, not a reason to abandon a low-gear starter.
| Build | Where the evidence places it | Fresh-character warning | How to use that information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rosa 2 | SS13 geared endgame list | Explicitly cited as an example of a build that can scale later but start weakly | Consider after you have the required investment, not as the default first character |
| Gemma’s Frostbitten Heart | SS13 geared endgame list | Investment and exact item requirements must be checked in a current guide | Evaluate for a planned endgame transition |
| Bing 1 | SS13 geared endgame list | Explicitly cited as potentially weaker during the start | Use when you can fund its scaling curve |
| Iris 2 | SS13 geared endgame list | SS14 entry cost and trait details are not established | Re-check after launch before committing resources |
| Sage | SS13 geared endgame list | No Tartarus-specific budget or clear data is available | Reserve for an informed, gear-backed plan |
“Endgame” and “starter” answer different questions. A build can have an exceptional ceiling once its required items, links, traits and defensive layers are assembled while feeling slow or fragile during the campaign. Compare every guide’s budget stage before copying its damage claims or screenshots.
Choose by the job you need the character to do
A single tier label cannot tell you whether a build is right for your schedule or controls. Use these decision axes in order:
The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Progression stage
- Campaign and early Netherrealm: favor Selena 2, Erika 1, Youga 2 or Thea 3, all of which are identified as low-gear starters.
- Geared endgame: consider Rosa 2, Gemma’s Frostbitten Heart, Bing 1, Iris 2 or Sage only after confirming their entry requirements.
Clear speed versus boss damage
- Erika 1 is the provisional farming-oriented choice for moving through ordinary content and generating currency.
- Youga 2 is the provisional boss-oriented choice when single-target finishes matter most.
- Selena 2 is the neutral option when you need both functions and do not yet know whether Tartarus rewards one more heavily.
Survivability and target difficulty
Do not judge defenses from a guide’s highest showcase tier. Check whether the build remains stable at your intended Netherrealm difficulty, especially during prison Riots. A slightly slower build that survives consistently can produce more usable rewards than a fragile setup that repeatedly resets.
Input demand
Some players describe their ideal as an “auto-bomber” with no more than left click plus one button and little aiming. That is a legitimate accessibility and comfort requirement, but the supplied evidence does not establish which SS14 build meets it. Ask every guide author to state whether damage is automated, channelled, aimed, or dependent on frequent manual casts. A build that is top-tier on paper may be a poor fit if its rotation requires constant targeting.
How to evaluate a build guide before copying it
The Torchlight: Infinite build archive recommends that entries explain their mapping or bossing purpose, core mechanic, required items, budget stage, weaknesses and common misunderstandings. Use that as a minimum checklist:
Rank #3
- 2-5 players - 40 minute playing time - Ages 10+
- Confirm the season and date. Reject guides that do not identify whether they are for SS13 or SS14. A pre-launch article should be labeled as such.
- Confirm the exact hero trait. Record the numbered trait and read the trait text in-game. Do not merge advice for different traits under one hero name.
- Identify the budget stage. Separate campaign gear, inexpensive starter equipment, transition gear and fully invested endgame equipment.
- List mandatory items and links. Mark which pieces are required for the mechanic to function and which are merely upgrades.
- Separate map clearing from bossing. Look for distinct skill, support, defense or gear choices rather than one vague damage claim.
- Read the weaknesses. Note aiming, channel time, cooldown dependence, resistance requirements, poor mobility or vulnerability during boss phases.
- Check the patch notes. SS14 includes broad gameplay and interface changes, including controller-related improvements. Verify any exact skill, item, mechanic or control statement against the current notes.
- Test at your intended difficulty. Record whether the character completes objectives without deaths, not merely its fastest successful run.
Adapting a starter to Tartarus
Once SS14 opens, evaluate your chosen build against the new mechanics rather than assuming an SS13 rotation transfers unchanged.
Followers
Wolf, Rat, Lion and Mammoth followers are announced to fight alongside the player in the Netherrealm. Check how each follower affects target selection, area coverage, boss uptime and survivability. A follower that adds broad coverage may improve objective clearing, while one that concentrates damage could be more valuable during prison Riots. No post-launch ranking is established yet.
Caged Beasts and prison Riots
Test whether your build can capture Caged Beasts without abandoning its damage cycle and whether it can finish Riots inside their threat windows. Record these as separate observations from ordinary map clear; a build can be excellent at one and mediocre at the other.
The Ultimate One and new skills
Youga players should compare The Ultimate One directly with the trait used by older Youga 2 recommendations. All players should inspect the new active and support skills before finalizing links. A new support can alter the best trait, required item, or preferred starter even if the hero ranking appears unchanged.
Low-input and controller considerations
Controller play is available on PC and mobile according to a player discussion, and the official SS14 patch notes mention controller-related interface improvements. That confirms an input option, not universal compatibility for every controller or platform and not a performance advantage.
If low input is your priority, evaluate a build by the number of buttons used during normal mapping, boss phases and emergency defense. “One-button” descriptions often omit movement, potion, dodge or objective interactions. Ask whether the build can function without precise aiming and whether a controller remap changes access to required skills. Choose comfort and consistency over a theoretical tier difference.
What to do on launch day
- Start with Selena 2 if you want the least speculative all-round route, or select Erika 1, Youga 2 or Thea 3 when farming, bossing or a particular playstyle is your priority.
- Capture the exact trait, skill and support descriptions from the live SS14 client before spending valuable currency.
- Run early content far enough to test movement, ordinary-pack clear, survivability and boss completion separately.
- Try the new Followers in Netherrealm activities and note whether they improve your chosen build’s weak point.
- For Youga, compare The Ultimate One with the trait used by your guide rather than assuming the new trait is automatically superior.
- Keep a fallback plan. Do not sell or consume every useful item until reward patterns and balance changes are clearer.
How this guide should be updated
This article is intentionally labeled pre-launch. After October 15, replace provisional language only with clearly described SS14 observations: build snapshot, trait number, budget stage, map-clear behavior, boss behavior, survivability, input demand and the specific Tartarus encounters tested. Keep map clearing and bossing separate, and identify whether a result comes from a single showcase or repeated play.
Pay particular attention to whether Tartarus rewards fast boss kills, broad clear, or both; whether Followers change the value of automation or area damage; and whether The Ultimate One changes Youga’s budget progression. Until those questions have live answers, Selena 2 remains the most defensible starting recommendation—not a proven season champion.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
