All classes in Dark and Darker, ranked tier list

Dark and Darker has made its grand return to mainstream platforms, including Steam, and is once again in the headlines. If you’re one of the new free-to-play players looking for a solid start in the world of dungeon crawling, we’re here to help you find the best class.

Here’s our ranked tier list for classes in Dark and Darker.

What are the best classes in Dark and Darker?

Classes in Dark and Darker vary depending on your group size. For solo players, one class may be better than another, whereas duos and trios might require some specialized skills for maximum effect. Here, we’ll be looking at classes overall and try to deduce which works best in general scenarios.

9) Warlock

The Warlock is a good class but by far the worst in the game. It can perform quite well and do a ton of damage both in solo and group play, but its use of HP to cast spells and some other classes countering it directly makes it a poor overall pick for most players, especially new ones. It isn’t precisely a bad class, but the rest are just generally better.

8) Wizard

Gandalf, Merlin, and Glinda the Good: The Wizard class is one of the harder to learn in the game with players having limited spells and mana to manage on top of everything else. It’s a fun class to play, especially if you have melee teammates to cover you, but it’s not a good starting option given the character’s low physical damage and health.

7) Rogue

The Rogue is a great class if you’re going in and grabbing as much loot as possible before making a swift exit. The character has low health and magic resistance, so going into a fight against a group is pretty much a guaranteed death sentence. The character can, however, pick locks without lockpicks, disable traps, and interact with objects like chests faster, making it ideal for a character who’s loot-focused.

6) Bard

Though they’re separated, I would say the Cleric and the Bard should be considered equals on any list ranking them, including this one. The Bard provides its team with numerous buffs that help in all combat situations, has solid crowd control and damage output, but is quite loud and will attract the attention of mobs and players alike.

The tradeoff here is very much worth it, as the Bard’s buffs and CC help clear any mob swarm and player encounter, making him a key part of any serious Dark and Darker group. For solo play, the class isn’t that great, though a good player might be able to make it work.

5) Cleric

Cleric is one of the best duos and trios classes in the game. It can be a bit challenging to learn, but once you get the hang of it you’re likely never going into a dungeon without it. Clerics are part of the best dungeon crawling groups and they provide their allies with numerous buffs and heals that make most encounters way easier. The Cleric’s melee prowess also makes it somewhat viable in solo though the Druid outperforms it in this regard with its Shapeshifting ability.

4) Ranger

While it’s admittedly one of the more fun classes, as a Ranger you’re severely limited with the use of ranged weapons only, which can prove disastrous if you’re flanked. The use of traps can help, but this class is best utilized when you have a melee teammate or two to block you from any enemies charging at you. The Ranger is a further asset to a team with the Campfire that refills spells and health, giving your team a second wind on their journey.

3) Druid

The Druid is the latest addition to Dark and Darker and is by far one of the most broken classes the game has ever seen. Though it has been nerfed quite significantly, its use of healing, buffs, a Treeant spawn, and numerous animal forms make it a deadly and crucial class for any group. Compared to the Wizard the Druid doesn’t output much spell damage at a range but when shapeshifted into a Bear or Panther, the class can deal massive damage quickly and tank quite a bit of it as well. For solo players, I wouldn’t say it’s quite as good, but it is definitely better than its counterpart, the Cleric.

2) Barbarian

The Barbarian is one of the best classes in Dark and Darker, particularly for new players, due to its high resistance and damage output. However, it is easily countered and can be quite difficult to master since groups sporting Bards, Clerics, and Wizards can basically decimate you from a safe distance. Nevertheless, in a proper group and right hands, the Barbarian is likely the best class in the game though not as good as the Fighter in a general sense.

1) Fighter

The game’s not lying when it tells you that this is the most well-rounded character. The Fighter class can use any kind of weapon and armor in the game, provided you can find it. This class also has the ability to sprint but it can’t use any spells, which is honestly a relief when you’re starting out. For new players and those looking for the most rounded experience, the Fighter is the best class in Dark and Darker.