Black Desert Online offers a diverse roster of classes, each with unique playstyles and strengths. Our comprehensive tier list for 2025 ranks all classes based on their performance in PvE, PvP, and overall versatility. Whether you’re a new player deciding on your first character or a veteran looking to optimize your gameplay, this guide will help you understand the current meta and make informed decisions about which class best suits your playstyle.
Our tier list is based on several key factors:
| Class | Key Strengths | Playstyle | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guardian | High sustain, excellent PvP | Tanky brawler | Medium |
| Hashashin | Excellent mobility, strong PvE | Agile assassin | Medium |
| Nova | High burst damage, versatile | Hybrid combat | High |
| Sage | Unique mechanics, strong PvP | Dimensional mage | High |
| Class | Key Strengths | Playstyle | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mystic | Super armor, crowd control | Brawler | Medium |
| Striker | High mobility, combos | Martial artist | High |
| Lahn | Aerial combat, mobility | Scythe wielder | High |
| Sorceress | High burst, mobility | Dark magic user | High |
| Maehwa | Fast combos, one-shot potential | Swordswoman | High |
| Musa | Fast attacks, AoE | Blademaster | High |
| Ninja | Stealth, burst damage | Assassin | Very High |
| Kunoichi | Evasion, combos | Female ninja | Very High |
| Class | Key Strengths | Playstyle | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Warrior | Balanced, good sustain | Sword and shield | Medium |
| Valkyrie | Defense, support | Holy warrior | Medium |
| Berserker | High damage, grabs | Giant axe wielder | Medium |
| Ranger | Ranged damage, mobility | Archer | Medium |
| Tamer | Pet companion, mobility | Beast tamer | High |
| Witch | Area damage, support | Elemental mage | Medium |
| Wizard | Area damage, support | Elemental mage | Medium |
| Dark Knight | Evasion, combos | Dark blade user | High |
| Class | Key Strengths | Playstyle | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Archer | Long-range damage | Bow user | Medium |
| Shai | Support, buffs | Life skiller | Low |
| Corsair | Hybrid combat, summons | Pirate | High |
Guardian stands at the top of our tier list with her exceptional balance of offense and defense. Her super armor on most skills makes her incredibly tanky, while her damage output remains competitive. In PvP, Guardian excels at prolonged fights where her sustain becomes a major advantage. For PvE, she offers consistent grinding speed with minimal risk. The class has a moderate learning curve, making it accessible to newer players while still having depth for veterans. Her grab and awakening abilities provide excellent crowd control, making her valuable in both small and large-scale PvP. Guardian’s main weakness is her relatively slow movement speed compared to some S-tier classes, but this is offset by her overall tankiness and damage output.
Hashashin has climbed the ranks with recent improvements and his excellent mobility. His desert-themed abilities not only look impressive but also provide strong damage and utility. In PvE, Hashashin excels at grinding with his wide area attacks and self-sustain through lifesteal. His teleportation abilities make him one of the most mobile classes, allowing for quick repositioning in both PvE and PvP. In PvP, Hashashin can be devastating with his burst combos and ability to quickly engage or disengage. The class has a moderate difficulty curve, with some complex timing required for optimal damage output. His main weakness is his relatively squishy nature compared to other S-tier classes, requiring careful positioning in large-scale PvP.
Nova combines the best of both worlds with strong melee and ranged capabilities. Her dual-wielding style with morning star and scepter provides versatile combat options. In PvP, Nova excels with her high burst damage and crowd control abilities, particularly in 1v1 situations. Her unique mechanics, including the ability to freeze time with her ultimate, make her a formidable opponent. For PvE, Nova offers solid grinding speed with good area damage. The class has a high skill ceiling, requiring precise timing and combo execution to maximize her potential. Nova’s main weakness is her relatively high gear dependency, as she needs good AP to shine in PvP scenarios.
Sage brings unique mechanics to Black Desert Online with his dimensional manipulation abilities. His teleportation and time-space manipulation make him incredibly mobile and hard to pin down in PvP. In PvE, Sage offers strong area damage with his void abilities and can handle grinding spots efficiently. His awakening provides even more mobility and damage potential, making him a threat in all PvP scenarios. Sage has a high learning curve due to his unique mechanics and resource management system. His main weakness is his squishy nature, requiring careful positioning to avoid being quickly eliminated in large-scale PvP. Despite this, his high damage output and mobility secure his place in S-tier.
