10 February 2026

All Playable Characters in MENACE

By newsgame


Squad Leaders are the highlight of your fighting force in MENACE. They each have different traits, abilities, and stat packages that greatly contribute to your success (or failure) in missions, which means you’ll want to bring the right people if you want to minimize casualties or capitalize on specific tactics. There’s a lot to consider when picking Squad Leaders in MENACE, and with this guide, you’ll be able to make more informed decisions on who you hire and bring to a battle.

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Every Squad Leader in MENACE

MENACE Squad Leader Hiring Screen
MENACE Squad Leader Hiring Screen
Image via GameRant; Source: Overhype Studios

Name & Rating (★)

Category

Unique Perk Effect

Jane Darby (★★★)

Infantry

High Value Target: Shooting targets disables their special weapons for one turn.

Kody Greifinger (★★★)

Infantry

Guerilla: More accurate and deadlier against full-health targets.

Achilleas Kainoo (★★★)

Pilot

Spartan Duty: Gain AP based on lost Hitpoints.

Charles Lim (★★)

Infantry

Aspiring: 30% discount to promotions.

Edwin Pike (★★)

Infantry

Stalwart: Never flees. Become Neutral instead of Wavering, and Wavering instead of Fleeing.


Pike also starts with Taking Command: Spend 60AP to give 40AP to a friendly unit within 10 tiles.

Tekko’Beo Phosa (★★)

Infantry

Get Motherf***ed: Can use most special weapons without deploying.

Fedor Yazhov (★★)

Infantry

No Mercy: Deadlier and more accurate against Wavering or Fleeing enemies.

Jacques Vamplew (★★)

Infantry

Partir de Rien: Gain Pressure stacks when attacked. Consume 4 stacks to gain 60AP.

Renu Rewa (★★)

Pilot

Revel in Slaughter: Gain bonus Accuracy & Discipline for each enemy destroyed, up to 5 stacks.

Gabriel Exconde (★★)

Pilot

Sentry: Equipped vehicle provides +1 Cover Level.

Jean Sy (★)

Infantry

Economics: -10% Supply Costs for Sy and her squad.

Marta Carda (★)

Infantry

Out of the Craters: Start missions with -15% Accuracy & Discipline, but +5% to both per turn.


Carda also has the highest Growth Potential of all infantry units.

J.G. Wetteroth (★)

Infantry

Big Game Hunter: Gain bonus Accuracy & Armor Penetration against large Organic targets.

Sachin Sing (★)

Infantry

Strength in Numbers: Gain bonus Accuracy and Discipline per Squaddie over a minimum of 5. Lose Accuracy and Discipline per Squaddie below 5.

Garry Boganwright (★)

Pilot

Juryrigged: Spend 20AP to remove the most severe defect, or a random one if the vehicle has two or more defects of the same severity.

Ivory Isom (★)

Pilot

Zero In: Minimum hit chance is 30%.

This guide is a WIP, so not all characters may be included as of writing. MENACE is an early access game after all, and more Squad Leaders may be added in future updates.

How to Recruit More Squad Leaders

You’ll get the option to hire a new SL by purchasing a Dossier from the Black Market. After getting one, go to the Hire screen, then select the SL you want to hire. You need to spend 30 Authority to get them onboard, so make sure whoever you’re getting fits the strategy you have in mind.

Best Starting Squad Leaders in MENACE

MENACE Starting Squad Leader Selection
MENACE Starting Squad Leader Screen
Image via GameRant; Source: Overhype Studios

At the start of each new save, you’ll get to pick 4 out of 8 potential starting units. Each Squad Leader in MENACE has different Supply Costs, which is something you’ll want to manage extensively. For new players, we recommend the following setups:

Darby, Pike, Carda, Rewa

Darby is the star of this team composition thanks to her high starting stats. She has a better action economy compared to the other Infantry SLs, and she’s much better with a gun compared to them too. Like in other tactics-focused games, you’ll want to make use of your AP as efficiently as possible, and Darby can make sure all of her turns are worth taking.

Rewa and Carda will act as your mobile infantry and vanguard unit while Pike provides support with heavy weapons and his Taking Command skill. Remember to give Carda as many opportunities to grow as possible so she becomes a powerhouse like Darby later into your campaign.

Achilleas, Lim, Pike, Carda

This composition is for players who want to focus on using vehicles. Achilleas’ base stat package is superior compared to Rewa’s, and he gets early access to the Lancer perk that increases his Armor Penetration. However, he has double the Supply Cost, making him very expensive to field.

To compensate for Achilleas’ high cost, focus on growing Carda as much as possible. She’s a 4-cost SL that has the potential for incredible returns later on. Use Lim as your assault specialist and Pike for support, and make sure Carda is fighting together with them as much as possible. Use other 1-star Squad Leaders or reduce squad sizes to make room for supplies.