The MMORPG Lost Ark currently has 24 different classes to choose from. But which are particularly good and suitable for endgame in PvE or PvP? We from MeinMMO will reveal it.
This is how the tier list is structured: In this article, we want to reveal which are currently the strongest classes in Lost Ark. MeinMMO editor Alexander Leitsch has dealt intensively with the topic and has also watched numerous videos and tier lists from experts. Additionally, MeinMMO’s Lost Ark expert Mark Sellner has also contributed to the tier list, having already spent 3,000 hours in Lost Ark.
What resulted were a tier list for PvE and one for PvP, as both play styles differ significantly. The classes were assigned to various tiers:
- In the S-Tier are the strongest classes
- In the A-Tier are still strong classes, which, however, are not quite as dominant
- In the B-Tier are classes that are strong in certain situations
- In the C-Tier are currently the weakest classes
Important for this tier list is that the order will change depending on the respective updates in the game. We will constantly update the list after the release. The tier list is also only intended as a reference. Properly played, any class can be useful in PvE and PvP.
The best classes in PvE
This tier list focuses on how useful the individual builds and engravings of the classes are in group content in PvE.
| S-Tier | ‘Deseperate Salvation’-Bardin (Magician) ‘Blessed Aura’-Paladin (Warrior) ‘Predator’-Butcher (Warrior) ‘Full Bloom’-Artist (Specialist) ‘Control’-Spear Carrier (Martial Artist) ‘Pinnacle’-Spear Carrier (Martial Artist) ‘Death Strike’-Sniper (Gunner) |
| A-Tier | Both builds for the Arkana (Magician) ‘Master-Summoner’-Summoner (Magician) ‘Barrage Enhancement’-Artillerist (Gunner) Both builds for the Berserker (Warrior) ‘Deathblow-‘Martial Monk (Martial Artist) ‘Peacemaker’-Artillery Shooter (Gunner) ‘Lone Knight’-Pistol Spearman (Warrior) ‘Taijutsu’-Scrapper (Martial Artist) ‘Loyal Companion’-Sniper (Gunner) Both builds for the Spirit Fist (Martial Artist) ‘Surge’-Death Blade (Assassin) ‘Enhanced Weapon’-Death Shooter (Gunner) ‘Igniter’-Magician (Magician) ‘Rage Hammer’-Destroyer (Warrior) ‘Demonic Impulse’-Shadow Hunter (Assassin) ‘Wind Furry’-Air Dancer (Specialist) ‘Punisher’-Butcher (Warrior) |
| B-Tier | Both builds for the Reaper (Assassin) ‘Gravity Training’-Destroyer (Warrior) ‘Firepower Enhancement’-Artillerist (Gunner) Both builds for the War Dancer (Martial Artist) ‘Perfect Suppression’-Shadow Hunter (Assassin) ‘Time to Hunt’-Artillery Shooter (Gunner) ‘Shock Training’-Scrapper (Martial Artist) ‘Remaining Energy’-Death Blade (Assassin) ‘Pistoler’-Death Shooter (Gunner) ‘Communication Overflow’-Summoner (Magician) ‘Drizzle’-Air Dancer (Specialist) |
| C-Tier | Both builds for the Machinist (Gunner) ‘Combat Readiness’-Pistol Spearman (Warrior) ‘Reflux’-Magician (Magician) ‘True Courage’-Bardin (Magician) ‘Judgement’-Paladin (Warrior) ‘Regression’-Artist (Specialist) |
Explanations for the classes in S-Tier:
- The Bardin, the Paladin and the Artist are placed in the S-Tier in PvE because they are the only support classes in the game. They are therefore particularly useful in nearly every group in dungeons and raids. How to best level the Paladin and what skills he has, we reveal in our guide to the class.
- The Butcher has a strong burst damage that hardly falls off when maintaining his attacks. Currently, both builds are very strong, but the Predator variant has a slight edge as it was not affected by the recent nerfs.
- The Spear Carrier was one of the big winners of the last balance update and can box both builds into the S-Tier. She is versatile and reaches very strong damage numbers in every situation.
- The Sniper has also handled the balance updates very well. The Death Strike variant can, when executed perfectly, reach slightly higher numbers than Loyal Comanion.
Explanations for the classes in A-Tier:
- The Arkana belongs to the magicians and focuses on a lot of DPS and mobility. However, she also has little defense and is difficult to play. In addition, there is a certain element of randomness due to the cards. This ensures that it does not make it into the S-Tier.
- The Artillerist reduces incoming damage and has a shield for the group. However, if there is a support present, this shield will not necessarily be needed.
- The Berserker also brings additional damage for the entire group in the form of a debuff that increases the incoming damage enemies suffer.
- The Martial Monk is the male counterpart to the War Dancer, but with a slightly weaker buff and a somewhat slower play style, but he also deals more damage.
