The right Pioneer changes the route.
The official roster currently lists eight Pioneers. Compare their published stats and bonuses, then open a character guide for practical route and build direction.
Current roster / 8
Choose for the job.
These cards use official published abilities and base stats. Build suggestions remain practical interpretations because Early Access balance and available Traits can change.
Pioneer / FreeWade Tornstrom
The free starter with melee, defense and daytime sight bonuses. Energy is his clearest constraint.
Open Wade guide →
Pioneer / LawmanWyatt Earp
Steady base stats, ranged damage and Justice make Wyatt a close-range combat generalist.
Open Wyatt guide →
Pioneer / RangedClara McKinley
Ranged damage, speed, dodge and stealth with 75 Health and the roster’s lightest pack.
Open Clara guide →
Pioneer / MiningRussell Greeneberry
A +25% mining-and-haul specialist with 120 Encumbrance and useful survival tools.
Open Russell guide →
Pioneer / DemolitionBoomstick Bob
Mining, chopping, ranged damage and 120 Encumbrance make Bob a practical resource-route specialist.
Open Bob guide →
Pioneer / StealthSkookum Joe Mason
A balanced stealth-melee scout with dodge, defense, movement and mining bonuses.
Open Joe guide →
Pioneer / ChoppingJane “Splinter” Holloway
The strongest listed chopping bonus plus fast movement and a broad survival toolkit.
Open Jane guide →
Pioneer / UtilityNellie Cashman
Ranged, chopping, mining and defense bonuses, 120 Energy and companion Finnegan.
Open Nellie guide →Quick comparison
Published base stats.
A higher number adds margin, but the best Pioneer still depends on the route, equipment and Traits available to you.
| Pioneer | Health | Energy | Encumbrance | Primary direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wade Tornstrom | 90 | 60 | 90 | Melee starter |
| Wyatt Earp | 100 | 110 | 100 | Ranged generalist |
| Clara McKinley | 75 | 80 | 70 | Mobile sharpshooter |
| Russell Greeneberry | 85 | 90 | 120 | Mining and haul |
| Boomstick Bob | 90 | 80 | 120 | Resource gathering |
| Skookum Joe Mason | 100 | 90 | 100 | Stealth melee |
| Jane Holloway | 90 | 100 | 100 | Chopping and movement |
| Nellie Cashman | 90 | 120 | 90 | Utility and companion |
Source check: official Pioneers page. The roster and values are subject to Early Access changes. All portraits on this Wiki are original unofficial illustrations.
Choosing a Pioneer
Pick for the route you can actually finish.
Published bonuses are a starting point. A practical choice also depends on weight, energy, enemies and the return route.
| Route need | Published direction | Good first question |
|---|---|---|
| Mining and carrying | Russell, Wade, Boomstick Bob and Nellie publish mining, carry or resource-related strengths. | Can this Pioneer bring the pickaxe, supplies and recovery tools home? |
| Ranged pressure | Wyatt, Clara, Jane and Nellie publish ranged-damage bonuses. | Will distance reduce risk enough to protect the extraction plan? |
| Melee and defense | Wade and Skookum Joe publish melee or defensive directions. | Do you have enough energy and a clear escape route if a fight starts? |
| Stealth and movement | Clara, Skookum Joe, Jane and Russell publish movement, dodge or stealth-related bonuses. | Can you avoid unnecessary fights rather than treating speed as permission to rush? |
How to read this table: these are use-case inferences from official profile bonuses, not a developer tier list. The Wiki does not convert Mining Speed into a guaranteed Gold amount, or a combat bonus into a universal best build. Open a character page for the exact published attributes, then compare the route with Traits & Loadouts and Extraction.