Lost Ark Tier List — Current Rankings

This Lost Ark tier list ranks every major option by overall effectiveness. Rankings factor in damage output, survivability, versatility, gear requirements, and how well each option scales.

Tier definitions: S = best in class, always a strong pick. A = strong and competitive, minor weaknesses. B = solid but clearly outperformed in most situations. C = viable only for players who enjoy the playstyle.

Builds Rankings

Detailed Builds Analysis

Berserker (A-Tier)

Mayhem engraving Berserker stays in permanent burst mode at reduced HP, dealing massive damage with attack speed buffs. Simple rotation, high damage floor. Technique Berserker builds burst windows instead. One of the most popular DPS classes due to simplicity and effectiveness.

Best with: Mayhem engraving, Grudge, Cursed Doll, Master's Tenacity, Keen Blunt Stat focus: Crit > Swiftness > Specialization

Sorceress (S-Tier)

Igniter Sorceress builds meter then enters Arcane Torrent for massive burst damage. Reflux Sorceress maintains constant DPS without burst windows. Both are top-tier DPS. Igniter has higher ceiling but requires meter management.

Best with: Igniter or Reflux engraving, Grudge, All-Out Attack (Igniter), Hit Master (Reflux) Stat focus: Specialization (Igniter) or Crit+Swiftness (Reflux)

Bard (S-Tier)

The premier support class buffing damage (Serenade of Courage) and healing (Serenade of Salvation). Every raid group wants a Bard. Heavenly Tune buffs attack speed, Sonic Vibration debuffs enemy defense. Desperate Salvation engraving boosts healing.

Best with: Desperate Salvation, Awakening, Expert, Heavy Armor, Max MP Increase Stat focus: Swiftness > Specialization

Gunlancer (S-Tier)

The true tank class with a shield gauge, taunt, and party-wide damage reduction. Blue Gunlancer (Combat Readiness) maintains shield and taunts. Red Gunlancer (Lone Knight) focuses on burst damage. Blue is the easier and more desired build for raids.

Best with: Combat Readiness, Barricade, Stabilized Status, Grudge, Adrenaline Stat focus: Specialization > Crit > Swiftness

Deathblade (A-Tier)

Remaining Energy Deathblade builds meter through skills then enters a powered-up state with faster cooldowns and higher damage. Surge Deathblade stores energy for a single massive burst. Both are mobile melee DPS with excellent stagger contribution.

Best with: Remaining Energy or Surge, Grudge, Ambush Master, Adrenaline, Keen Blunt Stat focus: Specialization > Crit (RE) or Specialization >>> else (Surge)

Equipment Rankings

Equipment Analysis

Relic Accessories: Tier 3 endgame accessories with 2 engraving slots each. A full set of Relic accessories with correct engravings defines your build. Quality affects bonus stats. Acquiring a 5x3 engraving setup from Relic accessories is the primary gearing milestone.

Grudge Engraving: The most impactful damage engraving: +20% damage dealt, +20% damage received at Level 3. Nearly mandatory for endgame DPS builds. Running Grudge below Level 3 is actively harmful (+20% damage taken without enough damage bonus). Never run Grudge at Level 1 or 2.

Cursed Doll: +16% attack power at Level 3 but -25% healing received. Strong damage increase with a manageable downside for skilled players who avoid damage. A staple in most DPS builds alongside Grudge.

Keen Blunt Weapon: +50% crit damage at Level 3 but non-crit hits deal -20% damage. Only worth running if your crit rate exceeds 60%. Check your crit stats before committing to this engraving.

Raid Captain: Damage bonus based on your movement speed bonus (up to +18% at 140% movement speed). Works best with Swiftness-stacking classes that naturally reach high movement speed. Often paired with supports who buff movement.

Meta Analysis

The current meta in Lost Ark centers on tripod system and engravings. Builds that leverage both systems outperform those that focus on only one.

What's strong right now:

• Berserker with Relic Accessories is the benchmark. Everything else is measured against it.
• island content builds are gaining ground as players find new synergies.
• Bard remains essential for learning hard content.

What's underrated:

• Sorceress is consistently overlooked despite being the most flexible option.
• Cursed Doll offers excellent performance for its investment level.

What's overhyped:

• Pure Deathblade builds. High ceiling but the consistency isn't there for most players.

Quick Picks by Situation

For full build guides, see Lost Ark builds. For progression help, check the walkthrough.