The best class in Dark and Darker will depend on your playstyle and if you’re taking on the dungeons solo or with a team. There are six classes to choose from, ranging from the adaptable Fighter to the crystal ball-wielding Wizard. Each class has its own specific strengths and weaknesses to consider; no playthrough is the same if you decide to juggle more than one. Our Dark and Darker class guide will give you an overview of each class and how they stack up when you play them solo or with a team.
Fighter
The Fighter is your typical melee class that wields the sword and shield combo, but virtually, they can wield any type of weapon by using the Weapon Mastery perk. Sword and shield? Check. Crossbow? Consider it done. Castillion Dagger? Pair it with another dagger for extra stabs!
It’s the perfect all-rounder class, as the Fighter can pick up the most loot in the dungeons. Although they’re not as fast as the Rogue, the class also can use Sprint, which increases their movement speed temporarily.
If you consider yourself a beginner in Dark and Darker, I recommend starting with the Fighter. It’s an excellent class that can ease you into the game and how everything works without complicating the process. Then, once you’re finally getting the hang of things, you can branch out to the other classes.
Barbarian
Everything about the Barbarian is so beefy, you don’t even have to wear proper armor for it! The class packs a punch; it boasts loads of HP, uses two-handed weapons, and has high magic resistance. The Barbarian is the textbook definition of a tank.
This tankiness, however, comes at a cost. Your movement speed, interaction speed, and attack speed will be compromised, so expect the Barbarian to feel slower than others. You might think you’ll die a slow death if you’re up against Rogues or Wizards, but fear not—Barbarians can one-tap enemies—players and NPC enemies alike—with a single swing. But if you’re against a three-person team who knows what they’re doing, you might want to have a Cleric around to give some buffs and heals.
I’m not kidding when I say the Barbarian is an absolute powerhouse. They can smash boxes, chests, and even doors. They’re also one of the best classes for solo players since their Savage Roar ability can send enemies fleeing from every direction during PvE situations.
Rogue
The Rogue is all about stealth and agility. This class can easily pick locks, move silently, and detect hunting traps laid down by other players. If you’re planning to play as a Rogue, you’ll have the master the art of sneaking around enemies, ambushing other players, and playing dirty when put in a PvP. To be fair, you can’t fight fair and square in a PvP if you’re a Rogue, as you have lower defense and health compared to other classes.
The Rogue’s perks can be completely bonkers if you know how to set it up. For example, if you pair Backstab and Ambush, you can deal an extra 80% damage to any player or NPC. Then there are the abilities that focus on evasion and stealth. You have Hide, which allows you to become invisible unless you try to move. Then there’s Smoke Bomb, a diversion that can cover an area in smoke, allowing you and your teammates to escape quickly.
There’s a bit of a learning curve when playing a Rogue—mainly because your primary weapon, the dagger, is the size of a toothpick—but it’s one of the most fun. If creeping around the dark, blowing out torches, and silently waiting for an enemy player with a poison dagger is your thing, then you might want to try the class out.
Wizard
Now we’re into the ranged territory. The Wizard has low strength and resourcefulness, but the class more than makes up for it with its spell power. The Wizard can be the strongest damage dealer in a team if they’re protected. By using a Book of Spells or a Staff, they can produce immense burst damage.
That said, Wizards have the highest skill cap; great power comes with great responsibility. They’re considered to be glass cannons by some players, and it’s easy to see why. Besides having poor defensive capabilities, they’re not that mobile, either. Sure, you can mitigate some of those problems by having Quick Chant and Reactive Shield, but the process of learning the Wizard can be rough and frustrating. You can Fireball yourself and your allies, and you must learn how to maneuver your spells to hit enemies at a distance.
The Wizard can still be viable for solo play if you’re doing the Goblin Mines. That way, you can practice hitting your spells and recharge them by meditating. But I think they’re the perfect accompaniment to a team with a Fighter/Barbarian and Cleric/Ranger. Having a protector nearby increases your survivability and ensures that your team has a higher chance of extracting.
Ranger
Get sniped, mate! The Ranger boasts incredible DPS from a long range and can often kill opponents before they get a chance to get near them. I’m not kidding when I say it’s currently one of the best classes in the game (at least until the playtest is over). If you’ve ever encountered a Ranger who knows what they’re doing and can deliver lethal headshots like it’s nothing, you better say your prayers.
The Ranger’s goal is to pick off enemies from a distance, set up tracks, and track other players. Their weapon selection is extremely limited since they can only use bows for the most part. If you try using a melee weapon, you can only do very little damage unless you plan to wield a Spear.
What I like the most about the Ranger class is that they automatically have a campfire kit at the start of the game, making them a valuable asset for any dungeon party. You can also snipe enemy players and NPCs through windows or the small holes in the doors.
The Ranger has a wide set of perks that benefit from group and solo play. Enhanced Hearing, in particular, is my favorite, as it lets you hear footsteps clearer in the game. Tracking is also viable for solo play, especially if you’re not in the mood to engage. Of course, let’s not forget about Sharpshooter, which increases headshot damage by 15%.
Whatever the case, the Rangers are the masters of ambush and detection. If you can take advantage of the class’ perks and resourcefulness, you can dominate the entire map without being detected.
Cleric
Life in Dark and Darker is much easier with a Cleric around, but that doesn’t mean they’re easy to master. The Cleric is a support-type class that boasts impressive spell power and uses long-lasting buffs. The mage-wielder deals Blunt damage to enemies (and extra for the Undead), and they can turn the tides to your favor during a PvPvE showdown. Having a Cleric is a must if you want a viable team where everything makes it out alive at the end of a High Roller.
As you can expect, most of the Cleric’s perks and abilities revolve around casting buffs, debuffs, and heals. If you want to become a Cleric specializing in heals, perks such as Advanced Healer and Kindness are excellent loadouts for a beginner. But hey, if you want to choose violence, you can do so with the Brewmaster drunken Cleric build. This will allow you to drink Ales without getting drunk and buff yourself, making your mace cleave through enemies like butter.
Similar to the Wizard, the Cleric uses the Spell Memory system to cast spells and heals. They don’t hit hard compared to the Fighter or Barbarian, so they often stay in the backlines and buff the team’s tank to do the whooping. Resurrecting, healing, improving physical damage—they can do it all. To say that the Cleric can fit perfectly into any team composition is an understatement. Having one is arguably the most comforting thing in the game!
Become One With the Darkness
That’s about it for all the classes in Dark and Darker. More are on the way once the game officially goes into Early Access, but it’s best to experiment with them to know which fits you the most for now. The dungeons are harsh and unforgiving, so take this chance to ‘git gud’, lest you become one with the darkness or be forced to take the Down Portal.