If you’ve been waiting for the latest Dead Rails Stand Up Beat update, there’s actually a bit more here than most players expected. The developers originally mentioned that this patch wouldn’t include any new classes, but that changed at the last minute. We ended up getting two brand-new classes, a new Settings menu, some quality-of-life improvements, and a few tweaks to the Boxing Gym that make the event a little more rewarding.
After spending some time checking out everything that’s new, here’s a complete breakdown of what actually changed and whether it’s worth trying in your next run.
New Settings Menu
One of the first things you’ll notice after launching the update is the brand-new Settings menu.
It’s not a massive overhaul, but it adds a few options that many players have been asking for.
The new settings include:
- Aim Assist option for mobile and console players
- Ability to disable the new weapon view models
- More control over how guns appear while playing
If you’re playing on a touchscreen or with a controller, enabling Aim Assist should make combat feel much smoother. Meanwhile, PC players who preferred the older weapon animations can simply turn off the new view models if they aren’t fans of the updated look.
It’s a small addition, but it’s always nice having more customization instead of being forced into one visual style.
Two New Classes Added
The biggest surprise of the update is definitely the addition of two completely new classes.
These weren’t originally planned for this patch, making them an unexpected bonus.
Cursed Class
The Cursed Class starts off looking pretty weak, but it’s designed to become stronger as your run continues.
At the beginning of the game you receive:
- 10% lower health
- 10% lower damage
- 10% lower movement speed
That sounds rough, especially during the opening minutes when resources are limited.
However, these penalties slowly disappear over time. Instead of remaining weaker, the class gradually becomes stronger until it eventually reaches around 15% bonus Health, Damage, and Speed.
Think of it as a class that sacrifices early-game power for a much stronger late-game build.
The only downside right now is that there isn’t any visual indicator showing your current progress. There’s no meter or percentage displayed on your screen, so you’ll simply have to trust that your character is getting stronger as the match goes on.
Personally, I would’ve liked to see a small progress bar somewhere on the HUD because it’s difficult to tell exactly when the bonuses kick in.
Munition Expert Class
If you hate running out of ammo during the first few locations, the Munition Expert is probably the more practical choice.
Instead of special combat buffs, this class focuses entirely on giving you extra ammunition right from spawn.
You’ll begin every match with:
- 2 Shotgun Ammo Packs
- 2 Pistol Ammo Packs
- 1 Rifle Ammo Pack
Having this much ammunition immediately available means you can spend less time searching for bullets and more time clearing enemies or preparing for later encounters.
It isn’t the flashiest class in the game, but for solo players or anyone who likes using firearms early, it’s an excellent quality-of-life option.
Boxing Gym Changes
The Boxing Gym also received a few noticeable improvements.
If you’ve already fought the Boxing Boss before, you’ll probably notice that its appearance has been updated slightly. The fight itself is mostly the same, but there are now a couple of interesting mechanics surrounding it.
You Can Use Guns… With a Catch
Players discovered that it’s possible to defeat the Boxing Boss using firearms if you avoid properly entering the ring.
While this does let you eliminate the boss, there’s an important downside.
If you skip the intended boxing challenge:
- You won’t earn the completion badge.
- You’ll miss out on some Bonds rewards.
So although using guns can make the fight easier, you’re giving up some of the extra rewards that come from completing it the intended way.
Boxing Gloves Now Have Extra Value
This is probably my favorite change in the update.
After defeating the Boxing Boss using the boxing gloves, those gloves become much more useful.
You can now destroy the punching bags located inside the gym.
Breaking these bags grants a melee damage increase that lasts for the rest of your current run.
Since there are multiple punching bags available, it’s worth taking a minute to smash every one before leaving the gym. It’s essentially free extra melee damage, and there’s very little reason to skip it if you’re already carrying the gloves.
Which New Class Is Better?
Both classes serve different playstyles.
Choose the Munition Expert if:
- You rely heavily on guns.
- You want a stronger early game.
- You dislike searching for ammunition.
Choose the Cursed Class if:
- You’re comfortable surviving a weaker early game.
- You prefer scaling power.
- You enjoy longer runs where late-game stats matter more.
Neither class completely outclasses the other, so your choice mostly depends on how you like to play.
This update may not be the biggest content drop Dead Rails has received, but it definitely adds some welcome variety. The surprise addition of two new classes gives players more ways to approach each run, the new Settings menu adds helpful customization, and the Boxing Gym rewards now feel much more worthwhile thanks to the permanent melee damage bonus.
If you’re jumping back into Dead Rails after a short break, I’d recommend trying both new classes for a few matches. The Munition Expert feels immediately useful, while the Cursed Class offers a unique risk-versus-reward experience once you survive the early game. Combined with the Boxing Gym improvements, this patch gives players a few fresh reasons to start another run.