The game is seasonal and trait balance changes frequently. Treat tier lists and Reddit recommendations as snapshots, not permanent rankings. The official material confirms the current roster and systems, but it does not provide one universal public table of every hero’s shop price or account-level “
Fast answer
The answer before the background
The current roster contains 12 named heroes: Rehan, Carino, Erika, Bing, Gemma, Thea, Youga, Moto, Rosa, Iris, Selena and Sage. Choose a hero for its core play pattern, then choose a Hero Trait for the build direction. Hero Memories are not cosmetic character cards: they activate trait slots, supply stats and can be enhanced or revived. For a new character, select an available hero, level through the campaign, unlock trait slots as you progress, and equip matching Memories before judging a build. In SS14, Youga received The Ultimate One as a new third trait, while Gemma, Carino and Bing also received model updates.
Roster
The current hero list
Torchlight: Infinite is built around named heroes rather than traditional fixed classes. The hero determines the starting identity and available trait branches, while skills, talents, gear and Memories provide most of the build freedom.
The SS14 reference roster contains 12 named heroes. Several have two or three selectable traits, so community shorthand such as “Rehan 2” or “Youga 3” normally means the second or third trait for that hero, not a separate character.
- Rehan: melee and anger-focused combat, with traits that support aggressive close-range damage.
- Carino: projectile and ammunition specialist with ranged attack options.
- Erika: fast, mobile combat with chase, lightning or melee-oriented directions.
- Bing: an Escapist whose traits focus on explosive projectiles or spell-machine interactions.
- Gemma: Frostfire caster with fire, cold and hybrid elemental routes.
- Thea: Oracle built around blessings, domains and powerful spell effects.
- Youga: Spacetime Witness using distortion, illusions and clockwork spell mechanics.
- Moto: Commander whose identity is tied to AI and machine summons.
- Rosa: Lightbringer with area control, holy effects and mana-related scaling.
- Iris: The Forsaken, a spirit-focused hero who fights alongside magical companions.
- Selena: Tide Whisper, using tide, terrain and movement-linked skill patterns.
- Sage: Scent Weaver, an alchemist-style hero who uses elixirs and recipes.
| Best starting question | Heroes to inspect first | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Do you want direct melee combat? | Rehan or Erika | Both offer active, movement-heavy approaches, but their trait mechanics differ. |
| Do you prefer ranged projectiles? | Carino, Bing or Erika | These heroes can support projectile-focused plans, with different resource systems. |
| Do you want summons or automated help? | Moto or Iris | Moto emphasizes machines; Iris emphasizes spirit companions. |
| Do you want elemental spellcasting? | Gemma, Thea, Youga or Sage | Their traits support different combinations of elements, blessings, time effects or elixirs. |
| Do you want a newer, unusual play pattern? | Selena, Rosa or Youga | These heroes use specialized terrain, mana, tide or clockwork mechanics. |
Some third-party databases display trait entries, legacy data or translated names differently. The safest comparison is the hero-selection screen and the current patch notes. Do not assume an old “characters list” contains every current hero.
Build system
Hero, trait and Memory are separate choices
The most important distinction is between a hero and a Hero Trait. A hero such as Gemma or Youga is the character you create. A trait is the specialization that changes how that character generates resources, scales damage or uses signature mechanics.
Hero Memories sit underneath that system. Current rules require a matching Memory in a trait slot to activate the corresponding Hero Trait. Trait slots unlock as the Hunter progresses, and the trait level comes from the Memory installed in that slot.
- Use the hero preview to identify the base play pattern before copying a build.
- Read the trait description next, because two traits on the same hero can demand different skills and gear.
- Install matching Memories as soon as the relevant slots become available.
- Enhance Memories at Skill Trader Molina after the Memory enhancement feature unlocks through story progress.
- Use Memory Threads from dismantled Memories to improve or reconstruct higher-quality pieces.
- Memory Revival is a later progression layer that can add or improve powerful effects; each character can install only one revived Hero Memory under the current reference rules.
| System | What it changes | What it does not mean |
|---|---|---|
| Hero | Your named character and core identity | It is not a conventional class with only one fixed build. |
| Hero Trait | The signature specialization and combat loop | It is not a cosmetic skin. |
| Hero Memory | Trait activation, stats and additional affixes | It is not merely artwork or a profile collectible. |
| Skills and gear | Damage type, defense, movement and scaling | They are not permanently locked to one character concept. |
A hero may appear as a melee starter in one guide and a spell or summon build in another. That usually reflects different traits, skills and Memory setups rather than conflicting character data.
Getting started
How to make a new character
To begin a new character, open the character or hero selection screen, choose a hero that is available on your account, and confirm the seasonal character. The game’s build identity becomes clearer after you select a trait and start finding suitable skills, talents and gear.
