Black Desert Online: The Best PvP Classes, Ranked (2024)

Black Desert has a reputation in the MMORPG community as an unforgiving and hardcore game. Sometimes it even supports player griefing behavior but also penalizes it accordingly. That is to be expected in a sandbox game where you can take on anyone who annoys you. In such matters, having the best viable 1v1 character for PvP can make a huge difference.

Because as it stands, Black Desert Online's characters each have their own place in the different game modes namely PvE, Node War, and PvP. Certain characters excel in PvP just as some do in other modes. Having one of these top PvP characters is almost a must especially if you don't have a guild to protect you.

Updated October 8, 2023 by C.M Edwards: Black Desert Online is a beautifully crafted massive online multiplayer game that checks all the right boxes when it comes to gameplay, graphics, and classes. As one of the most visually stunning MMOs on the market, Black Desert tries its best to incorporate as much appeal to their classes as possible. The class system in Black Desert is unique compared to most other games in the genre, and each class has its own appeal. Pearl Abyss has proven that it is a capable developer as the game has received continuous additional content, updates, and quality-of-life changes. In Black Desert, PVE and PVP share the same world, and to survive, players will need to choose the right class that fits best for their play style. Here are more of the best PVP classes in Black Desert.

20 Mystic

• Good combos and large AoE

The Mystic is the female version of the Striker but she has her own distinct style that sets her apart. For one, most Mystic players will have to rely on her intricate but fluid combos in order to get an edge in duels.

The Mystic doesn't hit as hard as the striker and her movement abilities also pale in comparison to the most mobile classes, however, once players get her combos going, it can be tough for an enemy to escape. It's a matter of getting the jump on them, meaning one has to be fast and reactive with the Mystic.

19 Nova

• Good blocking and reactive playstyle

The Nova is one of the latest additions in Black Desert Online and also one of the more distinct cleric-style classes in the game. Players would do well not to underestimate her as she can be tanky despite her defensive disposition.

That's because the Nova relies a lot on her blocks in order to lay waste to any enemy foolish enough to unload all their skills while she is blocking. After that, it's a matter of pressing the right buttons to end them. Too bad this one-trick-pony method is easy to figure out.

18 Warrior

• Easy and versatile class with decent tankiness and average damage

One of the oldest and pioneer classes in the game, the Warrior has proven himself many times to be an effective all-rounder. He's tanky and can still deal some impressive numbers and quick kills as well as quick heals that will catch most enemies off-guard.

The beauty of the Warrior class is that it's one of the simplest characters to use in the game and can be easily mastered. The Greatsword which is the Warrior's primary weapon when awakened, vastly improves his mobility and area damage.

17 Tamer

• Relies on grabs and stun-locks for easy kills

Two heads are better than one and the Tamer is a class that loves to call upon an ally for its damage. The Tamer has a pet called Heilang that can either distract an enemy or assist in incremental damage. Either way, it puts any 1v1 enemy at a disadvantage, unless you're also fighting another Tamer.

The drawback of having a trusty evil dog ally is that the Tamer sacrifices some of her tankiness. That means players usually have to keep in mind positioning, dodges, and attack rotations to ensure that the Tamer doesn't get a taste of her own medicine.

16 Lahn

• Solid melee character with a huge AoE and deceptively long grapple

The Lahn is one of the best PvE classes when it comes to grinding tons of mobs and then moving from pack to pack. Her area damage is also exceptional and in the hands of more skilled players, she can easily match the Wizard in clear speed.

When it comes to PvP, Lahn is famous and notorious for her grab attacks that blindside the enemy by letting her close in the distance in the blink of an eye. After that, escaping a Lahn's vast area hitbox is a challenge, making her a menace in 1v1 situations.

15 Striker

• Low effort and easy to play but also low skill-ceiling

The Striker is for players who love relentless and blunt aggression. Each of his attacks has high mobility, making the Striker's moves a 2-for-1 that does damage and closes the gap between him and the target. Among the two Cestus users in the game, the Striker is the easiest of the two to commandeer.

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Some even consider the Striker as a class that plays on its own since the rotations are simple enough. What makes the Striker one of the best classes for sustaining a grinding spot is his tankiness compared to other 1v1-viable classes. He can take as much as he dishes out.

14 Corsair

• Great mobility and high burst damage

The Corsair excels in many different areas that can make a very strong impact in Black Desert Online PVP. Both succession and Awakening Corsair are strong classes, however, the Awakening Corsair has a moderately stronger damage output that can deal with dueling or fighting numerous opponents at once. The Awakening of the Corsair is a much more capable path for players engaging in heavy player vs. player combat compared to occasional duels.

Succession Corsair, on the other hand, excels at mobility and is hard to pin down by a single player or a team. The Corsair also has a wide skill gap between the two versions that will take some practice to get the hang of.

13 Ninja

• Immensely high single-target damage and invisibility makes him perfect for 1v1

As for the undisputed king of 1v1 combat in Black Desert Online, that would be the Ninja. Since he was introduced to the game, no other class has been a better pick for griefing or defending a grinding spot against lone enemies.

The Ninja has a unique ability in the game that's flexible; he can vanish with a smoke bomb and this can double as a defensive move or a prelude to an attack as the enemy will lose sight of the character. Sadly, the Ninja is often a one-trick pony and often shines only in 1v1 or other forms of small PvP.

