You just finished the campaign. Or maybe you're staring at the character creation screen for the tenth time, paralyzed by the fact that there are 36 different mastery combinations. You want the "best" one. You want to see a Grim Dawn class tier list that tells you exactly where to put your points so you don't hit a brick wall at level 70.
But here’s the thing. Most tier lists are kinda trash.
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They focus exclusively on "Crucible clear times" or "SR 110 depth," which means absolutely nothing if you don't have the specific mythical legendary set required to make the build work. Honestly, in Grim Dawn, the "best" class is usually the one that can farm its own gear without dying every five minutes.
The S-Tier: The Unkillable Kings of 1.2.1.0
If we’re talking raw power in the current patch, there are a few standouts. These are the classes that make Ultimate difficulty feel like a casual stroll through the park.
Warlord (Soldier + Oathkeeper)
This is basically the gold standard. You want to feel like a tank? Go Warlord. It’s got the highest physical resistance potential in the game. Between Field Command from the Soldier side and Presence of Virtue from Oathkeeper, your Offensive and Defensive Ability (OA/DA) will be through the roof.
It’s simple. It’s effective. You shield bash things until they explode. If you're playing Hardcore, this is probably your first choice.
Conjurer (Occultist + Shaman)
The "lazy" king. If you like having an army of briarthorns and hellhounds do the work while you drink coffee, this is it. The synergy between Blood of Dreeg and Primal Bond makes your pets incredibly tanky. It’s arguably the safest class for celestial bosses like Ravager or Mogdrogen. You don't even need to aim. Just stay alive while the birds peck the gods to death.
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Archon (Shaman + Oathkeeper)
Specifically, the Avenger Set Archon. This build is a monster. It uses two-handed weapons to deal massive physical damage while regenerating health faster than most enemies can deal it. It’s a "walking simulator" but with a giant hammer.
Why Your "B-Tier" Pick Might Actually Be Better
The problem with a rigid Grim Dawn class tier list is that gear changes everything. A "B-Tier" Saboteur (Demolitionist + Nightblade) can outshine an S-Tier Warlord if you happen to find the right Monster Infrequents (MIs) early on.
For example, have you seen the Voldrak's Crusher?
It’s a giant mace that drops from a specific troll in the Smuggler’s Basin. If you get that, suddenly a Warder (Soldier + Shaman) becomes an absolute unit for leveling. You don't need a tier list; you just need that one drop.
The "Target Farm" Advantage
Some classes are higher tier simply because their gear is easier to find.
- Death Knight (Soldier + Necromancer): You can farm the Krieg’s Armament set from specific bosses in the Malmouth area. It’s not a random drop. That alone pushes Death Knight into the "must-play" category for beginners.
- Ritualist (Necromancer + Shaman): Vit-caster Ritualists can farm the Dark One’s set in the Edge of Reality. Again, no RNG-heavy world drops required.
The Glass Cannons: High Risk, High Reward
Some classes are technically "S-Tier" for speed but "D-Tier" for frustration.
Take the Infiltrator (Nightblade + Inquisitor).
The damage is disgusting. Aura of Censure shreds resistances, and Nightblade procs cut through mobs like butter. But if you blink at the wrong time, you’re a puddle on the floor. It’s high-octane gameplay. It’s fun, but it’s definitely not for everyone.
Then there's the Spellbinder (Arcanist + Necromancer).
This class relies on cycling Mirror of Ereoctes and Mark of Torment. If you time your buttons perfectly, you are literally immortal. If you mess up the rotation? Dead. It’s a high-skill ceiling class that rewards players who actually pay attention to cooldowns.
Is There a "Worst" Class?
Not really. That’s the beauty of Crate Entertainment's balancing.
Even a Defiler (Demolitionist + Necromancer)—which used to be the joke of the community—has been buffed into relevance. It’s still a bit "clunky" because the two masteries don't share many damage types naturally, but with the right conversion gear, it clears Ultimate just fine.
The only real "F-Tier" move is trying to spread your points too thin. Pick one main attack skill. Pick two damage types (ideally one that converts into the other). Stick to it.
Your Next Steps for Domination
Don't just stare at the list. Do this:
- Check the Monster Infrequents: Go to GrimTools and see which MIs support your favorite skills. If you can farm the weapon at level 20, 50, and 94, that’s a top-tier leveling build.
- Resistances are King: Your class doesn't matter if your resistances aren't capped. In Ultimate, you need them at 80% plus an extra 30% "overcap" to handle debuffs.
- Devotions over Masteries: A "bad" class with a perfect devotion setup (like Maul on a high-attack-speed build) will always beat a "good" class with random constellations.
Pick a mastery that sounds cool. Pair it with Soldier if you want to be tanky, or Arcanist if you want to be a mana-hungry wizard. The meta is flexible, and 1.2.1.0 made almost everything viable for the average player.