Code Vein 2: All Jails, Ranked

Jails are an essential part of any build in Code Vein 2, as it acts as the main way to recover Ichor. They also are a great way to deal additional damage to unaware enemies or between the boss's attacks. However, not all Jails are created equal and some are more efficient and all around better options.

There are a total of six Jails in Code Vein 2 and players will acquire all of them fairly early in their playthrough. I believe I obtained the final Jail when I was only about 20 hours into my playthrough. This is great as it allows players to determine quickly which of all the Jails works best for them.

In this list, we rank all the Jails in Code Vein 2. Keep in mind that all Jails are useful in their own way and none of them are considered bad, so don't completely write off the last options on this list. With that out the way, let's get into it.

6 Ogre

Claw Master

Ogre is the first Jail players will unlock in Code Vein 2 as it's available from the start of the game. While not necessarily terrible, you'll want to swap this out for another Jail immediately after finding one. Ogre has almost no range, has a long charge-up time, and does not have the best defensive stats. Its Balance stat (62) doesn't even stand out, as it falls in the middle of the road compared to the other Jails in the game. In other words, there's nothing particularly great about the Ogre that would want to make you stick with it for a very long time.

However, Ogre is still helpful in the early game and I still recommend using it in combat encounters against early enemies and bosses. It deals a decent amount of damage, especially when using its charged attack, and can be a great way to sneak in an attack or two while the enemy is looking elsewhere. Remember, if you are not satisfied with the Ogre and have no other options at the moment, you can upgrade it at MagMell with Pure Platinum.

5 Ivy

Major AoE

Ivy is one of my favorite Jails in Code Vein due to its large AoE attack that covers a good amount of ground. When players use Ivy, a large circle appears in the ground that players can control with the analog stick. After releasing the Jail button, a handful of spikes shoot from the ground, draining Ichor from any enemy it comes in contact with. It's incredibly powerful, but the reason why Ivy isn't higher on this list is due to the simple fact that it can be tricky and slow to use.

Players need a lot of time in order to summon the Ivy and move the circle to the planned location. Due to its slowness, it's likely to get hit by an attack and take damage while using it.

Besides that one major flaw, the Ivy Jail is a good choice for your build. It doesn't have a good Balance stat at all, only boasting a tiny amount of 16, and has generally low physical stats, that can all be made up for through other equipment and Blood Codes. However, it does have high defense against elements, such as Fire, Bleed, Lightning, and Ice. Since a lot of bosses use some form of these elements, Ivy can be a good choice to counter the amount of damage they inflict. Players looking to acquire the Ivy Jail in Code Vein 2 can get it from the Seized Substation dungeon in The Sunken City.

4 Stinger

Launch Foes

The Stinger Jail is a great choice as it allows players to Drain Ichor from a distance. While the Bat Jail can drain from farther out, Stinger can send enemies flying through its charged attack, knocking them to the ground and opening up the opportunity for a follow-up attack. I love knocking enemies down, rushing in with my Greatsword, and slamming down on them to finish them off. That combination is what makes the Stinger a good Jail to use for your build.

However, the Stinger's Balance is mediocre, falling at just only 81, and its defensive stats aren't anything to write home about. Also, the Jail is just kind of basic and not very cool to use. It just involves shooting a stinger directly in front of the player and doing that over and over again can get pretty boring. If you enjoy having some complexity to your build in Soulslikes, then the Stinger really isn't the one for you. If you do decide to use this Jail, you can get it at Josee's Outpost in the Sunken City.

3 Reaper

Deflect Attacks

Reaper is the second Jail players can get in Code Vein 2, and while its found super early, it's still one of the strongest and best options to use. While Reaper has a decent Balance stat (98), the main reason why it's so good is due to the fact that it can deflect enemy attacks through its spinning slash. Mastering this Jail and getting the timing down on its deflect ability can make your character unstoppable against standard enemies and even bosses. Additionally, Reaper has good range when attacking, allowing you to drain Ichor from a safe distance.

An important thing to keep in mind about the Reaper Jail is that if an attack can't be deflected, such as charged attacks from bosses and elite enemies, it will instead be guarded. Still, that can be all you need in a life-and-death situation, and I know that it has saved me from dying quite a few times. The only negative about the Reaper Jail in Code Vein 2 is its low defensive stats, although the positives far outweigh its one negative. If you're interested in getting the Reaper Jail, you can find it in a chest in the Water Treatment Plant dungeon on MagMell Island.

2 Bat

Drain from a Safe Distance

If you're creating a ranged build and like to keep your distance from enemies in Code Vein 2, the Bat Jail is for you. This Jail allows players to summon a swarm of bats that descends upon the enemy, sucking Ichor out of them and bringing it back to the user. While the amount of Ichor drained from the enemy is decreased the farther you're from the target, I noticed that it's very generous in its range and can be utilized from a good distance. This makes Bat one of the best Jails as it allows you to retreat from the enemy and still be able to recover Ichor.

The only major downside of the Bat Jail is its low Balance stat of 38. However, this stat can be further increased elsewhere, such as through Blood Codes and equipment, so it's not the end of the world. Its base attack isn't the highest, but that's not really the point of a Jail to begin with, if we're being honest. The point of a Jail is to recover Ichor and since the Bat allows you to do that from a safe distance, it can help you stay alive and in the fight longer. It's also really easy to get as it unlocks by talking to Lou at any Mistle in The Confluence dungeon.

1 Hound

Best Jail in Code Vein 2

The best Jail in Code Vein 2 is undoubtedly the Hound. Not only does the Hound provide the highest amount of defense than the rest of the Jails, it also has the highest Balance stat of 124. On top of all that, the Hound increases Disruption resistance to enemy strikes when attacking, meaning you can play more aggressively when using this Jail. If you aren't sure what Distruption is in Code Vein 2, it essentially is when an enemy cancels your attack animation with their attack.

On top of all that, the Hound Jail hits like an absolute truck, especially if you hold down the Jail button. It unleashes a two-hit combo with the left and right jaws, pushing the enemy back and sometimes staggering them in the process. Also, Hound is actually surprisingly quick at getting its attacks out too, meaning you can consistently gather Ichor from enemies without causing too much of a delay in the heat of battle. Players looking to acquire this Jail can find it within the Sunken Pylon dungeon in the Sunken City.