Mystic remains a solid A-tier choice with her excellent super armor and crowd control abilities. Her fast-paced combat style with martial arts provides engaging gameplay. In PvP, Mystic excels at controlling the battlefield with her grabs and knockdowns, making her valuable in group fights. For PvE, she offers consistent grinding speed with good area damage. The class has a moderate difficulty curve, with some complex combos to master. Mystic’s main weakness is her relatively lower damage output compared to some higher-tier classes, requiring more skill investment to achieve similar results. Despite this, her tankiness and crowd control make her a reliable choice for both new and experienced players.
Striker offers high mobility and devastating combos in the A-tier. His martial arts style provides fluid combat with impressive visual effects. In PvP, Striker can quickly close gaps and execute devastating combos on unsuspecting opponents. His grab abilities make him particularly dangerous in 1v1 situations. For PvE, Striker provides solid grinding speed with good area damage potential. The class has a high learning curve, requiring precise timing and combo execution to maximize his potential. Striker’s main weakness is his squishy nature, requiring careful positioning in large-scale PvP. Despite this, his high damage output and mobility make him a formidable opponent when played skillfully.
Lahn’s aerial combat style and mobility secure her position in A-tier. Her crescent blade provides unique combat mechanics with impressive area damage. In PvP, Lahn excels at hit-and-run tactics with her high mobility and burst damage. Her ability to attack from unexpected angles makes her difficult to predict and counter. For PvE, Lahn offers good grinding speed with wide area attacks. The class has a high learning curve, requiring mastery of her aerial combos and movement mechanics. Lahn’s main weakness is her relatively squishy nature, requiring careful positioning in large-scale PvP. Despite this, her unique playstyle and high damage output make her a popular choice for skilled players.
Sorceress continues to be a strong A-tier choice with her high burst damage and mobility. Her dark magic abilities provide impressive visual effects and devastating damage. In PvP, Sorceress excels at hit-and-run tactics with her teleportation and iframe abilities. Her ability to quickly eliminate targets makes her valuable in both small and large-scale PvP. For PvE, Sorceress offers solid grinding speed with good area damage. The class has a high learning curve, requiring mastery of her teleportation and combo mechanics. Sorceress’s main weakness is her squishy nature and high skill ceiling, making her challenging for newer players. Despite this, her high damage output and mobility make her a formidable opponent when played skillfully.
Maehwa’s fast combos and one-shot potential place her firmly in A-tier. Her sword-based combat provides fluid animations and impressive damage output. In PvP, Maehwa excels at quickly eliminating targets with her burst combos. Her mobility and iframe abilities make her difficult to pin down. For PvE, Maehwa offers good grinding speed with precise attacks. The class has a high learning curve, requiring precise timing and combo execution to maximize her potential. Maehwa’s main weakness is her relatively squishy nature and high skill ceiling, making her challenging for newer players. Despite this, her high damage output and mobility make her a formidable opponent when played skillfully.
Musa’s fast attacks and area damage secure his position in A-tier. His blade-based combat provides fluid animations and impressive damage output. In PvP, Musa excels at quickly eliminating targets with his burst combos. His mobility and iframe abilities make him difficult to pin down. For PvE, Musa offers excellent grinding speed with wide area attacks. The class has a high learning curve, requiring precise timing and combo execution to maximize his potential. Musa’s main weakness is his relatively squishy nature and high skill ceiling, making him challenging for newer players. Despite this, his high damage output and mobility make him a formidable opponent when played skillfully.
Ninja’s stealth and burst damage place him in A-tier. His dual-wielding style provides fast-paced combat with impressive damage output. In PvP, Ninja excels at quickly eliminating targets with his burst combos and stealth abilities. His mobility and iframe abilities make him difficult to pin down. For PvE, Ninja offers good grinding speed with precise attacks. The class has a very high learning curve, requiring precise timing and combo execution to maximize his potential. Ninja’s main weakness is his extremely squishy nature and very high skill ceiling, making him challenging for all but the most dedicated players. Despite this, his high damage output and mobility make him a formidable opponent when played skillfully.
