What's The Best BDO Class?
So here you are! Heading into BDO and asking yourself “Which class is the best?” Well, I'm here to help you determine just that! Black Desert is an MMO unlike any other that tosses out the Holy Trinity, Sorry wow, for a more open and Dynamic approach to the Massively Multiplayer Online formula. So, in order to help you determine which class is indeed the best, I've compiled a Tier list based on some important factors. Those factors are PvE ability, Small scale PvP, Guild PvP, and difficulty to play. Let's jump right in yeah?
S Tier
This is the Tier that excels in almost every category! Easy to learn, easy to grind those PvE mobs into delicious EXP paste, easy to PvP in large and small scales! It took a lot of digging and shifting around but these are the classes that -truly- are the cream of the crop!
- Striker: 95/100
- Mystic: 94/100
- Musa: 93/100
A Tier
The A-Tier are those who aren't going to shift the tide of a Guild war alone. They won't clear mobs like a hot war-axe through butter, nor will they eradicate a duel challenge without effort. However, they will PvP in large and small scale well, they will grind in PvE well, and they can Duel well all with an easy to learn and pick up skill set and rate of success. These are the foundations, well rounded and powerful for players of all skill levels!
- Warrior 86/100
- Valkyrie 85/100
- Berserker 85/100
- Maehwa 84/100
B Tier:
The B Tier. Good but not Great. Strong but not overwhelming. Complicated but not impossible to learn in a timely fashion. This is the Tier of classes that excel but at one thing. They aren't hard to use and do what they do well.
- Wizard 78/100
- Witch 78/100
- Tamer 77/100
- Dark Knight 76/100
C Tier
And here we are at the C Tier. These are the classes that aren't the best at their role. They don't specialize themselves into a place that isn't flexible. But they are too focused on their strengths to be B tier. While they do fit a Niche... of sorts... They just don't do it as well as those who have come before them. They have a higher skill ceiling than those who've preceded them and this can make it hard for a majority of players, especially new players to pick them up and find success across the board.
- Sorceress 72/100
- Ranger 70/100
- Archer 70/100
D Tier
Finally, D Tier. This is... the bottom of the barrel so to speak. But hear me out! This doesn't mean the classes in this realm are -weak- in as much as they don't fit the formula for amazing strength and versatility as is the want in Black Desert. These classes are -too- specialized. They're too fragile. And they can't adapt and be fit into multiple roles as well as those above.
- Ninja 65/100
- Kunoichi 64/100
- Lahn 64/100
Now that we've got the basics of the tiers together let's touch on why. The why's of each Tier follow that formula from above, PvE ability, small scale PvP, Guild PvP, and difficulty to play. These factors are the defining traits for some pretty simple but concrete reasons. First of all you have to be able to grind in PvE for silver, Gear, and levels. Small Scale PvP matters for defending those coveted grinding rotations and slugging it out in the Arenas.
Guild PvP being a huge focus of the game matters, those node wars, being recruited for big guilds, and being able to survive when your screen becomes a surge of epic battle. And finally, Difficulty to play. Some classes are just -hard- to pick up, learn their combos, hard to be viable without that skill level and gear. Let's take a look at each class closely and unpack why they've been given their tiers!
Striker (S - Tier)
Stiker punch-wave
Meet the Striker! This class excels in almost every realm of Black Desert Online! His ability to Clear PvE mobs is fantastic with hard hitting moves and reliable durability! When it comes to Dueling he can hold his own with ease, using control and pummeling combos to reduce his foe to dust. Even in Guild PvP the striker is good at getting in, feeding the enemy a knuckle sandwich, and backing out with high mobility and natural magic damage resistance before they can get their hands on him! All of this on top of being easy to pick up from the start and learn the ins and outs makes the Striker an easy choice for S Tier!
