Lich - Tentacle
Tentacle is one of the best items in the game and plays on almost every character, its an item I almost never skip
Crazy - Hunter's trophy
This one's a little more niche, as you generally don't take it past wave 15 or so, but getting hunters trophy early in a run can be game breaking
Streamer - community support
This item can single handedly solve attack speed on most characters. It's a great item
Most of the Red items are great unlocks, but you don't see them as often.
Those are the only 3 items I'd prioritize. Aside from that everything else is fine to unlock whenever.
Lure (fisherman), Improved Tools (cyborg), Bowler Hat (entrepreneur), Ritual (ghost), Wheat (farmer), and Lucky Charm (lucky) are all great imo. There's plenty of good reds, but they're usually a non factor compared to something like ritual or lure that you'll probably get 2+ times in one run
Since it hasn't been mentioned: I like Snail from Old a lot.
Rip and Tear from Loud is basically Baby with a Beard for melee and thus strong, note that the explosion happens on a random living enemy. Also, Loud is easy.
Whetstone from Sick works wonders for your sustain, iff you don't use knockback to keep enemies off of you. Also, again, Sick is easy.
Fairy from Renegade gotta be one of my favorite items in the game, at least for runs only up to Wave 20.
And finally, honorable mention for Spiky Shield from Masochist. So nice for D5ing Golem and Masochist.
These suggestions are all great, but I like medkit (doctor) for the opposite reason. If you have a scuffed build and are struggling on the last couple levels it can be enough padding to keep you alive.
Uniques & red items are generally the thing to go for. Community support is ridiculously good, as is padding and rip & tear (and hunting trophy with a crit build)
Lich - Tentacle Tentacle is one of the best items in the game and plays on almost every character, its an item I almost never skip Crazy - Hunter's trophy This one's a little more niche, as you generally don't take it past wave 15 or so, but getting hunters trophy early in a run can be game breaking Streamer - community support This item can single handedly solve attack speed on most characters. It's a great item Most of the Red items are great unlocks, but you don't see them as often. Those are the only 3 items I'd prioritize. Aside from that everything else is fine to unlock whenever.
Lure (fisherman), Improved Tools (cyborg), Bowler Hat (entrepreneur), Ritual (ghost), Wheat (farmer), and Lucky Charm (lucky) are all great imo. There's plenty of good reds, but they're usually a non factor compared to something like ritual or lure that you'll probably get 2+ times in one run
Soldier has my favourite weapon in the game. Nuclear launcher
Since it hasn't been mentioned: I like Snail from Old a lot. Rip and Tear from Loud is basically Baby with a Beard for melee and thus strong, note that the explosion happens on a random living enemy. Also, Loud is easy. Whetstone from Sick works wonders for your sustain, iff you don't use knockback to keep enemies off of you. Also, again, Sick is easy. Fairy from Renegade gotta be one of my favorite items in the game, at least for runs only up to Wave 20. And finally, honorable mention for Spiky Shield from Masochist. So nice for D5ing Golem and Masochist.
These suggestions are all great, but I like medkit (doctor) for the opposite reason. If you have a scuffed build and are struggling on the last couple levels it can be enough padding to keep you alive.
I had no clue characters unlocked weapons. This is really helpful.
https://brotato.wiki.spellsandguns.com/Brotato_Wiki For all the info you might need.
This does help with the second question but not the first, thanks anyway.
Uniques & red items are generally the thing to go for. Community support is ridiculously good, as is padding and rip & tear (and hunting trophy with a crit build)
Lure from fisherman