Outward Tier List — Current Rankings

This Outward 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

Warrior (A-Tier)

Melee builds using heavy weapons and armor. The Warrior Monk breakthrough (faction-dependent) adds physical damage bonuses. Two-handed weapons like the Brand Greatsword deal massive damage per hit. Slow but devastating with proper stamina management.

Best with: Brand Greatsword, Ammolite Armor, Predator Leggings Stat focus: Physical Damage, Impact, Stamina Management

Mage (S-Tier)

Magic requires sacrificing max health at the Conflux Mountain ritual to gain mana. Spell combos (placing a fire sigil then casting spark) create powerful AoE effects. The Philosopher breakthrough increases mana and spell damage. The most versatile endgame build.

Best with: Jade Lich Mace (mana cost reduction), Mage Robes, Lexicon Stat focus: Mana Pool, Spell Combinations, Cooldown Management

Rogue (A-Tier)

Dagger and bow builds emphasizing speed and status effects. Rogue breakthrough gives backstab damage bonuses. Apply poison and bleed through coated weapons, then dodge while effects do the work. Less frontline damage but safer combat through kiting.

Best with: Fang Weapons (dagger), Horror Bow, Poison Rags, Trap items Stat focus: Attack Speed, Status Effect Application, Dodge Timing

Shaman (A-Tier)

A hybrid build using totems and elemental boons. The Cabal Hermit breakthrough provides wind infusion. Shaman builds use boons (self-buffs) and totems (placed AoE effects) for sustained combat advantage. Requires setup time but very strong in extended fights.

Best with: Manticore Greataxe, Shaman Armor, Wind Boon sigil Stat focus: Boon Duration, Totem Effectiveness, Mixed Stats

Mercenary (B-Tier)

Jack-of-all-trades build using a mix of combat, magic, and survival skills. The Mercenary approach doesn't specialize, making it weaker at any single thing but adaptable to every situation. Best for first playthroughs when you don't know what challenges await.

Best with: Versatile weapon, Medium Armor, basic spells, survival kit Stat focus: Balance across all stats

Equipment Rankings

Equipment Analysis

Brand Greatsword: A fire-enchanted greatsword dealing physical + fire damage with every hit. Found in the Hallowed Marsh through a quest. The fire damage applies burning, adding DOT to every melee hit. One of the strongest two-handed weapons in the game.

Horror Bow: The best bow in the game with highest base damage and built-in decay damage (armor-reducing effect). Obtained through the Blue Chamber Collective faction quest. Decay damage reduces enemy physical resistance, making follow-up hits more effective.

Jade Lich Mace: A mace that reduces mana costs by 15% while equipped. Found in a specific dungeon in the Abrassar desert region. The mana cost reduction is build-defining for Mage builds, allowing more spell casts per encounter.

Manticore Greataxe: A greataxe dealing poison damage on hit. Obtained through the Heroic Kingdom of Levant faction. The poison application on every hit means even basic attacks stack toxic damage. Pairs well with Shaman builds that use boons.

Fang Weapons: A weapon set crafted from manticore fangs with built-in poison. The Fang Dagger is the fastest poison applicator in the game. Crafted at a specific forge using manticore materials. The entire Fang weapon line shares the poison theme.

Meta Analysis

The current meta in Outward centers on survival RPG and no hand-holding. Builds that leverage both systems outperform those that focus on only one.

What's strong right now:

• Warrior with Brand Greatsword is the benchmark. Everything else is measured against it.
• backpack management builds are gaining ground as players find new synergies.
• Rogue remains essential for learning hard content.

What's underrated:

• Mage is consistently overlooked despite being the most flexible option.
• Jade Lich Mace offers excellent performance for its investment level.

What's overhyped:

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

Quick Picks by Situation

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