RimWorld has grown steadily since its 2018 launch, with a constant stream of updates from indie developers Ludeon Studios. The game's incredible depth allows for all kinds of emergent stories, with Colonists living out their lives, making friends, building homes, and facing dangers. Each Colonist in RimWorld is unique, and their Traits are the biggest indicators of their strengths and weaknesses.
There are over 60 Traits that Colonists can randomly start with in the real-time community sim. While many are negative, there are some extremely powerful positive Traits that will boost Colonists in all kinds of ways. The best Traits in RimWorld will not only keep an individual Colonist alive, but can also make them a harder worker, a calmer neighbor, and a better friend.
The Best Physical Traits In RimWorld
Tough
Despite the wide array of biological and mental dangers that RimWorld's colonists will face, the biggest threat to their lives will always be physical damage. Tough's 50% damage reduction means that a Colonist can pull through the most violent situations with only minor injuries.
Industrious
Industrious gives a huge 35% bonus to Global Work Speed, allowing a Colonist to churn through multiple tasks in no time at all. The slight downside of a -5 relations penalty with Colonists who aren't so Industrious is a small price to pay for getting an extra 1/3 work done.
Jogger
With the sole exception of a researcher, almost all Colonist tasks in RimWorld require the Colonists to move from place to place, whether it's to gather materials, harvest crops, or engage enemies. Moving faster saves time, and the +0.4 Movement Speed bonus from Jogger will ensure Colonists get more work done than their colleagues.
Nimble
From RimWorld's wild animals to berserker raiders, there are many enemies in the game that can't wait to get into melee range with a Colonist. The huge +15 Melee Dodge Chance from Nimble is ideal for any Colonist that is expecting to find themselves in close combat, and will do just as much as Tough in keeping them alive.
Quick-Sleeper
Just like Industrious and Jogger, the Quick-Sleeper trait is all about making sure Colonists use their time efficiently. Quick-Sleepers need significantly fewer hours of sleep to be fully rested, allowing them to waste less time unconscious and spend more time working.
Super-Immune
With the limited access to medicine on RimWorld's remote space colonies, infection and disease are often bigger threats than predatory animals and raiders. Fortunately, a Super-Immune Colonist's 30% Immunity Gain Speed will ensure that they not only recover from these ailments before being incapacitated, they're also less likely to spread them.
The Best Mental Traits In Rimworld
Iron-Willed
All Colonists in RimWorld have a mental breaking point, a numerical threshold which can trigger a catastrophic breakdown if exceeded. Iron-Willed Colonists get an 18% reduction to their Mental Break Threshold, allowing them to endure more torment, misery, and suffering before being driven mad.
Sanguine
Similar in effect to the Iron-Willed Trait, Sanguine grants RimWorld Colonists a permanent +12 bonus to their mood. This not only makes it less likely that they'll suffer a mental break, but also gives them a higher chance of triggering the opposite, a mental inspiration.
Fast Learner
At the start of a new survival game of RimWorld, many of the Colonists will lack the skills required to forge a colony in the wilderness. Fast Learner's +75% to Global Learning Factor will help them quickly get up to speed, allowing amateurs to become masters in almost half the time.
Kind
One of the best ways to prevent catastrophic mental breaks among RimWorld Colonists is to have one with the Kind trait. Kind is an unusual Trait that will cause the Colonist to periodically give others the Kind Words modifier, granting them a +5 Mood bonus. A Kind Colonist will also never insult others, and views Beautiful and Disfigured Colonists equally.
Ascetic
Life on a RimWorld is tough - even with the Mass Effect mod installed - and many Colonists will have to go without the comforts and luxuries they're used to. This is no problem at all for an Ascetic Colonist, as they not only receive no Mood penalty for having an awful bedroom, they actually get a +5 Mood bonus instead. They're also happy to eat raw food, and don't judge other Colonists by their appearance.
Masochist
Pain is one of the biggest Mood penalties in RimWorld, and it's often wounded Colonists who explode into violent rages when they experience a Mental Break. Instead of suffering Mood penalties for being in pain, Masochists get Mood bonuses instead, with greater pain leading to greater bonuses.
RimWorld is out now for PC.