Lost Ark Best Classes: Tier List and Class Guide (February 2022)

Which are the best character classes in Lost Ark? Lost Ark: when you create a character in Lost Ark, you must choose from a list of seven classes. For example, Warriors are always male, while Assassins and Mages are always female. Martial Artists and Gunners include both male and female versions, but are split into two categories because every subclass in the game is only available to one gender.

Lost Ark has 15 subclasses, divided between seven male and eight female options, each with its own skills. Regardless of their base classes, you will be able to choose a subclass to specialize in during the short tutorial. Let's take a look at what the strongest classes in Lost Ark are and their best subclasses:

Lost Ark Character Guide 2022: Which Are the Best Character Classes?

• S Tier: Bard, Berserker, Gunlancer, Gunslinger, Paladin
• A Tier: Artillerist, Deathblade, Sorceress, Striker
• B Tier: Scrapper, Shadowhunter, Sharpshooter, Soulfist
• C Tier: Deadeye, Wardancer

S Tier

Bard (Mage)

As of February 2022, there are only two support classes in Lost Ark, and although they may not look especially appealing when you are just starting out, you will quickly see how important it is to have at least one. If you want to team up with other players, a high-level Bard is essential. This is because it is the most in-demand class when forming parties, since it has the best heals and shields in the game. Its main drawback is that it is not very good at taking an active part in combat and that its usefulness is limited if you are playing solo in Arkesia; its harp provides a series of buffs and debuffs that benefit its team during combat.

Berserker (Warrior)

Berserker is not the most unique option, since it is Lost Ark's answer to every RPG warrior so far. But it is a tried-and-true build for a reason; while the Berserker is a safer choice for those not yet sure of their survival abilities, it really shines when tough situations come up in the long-term game. It is a good choice for beginners, but it will not disappoint you if you want to use it to the very end.

Gunlancer (Warrior)

Gunlancer is a tank class for players who want to enjoy the traditional fighter experience. This is undoubtedly Lost Ark's tank character. High HP and defense stats make it an excellent damage sponge, and in addition to its ability to draw the enemy's attention while protecting other characters, it also has a unique power that lets it interrupt attacks or sometimes ignore boss mechanics entirely.

Gunslinger (Gunner – Female)

The Gunslinger is one of the best options for a PvE DPS in the game. It is a great choice if you are playing solo, thanks to its extremely fast movement speed and a 10% increased crit buff. Gunslinger's biggest drawback is that it can be hard to master in the early stages. But once you learn how to use it effectively, you will feel its benefits.

Paladin (Warrior)

In Lost Ark, the Paladin and Bard are in high demand and become increasingly important as you approach the late stages of the game. The Paladin is not as effective as the Bard at healing and protecting allies, but thanks to the Warrior base class it can take a more active role in combat. This gives it better attack and defense stats. In other words, if you want to play a hybrid sub-DPS/support role, it is a great choice.

A Tier

Artillerist (Gunner – Male)

The Artillerist is a superior tank. The Bard offers better shield support, and there are other high-damage attackers who are not blocked while moving in the game. But if you want a low-key multiclass as a character who can switch between DPS and support when needed, the Artillerist is an excellent choice.

Deathblade (Assassin)

Deathblade is a sight to behold with three blades in hand. However, as you progress in the game and your roster and challenges develop, it is a fact that the Deathblade cannot keep up. Total damage output at higher levels is significantly lower than you might expect, and if you are trying to get through Lost Ark's tough parts as quickly as possible, other classes start to make more sense.

Sorceress (Mage)

The extremely powerful glass-cannon-type character known as the Sorceress is a perfect addition to a combat-focused team thanks to its significant damage boost (6%) and very wide blast radius. With its low defense and HP, it is a good example of the notorious squishy mage. So it is not always the simplest character to manage in combat, and it takes a more experienced player to get the most out of it.

Striker (Martial Artist – Male)

Striker has the ability to attack opponents from almost any position, and it looks really cool while doing so. It is one of the hardest classes to control because of the importance of landing a successful attack. But it has a high damage output and a high critical hit chance.

B Tier

Scrapper (Martial Artist – Female)

Scrapper is a very beginner-friendly subclass in Lost Ark if you want to try melee combat. It has strong defense but mediocre damage (including a 6% extra damage boost). So even if you have to fend off the enemy for a while, you may be wiped out quickly.

Shadowhunter (Assassin)

The Shadowhunter's biggest advantage is a 12% extra damage boost that rivals the Berserker's, and it can be compared with it in many ways since it is also a simple entry character. Its most unique feature is the potential to transform into a demon for a short time, increasing its HP and speed. Even so, the drop-down menu may make you wish you had chosen a class with more basic stats in these categories.

Sharpshooter (Gunner – Male)

The Sharpshooter is an entirely long-range character class in Lost Ark with high damage output and a 6% damage buff for the whole team. Overall, it would probably be on our A list if not for the fact that its whole kit is aimed at keeping you away from harm. This means you cannot access many of Lost Ark's core combat features, since there is not much it can do in melee. So unless that is what especially interests you, a Gunner with more versatility, like the Gunslinger or Artillerist, will be a better alternative.

Soulfist (Martial Artist – Female)

The Soulfist's ultimate, Awakening, is a burst attack with enormous damage potential. However, when none of its other skills are comparable, it is hard to rank it above B. Also, since Awakening takes a few seconds to charge, it is somewhat unpredictable, and its full potential depends on successfully landing crits while active. But the Soulfist is a fun character to play, and if you want to play the role of a fast Martial Artist who does not get in the way of heavy armor as intended, it is an unrivaled choice.

C Tier

Deadeye (Gunner – Male)

To be completely honest, the Deadeye does everything the Gunslinger does - except for three different weapons for various situations, all with a 10% crit buff. Although its damage, HP and defense are not as high as its nominal male counterpart's, it is still a bit hard to handle mechanically. Even after developing an expert eye for the required range and positioning, its damage, HP and resistance fall short compared with its female counterpart of the same name.

Wardancer (Martial Artist – Female)

The Wardancer is a hero worth trying. But when placed in a team, it finds itself in an awkward spot: it is ideal for neither backup nor DPS roles. Its buffs are great, increasing teammates' attack speed and crit chance, but there is not much it can do in a fight that another class does not handle better.

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