Striker Strengths:
- Fast and efficient PvE clearing
- Built-in magic resistance, high damage, and control
- Easy to pick up and learn
Striker Weaknesses
- Can struggle in higher level PvE
- Focused duringGuild v Guild
- Struggles against dedicated dueling classes
Mystic (S - Tier)
Mystic's Dragon Pose
The powerful Mystic! Much like the Striker the Mystic has build in magical resistance, fights with bone crushing punches and kicks and excels handily in combat! In solo and large scale pvp she’s fantastic for getting in and out and hitting hard. With great resilience and wide attacks she’s also an expert for PvE mob clearing and running grinding routes. All of this packaged in an easy to learn easy to control class, landing it easily in the S tier.
Mystic Strengths.
- Top of the line PvE power and resilience
- Built in magic Resistance and high durability
- Overwhelming attacks and Awakening abilities
Mystic Weaknesses
- Outshined/DPS’d by Ninja/Kunoichi in duels
- Can be Kited in PvP by ranged classes.
- Not as Durable as other classes for Guild Vs Guild
Musa (S - Tier)
The Musa and his mighty blade
Here we have the Musa. The last, but certainly not the worst of the S tier classes in Black Desert Online. Wielding a razor sharp Katana and Horn Bow he’s a warrior of great skill that upholds the honor of Tier S with ease. Able to clear PvE mobs like a hot Katana through Butter, it’s no surprise that he’s capable of the same in both small and large Scale PvP. The horn bow can’t compete with the Ranger or Archer for long range damage slinging, but it gives him utility and adaptability that is expected of the very best of the best. For a great experience, ease of play, and a feeling of agile strength the Musa is your man!
Musa Strengths
- Wide attack range and high damage for PvE
- Capable of wiping groups of weaker players in Guild V Guild
- Adaptable and capable of combat regardless of situation/Environment
Warrior (A - Tier)
A warrior in his element!
Behold the warrior! Dependable and balanced, he’d truly the leader of the A tier pack. With decent damage and durability, he’s capable of cleaning up PvE hordes in a timely manner. Though not the most adept of Duelists, he’s decent in 1 v 1 combat so long as he keeps a cool head. In Guild v Guild pvp he shines, being able to deal decent damage and survive with reliable durability. On top of it all he’s easy to pick up out of the gate. Play the warrior and you’ll be on the battlefield in no time at all!
Warrior Strengths
- Balanced survivability and power
- Consistent in pvp and pve
- Easy to learn and gear up.
Warrior Weaknesses
- Can be overwhelmed by powerful classes and numbers
- Struggles in 1 v 1 duels compared to many classes
- Comes into real power late game
Valkyrie (A - Tier)
Deadly blow from a valkyrie!
The voracious Valkyrie! Another tried and true A Tier class! She’s durable and powerful! Able to farm PvE mobs with relative ease, you’ll find that she’s rather decent for grinding. On top of that she’s a bedrock in Guild V Guild PvP! Although she struggles in duels and only truly comes into strength when you master her skills, she’s a frightening and meteoric force to contend with for sure!
Valkyrie Strengths
- Power balance and extremely high Burst
- Durable and dependable
- Decent damage once skills and combos are mastered
Valkyrie Weaknesses
- Weak CC capability
- Requires high skill level to shine
- Weak against Ranged/Magic
Berserker (A - Tier)
Berserker does not approve!
The Towering Berserker. A force to be reckoned with. He has an immense healthpool, decent PvE killing power and is capable of amazing CC chains in PvP. Though not the best for Small Scale PvP and duels he’s no push over either. You’ll find the Giant Berserker flourishing on Guild V Guild battlefields where amazing Grabs can chain into easy kills for his team. The skill cap needed to master this class is only middle ranged as well making him an easier choice for new players!
Berserker Strengths
- Top Tier Crowd Control and Grabs
- Immense health pool
- High Mobility and versatile damage for PvP and PvE
Berserker Weaknesses
- Takes relatively high skill to compete in Duels
- Struggles to out damage classes for PvE
- Very limited Ranged Options
Maehwa (A - Tier)
Lovely and deadly~
The refined Maehwa, an elegant and classy addition to the A Tier string of Black Desert classes. Mobile, hard to pin down, and versatile, she’s a great character to invest your time into! You’ll find that her PvE ability is less potent than her counterpart, the Musa, but she’s no slouch. In PvP she’s less durable than many others, but her mobility keeps her in super armor, she’s Very hard to CC!
