Selecting your starting class for Lost Ark can be a tough decision, as you will have to spend a lot of time with your character while progressing through the story.
Each class has unique abilities and very different playstyles, and while the early stages of Lost Ark are quite forgiving, certain classes will be better for PvE or PvPand the initial decision can seem daunting.
Luckily, Lost Ark provides class difficulty ratings, previews, and an in-game class tester to help you decide. For those who want to plan ahead, this guide to best starter courses for beginners will help you make that very important first decision.
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How important are classes in Lost Ark?
Lost Ark has an elaborate class system, with individual abilities tailored to each character. Each class has unique combat abilities with their own skill trees and powerful identity abilities that can turn the tide of battle. Your class choice will eventually determine the role you play in group PvE raids and PvP battles.
the the main questline can be completed with any class, but you should still think carefully before making your choice. If you change your mind and want to try a new class midway through the story, you’ll need to repeat the same quests to level up your new character. It can be a significant time investment and a bit of a chore.
Luckily, after completing the final story mission, players have access to a Powerpass item. This allows them to create a new character which is automatically upgraded to level 50. So it’s worth it first choose a class you like and stick with that character until you complete the main story.
Since you’ll be spending a lot of time with your first character, the most important thing is to pick a playstyle you like. Determine whether you want to play as a melee-based character like the Berserker or a ranged class like the Sorceress. In group dungeons, do you want to help deal damage with a class like the Shadowhunter, or play more of a support role with the Bard? There is no wrong answer, so choose what feels natural to you.
Lost Ark Class List
When you first load up Lost Ark, you’ll be asked to choose between seven base class options. When selecting your base class, be sure to check out the advanced class preview option, as this will ultimately be your final class choice.
Here is the full list of base classes and their following advanced classes:
| Basic course | Advanced courses |
|---|---|
| Warrior | Berserker weapon launcher Paladin |
| magician | Bard Witch |
| Martial artist (male) | Striker |
| Martial artist (female) | Scraper soulfist wardancer |
| Gunner (male) | gunner deadeye Sniper |
| Gunner (female) | gunslinger |
| Assassin | Deathblade shadow hunter |
It should be noted that some of the classes in Lost Ark are gender related. Warriors can only be played as males, while Mages and Assassins can only be played as females.
This list of classes is likely to expand over time, as the Korean version of Lost Ark contains many classes that have not yet been released in the US-EU version.
Lost Ark best PvE class for beginners
PvE will be the first playstyle you encounter in Lost Ark, as the PvP Arena will only unlock at around level 26 in the main storyline.
Rather helpfully, Lost Ark has a difficulty rating system to help newbies decide how technical the fight will be. Here are the main classes listed in order of difficulty, from easiest to hardest:
- Warrior (2 stars)
- Martial artist, male (3 stars)
- Martial artist, female (3 stars)
- Assassin (3.5 stars)
- Gunner, male (4 stars)
- Gunner, female (4 stars)
- Mage (4 stars)
Generally speaking, melee classes and tanks will be easier for those getting used to the mechanics. For this reason, all warrior class options – like the Berserker, weapon launcher or Paladin – are good first choices for beginners. They have a fairly simple style of play, and since they’re capable of doing a lot of damage, they allow new players to make mistakes without being punished too heavily.
the Berserker, in particular, has high damage and lots of area of effect (AoE) skills, making the class perfect for PvE. He uses a large, massive sword to sweep through rows of enemies, and while some of the windup animations can be slow, these skills deal massive damage. When Berserker’s Burst Mode is active, you deal increased damage and can obliterate enemies with the Bloody Rush attack.
Another good choice for beginners is the shadow hunter, an Assassin class that excels in PvE. With its excellent mobility and medium-range attacks, the Shadowhunter can easily handle groups of enemies. With a mix of AoE and single-target skills, she can take on a large number of enemies at once or take on a boss alone.
His identity skill allows him to transform into a demon. This mode gives him access to extremely powerful attacks and improves his health and movement speed. It also makes it a surprisingly tanky option.
A great all-around option is the Scraper, a martial artist who uses heavy gauntlets. An easy-to-master melee class, the Scrapper offers good damage and solid mobility.
Above all, she is good at stunning enemies, which can be useful when taking on enemy hordes and boss fights. The Scrapper’s skills are split into two separate resource gauges called Endurance and Shock, with using one type recharging the other. It’s a fairly simple identity mechanic compared to other classes, and alongside its relative tank capacity and decent mobility, that makes it a good class for beginners.
Lost Ark best PvP class for beginners
Lost Ark PvP unlocks around level 26 of the main quest line, when you have access to the Proving Grounds arena. PvP battles may seem chaotic at first, but over time you’ll learn each class’s abilities and how to counter them.
If you don’t know how to get stuck in a group battle, the Bard can be a great first choice, thanks to his ability to support his team from a distance. She can provide her teammates with buffs like shields and damage reduction, and her healing identity skill can be invaluable in a pinch. She is also capable of dealing damage on her own, with great crowd control abilities that can keep enemies at bay.
Choosing to play as a bard will definitely make you popular with other players, whether in a PvP or PvE situation. Just make sure you don’t get drawn into melee combat, as she won’t survive long in the center of a battle.
It’s also worth remembering that not all PvP modes in Lost Ark are group battles: team elimination consists of 1v1 matchups. For this mode, it might be useful to think about classes that can hold out in a solo fight.
A good option for this would be the Deathblade, an Assassin whose playstyle is both beginner-friendly and extremely flashy. The Deathblade has a lot of skills with level two super armor, which means it’s hard for her to get staggered or paralyzed. His high damage and persistent skills allow him to easily lock down other players. With good mobility and a medium tank, she is an excellent choice for beginners in PvP.
If you’re more interested in dealing massive damage from a distance, the gunner could be the choice for you. Although the Gunner is not particularly mobile, it is a defensive class that can protect itself when under pressure.
His Gatling gun is useful here, as it can stun enemies. He also has access to superb AoE attacks and an extremely powerful combo attack. The key to mastering this class is to position yourself well and make the most of your high damage attacks.
These are a few suggestions to get you started on your Lost Ark journey, but don’t forget that it’s important to pick a class that appeals to your preferred playstyle – so don’t be afraid to dive in and test them out. .
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