Class Guide - Lost Ark Guide - IGN (2024)

Lost Ark has a variety of classes to choose from, from tank-like Warriors to stealthy, speedy assassins. Below you’ll find an overview of each class, their advanced classes, and their playstyles.

• Warrior
• Mage
• Martial Artist
• Gunner
• Assassin

Warrior

Boasting high health pools and defense at the cost of mobility, Warriors are a frontline melee class for those who prefer tankier, safer options. Gender-locked to men, the Warrior can specialize in three Advanced Classe: the Berserker, the Paladin, and the Gunlancer.

• Berserkers use a Greatsword to fight, filling their Fury meter to deal heavy damage through critical hits and attack speed.
• Paladins use their holy blades to fill a Piety meter, which they can then use to increase the power of themselves or the entire party. Their abilities are a balance between holy spells and physical sword attacks.
• Gunlancers, equipped with both a Shield and Gunlance, are capable of defending both their allies and themselves by alternating defensive Shield Stances, making them powerful defenders of their team.

Mage

Long-range spellcasters, Mages are at their best from farther away, using their spells to either support the party or deal wide area damage. Their utility and damage are heavily offset by their lower HP, so they pair very well with Warriors. The Mage class is gender-locked to women and can specialize in two Advanced Classes: The Bard and the Sorceress.

• Bards are a more supportive option, able to buff and heal allies with supportive songs. Their skills feed their Serenade Meter, which can then be spent to heal the party or buff their damage.
• Sorceresses wield rods to deal massive elemental damage to groups of enemies, making them very powerful in dungeons. Damaging foes increases their Arcane Magic, which can be used to enhance their skills and increase spell casting speed.

Martial Artist

Fast and deadly, Martial Artists are physical fighters that dive deep into the fray to inflict damage. The Martial Artist class is not gender-locked, but the advanced classes are; Women can choose between Wardancer, Scrapper, and Soulfist, while Men can select the Striker.

• Both the Striker and Wardancer use their knuckles to fill the Esoteric Gauge, which can be spent on powerful elemental attacks called Esoteric Skills, from flaming uppercuts to morphing into a tornado.
• Scrappers prefer heavy gauntlets, balancing shock and stamina energy to power their hard-hitting attacks. Spending one resource fills the other, so alternating each is key.
• Soulfists are equipped with a mythical focus, building levels of Hype through long-range damage before spending Hype to become empowered. Boasting the longest range of Martial Artists, Soulfists have options for enemies both near and far.

Gunner

The physical counterpart to the Mage, Gunners use a variety of weaponry, from guns to bows, to deal long-range, sometimes explosive damage. The Gunner class is not gender-locked, but the Advanced Classes are; Men can choose between Sharpshooter, Deadeye, and Artillerist, while women can select Gunslinger.

• Both Deadeye and Gunslinger switch between three different firearms, each gun equipped with its own set of skills, giving them lots of options depending on the situation.
• Artillerists, carrying a heavy cannon, overwhelm their enemies with explosive firepower. When their Firepower gauge is full, they can enter Barrage Mode to deal heavy damage over a large area, at the cost of movement.
• Sharpshooters combine a bow and arrow with their pet, Silverhawk, to use powerful abilities in tandem with each other. After building up the necessary gauge, Sharpshooters can use their loyal hawk to strike the enemy while they continue to rain down arrows.

Assassin

Assassins combine blinding speed with high critical damage to inflict deal massive damage, particularly from behind. The Assassin class is gender-locked to women and can specialize in two Advanced Classes: the Shadowhunter and the Deathblade.

• Shadowhunter wield large, demonic blades in combat. Once their Shadowburst meter is full, they transform into demons, complete with a new form and powerful, wide-area demonic attacks.
• Deathblades wields three swords to nimbly slice through the opposition, building demonic energy before spending it on a single powerful attack. Combined with their powerful crowd control, Deathblades can quickly melt groups of enemies in seconds. You can find a more in-depth look at this class with our Deathblade Guide!