Maehwa Strengths
- Tons of Super Armor abilities!
- Mobile and great for closing distances
- Capable of versatile builds
Maehwa Weaknesses
- Very gear reliant
- Relies on super armor in pvp
- Can get burst down very quickly if improperly played
Wizard (B - Tier)
Mass damaged never looked so refined!
At the top of the B Tier is the Wizard. A master of PvE, he’s able to wash away hordes of Mobs with his spells in no time at all. Along with PvE mobs the wizard is also a titan on the Guild V Guild battlefield. Despite all this power, however, his ability to fight in duels and small scale PvP is negligible as he’s not only vulnerable but focused often. On top of that the skill needed to excel at even Guild V Guild makes the Wizard a solid Candidate for B Tier.
Wizard Strengths
- Extremely high PvE power
- Ability to heal and buff allies better than others
- Valuable for Guild V Guild due to AoE power
Wizard Weaknesses
- Fragile
- Bottom of the barrel dueling ability
- Requires a high skill level for PvP
Witch (B - Tier)
Elemental destruction in two juggle friendly balls!
Much like the Wizard, the Witch is a solid B Tier class. With potent PvE and GvG value she’s often sought after for help grinding or clashing with enemy guilds in Node Wars. With powerful Crowd Control and high Damage output, she’s capable of wiping out scores of underleveled players and hordes of unsuspecting PvE monsters. Akin to the Wizard however, she’s a poor choice if you prefer dueling and requires a high skill level to really shine.
Witch Strengths
- Immense CC power
- Top of the line PvE ability
- Potent in Guild V Guild PvP
Witch Weaknesses
- Fragile
- Targeted the most in Guild V Guild
- Very high skill needed
Tamer (B - Tier)
Adorable fluffy doom. Oh, and his Tamer.
Meet the adorable and tiny Tamer and her powerful Heilang pet. The Tamer is deceptively powerful, fantastic in small scale PvP, great in Guild V Guild, but very fragile! She’s decent in PvE but the ability to clear mobs in a rotation can leave you wanting. With a high skill to use properly and fragile demeanor, the Tamer is a right fit for B Tier.
Tamer Strengths
- Great CC for small scale pvp
- Powerful Combat pet.
- Highly Agile
Tamer Weaknesses
- Extremely fragile
- Requires high skill level
- Vulnerable to mass AoE abilities in PvP
Dark Knight (B - Tier)
This is what happens when models are given swords and black magic...
The menacing Dark Knight. A strange choice for B Tier. She’s recently been nerfed down from her borderline S Tier glory. With a decent ability in all realms, she excels at none. This class is very gear dependent which can make getting strong a timely task. On top of a high Skill level it’s hard to place her any higher, at least until the nerfs are reversed and we’re all running in fear again!
Dark Knight strengths
- Decent at all combat roles
- A strong addition to grinding teams and PvP teams
- Doesn’t lack critically in any stat or role
Dark Knight Weaknesses
- Nerfed heavily from release
- Doesn’t excel strongly at any one thing.
- Easy to outplay and requires a high level of skill
Sorceress (C - Tier)
Armor is irrelevant with looks this good right?
The… uh, Scary Sorceress! That’s right, scary! The Sorc is our introduction to the C Tier. Before we start, disclaimer. These classes are not -weak-. We put her down here in the C Tier for the very high level of skill needed to be dangerous, and she does get dangerous! On top of that she also requires a middling level of skill in order to use properly. In PvE she’s a powerhouse, able to clear mobs handily. In dueling and GvG though she leaves much to be wanting and there are others that can do what she does there better.
