Picking the right class in Rune Slayer can make or break your experience. Whether you want to dish out insane damage, tank hits like a champ, or outmaneuver your opponents in PVP, knowing what each class does is key. But it doesn’t stop there—subclasses take your playstyle even further, letting you specialize in damage, support, or unique mechanics. In this guide, I’ll break down every class and subclass, their strengths, and the best class combos. Plus, we’ll go over the PVE and PVP tier lists so you can pick the best option for your needs.
Complete Classes and Subclasses Guide & Best Class Tier List
Rune Slayer has five base classes: Warrior, Archer, Mage, Thief, and Striker. Each has two subclasses that unlock at level 30, further refining how you play. Your subclass determines whether you lean toward damage, support, or hybrid builds.
For example, Mages can become Warlocks or Sorcerers. Choosing the right subclass can drastically change how you approach combat.
Now, let’s break down each class! Also, if you’re still starting in the game, make sure to check out my complete beginners guide for Rune Slayer for all kinds of information like classes, quests, progression, races, skills and more!
Basic Classes Explained
Mage – The Spellcaster
Mage is a ranged class that excels at magic damage. Your subclass choice determines how you play:
- Warlock – High DPS with summoning magic and dark spells.
- Sorcerer – An elemental magic-focused High DPS subclass.
- Priest (?)
Mages shine in PVE thanks to their powerful spells and AOE attacks. In PVP, they can be tricky to use but deadly in the right hands—positioning is everything!
Archer – The Long-Range Damage Dealer
Archer is a top-tier PVE class thanks to: High critical damage, long-range attacks, and the ability to tame and summon beasts (depending on subclass).
While it’s dominant in PVE, it’s not as strong in PVP since it lacks mobility. However, paired with the right subclass, it can still hold its own.
Thief – The Speedy Assassin
Thief is all about agility, high-speed attacks, and evasive movement. It’s one of the best PVP classes due to:
- High burst damage
- Incredible speed
- Strong damage buffs
Pairing Thief with Archer is an excellent hybrid build, maximizing damage output while keeping mobility.
Warrior – The Tanky Powerhouse
Warrior is the tankiest class, built for absorbing damage and dishing out powerful melee strikes. It has:
- High HP
- Strong melee attacks
- The ability to parry and block incoming damage
Depending on your subclass, you can go full tank mode or focus on melee DPS. Warriors are great for players who enjoy close-range combat and strategic parrying.
Striker – The Brawler
Striker is a melee-focused fighter class. It thrives in PVP but struggles in PVE.
- PVP Strengths: Strong combos, great in 1v1 fights.
- PVE Weaknesses: Lacks range and struggles against groups of enemies.
If you love fast-paced melee combat and high-risk, high-reward playstyles, Striker is a great pick.
Best Class Combinations & Subclasses
Once you level up, you can combine two classes for hybrid builds. Here are some of the strongest pairings:
- Archer + Thief – High critical damage and insane burst potential. One of the best all-around builds.
- Warrior + Mage – A tanky spellcaster with the ability to summon monsters and deal huge magic damage.
Currently, there are 10 subclasses, with two available for each base class:
- Archer – Sharpshooter, Beast Tamer
- Warrior – Knight, Berserker
- Mage – Warlock, Sorcerer
- Thief – Assassin, Ninja
- Striker – Ashura, Monk
The only confirmed requirement so far is reaching level 30 to unlock them. Details on how each subclass functions are still scarce, but as soon as more information drops, I’ll update this guide accordingly.
PVE Tier List
S Tier (Top-Tier for PVE)
- Archer – Ridiculous damage, range, and crits. A must-have for PVE.
- Mage – Insane spell damage and AOE potential.
A Tier (Great, But Not Perfect)
- Warrior (Greatsword) – Strong AOE and great crowd control.
B Tier (Decent, But Situational)
- Thief – Good melee DPS, but struggles with range.
C Tier (Not Ideal for PVE)
- Striker – Melee-focused with low range, making PVE difficult.
PVP Tier List
S Tier (Best for PVP)
- Striker – Insane combo potential and close-range dominance.
- Mage – Can chain spells into infinite combos if played correctly.
A Tier (Strong, But Not Overpowered)
- Warrior – Greatsword builds are terrifying in PVP.
- Thief – Fast and deadly, though not as dominant as Striker.
C Tier (Weak in PVP)
- Archer – Struggles in PVP due to lack of stun and mobility.
Wrap-Up
At the end of the day, every class has its strengths, but some definitely stand out in certain areas. Here’s a quick breakdown of my thoughts:
- Archer is hands-down one of the best PVE classes. It dishes out massive damage, and its critical attacks hit like a truck—so mastering crits will take your damage to the next level. While it’s still viable in PVP, it’s not the best since it lacks mobility. If you want a hybrid build, pairing Archer with Thief is a solid option since Thief boosts damage with buffs and excels in PVP.
- Mage is another great class with versatility. You can go full support as a Cleric or focus on high DPS as a Warlock. Warlocks also have summoning magic, so if you love controlling minions, that’s the way to go.
- Warrior is a fun pick if you enjoy parrying, tanking, and heavy melee combat. It has high HP, deals strong damage, and rewards skillful play. Compared to Archer, which relies on range, Warrior keeps you right in the action.
At the end of the day, there’s no “bad” class—it all depends on what fits your style. Pick the one that looks fun, and you’ll have a great time. Anyway, if you made it this far, thanks for reading! I’ll keep updating this guide as more details come out. If you’ve got any thoughts, feel free to drop a comment below!
