Barony is a first-person roguelike dungeon crawler that combines classic dungeon crawling with 4-player co-op. You descend through procedurally generated levels fighting monsters, solving traps, and collecting loot with permadeath adding real stakes. The game's distinctive low-poly aesthetic and old-school dungeon crawler design recall classics like Ultima Underworld and Eye of the Beholder. With 5 classes, procedural dungeons, and co-op that makes challenging content accessible, Barony delivers classic dungeon crawling for modern players.
Choosing the right build shapes your entire experience. This guide breaks down every option — what they're good at, what they struggle with, and which one matches your playstyle. For optimized builds with full gear sets, see our builds guide.
Quick Comparison
| Build | Tier | Playstyle | Best Equipment | Beginner Friendly? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Warrior | A | Lead the party, tank hits, melee kill enemies while others support. | Steel Sword | Yes |
| Wizard | A | Cast spells from range, manage scroll inventory, stay behind the Warrior. | Crystal Staff | Yes |
| Archer | S | Shoot from distance, kite enemies, craft arrows from collected materials. | Longbow | Moderate |
| Cleric | A | Heal allies, deal holy damage to undead, support the party with prayers. | Holy Mace | Yes |
| Mechanic | B | Disarm traps, pick locks, craft utility items, support team with utility. | Boomerang | No |
New player? Start with Wizard — see our beginner's guide for why.
Warrior
The tank class with highest HP and melee damage. Warriors wear heavy armor and use swords/maces for reliable close combat. Best starter class for learning dungeon layouts safely.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Playstyle | Lead the party, tank hits, melee kill enemies while others support. |
| Best Equipment | Steel Sword |
| Stat Priority | Strength, HP, Defense |
| Core Gear | Steel Sword, Heavy Armor, Shield, Health Potions |
| Key Mechanic | first-person dungeon crawling |
Strengths
- Highest overall performance across all content types
- Lead the party, tank hits, melee kill enemies while others support.
- Pairs well with Steel Sword
Weaknesses
- Popular choice, competition for resources
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
Recommended Progression
- Start in Mines to learn Warrior-specific mechanics
- Focus on first-person dungeon crawling — it's this build's primary system
- Prioritize Steel Sword as your first major upgrade
- See our full Warrior build guide for the optimal gear progression
Wizard
The glass cannon with powerful spell scrolls. Wizards deal the highest AoE damage but die quickly. Spell scrolls are consumable, so managing your scroll inventory is essential.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Playstyle | Cast spells from range, manage scroll inventory, stay behind the Warrior. |
| Best Equipment | Crystal Staff |
| Stat Priority | Intelligence, Mana, Magic Damage |
| Core Gear | Crystal Staff, Spell Scrolls, Robes, Mana Potions |
| Key Mechanic | class skills |
Strengths
- Most versatile — adapts to any situation
- Cast spells from range, manage scroll inventory, stay behind the Warrior.
- Pairs well with Crystal Staff
Weaknesses
- Lower peak damage than S-tier options
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
Recommended Progression
- Start in Mines to learn Wizard-specific mechanics
- Focus on class skills — it's this build's primary system
- Prioritize Crystal Staff as your first major upgrade
- See our full Wizard build guide for the optimal gear progression
Archer
Ranged DPS with the bow — safe, consistent damage from distance. Archers are the most forgiving class because they rarely need to enter melee range. Arrow crafting keeps ammo sustainable.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | S |
| Playstyle | Shoot from distance, kite enemies, craft arrows from collected materials. |
| Best Equipment | Longbow |
| Stat Priority | Dexterity, Accuracy, Ranged Damage |
| Core Gear | Longbow, Arrows, Light Armor, Crafting materials |
| Key Mechanic | co-op dungeon runs |
Strengths
- Best survivability for learning hard content
- Shoot from distance, kite enemies, craft arrows from collected materials.
- Pairs well with Longbow
Weaknesses
- Slower progression speed
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
Recommended Progression
- Start in Mines to learn Archer-specific mechanics
- Focus on co-op dungeon runs — it's this build's primary system
- Prioritize Longbow as your first major upgrade
- See our full Archer build guide for the optimal gear progression
Cleric
The support class with healing and undead-specific damage. Clerics keep the party alive in co-op and deal bonus damage to the many undead enemies. Holy Mace is effective against most dungeon creatures.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Playstyle | Heal allies, deal holy damage to undead, support the party with prayers. |
| Best Equipment | Holy Mace |
| Stat Priority | Wisdom, Healing Power, Undead Damage |
| Core Gear | Holy Mace, Medium Armor, Healing Prayers, Holy Water |
| Key Mechanic | permadeath |
Strengths
- Excellent in group and cooperative content
- Heal allies, deal holy damage to undead, support the party with prayers.
- Pairs well with Holy Mace
Weaknesses
- Less effective solo
- Requires deep game knowledge to use effectively
Recommended Progression
- Start in Mines to learn Cleric-specific mechanics
- Focus on permadeath — it's this build's primary system
- Prioritize Holy Mace as your first major upgrade
- See our full Cleric build guide for the optimal gear progression
Mechanic
The utility class that disarms traps, picks locks, and crafts items. Mechanics bypass obstacles other classes trigger. In solo play, trap disarming saves more HP than healing potions. In co-op, the Mechanic opens paths for the team.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Playstyle | Disarm traps, pick locks, craft utility items, support team with utility. |
| Best Equipment | Boomerang |
| Stat Priority | Dexterity, Perception, Trap Awareness |
| Core Gear | Boomerang, Lockpicks, Trap Kit, Crafting tools |
| Key Mechanic | secret levels |
Strengths
- Highest skill ceiling with unique mechanics
- Disarm traps, pick locks, craft utility items, support team with utility.
- Pairs well with Boomerang
Weaknesses
- Steep learning curve, punishing mistakes
- Requires deep game knowledge to use effectively
Recommended Progression
- Start in Mines to learn Mechanic-specific mechanics
- Focus on secret levels — it's this build's primary system
- Prioritize Boomerang as your first major upgrade
- See our full Mechanic build guide for the optimal gear progression
Which Build Should You Pick?
For Beginners
Wizard is the clear winner. It's forgiving, teaches core mechanics, and remains competitive into endgame. Follow our beginner's guide for the best first-session experience.
For Maximum Performance
Warrior is the top pick once you understand the game's mechanics. Pair it with Steel Sword for the strongest overall setup.
For a Challenge
Mechanic offers the highest skill ceiling. It's punishing when misplayed but incredibly rewarding when mastered. Only recommended after you've completed the game with another build.
For Group Play
Cleric shines in cooperative content with utility and team support capabilities.
More Barony Guides
- Barony Barony Overview
- Barony Best Builds
- Barony Tier List
- Barony Walkthrough
- Barony Beginner's Guide
- Barony Tips & Tricks
- Barony Weapons Guide
- Barony Combat Guide
- Barony Boss Guide
- Barony Maps & Locations
- Barony Crafting Guide
Similar Games
If you enjoy Barony, check out these related guides:
- Risk of Rain 2 Classes Guide — roguelike game with similar mechanics
- Hades Classes Guide — roguelike game with similar mechanics
- Darkest Dungeon Classes Guide — roguelike game with similar mechanics