Sorceress Strengths
- High Magic Damage
- Potent PvE clearing ability
- Very wide AoEs
Sorceress Weaknesses
- Vulnerable to Dueling classes
- Vulnerable to skilled melee with CC
- Blooms late game
Ranger (C - Tier)
You know you're in for a world of pain when she glares like that!
Welcome the Ranger! The first of two Elvish races and a potent ranged fighter. Although proficient in PvE and viable in dueling, she isn’t truly a force that will leave an impression compared to others. With decent mobility and a strange switch to melee with her awakened weapons, she leaves a lot feeling lacking. Our Ranger here is a good average for players and takes a bit of time to master her playstyle.
Ranger Strengths
- Strong ranged damage
- Good at kiting mobs and players
- Good all arounder with potential at high levels
Ranger Weaknesses
- Out powered and played by many classes
- Strange playstyle with awakened weapon
- Doesn’t excel and takes time to master
Archer (C - Tier)
Prettiest man er elf, alive? I think so~
Enter the Masterful Archer. A relatively new class, the Archer is much like the Ranger. Excelling strongly in ranged combat, this class starts with it’s awakened weapon from the start. With great distance and decent power especially late game, the Archer is decent for PvE but could be better. In Duels the Archer will find himself struggling against a lot of classes, and in Guild v Guild finds a little bit of reprieve where he can sit back and loose volleys onto his enemy’s heads from afar!
Archer Strengths
- Excellent Ranged fighter
- Versatile and dependable
- A potent Player Killer if allowed to burst from range
Archer Weaknesses
- Linear attack lines make grinding Mobs hard
- Can easily be burst down if focused
- Lack of strong CC ability
Ninja (D - Tier)
Yes, all he needs is a knife...
Flashy and deadly, the Ninja leads the D Tier pack. Again, this Tier isn’t -weak-. But, the ninja is a specialist. He excels at the very best of the best Dueling class in Black Desert online. None can match his might in single combat. However, his ability to PvE with speed, in Guild v Guild combat, in durability, all lack powerfully. If you plan on dueling whilst playing Black Desert, the Ninja will carry you through shadows to victory.
Ninja Strengths
- Titanic Dueling power
- Overwhelming if not CC’d
- Can go invisible! *Because Ninja*
Ninja Weaknesses
- Melts like butter against AoE spells
- Pitiful Ranged capability
- Slow PvE killing power
Kunoichi (D - Tier)
Don't worry! You'll be dead before you know she's there!
Silent and deadly, the Kunoichi is another titan on the field of Duels. With better ability to CC than her Ninja counterpart, she’s -slightly- better in PvE. Yet this doesn’t make up for the critical frailty and lack of true ability to shine in Guild V Guild or PvE. Capable, but hardly noteworthy in those fields. Despite her shortcomings the Kunoichi is still a deadly and terrifying opponent in the Arena. Don’t turn your back!
Kunoichi Strengths
- Overwhelming Duelist
- Better ranged and CC than Ninja
- Can go Invisible
Kunoichi Weaknesses
- Fragile as glass
- Can be CC’d by AoE classes
- Extremely high Skill needed
Lahn (D - Tier)
Lahn preparing a spin to win tactic!
Last but not least we have the Lovely Lahn! A unique class. She’s the only fighter in the game… that can fly. Well, glide. But still! With Devent PvE clearing ability and top tier mobility she’s great for agile play. However, due to very low accuracy compared to other classes and a fragile health pool she can easily be melted in a 1 v 1 scenario or succumb to overwhelming AoE in Guild v Guild pvp. A beautiful and unique class… But lacking power to truly shine in any realm of combat.
Lahn Strengths
- Can glide above obstacles
- Great flanking PvP
- Rapid and easy to use combos
Lahn Weaknesses
- Low accuracy compared to other classes
- Fragile
- Doesn’t excel in any one realm
You may also be interested in:
- Black Desert Online Best PvP Class (BDO PvP Class Tier List)
- Top 10 MMORPGs with the Best Graphics
- Top 10 MMORPGs with the Best PVP