- The War Dancer comes with some useful group buffs, including a higher crit chance and higher attack speed. However, she is difficult to play if you want to have high damage yourself.
- The Artillery Shooter is overall a rather hard class, but if played well, can keep up with those in S-Tier. However, she quickly ends up down, and a dead teammate does not bring much to the group.
- The Pistol Spearman is the class with the strongest defense in Lost Ark. She can block attacks with a shield and has a taunt. Accordingly, Pistol Spearmen are useful in groups.
- The Scrapper is a strong and not too difficult class to learn. She can deal damage on par with the strongest classes.
- The Spirit Fist has strong burst but only after long casting times. If the attacks then miss or enemies are already defeated, the Spirit Fist brings little to the group. Played well, however, it definitely belongs in the A-Tier.
- The Death Blade also has some group buffs, which, however, are very specific to frontal or back attacks. Especially in random groups, this is too specific to be fully utilized.
- As a Death Shooter, you almost go into melee with your strongest build and have to hit enemies in the back. The play style is therefore a bit more special and also has low durability.
- The Air Dancer is an easy-to-learn class whose builds can deal a lot of damage with little effort. However, it cannot quite keep up with the S-Tier.
- The Summoner was long in the S-Tier but has received numerous nerfs in the past, which is why she is now positioned in the A-Tier due to significantly reduced damage.
- The Shadow Hunter is fast and very easy to play, but her damage is okay, but not the best.
Explanations for the classes in B-Tier:
- Reaper is a very fast class that, however, can hardly take damage. You have to constantly reposition and stay in motion. If you’re not careful, the Reaper will quickly end up in the dirt.
- The Destroyer offers a secure package all around. He has a lot of defense, a lot of burst damage, and CC. However, the class feels a bit slow overall, and the attacks must be very precise to fully exploit the class.
Explanations for the classes in C-Tier:
- The Machinist is demanding because you essentially play two classes at once. She also has little defense, which makes her currently weak in PvE. Additionally, she lacks scaling in the later game, meaning she does not get as much stronger through higher gear score as other classes. Thus, she effectively becomes weaker the further you progress.
- The Reflux Magician is currently very unpopular. She has received buffs in the past, but currently counts among the weakest damage classes in the game.
- The DPS builds of the actual support classes also all end up in the C-Tier. They are usually meant more for fun and often useless. Only the Judgement Paladin can convince in very selected situations but is usually only scoffed at in groups.
The best classes in PvP
As we from MeinMMO have not made deep experiences with PvP, we rely on the PvP tier list from the website Maxroll.gg. There, among others, the well-known streamer Saintone and the YouTuber T-Party write, who have already gained many years of experience in the other versions of Lost Ark.
Tier List for Low-Level PvP
| S-Tier | Artillerist (Gunner) Arkanistin (Magician) Berserker (Warrior) Summoner (Magician) Magician (Magician) Destroyer (Warrior) |
| A-Tier | Martial Monk (Martial Artist) War Dancer (Martial Artist) Artist Shadow Hunter (Assassin) Death Blade (Assassin) |
| B-Tier | Pistol Spearman (Warrior) Machinist (Gunner) Sniper (Gunner) Reaper (Assassin) Air Dancer (Specialist) |
| C-Tier | Bardin (Magician) Artillery Shooter (Gunner) Spear Carrier (Martial Artist) Paladin (Warrior) Spirit Fist (Martial Artist) Scrapper (Martial Artist) Death Shooter (Gunner) Butcher (Warrior) |
Explanation of this list: The classes listed here are based on which classes are easy to learn and forgive the most mistakes. Therefore, the Paladin is at the top, who is also very strong in high-rank PvP.
Some classes, such as the Artillery Shooter or the Magician, become better when fully mastered.
Tier List for High-Rank PvP
| S-Tier | Arkanistin (Magician) Bardin (Magician) Artillery Shooter (Gunner) Shadow Hunter (Assassin) Death Blade (Assassin) |
| A-Tier | Artillerist (Gunner) Martial Monk (Martial Artist) Artist Reaper (Assassin) Spear Carrier (Martial Artist) Machinist (Gunner) Paladin (Warrior) Sniper (Gunner) Butcher (Warrior) Destroyer (Warrior) |
| B-Tier | Summoner (Magician) War Dancer (Martial Artist) Pistol Spearman (Warrior) Magician (Magician) Berserker (Warrior) Air Dancer (Specialist) |
| C-Tier | Spirit Fist (Martial Artist) Scrapper (Martial Artist) Death Shooter (Gunner) |
Explanation of this list: The tier list focuses on the fact that you master a class perfectly and that your teammates and opponents do as well. This is when some classes are easier to counter, such as the Summoner, which falls from S to B-Tier.
Other classes, like Bardin and Artillery Shooter, however, rise significantly.
Which class do you prefer to play? And do you usually orient yourself by tier lists? Feel free to write it in the comments.
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