Rocksteady's last Arkham game drops you into an evacuated Gotham on the night Scarecrow threatens the city with fear toxin, with the Batmobile finally drivable and the Arkham Knight's militia holding the streets. The map is three islands, Bleake, Miagani and Founders', each split into named districts, and the Riddler has hidden 243 trophies across them. The 2015 PC port was so broken that Warner Bros pulled it from sale for four months, which is still the first thing anyone mentions about it. Underneath that, the combat and predator systems are the sharpest in the series, and the Batmobile is the one thing players still argue about.
Picking the right build determines how your experience plays out. These builds are ranked by overall effectiveness, factoring in damage, survivability, gear requirements, and how well they scale into endgame. New to the game? Start with our beginner's guide first.
Quick Rankings
| Role | Tier | Playstyle | Core Gear |
|---|---|---|---|
| Batman | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Robin | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Nightwing | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Catwoman | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Batgirl | A | Balanced | Best available |
For detailed meta rankings, see our Batman: Arkham Knight tier list.
A-Tier: Batman
Batman is a top-performing option in Batman: Arkham Knight.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Weapon | Batarang | The oldest tool in the set and still the one you throw most. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | FreeFlow combat and the Fear Multi-Takedown | Strike, counter and evade chain into a combo meter that unlocks special moves at set thresholds. |
How to Play Batman
Batman focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this role works: Batarang does the damage and FreeFlow combat and the Fear Multi-Takedown keeps it running, which is why this sits at the top of the list. See our weapons guide for detailed weapons breakdowns.
Pros:
- Highest overall performance
- Straightforward gearing path
- Works in all content types
Cons:
- Popular pick, resources may be contested
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
A-Tier: Robin
Robin is a strong option in Batman: Arkham Knight.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Weapon | Grapnel Gun | Traversal first, combat second. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Batmobile Battle Mode and Pursuit Mode | Pursuit Mode is the road car, used for ramming, the Power Winch and traversal between islands. |
How to Play Robin
Robin focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this role works: Pair Grapnel Gun with Batmobile Battle Mode and Pursuit Mode and the build stops depending on a good start, so it holds up across most content. See our weapons guide for detailed weapons breakdowns.
Pros:
- Most versatile option
- Straightforward gearing path
- Works in all content types
Cons:
- Lower peak damage than S-tier
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
A-Tier: Nightwing
Nightwing is a strong option in Batman: Arkham Knight.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Weapon | Explosive Gel | A quasi solid explosive you spray on weak walls, floor grates and vents, then detonate on your own timing. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Dual Play character swaps | In fixed encounters you can tag between Batman and Robin, Nightwing or Catwoman with a button press, mid combo. |
How to Play Nightwing
Nightwing focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this role works: Dual Play character swaps covers the gap Explosive Gel leaves open, so the build stays usable even when a fight goes badly. See our weapons guide for detailed weapons breakdowns.
Pros:
- Best survivability
- Straightforward gearing path
- Works in all content types
Cons:
- Slower clear speeds
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
A-Tier: Catwoman
Catwoman is a specialized option in Batman: Arkham Knight.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Weapon | Line Launcher | Fires a horizontal zip line you can ride across streets and inside large rooms, and firing again mid ride changes direction without dropping you to the ground. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Predator rooms and Detective Mode | Armed rooms are puzzles rather than fights. |
How to Play Catwoman
Catwoman focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this role works: This one leans on Predator rooms and Detective Mode rather than raw numbers, and Line Launcher is what makes that trade pay off. See our weapons guide for detailed weapons breakdowns.
Pros:
- Strong in group/team content
- Straightforward gearing path
- Excels in its niche
Cons:
- Weaker solo performance
- Requires deep game knowledge
A-Tier: Batgirl
Batgirl is a specialized option in Batman: Arkham Knight.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Weapon | Voice Synthesizer | Mimics the voice of an enemy commander and issues an order that a militia soldier obeys. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Most Wanted missions and the Knightfall Protocol | The side content is grouped into Most Wanted strands such as Own the Roads, Campaign for Disarmament and Riddler's Revenge. |
How to Play Batgirl
Batgirl focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this role works: Voice Synthesizer and Most Wanted missions and the Knightfall Protocol pull in the same direction here, which separates this from the safer picks above. See our weapons guide for detailed weapons breakdowns.
Pros:
- Unique, rewarding playstyle
- Straightforward gearing path
- Excels in its niche
Cons:
- High skill floor, punishing when misplayed
- Requires deep game knowledge
Build Progression Path
- Start with Robin: the most forgiving option for learning the game
- Transition to Batman once you understand core mechanics and have access to Batarang
- Keep a Nightwing setup for content that keeps killing you
- Try Batgirl for a fresh experience once you've mastered the basics
Follow our walkthrough for the optimal progression path through each area.
Gearing Tips
- Invest in your primary weapon first, since it gives the biggest power spike. See our weapons guide for rankings.
- Take out the medic before anyone else in a predator room. Leave him standing and every enemy you drop gets back up, which turns a clean room into a firefight.
- The Fear Multi-Takedown starts at three targets and reaches five fully upgraded. Bank it for a group of five rather than spending it on the first pair you see.
- Don't spread upgrade resources across multiple builds until endgame
More Batman: Arkham Knight Guides
- Batman: Arkham Knight Batman: Arkham Knight Overview
- Batman: Arkham Knight Tier List
- Batman: Arkham Knight Walkthrough
- Batman: Arkham Knight Beginner's Guide
- Batman: Arkham Knight Tips & Tricks
- Batman: Arkham Knight Weapons Guide
- Batman: Arkham Knight Combat Guide
- Batman: Arkham Knight Boss Guide
- Batman: Arkham Knight Maps & Locations
- Batman: Arkham Knight Crafting Guide
- Batman: Arkham Knight Classes & Characters
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