Vaultbreakers supports cooperative multiplayer for solo players and squads of up to three. Developed by BetaDwarf and published alongside Square Enix Collective, this top-down extraction action RPG lets friends venture into corrupted zones, battle elite monsters, and escape with ancient relics. Cooperative play changes the dynamic of every run, turning isolated survival into coordinated tactical combat.
Supported Squad Sizes and Multiplayer Modes
Vaultbreakers allows players to form parties of up to three people (playing solo or inviting up to two friends). Matchmaking and lobby options provide two distinct modes that share character and town progression:
- Adventure Mode (Cooperative PvE): A dedicated campaign experience where squads focus exclusively on defeating AI enemy factions, exploring points of interest, completing NPC quests, and taking down dungeon bosses without running into rival player teams.
- Breaker Mode (PvPvE Extraction): A competitive environment where squads drop into maps alongside rival groups. While solo players entering this playlist receive specific compensatory stat and health buffs, queued duos and trios must coordinate ability rotations to deal with both environmental monsters and hostile player ambushes.
Matches in PvPvE lobbies typically run between 10 and 16 minutes. Early extraction options appear around the 10-minute mark, and the map perimeter progressively shrinks until the final central portal activates.
Teamwork Mechanics: Revives, Extractions, and Loot
Operating as a team alters how resources, survival, and extractions function on the map:
Reviving Downed Teammates
When a teammate falls in combat against AI mobs or enemy players, they are not immediately eliminated. Squadmates can interact with downed allies to revive them in the field. However, reviving leaves the active player immobile and exposed, requiring teammates to clear surrounding threats or use crowd control before attempting the revive.
Solo vs. Group Extraction Portals
Maps feature two distinct extraction portal types marked on your minimap:
- Solo Portals: Single-use channels designed to extract one player individually.
- Group Portals: Require interaction to power up, triggering a timed defensive event. Waves of hostile creatures spawn to attack the position while the portal stabilizes. Once the timer completes, the group portal automatically extracts all team members standing within the extraction radius.
Loot Distribution and Inventory Management
Loot handling requires active communication among team members. When a player gathers crafting nodes and raw materials across the map, resources are credited to teammates. However, gear pieces, weapons, and equipment found in chests or dropped by fallen players are individual loot items. Because inventory slots are limited and gear is not instanced, teammates must decide who takes specific armor pieces, weapons, or vendor trinkets.
Social Perks
BetaDwarf implemented a progression mechanic that rewards group consistency. Playing repeatedly with the same group of friends builds social progression, granting minor passive gameplay boons (such as small attack speed adjustments) designed to encourage consistent squad play.
Vaultbreakers Class Roles in Team Compositions
Each Vaultbreaker features a fixed set of four active abilities, a passive mechanic, and an evasive dash with invulnerability frames. Balancing roles ensures your squad has frontline control, crowd management, and targeted boss damage.
| Hero | Primary Role | Key Group Utility | Synergistic Matchups |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bjornir | Melee Tank / Juggernaut | Ice stuns, freeze slows, area control, and durable frontline absorption | Pairs well with Nymera and Spark Wing by locking targets in place for ranged skill shots. |
| Lumiri | Ranged Support / Controller | Multi-target shields, root cages, and deployable plant zones | Enhances aggressive melee heroes like Thora or Bjornir by layering damage shields during dives. |
| Thora | Melee Bruiser | High single-target sustained damage, built-in PvE mob taunt, and self-healing rage mechanics | Works best alongside Bjornir or Lumiri to peel targets while her HP-draining abilities activate. |
| Nymera | Ranged Physical Archer | Heavy single-target piercing damage, knockbacks, and mobile kiting | Excels when guarded by frontline tanks who keep melee rushers and bosses outside her firing line. |
| Spark Wing | Magic Caster | High mobility, cascading chain lightning, stuns on Zapped foes, and massive AoE burst | Synergizes with group crowd-control abilities that bunch enemies into his delayed magic explosions. |
Coordinating High-Risk Map Objectives
Navigating maps like Wolfswood or the Artifact Refinery becomes significantly safer with coordinated teammates:
Unlocking Outer Vaults with Runes of Breaking
The outer perimeters of maps contain high-tier zones such as Scrat Invasions, Elemental Caves, and Pinecrest Village. Accessing these gated areas requires crafting or purchasing a single-use consumable called a Rune of Breaking. Opening these gates broadcasts a map-wide alert showing rival teams exactly which entrance opened. A coordinated team can set up ambushes, use tall grass for stealth, or hold choke points against incoming third parties.
Boss Fights and Slayer Gear Specialization
Map bosses (such as the Wreckytitan or regional werewolf alphas) feature heavy telegraphed attacks and large health pools. In team play, players often carry designated "Slayer Gear"—items rolled specifically with damage and damage reduction against bosses. Designating one player to manage boss aggro while others handle surrounding trash spawns or watch for encroaching player squads prevents catastrophic team wipes.
Death Penalties and Risk Management
If a squad wipes completely, all equipped weapons and armor are lost, alongside 50% of the materials and resources carried in the backpack. Any main story objectives or kill counts completed during the run remain checked off, but physical gear must be recrafted or repurchased back at the Haven.
Frequently Asked Questions About Vaultbreakers Coop
How many players can play together in Vaultbreakers coop?
Vaultbreakers supports teams of up to three players. You can queue solo, as a duo, or as a full trio in both PvE and PvPvE expeditions.
Can you play Vaultbreakers in co-op without PvP?
Yes. Vaultbreakers includes an Adventure Mode designed specifically for solo and co-op PvE campaigns. In this mode, teams face AI factions and bosses without any risk of player ambushes.
Is inventory storage shared between players at the Haven?
No. In the playtests, storage chests, collected gold, and crafting resources are character-bound. Items cannot be transferred freely between different player accounts or across secondary characters on the same account.
What happens if my teammate disconnects during a match?
In the current playtest versions, there is no match reconnect feature. A disconnected player's character is immediately treated as defeated, causing them to drop their carried gear and half their materials.