12 Kunoichi

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• Typical glass cannon with respectable AoE

Despite being the female counterpart of the Ninja, which is considered as one of the best in PvP, the Kunoichi isn't as strong. She does have a better range to compensate for the lower damage and can attack in a wider area compared to the Ninja.

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As for her PvP skills, she's at least better than some of the melee-focuses PvP staples. The Kunoichi can swap weapons fast to confuse opponents and her moves are also pretty hard to read. Do be aware that she's also more difficult to master compared to other PvP classes.

11 Maegu

• Great AOE skills and range.

The Maegu is one of the most recent additions to Black Desert Online and has pleasantly surprised most of the community with its versatile kit and high damage output. Maegu is a great class for PVE and PVP, capable of striking large areas at safe distances and easily escaping cumbersome situations.

The Maegu performs exceptionally well in duels and larger encounters which will allow players to keep a cool head in a number of situations. The Maegu is a fairly easy class to pick up and understand and can take new players through the game fairly quickly.

10 Drakania

• Great command over the battlefield, high skill class

The Drakania is one of the most innovative classes in Black Desert, and it is a beautiful combination of flash and practicality. The Drakania excels in moving around the battlefield but truly shines in mobility in her awakening role.

The Drakania has a very high skill threshold, so new players may not want to dive head-first into the fray until they've tested the water of other classes. However, a little practice can go a long way and nothing teaches faster than experience.

9 Sage

• Versatile spellcaster that has tons of defensive abilities

Since the Sage is the newest kid on the block, the general consensus is that it's an overpowered class at the moment. There is some truth in that as the Sage is a capable duelist on top of being a good PvE or Node War character.

This well-rounded spellcaster isn't quite on the same destructive level as the Sorceress but he can still be flexible. One thing that gives the Sage an advantage compared to other spellcaster classes is his varied skillset which includes Invisibility.

8 Valkyrie

• Slow but has good healing

Often considered as a slow character due to her lack of more advanced mobility skills, the Valkyrie can be a tough character to pilot. Moreover, her weapon attacks can be clunky, especially when awakened as she gets the lance.

Therefore, some players who want Valkyrie for PvP end up going the succession route as she can be more flexible and mobile using her old weapons. Still, in the right hands, Valkyrie can be a formidable 1v1 PvP character due to her hefty healing skills.

7 Wizard

• High AoE and damage but is a glass cannon

The Wizard is in a good spot right now in the current meta of Black Desert Online and has always been at the top spot in Node Wars. That's because the Wizard's area damage is exceptional and can cover a huge zone, practically carpet-bombing an army of Node War players with reckless abandon.

So how does that translate to his 1v1 abilities? Not bad to be honest. The Wizard's area damage means he doesn't have to aim much or his positioning isn't too important; the target will get hit regardless. Moreover, the range also gives the Wizard a head start, especially against melee-focused PvP classes.

6 Ranger

• A ranged glass cannon with fast attacks that require tons of stamina

Being one of the highest-damage classes with narrow area attacks, the Ranger is a respectable and feared opponent out in the grinding spots. She can easily pepper the enemy with ranged skills before rushing into melee mode with her awakened form and finishing off her softened targets/

Heck, some players even forego awakening and build the Ranger for pure bow DPS. The downside with her is that she's fiddly to use and takes a while before players make the most of her. She's also a glass cannon and can die easily if cornered.

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4 Hashashin

• Can deal tons of single-target damage and teleport with complex combos

One of the newest additions in Black Desert Online, the Hashashin is the male equivalent of the Sorceress despite the class's name. In any case, the Hashashin is what it sounds like. It's a more offensive and more controlling version of the Ninja.

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The Hashashin also has a wide range of sweeping attack skills that make him a monster out in the grinding spots. For 1v1 he excels well enough due to the tons of crowd control chains he can unleash at a target.

3 Sorceress

• Easy, high-damage combos with decent AoE and impressive stun attacks

The Sorceress, like the Warrior, is also one of the oldest classes in the game and has a reputation for being a reliable and safe character, especially once the balance updates start rolling. The Sorceress is also a great offensive all-rounder and she's awesome in all aspects except defense, making her another glass cannon.

In terms of her PvP potential, that's usually up to the player's skill. The Sorceress merely presents players with opportunities to make 1v1 combat easier. The offensive capabilities of this class are top-notch, and it's easy to deal damage as well as stun the opponent.

2 Berserker

• Good mobility and damage, easy to learn but hard to master.

The Berserker is a high-damage class great for players who enjoy being up close and personal. The class has high survivability and succeeds in engagements in both its succession and awakening skill trees.

Players should note that while the base and succession skills of the Berserker are easy to manage, the Awakening has a higher skill gap and requires more of a tactical understanding to take full advantage of its full potential.

1 Musa

• Fast and big AoE attacks

The Musa is a joy to play when it comes to farming tons of mobs in PvE due to his plethora of movement skills. He's also useful during Node Wars and sieges. In 1v1 scenarios, however, the Musa can fall off.

While his skills do large AoE damage and can often reach a fleeing enemy, they don't deal high numbers compared to classes with more dedicated single-target skills. They can, however, do some tactical retreats and heal up before going back for a scrap in a duel.

Black Desert Online

Platform(s)

PC , Xbox One , PS4 , iOS , Android

Released

March 3, 2016

Developer(s)

Pearl Abyss

Genre(s)

MMORPG