Ashes of Creation Class Tier List for New Players

Ashes of Creation offers a diverse set of classes, each with its unique mechanics, strengths, and weaknesses. If you’re a new player wondering which class to pick, this guide provides a clear breakdown of how each class performs in solo play, group content, and PvP. This tier list focuses on general performance and is particularly helpful for newcomers deciding which class to start with.

Solo Play Tier List

Solo play evaluates how classes handle content on their own, including leveling, resource management, and survivability.

• S Tier – Tank, Cleric, Summoner

These classes are exceptionally strong solo. Tanks excel in durability, making them ideal for surviving tough encounters. Clerics bring healing and sustain, although they require multitasking to manage their health, resources, and mechanics. Summoners are self-sufficient thanks to their pets that tank and deal damage, making them extremely beginner-friendly for solo progression. This not only allows you to quickly accumulate resources like Ashes of Creation Gold, but also to rapidly advance through the game.

• S Tier – Mage

Mages deliver high damage output but are limited by mana constraints. As long as you stay on par with content, they remain strong. However, if you fall behind in gear or levels, mana management becomes challenging.

• S+ Tier – Fighter (Early Levels)

Fighters are strong early in the game but need a few levels to reach their full potential. Once fully scaled, they can hold their own in solo play, especially with proper gear.

• A/B Tier – Ranger

Rangers struggle solo due to rapid mana depletion and reliance on skill points for crowd control. While they excel in movement and single-target damage, new players may find leveling slower and more challenging.

• Skill-Dependent – Rogue

Rogues are versatile and can stealth past enemies or sustain themselves in combat. However, they require more skill to play effectively. A knowledgeable rogue can be S Tier, but beginners may struggle with solo effectiveness.

Group Play Tier List

Group content includes PvE encounters like dungeons and world bosses. Team synergy, healing, and utility become key.

• S Tier – Tank, Cleric, Bard

Tanks and Clerics remain core necessities, while Bards provide critical buffs and mana support. These classes consistently rank among the top tier in group content.

• S Tier – Mage, Fighter

Mages benefit from group support, particularly mana regeneration from Bards, allowing them to maximize damage output. Fighters bring consistent melee damage but are more exposed in cleave-heavy fights.

• Strong Utility – Ranger

Rangers shine in groups through crowd-control abilities, such as roots, which can stabilize fights and buy allies time to revive downed tanks. While their AoE is limited, their ranged DPS adds significant value.

• Skill-Dependent – Rogue

Rogues can pull aggro, control mobs, and provide utility through CC. They excel if played by a skilled player, but mismanagement can hinder the group.

• Undecided – Summoner

Summoners are versatile, filling multiple roles. Their group potential is uncertain, as they may not outperform more specialized classes like Clerics or Fighters. Their PTR performance suggests strong solo progression, but group impact remains to be fully tested.

PvP Tier List

PvP emphasizes skill expression, positioning, and counterplay. This includes small-scale skirmishes and large-scale battles.

Large-Scale & Small-Scale PvP

• S Tier – Bard, Tank

Bards provide essential mana support and buffs, while Tanks offer crowd control, zoning, and disruption, making them critical for team success.

• S Tier – Mage, Ranger

Mages excel as high-damage dealers, and Rangers contribute with AoE crowd control and ranged DPS, both benefiting from positioning behind frontline allies.

• Skill-Dependent – Fighter, Rogue

Both classes are highly skill-dependent. In smaller skirmishes (2v2 to 5v5), they can dominate. However, in large-scale battles, their effectiveness diminishes unless played by an expert.

• Potential – Summoner

Summoners may perform well in PvP, but their exact placement depends on balance updates and live implementation.

1v1 PvP

• Top Contenders – Rogue, Bard

Rogues and Bards dominate 1v1s with high utility, sustain, and control. They can dictate the tempo and often outlast or outmaneuver other classes.

• Moderate – Fighter, Mage

Fighters, while capable of defeating Clerics or Rangers, struggle against Tanks, Rogues, or Bards without superior skill. Mages rely on burst damage but are vulnerable once key abilities are on cooldown.

• Situational – Tank, Cleric, Ranger

These classes perform variably depending on skill level and gear. Tanks can resist many attacks, Clerics sustain themselves, and Rangers dish consistent damage but suffer from mana limitations.

Final Recommendations for New Players

• For beginners looking for strong solo play: Cleric, Tank, or Summoner. 

• For reliable group play: Tank, Cleric, Bard, Mage. 

• For PvP enthusiasts: Bard and Rogue are excellent for 1v1s, while Tank and Mage dominate group PvP scenarios.

• Skill-intensive but rewarding: Rogue and Fighter, especially in smaller PvP skirmishes.

Ashes of Creation offers diverse playstyles, and the “best class” ultimately depends on your preferred role, playstyle, and willingness to invest time in mastering a class. For newcomers, focusing on supportive and durable classes like Cleric, Tank, or Summoner provides the most forgiving and enjoyable start in the game.

MMOexp AoC Team