This Paladins 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.
Characters Rankings
| Tier | Role | Rating | Playstyle |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | Damage: hitscan poke | 8.5/10 | Balanced approach |
| A | Damage: projectile burst | 8.5/10 | Balanced approach |
| A | Flank: dive assassin | 8.5/10 | Balanced approach |
| A | Front Line: shield anchor | 8.5/10 | Balanced approach |
| A | Support: main healer | 8.5/10 | Balanced approach |
Detailed Characters Analysis
Damage: hitscan poke (A-Tier)
Damage: hitscan poke is a competitive option in the current meta.
Best with: Cassie's Crossbow. See our builds guide for full setup. Stat focus: Balanced stats
Damage: projectile burst (A-Tier)
Damage: projectile burst is a competitive option in the current meta.
Best with: Viktor's Assault Rifle. See our builds guide for full setup. Stat focus: Balanced stats
Flank: dive assassin (A-Tier)
Flank: dive assassin is a competitive option in the current meta.
Best with: Maeve's Daggers. See our builds guide for full setup. Stat focus: Balanced stats
Front Line: shield anchor (A-Tier)
Front Line: shield anchor is a competitive option in the current meta.
Best with: Barik's Blunderbuss. See our builds guide for full setup. Stat focus: Balanced stats
Support: main healer (A-Tier)
Support: main healer is a competitive option in the current meta.
Best with: Grover's Throwing Axe. See our builds guide for full setup. Stat focus: Balanced stats
Weapons Rankings
| Weapon | Best With | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Cassie's Crossbow | New Damage players who want consistent output without projectile leading. | A hitscan-feeling crossbow with solid mid-range damage and a small magazine. |
| Viktor's Assault Rifle | Players transferring aim skill from another shooter. | A hitscan rifle with a large magazine and the most conventional first-person shooter feel on the roster. |
| Maeve's Daggers | Diving isolated Supports and finishing low targets. | Fast-firing thrown daggers with short effective range and a brutal falloff curve. |
| Barik's Blunderbuss | Point defence on Siege maps with tight capture areas. | A short-range spread weapon on a Front Line champion who deploys turrets and a Barricade. |
| Grover's Throwing Axe | Supports who want to influence a fight beyond healing output. | A heavy thrown axe that does real damage for a Support weapon and rewards prediction rather than tracking. |
Check our weapons guide for in-depth stats and comparisons.
Weapons Analysis
Cassie's Crossbow: A hitscan-feeling crossbow with solid mid-range damage and a small magazine. It rewards steady tracking rather than flicks, and its damage falloff means she wants an elevated angle within the mid third of the map.
Viktor's Assault Rifle: A hitscan rifle with a large magazine and the most conventional first-person shooter feel on the roster. Viktor is the champion most often recommended to players coming from other shooters because nothing about the aiming is exotic.
Maeve's Daggers: Fast-firing thrown daggers with short effective range and a brutal falloff curve. Her damage only exists inside about a dozen metres, which is why her whole kit is built around closing that gap and leaving again.
Barik's Blunderbuss: A short-range spread weapon on a Front Line champion who deploys turrets and a Barricade. Barik holds ground rather than shielding a team, so his weapon exists to punish anyone who walks into the space he has fortified.
Grover's Throwing Axe: A heavy thrown axe that does real damage for a Support weapon and rewards prediction rather than tracking. Grover is the Support who can genuinely contest a Damage champion in a straight fight if the axes land.
Meta Analysis
The current meta in Paladins centers on Five-card loadouts capped at 15 points and Talents chosen before the match starts. Builds that leverage both systems outperform those that focus on only one. Our combat guide explains these interactions in depth.
What's strong right now:
- Damage: hitscan poke with Cassie's Crossbow is the benchmark. Everything else is measured against it.
- The in-match credit shop builds are gaining ground as players find new combinations.
- Flank: dive assassin remains essential for learning hard content. See the boss guide.
What's underrated:
- Damage: projectile burst is consistently overlooked despite being the most flexible option.
- Maeve's Daggers offers excellent performance for its investment level.
What's overhyped:
- Pure Support: main healer builds. High ceiling but the consistency isn't there for most players.
Quick Picks by Situation
| Situation | Best Role | Best Weapon | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall best | Damage: hitscan poke | Cassie's Crossbow | Highest consistent performance |
| New player | Damage: projectile burst | Viktor's Assault Rifle | Most forgiving, teaches mechanics |
| Hard content | Flank: dive assassin | Maeve's Daggers | Survivability when you need it |
| Group play | Front Line: shield anchor | Barik's Blunderbuss | Utility and team support |
| Experienced player | Support: main healer | Grover's Throwing Axe | Unique challenge and high ceiling |
More Paladins Guides
- Paladins Paladins Overview
- Paladins Best Builds
- Paladins Walkthrough
- Paladins Beginner's Guide
- Paladins Tips & Tricks
- Paladins Weapons Guide
- Paladins Combat Guide
- Paladins Boss Guide
- Paladins Maps & Locations
- Paladins Crafting Guide
- Paladins Classes & Characters
Similar Games
If you enjoy Paladins, check out these related guides:
- Counter-Strike 2 Tier List: fps game with similar mechanics
- Apex Legends Tier List: fps game with similar mechanics
- Rainbow Six Siege Tier List: fps game with similar mechanics
