Ubisoft Montreal shipped For Honor on 14 February 2017 built around the Art of Battle, a melee system where every guard and every attack lives in one of three stances: top, left or right. The 18 mission campaign runs three chapters against Apollyon and her Blackstone Legion, and multiplayer has grown past 30 heroes split between the Knights, Vikings, Samurai, Wu Lin and Outlanders. Marching Fire added the Wu Lin in October 2018 along with Breach, the four against four castle assault mode.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Knights | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Vikings | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Samurai | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Wu Lin | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Outlanders | A | Balanced | Best available |
For detailed meta rankings, see our FOR HONOR tier list.
A-Tier: Knights
Knights is a top-performing option in FOR HONOR.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Weapon | Warden longsword | A straightforward European longsword with average reach and speed, paired with the charged Shoulder Bash that forces a reaction. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Art of Battle three stance guard | Guard, light attacks and heavy attacks all sit in a top, left or right stance, and an incoming attack only lands if your guard is not already covering that side. |
How to Play Knights
Knights focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this role works: Warden longsword does the damage and Art of Battle three stance guard 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: Vikings
Vikings is a strong option in FOR HONOR.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Weapon | Kensei nodachi | A two handed Japanese greatsword with the longest reach among the Vanguard heroes, ending its chain in an unblockable top heavy. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Revenge meter | Blocking, absorbing hits and fighting outnumbered fill a meter that, when triggered, knocks everyone around you off their feet and grants both damage resistance and extra damage. |
How to Play Vikings
Vikings focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this role works: Pair Kensei nodachi with Revenge meter 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: Samurai
Samurai is a strong option in FOR HONOR.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Weapon | Lawbringer poleaxe | A long polearm suited to a counter attacking Hybrid who wants to be attacked rather than to open. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Stamina and exhaustion | Attacks, dodges and guard breaks all cost stamina. |
How to Play Samurai
Samurai focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this role works: Stamina and exhaustion covers the gap Lawbringer poleaxe 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: Wu Lin
Wu Lin is a specialized option in FOR HONOR.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Weapon | Berserker dual axes | Fast paired axes carrying hyper armour on chained heavy attacks, so the swing continues through hits that would stop another hero. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Feats earned through Renown | Renown builds from kills, assists, minion clearing and zone captures, and it unlocks four tiers of Feats during a match. |
How to Play Wu Lin
Wu Lin focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this role works: This one leans on Feats earned through Renown rather than raw numbers, and Berserker dual axes 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: Outlanders
Outlanders is a specialized option in FOR HONOR.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Weapon | Nobushi naginata | The longest reach in the Samurai roster, built around poking from outside the opponent's range and applying bleed. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Gear stats disabled in duels | Gear stats only apply in the four against four modes. |
How to Play Outlanders
Outlanders focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this role works: Nobushi naginata and Gear stats disabled in duels 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 Vikings: the most forgiving option for learning the game
- Transition to Knights once you understand core mechanics and have access to Warden longsword
- Keep a Samurai setup for content that keeps killing you
- Try Outlanders 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.
- Watch the opponent's guard indicator rather than their animation. The Art of Battle resolves on stance, so an attack coming from their right side is blocked by putting your guard on that side regardless of how the swing looks, and reading animations will make you late every time.
- Never commit an attack into a full Revenge meter. Activated Revenge knocks everyone around the player down, grants damage resistance and boosts their damage, so the correct answer to a teammate who has fed someone Revenge is to back off and let it expire.
- Don't spread upgrade resources across multiple builds until endgame
More FOR HONOR Guides
- FOR HONOR FOR HONOR Overview
- FOR HONOR Tier List
- FOR HONOR Walkthrough
- FOR HONOR Beginner's Guide
- FOR HONOR Tips & Tricks
- FOR HONOR Weapons Guide
- FOR HONOR Combat Guide
- FOR HONOR Boss Guide
- FOR HONOR Maps & Locations
- FOR HONOR Crafting Guide
- FOR HONOR Classes & Characters
Similar Games
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- Black Myth: Wukong Builds: action game with similar mechanics
- Monster Hunter Wilds Builds: action game with similar mechanics
