Shrek 2 Remastered Tier List: Best Characters
A Shrek 2 Remastered tier list for every playable character, ranked by combat, traversal and puzzle utility, with the best pick for each chapter.
Puss, Shrek and Fiona are the S tier picks. Puss owns traversal, Shrek owns damage and throwing, and Fiona owns crowd control. Donkey, Gingerbread Man and Big Bad Wolf sit in A tier for specific jobs. Lil' Red and Tinkerbell are B tier because their abilities are situational.
This tier list ranks characters by how much they contribute across the 11-chapter campaign, not by how fun they are to control. A character can be S tier in one chapter and useless in another, because the game assigns parties rather than letting you pick.
The ranking assumes solo play with AI companions. In four-player co-op, the value changes: a human-controlled Tinkerbell is far more useful than an AI Tinkerbell, and a human Puss can carry a whole traversal section.
The tier list
| Tier | Characters | Why |
|---|---|---|
| S | Puss, Shrek, Fiona | Best-in-class traversal, damage and control |
| A | Donkey, Gingerbread Man, Big Bad Wolf | Essential for specific gates and fights |
| B | Lil' Red, Tinkerbell | Situational utility, low durability |
| C | Human Shrek & Horse Donkey | Strong but only available in two chapters |
The human duo is not weak. It is placed separately because it is a chapter-specific unit, not a campaign-wide pick.
S tier
Puss in Boots
Puss is the best character in the game for one simple reason: tightropes. Several levels hide beans and shortcuts behind ropes that only Puss can cross. Without him, you either skip the collectible or replay the chapter with a different party.
His combat is also strong. The rapier is fast, his jump is the highest and his dodge is the most responsive. In the final fight, he can jump Fairy Godmother's blue circles, which trivializes a phase that kills slower characters.
Puss joins in Chapter 5. Before that, you cannot use him. After Chapter 5, keep him in the party whenever the chapter allows it.
Shrek
Shrek is the best raw damage dealer. Ogre Lifting lets him pick up enemies and throw them, which is both a crowd-control tool and a puzzle solver. His health pool is the largest of the standard characters.
His throws are especially good against armored enemies. A thrown knight knocks down the others, and a thrown bomb clears a group. In the final fight, Shrek is the designated bomb-thrower.
Shrek's weakness is mobility. He cannot cross tightropes, and his jump is average. On traversal-heavy chapters, switch to Puss and let Shrek follow the AI.
Fiona
Fiona's Slow Time is the best defensive ability in the game. It freezes fast enemies, slows projectiles and makes escort sections manageable. The Pied Piper rat swarm and the worker wave in the final fight are much easier with her.
Her melee damage is lower than Shrek's, but her mobility is better. She is the safest pick when you do not know what is coming next.
A tier
Donkey
Donkey is essential for locked gates. Burro Blast breaks marked locks, knocks down talking trees and staggers knights. Without Donkey, several rooms are unsolvable.
His health is low, and his kick has a long recovery. Use him for the gate, then switch to Shrek or Fiona for the fight.
Gingerbread Man
Gingy's Cookie Toss is a distraction tool. It pulls enemies away from civilians, gates and downed allies. The cookie can also trigger traps from a distance.
His low health makes him a liability in open combat, but his utility in escort missions is high. He is the best pick for the chicken harvest and the Cinderella escort.
Big Bad Wolf
Wolf is the tank of Prison Break and Cookie Cookie. Huff 'N' Puff blows down walls, extinguishes fires and knocks back groups. He has the highest health in the game.
His slow speed and long attack animations keep him out of S tier. He is a chapter-specific pick, not a campaign main.
B tier
Lil' Red
Lil' Red's Rotten Apple is a ranged explosive. It is great for switches and rat traps, but the arc is fixed and the damage is low. She is the best pick for the Family Jewels task because she can stay away from the troll.
Her health is low, and her melee is weak. Use her for the job, then switch away.
Tinkerbell
Tinkerbell only appears in Prison Break. Fairy Dust floats enemies and allies, which is useful for searchlights and ledges, but she cannot fight. She is a utility pick in a chapter that punishes utility picks.
C tier
Human Shrek and Horse Donkey
The duo has the best jump and a strong Charge attack that breaks doors and armor. It is only available in The Mines and Cookie Cookie, which keeps it out of the campaign-wide ranking. In those two chapters, it is an S tier pick.
Best character by chapter
| Chapter | Best pick | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Shrek's Swamp | Shrek | Throws and health for the Robin Hood fight |
| Spooky Forest | Donkey | Breaks trees and locks during the escort |
| Far Far Away | Fiona | Slow Time for the rat swarm and escorts |
| Ogre Killer | Any | The fight uses prompts, not abilities |
| Walking the Path | Puss | Tightropes bypass the saws |
| Jack and Jill's Farm | Gingy | Cookies distract wasps |
| Fairy Godmother's | Puss | Tightrope in the potion room |
| Prison Break | Wolf | Only wall-breaker in the party |
| The Mines | Human Shrek duo | Charge breaks doors and armor |
| Cookie Cookie | Wolf | Fires and crowd control |
| Final Fight | Puss | Jumps the blue circles |
For the exact ability inputs and stats behind each ranking, read the character move list → next.
FAQ
Who is the best character in Shrek 2 Remastered?
Puss is the best overall because of his traversal utility. Shrek is the best pure fighter, and Fiona is the best crowd-control pick.
Is the tier list different for co-op?
Yes. Human-controlled utility characters are more valuable than AI ones. A human Tinkerbell can coordinate searchlight routes, and a human Lil' Red can hit switches while the group fights.
Can you change characters mid-level?
Yes. Switch between the four party members at any time. The AI takes over the character you leave.
Does the tier list account for upgrades?
The ranking assumes no upgrades. With all nine upgrades, every character becomes viable, and the differences shrink.
Sources
Official source: Shrek 2 Remastered official site ↗
- Steam store page ↗ for the character roster.
- Shrek Wiki: Shrek 2 ↗ for the original abilities.
- Wikipedia: Shrek 2 (video game) ↗ for the 2004 design.