PlannedEvolution
Take full control of the Evolution artifact! Configure exactly what items monsters gain on each stage instead of random items.
About this mod Author’s original text
Planned Evolution
A Risk of Rain 2 mod that gives you complete control over the Evolution artifact! Instead of random items, monsters gain items according to your custom schedule.
This was heavily inspired by ArtifactofEvolutionPlusPlus by the talented Lunzir.
Features
- Stage-by-Stage Planning: Configure exactly what items monsters get on each stage (1-20)
- Flexible Item Selection: Use item names, tier keywords (AnyWhite, AnyGreen, AnyRed, AnyVoid), or specific item codes
- Blacklist System: Ban specific items from random pools (default: RollOfPennies, SquidPolyp, ShockNearby)
- In-Game Announcements: See what items monsters gained each stage in chat
- Full Compatibility: Works with modded items and the base Evolution artifact
Installation
Requirements
- BepInEx 5.4.21 or later
- HookGenPatcher (handles On.IL hooks)
- Risk of Rain 2 (Survivors of the Void DLC recommended)
Steps
- Install BepInEx if you haven't already
- Install HookGenPatcher
- Download Planned Evolution and extract to your BepInEx/plugins folder
- Launch the game and enable the Artifact of Evolution
Configuration
After running the mod once, edit BepInEx/config/com.FortressForce.PlannedEvolution.cfg:
General Settings
[General]
Set to false to disable the mod
Enabled = true
Evolution Schedule
Configure stages 1-20. Default progression:
- Stages 1-5: 1 random white item per stage
- Stages 6-10: 1 random green item per stage
- Stages 11-20: 1 random red item per stage
[Evolution Schedule]
Stage 1 = AnyWhite, 1
Stage 2 = AnyWhite, 1
Stage 3 = AnyWhite, 1
Stage 6 = AnyGreen, 1
Stage 11 = AnyRed, 1
Blacklists
Prevent specific items from appearing in random pools:
[Blacklists]
Banned Whites = RollOfPennies
Banned Greens = SquidPolyp
Banned Reds = ShockNearby
Configuration Syntax
Format
Each stage config line follows this pattern:
ItemIdentifier, Count; ItemIdentifier, Count
Examples
Give 1 Soldier's Syringe
Stage 1 = Syringe, 1
Give 3 Lens-Maker's Glasses
Stage 2 = CritGlasses, 3
Give 1 random white, then 2 Gasoline
Stage 3 = AnyWhite, 1; Gasoline, 2
Give 5 random greens
Stage 4 = AnyGreen, 5
Item Identifiers
Specific Items - Use internal item codes:
- Syringe = Soldier's Syringe
- CritGlasses = Lens-Maker's Glasses
- Behemoth = Brilliant Behemoth
- Hoof = Paul's Goat Hoof
Random Tiers - Use keywords:
- AnyWhite = Random white (common) item
- AnyGreen = Random green (uncommon) item
- AnyRed = Random red (legendary) item
- AnyVoid = Random void item
Count
- Positive numbers: Add items (3 = give 3 items)
- Negative numbers: Remove items (-2 = take away 2 items)
Example: Reverse progression
Stage 5 = AnyRed, 1
Stage 10 = AnyRed, -1; AnyWhite, 5
Finding Item Codes
Not sure what an item's code is? Check these resources:
- RoR2 Wiki Item List
- Item Code Reference
Common Item Codes
| Item Name | Code |
|-----------|------|
| Soldier's Syringe | Syringe |
| Lens-Maker's Glasses | CritGlasses |
| Crowbar | Crowbar |
| Paul's Goat Hoof | Hoof |
| Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Will-o'-the-wisp | Behemoth |
| Happiest Mask | Ghost |
| 57 Leaf Clover | Clover |
Compatibility
Risk of Options
This mod uses standard BepInEx config files. If you have Risk of Options installed, you can edit settings in-game from the pause menu without needing to manually edit config files!
Other Mods
- ✅ Compatible with modded items (use their item codes)
- ✅ Compatible with other artifact mods
- ⚠️ Replaces vanilla Evolution artifact behavior (intentional!)
- ❌ Conflicts with other Evolution-overriding mods (use only one)
Example Configurations
Slow Burn (Gradual scaling)
Stage 1 = AnyWhite, 1
Stage 2 = AnyWhite, 1
Stage 3 = AnyWhite, 2
Stage 4 = AnyGreen, 1
Stage 5 = AnyGreen, 1
Stage 6 = AnyGreen, 2
Stage 7 = AnyRed, 1
Boss Rush (Immediate difficulty)
Stage 1 = AnyRed, 1
Stage 2 = AnyRed, 1
Stage 3 = AnyRed, 1
Stage 4 = AnyRed, 2
Stage 5 = AnyRed, 2
Fixed Build (Same items every run)
Stage 1 = Syringe, 1
Stage 2 = Syringe, 1
Stage 3 = Hoof, 1
Stage 4 = CritGlass
Install & use Install: BepInEx plugin
- The archive from playbuff is the mod itself — usually a BepInEx plugin (a .dll or a plugin folder once unzipped).
- Recommended: use a community mod manager (such as r2modman) — pick this game, import the mod, and the manager sets up BepInEx and its dependencies for you.
- Manual route: install the BepInEx loader in the game folder, then drop the unzipped .dll or plugin folder into BepInEx/plugins/.
- Launch the game — the BepInEx console logs every plugin it loads; seeing this mod in the log means it is installed.
Mods with listed dependencies need those installed too, or they will not load. Options are usually changed in-game or in the plugin's config file.
Install these first, or the mod will not work: