BDO Classes Guide with Dev Class Tier Ranks (Black Desert Online)

Class Importance During Character Creation

Trinity Roles in BDO?
Classes in BDO are not typical of traditional MMORPG’s. For example, the “trinity” of tank, damage dealer, and healer classes are not required in BDO. Any rag tag group of adventurers will probably be successful, as long as they are the correct level and have good gear. Solo play is usually the norm in BDO, especially at lower levels. With the help of potions, any class can easily heal and regenerate power for themselves. There are plenty of group activities to take part in, but you don’t have to scrap the whole party just because you can’t find a healer or tank.

Class Balance in BDO?
IMHO there are no bad classes in BDO. Just play and have fun. Trying to always have a META class is an ongoing adventure because the developers frequently change classes to maintain class balance. Then, after a blissful nights sleep, you will wake up to a HAETA instead of META. 🙂

Character Creation Aesthetics in BDO
NOTE: The Character Creator image of the giant with the flaming mohawk was one of the winners in a past Character Creation event called Beauty and Beast. It gives you a little hint into the extreme flexibility and creative freedom players can achieve during Character Creation. You can make your character look like anything you want, from a rainbow bright complexion to a celebrity look alike. There is also a Beauty Album that allows you to sort and edit player made templates.

Class Tier Stats Explained

• Control: This is a measure of the difficulty in controlling the class. Classes with the highest Control tier, such as the Sorceress, are the most difficult to master. The Berserker class, on the other hand, has a very low Control ranking and is one of the easiest classes to play.
• Defense: Defense measures the class ability to take damage that hits them. Higher Defense score means this class is better equipped to take damage. Classes with the lowest Defense rank, like Ranger, receive more damage from hits.
• Combo: A Combo is a combination of key presses in a set order to perform a series of powerful moves. This ranking is a measure of the complexity of key combos available to the class. For the easiest class to play, look for classes with low Combo ranks plus low Control ranks. (like Witch/Wizard/Valkyrie/Berserker)
• Evasion: Evasion measures the class ability to evade attacks.
• Attack: Attack measures how much damage this class can dish out.

NOTE: these top ranking classes are according to class stat charts visible during Character Creation and not player opinion/polls.

It’s interesting to note that Ninja, with it’s female counterpart (Kunoichi) have been given top rankings in every category but defense! Do you agree with the developer’s opinion?

Click below to learn player favorites in PVE and PVP and to cast your votes.

Class Comparison of Weapons

Here is a comparison of the different classes, showcasing their weapons. Main and Subweapons are used in the early stages of leveling, up until level 56. At that time, you can perform a series of quests to also equip an Awakening weapon.

Best PVP Classes: 1v1

The best class for PVP is a hotly debated topic. 1v1 PVP strength is considered different than group PVP strength. The classes below are considered strong in holding their grinding location against one player and perhaps scare off a red flagger. 🙂

1. Ninja: (longest standing top tier 1v1 PVP class)
2. Sorceress
3. Lahn
4. Ranger
5. Sage

——— Top 2 PVP Classes ———

#1 Ninja

Class Tiers

● Control: ★★★★
● Defense: ☆☆☆☆
● Combo: ★★★★
● Evasion: ★★★★
● Attack: ★★★★

#2 Sorceress

Class Tiers

● Control: ★★★★
● Defense: ★☆☆☆
● Combo: ★★★★
● Evasion: ★★★☆
● Attack: ★★★☆

Most Recent Class Tier Rankings

I am working on a page dedicated to class tier rankings. Follow the link below to cast your vote for the best classes in BDO, depending upon several factors. Ex. Group PVP, PVE, etc.

Class Difficulty: Easiest Classes To Play

The easiest classes to play are classes with low Control and Combo tiers. These classes are Wizard/Witch, Valkyrie, and Berserker. Shai class ranks 0 in Control difficulty and has 2 in Combo. These classes have fewer complex combos and are easier to control than other classes.

If you are looking for a class that has low difficulty, also consider classes that receive the highest Defense rankings. (Warrior and Guardian have 3 out of 4 in Defense. Top ranking in Defense are Valkyrie, Berserker, and Nova.)

These class tiers are the opinion of the developers and may not suit what you consider difficult or easy to play.

——— Lowest Class Difficulty (Developer’s Opinion) ———

Berserker

Class Tiers

● Control: ☆☆☆☆
● Defense: ★★★★
● Combo: ★★☆☆
● Evasion: ★☆☆☆
● Attack: ★★★★

Witch/Wizard

Class Tiers

● Control: ★☆☆☆
● Defense: ★☆☆☆
● Combo: ★☆☆☆
● Evasion: ★★☆☆
● Attack: ★★★★

Valkyrie

Class Tiers

● Control: ★★☆☆
● Defense: ★★★★
● Combo: ★★☆☆
● Evasion: ★☆☆☆
● Attack: ★★☆☆

Shai

Class Tiers

● Control: ☆☆☆☆
● Defense: ★☆☆☆
● Combo: ★★☆☆
● Evasion: ★★☆☆
● Attack: ★☆☆☆

Best Beginner Class

The best beginner class is probably the easiest class to play, but maybe you’re up for more of a challenge! Do you like simple controls or enjoy mashing complex key combinations? Do you like heavy hitting attacks or speedy finesse? What’s important to you? It may not be to someone else. This guide will hopefully help you determine the best class for you.

