This Tom Clancy's The Division 2 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| S | Crit DPS | 9.5/10 | Peek, crit, reposition, repeat |
| S | Skill Build | 9.5/10 | Deploy skills, kite, let the drone work |
| A | Tank Healer | 8.5/10 | Hold the shield, soak fire, repair the team |
| B | Hybrid Survivalist | 7.5/10 | Trade safety for damage as your gear improves |
| A | Status Effect Build | 8.5/10 | Apply ailments, control the field, finish |
Detailed Characters Analysis
Crit DPS (S-Tier)
Stack critical hit chance and damage with red cores and a strong AR or rifle. The default damage build that melts enemies on every difficulty.
Best with: All red cores, Coyote's Mask, Fox's Prayer, Obliterate weapon talent. See our builds guide for full setup. Stat focus: Crit chance to cap, then crit damage
Skill Build (S-Tier)
Six skill tiers turn your turret and drone into the main weapon. Safe and devastating, ideal for solo heroic clears.
Best with: All yellow cores, Hard Wired set, Capacitor talent. See our builds guide for full setup. Stat focus: Skill tier to six, then skill damage
Tank Healer (A-Tier)
Blue cores and the Foundry Bulwark set make you a near-unkillable shield carrier who repairs allies. The backbone of organized groups.
Best with: Foundry Bulwark set, Ballistic Shield, blue cores. See our builds guide for full setup. Stat focus: Armor, then repair skills
Hybrid Survivalist (B-Tier)
A balanced mix of damage and survivability for newer players still gathering god-roll gear.
Best with: Mostly red with two blue cores, flexible brands. See our builds guide for full setup. Stat focus: Crit chance, then armor
Status Effect Build (A-Tier)
Burn, bleed, and shock enemies with status damage and the right talents, strong against tough armored targets.
Best with: Status effect attributes, Ongoing Directive, hazard protection. See our builds guide for full setup. Stat focus: Status effects, skill tier
Weapons Rankings
| Weapon | Best With | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Chatterbox | Aggressive crit DPS builds | An exotic SMG that ramps fire rate and magazine size on kills and reloads, a close-range shredder. |
| Eagle Bearer | General-purpose damage builds | A coveted exotic AR with strong all-round stats and a self-heal-on-kill talent, dropped from a raid. |
| Bighorn | Rifle and AR damage builds | An exotic AR that buffs weapon handling and pierces armor, excellent for sustained damage. |
| Lullaby | Close-range control and burst | An exotic shotgun that staggers and confuses on hit, great crowd control up close. |
| Sweet Dreams | Brawler builds that close the gap | An exotic shotgun that grants overhealth on melee, pairing burst damage with survivability. |
Check our weapons guide for in-depth stats and comparisons.
Weapons Analysis
Chatterbox: An exotic SMG that ramps fire rate and magazine size on kills and reloads, a close-range shredder.
Eagle Bearer: A coveted exotic AR with strong all-round stats and a self-heal-on-kill talent, dropped from a raid.
Bighorn: An exotic AR that buffs weapon handling and pierces armor, excellent for sustained damage.
Lullaby: An exotic shotgun that staggers and confuses on hit, great crowd control up close.
Sweet Dreams: An exotic shotgun that grants overhealth on melee, pairing burst damage with survivability.
Meta Analysis
The current meta in Tom Clancy's The Division 2 centers on gear cores and attributes and skill builds. 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:
- Crit DPS with Chatterbox is the benchmark. Everything else is measured against it.
- brand sets and gear sets builds are gaining ground as players find new synergies.
- Tank Healer remains essential for learning hard content. See the boss guide.
What's underrated:
- Skill Build is consistently overlooked despite being the most flexible option.
- Bighorn offers excellent performance for its investment level.
What's overhyped:
- Pure Status Effect Build builds. High ceiling but the consistency isn't there for most players.
Quick Picks by Situation
| Situation | Best Role | Best Weapon | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall best | Crit DPS | Chatterbox | Highest consistent performance |
| New player | Skill Build | Eagle Bearer | Most forgiving, teaches mechanics |
| Hard content | Tank Healer | Bighorn | Survivability when you need it |
| Group play | Hybrid Survivalist | Lullaby | Utility and team support |
| Experienced player | Status Effect Build | Sweet Dreams | Unique challenge and high ceiling |
More Tom Clancy's The Division 2 Guides
- Tom Clancy's The Division 2 Tom Clancy's The Division 2 Overview
- Tom Clancy's The Division 2 Best Builds
- Tom Clancy's The Division 2 Walkthrough
- Tom Clancy's The Division 2 Beginner's Guide
- Tom Clancy's The Division 2 Tips & Tricks
- Tom Clancy's The Division 2 Weapons Guide
- Tom Clancy's The Division 2 Combat Guide
- Tom Clancy's The Division 2 Boss Guide
- Tom Clancy's The Division 2 Maps & Locations
- Tom Clancy's The Division 2 Crafting Guide
- Tom Clancy's The Division 2 Classes & Characters
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