Kunoichi’s evasion and combos secure her position in A-tier. Her kunai-based combat provides fluid animations and impressive damage output. In PvP, Kunoichi excels at quickly eliminating targets with her burst combos and evasion abilities. Her mobility and iframe abilities make her difficult to pin down. For PvE, Kunoichi offers good grinding speed with precise attacks. The class has a very high learning curve, requiring precise timing and combo execution to maximize her potential. Kunoichi’s main weakness is her relatively squishy nature and very high skill ceiling, making her challenging for newer players. Despite this, her high damage output and mobility make her a formidable opponent when played skillfully.
Warrior’s balanced stats and good sustain place him in B-tier. His sword and shield combat provides a solid mix of offense and defense. In PvP, Warrior excels at prolonged fights with his high sustain and defensive capabilities. His grab abilities make him valuable in group fights. For PvE, Warrior offers consistent grinding speed with minimal risk. The class has a moderate difficulty curve, making it accessible to newer players. Warrior’s main weakness is his relatively lower damage output compared to higher-tier classes, requiring more skill investment to achieve similar results. Despite this, his tankiness and sustain make him a reliable choice for both new and experienced players.
Valkyrie’s defense and support abilities secure her position in B-tier. Her holy warrior combat provides a solid mix of offense and defense. In PvP, Valkyrie excels at supporting allies with her buffs and defensive capabilities. Her grab abilities make her valuable in group fights. For PvE, Valkyrie offers consistent grinding speed with minimal risk. The class has a moderate difficulty curve, making it accessible to newer players. Valkyrie’s main weakness is her relatively lower damage output compared to higher-tier classes, requiring more skill investment to achieve similar results. Despite this, her tankiness and support capabilities make her a valuable addition to any group.
Berserker’s high damage and grab abilities place him in B-tier. His giant axe combat provides impressive damage output and crowd control. In PvP, Berserker excels at controlling the battlefield with his grabs and knockdowns. His high damage output makes him dangerous in 1v1 situations. For PvE, Berserker offers solid grinding speed with good area damage. The class has a moderate difficulty curve, with some complex combos to master. Berserker’s main weakness is his relatively slow movement speed and predictability in combat, making him vulnerable to skilled opponents. Despite this, his high damage output and crowd control make him a formidable opponent when played skillfully.
Ranger’s ranged damage and mobility secure her position in B-tier. Her bow-based combat provides impressive damage output from a safe distance. In PvP, Ranger excels at picking off targets from a distance with her high damage output. Her mobility and iframe abilities make her difficult to pin down. For PvE, Ranger offers solid grinding speed with good area damage. The class has a moderate difficulty curve, with some complex combos to master. Ranger’s main weakness is her relatively squishy nature and vulnerability to close-range combat, requiring careful positioning in large-scale PvP. Despite this, her high damage output and mobility make her a formidable opponent when played skillfully.
Tamer’s pet companion and mobility place her in B-tier. Her beast tamer combat provides unique mechanics with impressive damage output. In PvP, Tamer excels at quickly eliminating targets with her burst combos and pet abilities. Her mobility and iframe abilities make her difficult to pin down. For PvE, Tamer offers good grinding speed with her pet’s assistance. The class has a high learning curve, requiring mastery of her pet mechanics and combo execution. Tamer’s main weakness is her relatively squishy nature and high skill ceiling, making her challenging for newer players. Despite this, her unique playstyle and mobility make her a popular choice for skilled players.
Witch’s area damage and support abilities secure her position in B-tier. Her elemental magic combat provides impressive area damage and utility. In PvP, Witch excels at controlling the battlefield with her area damage and crowd control abilities. Her support abilities make her valuable in group fights. For PvE, Witch offers excellent grinding speed with wide area attacks. The class has a moderate difficulty curve, with some complex combos to master. Witch’s main weakness is her relatively squishy nature and vulnerability to close-range combat, requiring careful positioning in large-scale PvP. Despite this, her area damage and support capabilities make her a valuable addition to any group.
Wizard’s area damage and support abilities place him in B-tier. His elemental magic combat provides impressive area damage and utility. In PvP, Wizard excels at controlling the battlefield with his area damage and crowd control abilities. His support abilities make him valuable in group fights. For PvE, Wizard offers excellent grinding speed with wide area attacks. The class has a moderate difficulty curve, with some complex combos to master. Wizard’s main weakness is his relatively squishy nature and vulnerability to close-range combat, requiring careful positioning in large-scale PvP. Despite this, his area damage and support capabilities make him a valuable addition to any group.
