NMRIH 2 Best Perks & Skills — Tier List (1.0 Armageddon)

Skills define your responder build. Every Responder picks from a pool of 3 random skills at levels 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 40 and 50 (max rank). Each skill has an Expert version with dramatically stronger effects unlocked at specific level thresholds.

1.0 Skill Pool changes: added Handgun Reloading, Rifle Reloading, Shotgun Reloading — removed Averaging, Guts, Teddy Bear. Older tier lists (including most wiki tables) still show removed skills; this page is current for Armageddon.

Perk Tier List

STier S

Acquired Immunity	God tier. Lowers the RNG risk of turning zombie when bitten - mandatory on high difficulty.
Marathon Runner	Expert version removes running stamina cost entirely = infinite repositioning.
Athlete	Bigger stamina pool means more melee swings and shoving.
Thick Skin	Increased max health. Simple, always on.
Sturdy Body	Flat damage reduction from attacks.
Mule	Bigger backpack - carry ammo for the whole squad.
Scavenger	More ammo per pickup - the team economy skill.

ATier A

Healing Item Stack	Medical items weigh far less - stack pills and bandages freely.
Butcher	Dismemberment made easy - pairs with melee crowd control.
Headblown	Handgun headshot damage up: turns the M9A3 into a one-tap machine.
Skilled Medic	Heal yourself and teammates for more.
Stayin' Alive	Revive teammates faster - clutch in co-op.
Handgun Reloading (NEW 1.0)	Part of the 1.0 reloading trio - faster pistol reloads.
Rifle Reloading (NEW 1.0)	Faster rifle reloads on your M7A1/M14.
Shotgun Reloading (NEW 1.0)	Faster shell reloads for the X12 Super / 590A1.

BTier B

Quiet Steps	Less movement noise - useful for stealth objective runs.
Lucky Pathogen	Take less damage while infected - synergy with risk play.
Resident Genes	Pills also heal you.
Limbo	Survive longer when downed - more rescue window.
Overkill	More pellets per shotgun shell.
Mohawk	Rifles penetrate more targets - horde shooting.
Penetrating Shot	Heavy rifles penetrate more targets.
Eagle Eye	Reduced damage falloff on heavy rifles.

Complete Skill List (1.0)

Every skill in the 1.0 pool. All skills also have an Expert version with a dramatically stronger effect at higher levels.

Skill	Effect
Acquired Immunity	You are less likely to become infected by zombies.
Adrenaline Rush	At critical health, you consume less stamina.
Athlete	Increased stamina.
Builder	Utility items have reduced weight.
Butcher	Easier to dismember zombies.
Caravan	Carry more weight, but reduced stamina and health.
Deprived	Lower max weight, but more health and stamina.
Doorbreaker	Kicks deal more damage to doors and barricades.
Eagle Eye	Damage falloff on heavy rifles is reduced.
Foreman	Kicks deal damage to zombies.
Grenadier	Throwables have reduced weight.
Handgun ReloadingNEW 1.0	Faster handgun reloads.
Hard Blow	More stagger damage from two-handed melee attacks.
Headblown	Handguns deal increased headshot damage.
Headhunter	Increased melee headshot damage.
Healing Item Stack	Medical items have reduced weight.
Heavy Shoves	Shoving deals damage.
Hellfire	Increased hip-fire accuracy with rifles.
Hitman	One-handed melee costs more stamina but deals more damage.
Icarus	Increased shotgun range.
Limbo	You survive longer when down.
Locked On	SMGs have reduced recoil.
Longer Battery	Greater lifespan for flashlight batteries.
Lucky Pathogen	You take less damage while infected.
Marathon Runner	Running consumes less stamina.
Mohawk	Rifles penetrate more targets.
Mule	Increased backpack weight capacity.
Overkill	Shotguns fire more pellets.
Penetrating Shot	Heavy rifles penetrate more targets.
Quiet Steps	Reduced noise from movement.
Resident Genes	You heal when using pills.
Resilience	Reduced damage from environmental sources.
Rifle ReloadingNEW 1.0	Faster rifle reloads.
Rush	Two-handed heavy melee attacks use less stamina.
Scavenger	Increased ammo from pickups.
Shotgun ReloadingNEW 1.0	Faster shotgun reloads.
Skilled Medic	Heal yourself and others more.
Stayin' Alive	Revive other Responders faster.
Steady Hand	Handgun spread is reduced.
Steady Shot	Rifle recoil is reduced.
Steel Chamber	Heavy rifles deal increased damage.
Sturdy Body	Reduced damage from attacks.
Thick Skin	Increased maximum health.
Tight Shot	Shotgun pellets have reduced spread.
Vulture	Ammunition has reduced weight.