The Timberjack is a new class in Runaways that gives players a mix of ranged and melee equipment from the start. It comes with a Sawed-Off Shotgun, extra shotgun ammunition, and an Axe, along with a melee damage bonus. The class also has a movement penalty, so players need to decide whether the extra damage and weapons are worth giving up some running speed.
Timberjack costs 77,000 Credits, making it much cheaper than some of the more expensive classes in the game. Its starting equipment also makes it useful for players who want to begin a run with weapons instead of spending their early money on basic gear.
How Much Does Timberjack Cost?
The Timberjack class costs 77,000 Credits in Runaways. Compared with classes that require several hundred thousand Credits, this is a fairly accessible option for players who have already saved some money but are not ready to purchase one of the most expensive classes.
The class gives several useful items immediately, so part of its value comes from the equipment included with the purchase. Instead of needing to search for both a melee weapon and a shotgun at the beginning of a run, Timberjack starts with both.
Its starting bonuses and equipment include:
- Sawed-Off Shotgun
- Shotgun Bullet Pack
- Axe
- 25% stronger melee damage
- 10% slower running speed
The 10% movement reduction is the main downside. Players who depend heavily on fast movement may notice it, especially when trying to escape police.
Timberjack Starting Weapons
The Axe is one of the main reasons to use Timberjack. It gives the class a strong melee option from the beginning, which can be useful when players want to save ammunition or deal with weaker enemies without using the shotgun.
The Sawed-Off Shotgun provides a much stronger ranged option. During testing, the shotgun was able to deal with police from a distance and remained useful against stronger enemies later in the run.
The starting ammunition is 15 shotgun bullets. While this is enough to get started, it is not a huge supply. Players should therefore avoid wasting shells and look for additional ammunition during their journey.
How Good Is the Timberjack Axe?
The Axe performs well against regular enemies, although its damage is not enough to instantly defeat every type of police. Against some of the weaker enemies, it can make quick work of them, but stronger police require multiple hits.
Testing against one-star police showed that the Axe needed two hits to take them down. Against stronger police later in the run, each hit removed a significant portion of their health, but several attacks were still required.
This makes the Axe useful as a backup weapon rather than a tool that completely replaces ranged weapons.
Players should also remember that other melee weapons, such as the Cleaver, can potentially deal more damage. Finding one during a run can therefore give Timberjack another option for close-range combat.
How Good Is the Timberjack Shotgun?
The Sawed-Off Shotgun is arguably the more impressive part of the class. During testing, it was capable of defeating weaker police with a single shot and could also handle stronger two-star and three-star police.
One interesting part of the testing was that the shotgun did not appear to have a large splash effect. Shots seemed to require accurate targeting instead of relying on a wide area of damage. This means positioning still matters. Rather than firing randomly into a group, players should aim directly at their targets and make each shell count.
Against stronger three-star police, the shotgun was still able to deal enough damage to make encounters much easier. This gives Timberjack a strong ranged option for the later parts of a run.
Timberjack Has a Movement Penalty
The biggest drawback of the class is its 10% slower running speed. This may not matter much when players are simply exploring towns, but it becomes more noticeable during police chases.
Runaways already has situations where players need to escape quickly, especially when their vehicle runs out of fuel or police backup arrives. A slower character can make these situations more difficult.
The movement penalty is therefore something to consider before purchasing Timberjack. The class gives you better starting equipment, but you sacrifice some mobility in exchange.
Bring a Backpack Early
Timberjack does not start with a backpack, leaving players with limited inventory space. With only 10 backpack slots at the beginning, loot management can quickly become annoying.
One of the first goals during a run should be finding or buying a small backpack. More storage gives you room to carry valuable loot, ammunition, medical supplies, and other items needed for the journey.
This is especially important for Timberjack because the class encourages players to use the shotgun and Axe while still collecting enough money to keep their vehicle running.
Don’t Forget to Refuel
One of the biggest lessons from testing Timberjack was the importance of managing fuel. Having powerful weapons does not help much if your vehicle runs out of gas far from the destination.
During the run, the vehicle eventually ran out of fuel while the player was still several miles away. This forced the player to continue on foot while being chased by police.
The situation became much harder because there was not enough money left for another fuel refill. Selling valuable loot, including a King Crown, provided enough cash to get some fuel, but the vehicle eventually ran out again.
Always keep some money reserved for fuel rather than spending everything on equipment.
Dealing With Three-Star Police
Timberjack can handle three-star police surprisingly well when using the shotgun. The weapon was able to eliminate these stronger enemies with well-placed shots, making it possible to clear areas without relying completely on melee attacks.
However, stronger police also increase the danger of running out of health or getting surrounded. Heavy armor and bandages can help when entering areas with higher police levels.
A useful setup for a dangerous town is:
- Heavy armor
- Extra shotgun ammunition
- Several bandages
- Enough money for fuel
- A backpack for additional loot
Having these supplies is more important than simply carrying as much loot as possible.
Timberjack Against Police Backup
The most difficult situation during testing came after the vehicle ran out of fuel. Once police backup arrived, escaping became much harder.
The helicopter was especially dangerous because its attacks could continue while the player was running away. The ground police could sometimes be avoided, but the helicopter remained a major threat.
The test also showed that trying to destroy the helicopter with the Timberjack shotgun was not enough. It remained active during the escape, and the player eventually died only a few miles from the destination.
This does not necessarily mean the class is weak. The main problem was poor fuel management, which forced the player to make a long journey on foot while being chased.
Is Timberjack Worth 77,000 Credits?
Timberjack is a relatively affordable class that gives players two useful weapons immediately. The Axe provides a melee option while the Sawed-Off Shotgun gives the class strong ranged damage.
Its main weaknesses are the 10% slower movement speed, limited starting ammunition, and lack of a backpack. These drawbacks can be managed by collecting better equipment and keeping enough money for supplies.
For 77,000 Credits, the class offers a straightforward setup for players who want to start a run already equipped for combat. It does not appear to completely outperform the more expensive classes, but its low price makes it a practical option for players who are still building their class collection.
Timberjack Tips
Players using Timberjack should focus on making the most of its starting equipment while covering its weaknesses with items found during the run. Keep these tips in mind:
- Save shotgun ammunition for stronger enemies.
- Use the Axe when fighting enemies that can be handled safely in melee.
- Find a backpack early to increase your inventory space.
- Carry bandages when entering high-level police areas.
- Keep money available for fuel.
- Buy additional shotgun ammunition when possible.
- Consider replacing the Axe with a stronger melee weapon if you find one.
- Avoid wasting money before making sure your vehicle has enough fuel.
- Use the shotgun to keep distance from stronger police.
- Be especially careful when police backup and helicopters appear.
The Timberjack class gives Runaways players a solid combination of melee and ranged combat for 77,000 Credits. The Sawed-Off Shotgun is particularly useful against stronger police, while the Axe provides a reliable option for close-range fights.
The class is not without drawbacks. The slower running speed, small starting inventory, and limited starting ammunition can create problems, especially during a difficult escape. Proper fuel and supply management is just as important as having strong weapons.
Overall, Timberjack is a straightforward combat-focused class that offers good starting gear without requiring a huge amount of Credits. Players looking for an affordable class with both a shotgun and Axe can consider giving it a try.