For a first run, avoid choosing only by damage screenshots. Pick a play pattern you will enjoy controlling, then follow a current starter guide for that exact hero-and-trait combination. A guide for Gemma 2, for example, should not automatically be applied to Gemma 1 or Gemma 3.
- Choose one hero and finish the early campaign instead of splitting resources across several characters immediately.
- Read each trait as it unlocks and note its required skill tags or resource mechanic.
- Save matching Memories rather than dismantling every unfamiliar one.
- Use the in-game Hero Ranking or a current build database to inspect skills, talents, gear and trait numbers together.
- When testing a new idea, change one major variable at a time so you can identify whether the problem is the trait, skill, gear or defense.
| Goal | Practical approach |
|---|---|
| Fast first character | Choose a well-documented starter with recent SS14 information. |
| Experimentation | Use a hero with several traits and try skills that match the trait’s tags. |
| Second character | Reuse shared knowledge and compare the new hero’s resource loop before investing heavily. |
| Season push | Check current rankings, but treat them as evidence of performance rather than a guarantee for your budget. |
The official sources confirm trait slots, Memory progression and current seasonal hero content, but public patch pages do not present one complete, permanent table of every hero’s unlock price. Check the live hero menu, event rewards and the current shop before assuming a hero is free, token-unlocked or battle-pass restricted.
Cosmetics and named questions
Skins, art and community terminology
Character art and skins are separate from combat traits. SS14 specifically advertises visual upgrades for Gemma, Carino and Bing, so a model refresh does not mean that the hero gained a new class or a new account slot.
Community pages and Reddit are useful for discovering build names, but they often use numbered trait shorthand. “Iris 1” means Iris’s first trait, while “Youga 3” refers to The Ultimate One in the current SS14 structure. Always translate that shorthand back into the full in-game trait name before buying gear or Memories.
- Use official season pages for model revamps and new hero announcements.
- Use a current database for trait names, Memory entries and skill interactions.
- Use Reddit for practical testing reports, not as the final authority on prices, drop rates or unlock rules.
- Do not confuse hero skins with new characters; a visual change normally leaves the underlying hero and trait system unchanged.
| Search term players use | What it usually refers to |
|---|---|
| Character builder | A planner for skills, talents, gear, traits and Memories. |
| Character creation | Selecting a hero and starting a seasonal Hunter. |
| Hero wiki | A reference page for traits, skills, Memories and mechanics. |
| Ultimate Hero Memories | High-end Memory items or systems associated with current advanced progression, not a separate hero. |
| Zero to hero | A progression guide or challenge phrase, not an official character type. |
If you are asking whether Bing, Rosa, Selena or Sage count as playable heroes, yes: they appear as named heroes in the current reference roster. If you are asking whether The Ultimate One is a new character, no; it is Youga’s SS14 third Hero Trait.
FAQ
Common questions
How many heroes are in Torchlight: Infinite right now?
The SS14 Tartarus-era roster has 12 named heroes: Rehan, Carino, Erika, Bing, Gemma, Thea, Youga, Moto, Rosa, Iris, Selena and Sage. Trait counts can make databases display a larger number of entries.
What is the best hero for a new player?
There is no permanent best choice because balance changes by season and trait. Choose a current starter guide for a hero whose controls and resource loop sound enjoyable. For a first character, clear documentation and a forgiving build matter more than a short-lived tier-list position.
How do I get Hero Memories?
Follow story and endgame progression, then inspect Memory drops, crafting and dismantling systems as they unlock. Memories can be upgraded at Skill Trader Molina after the enhancement feature becomes available. Exact sources and values can change between seasons.
How do I unlock Hero Traits?
Trait slots unlock as your Hunter reaches the relevant progression milestones. A matching Hero Memory must be installed to activate the trait in that slot, and the Memory’s Trait Level determines the active trait level.
Are hero skins the same as new characters?
No. Skins and visual model updates change presentation, while the hero and its traits determine gameplay. SS14’s Gemma, Carino and Bing model updates are examples of art changes rather than new heroes.
What does “hero 1,” “hero 2” or “hero 3” mean?
It is community shorthand for the first, second or third Hero Trait belonging to that named hero. Confirm the full trait name in the current game client because trait counts and names can change.
Sources
What we checked
Official listings establish current availability and product facts. Community pages are used for mechanics and build history, then labeled separately.
- OfficialOfficial SS14 Tartarus season page
- OfficialOfficial SS14 patch notes and Youga trait details
- OfficialOfficial hero reference page
- OfficialOfficial SS6 Hero Trait and Memory rework announcement
- ReferenceTLI DB current hero and Memory reference
- CommunityTLI Hero Rank trait shorthand and current rankings