Dark Knight’s evasion and combos secure her position in B-tier. Her dark blade combat provides fluid animations and impressive damage output. In PvP, Dark Knight excels at quickly eliminating targets with her burst combos and evasion abilities. Her mobility and iframe abilities make her difficult to pin down. For PvE, Dark Knight offers good grinding speed with precise attacks. The class has a high learning curve, requiring precise timing and combo execution to maximize her potential. Dark Knight’s main weakness is her relatively squishy nature and high skill ceiling, making her challenging for newer players. Despite this, her high damage output and mobility make her a formidable opponent when played skillfully.
Archer’s long-range damage places him in C-tier. His bow-based combat provides impressive damage output from a safe distance. In PvP, Archer excels at picking off targets from a distance with his high damage output. His mobility and iframe abilities make him difficult to pin down. For PvE, Archer offers solid grinding speed with good area damage. The class has a moderate difficulty curve, with some complex combos to master. Archer’s main weakness is his relatively squishy nature and vulnerability to close-range combat, requiring careful positioning in large-scale PvP. Despite this, his high damage output and mobility make him a formidable opponent when played skillfully.
Shai’s support and buffs secure her position in C-tier. Her life skiller combat provides unique mechanics with impressive utility. In PvP, Shai excels at supporting allies with her buffs and healing abilities. Her unique abilities make her valuable in group fights. For PvE, Shai offers consistent grinding speed with minimal risk. The class has a low difficulty curve, making it accessible to newer players. Shai’s main weakness is her relatively low damage output compared to other classes, requiring more skill investment to achieve similar results. Despite this, her support capabilities and unique playstyle make her a valuable addition to any group.
Corsair’s hybrid combat and summons place her in C-tier. Her pirate-themed combat provides unique mechanics with impressive damage output. In PvP, Corsair excels at quickly eliminating targets with her burst combos and summon abilities. Her mobility and iframe abilities make her difficult to pin down. For PvE, Corsair offers good grinding speed with her summons’ assistance. The class has a high learning curve, requiring mastery of her summon mechanics and combo execution. Corsair’s main weakness is her relatively squishy nature and high skill ceiling, making her challenging for newer players. Despite this, her unique playstyle and mobility make her a popular choice for skilled players.
For beginners, I recommend classes like Guardian, Warrior, or Valkyrie. These classes have a moderate difficulty curve, good sustain, and are more forgiving of mistakes. They also perform well in both PvE and PvP, allowing new players to experience all aspects of the game without feeling overwhelmed by complex mechanics.
Currently, Guardian, Hashashin, Nova, and Sage are considered the strongest classes in Black Desert Online 2025. These S-tier classes excel in both PvE and PvP with their strong damage output, mobility, and utility. However, the “strongest” class ultimately depends on your playstyle and what content you enjoy most.
For PvP, classes like Guardian, Nova, and Mystic excel due to their strong damage output, super armor, and crowd control abilities. Hashashin and Sage are also top-tier choices with their high mobility and burst damage. The best PvP class for you will depend on your preferred playstyle, whether you enjoy 1v1 combat, small-scale skirmishes, or large-scale node wars.
Classes like Nova, Maehwa, and Musa are known for their high damage output and one-shot potential when properly geared. These classes can quickly eliminate targets with their burst combos, making them formidable in both PvE and PvP. However, achieving this high damage output requires significant gear investment and skill.
For efficient grinding and farming, classes like Hashashin, Witch, and Wizard excel with their wide area attacks and self-sustain. These classes can clear large groups of monsters quickly and efficiently, making them ideal for leveling and silver farming. Guardian and Berserker also perform well with their tankiness and area damage.
Class rankings in Black Desert Online typically shift with major balance patches and new class releases, which usually occur every few months. Small adjustments can happen more frequently, but significant tier changes are less common. It’s important to stay updated with the latest patch notes to understand how your preferred class might be affected.
Absolutely! While tier lists provide a general guideline on class strength, player skill, gear, and understanding of game mechanics are far more important factors for success. Many players achieve great results with B and C-tier classes by mastering their mechanics and investing in proper gear. The best class is always the one you enjoy playing the most.
Looking for more Black Desert Online content? Check out our comprehensive Black Desert Online beginner’s guide and silver farming tips to enhance your gameplay experience!