Is Witch/Wizard Class right for me?
For beginners to BDO, looking for the easiest class to play, most recommend Witch or Wizard. This class boasts several benefits to beginners trying out BDO.

• Easy key combos: you can Chain Lighting all the way to level 50. (Hold Shift + Right button)
• High & Cheap Sustainability: Beginners have to worry less about using up precious inventory and weight limits on buying and carrying Mana and HP potions. (Pots are very heavy.) They are more free to focus on obtaining loot and using silver for gear. They have several spells that almost instantly regenerate health and mana.
• Magic Lighthouse: a spell that turns a monster’s attention away from you and reduces their defense. This can help beginners, who probably have lower gear scores and less silver for repair bills and pots.
• Good Reputation: with a little research, you will find the Witch/Wizard are popular classes. Tier lists report that they are high ranking in both PVE and PVP polls.

Some people hate this class because they say it’s boring, and others love it. To me, it’s not boring at all. I suggest you play a class that looks fun to you at least until level 56. At level 56, all classes change by getting a new set of combat skills after their Awakening (except Archers, who enter the game with Awakened abilities). If you don’t want to bother with that, don’t forget that you can try out a level 60 of any class. Read more below.

Berserker and Valkyrie are also considered easy to play, but do not have the reputation of the Wizard/Witch classes for top tier PVE + PVP play.

Testing a Class via Trial Characters

Testing Out a Class
Trial Characters were added in the 6th March 2019 Patch. This allows you to try out a class to see if you will like it near end game.

• Max 3 Trial Character slots. (This is separate from the Standard slots.)
• All Trial Characters are level 60
• 4,000 Skill Points.
• Trial Characters can only enter a PVE cooperative tower defence mode called Savage Rift or specific PVP areas: Battle Arena, Red Battlefield, Arena of Arsha. No Savage Rift rewards.
• NPC Haz in Battle Arena sells Trial Gear for 1 Silver. (You are given 100k to spend.)
• Arsha’s Chest
• Trial Weapon Box
• Ramones’s Armor and Accessories Set
• [Battlefield] Instant HP Potion (XL)
• [Battlefield] Instant MP Potion (XL)
• Buffs that can’t be used in Arena of Arsha
• [Battlefield] Exquisite Cron Meal
• [Battlefield] Giant’s Draught
• [Battlefield] Perfume of Courage
• [Battlefield] Body Enhancement
• Trial Character Limitations: Can’t impact Family Fame. Can’t do normal activities like Attendance Rewards, In-game Mail, Challenges (Y), Node investment, and Guild Bonuses.
• Click <Here> to find out more about Trial Characters.

BDO Class Release Order

The following classes were released in order of first to last for North American (NA) server.

1. Musa and Maehwa classes were released for play on April 20, 2016
2. Kunoichi and Ninja classes were released for play on July 20, 2016
3. Dark Knight class was published April 2017
4. Striker class was released May 2017
5. Mystic class was released December 13th, 2017
6. Lahn class was released 23rd May, 2018
7. Archer class was released 12th December 2018
8. Shai class was released 26 June 2019
9. Guardian class was released 22 January 2020
10. Hashashin class was released 2 September 2020
11. Nova class was released 22nd December 2020
12. Sage class was released March 17, 2021
13. Corsair class was released June 30, 2021

BDO Class Discord Channels

Discord Channels are live chat and talk web apps that are good sources of info, help, and current events. If you are looking for more information about a specific class, it pays to visit their Discord Channel.

BDO Class Discords:

• Musa/Maehwa
• Ninja/Kuno
• Ranger
• Sorceress
• Tamer
• Valkyrie
• Warrior
• Witch/Wizard
• Berserker
• Dark Knight & New Dark Knight
• Striker/Mystic
• Lahn
• Archer
• Shai
• Guardian
• Hashashin
• Nova
• Sage
• Corsair

Classes Official Descriptions & Videos

Source: old site from blackdesert.zendesk.com

Sage wields the Kyve, made of a special substance he developed, and the magic-filled Talisman. He uses Kyve’s special ability to freely change its form to distort time and space, bringing forth powerful physical forces. Sage can inflict damage with powerful attacks from afar and interrupt foes who try to catch him off guard. Also, he can quickly re-position himself in the thick of battle and turn the odds to his favor. His versatility enables Sage to carry out multiple roles depending on what the situation calls for. Bear witness to Sage as he flips the hourglass of fate in his long-awaited return to this world.
Succession Video