Dark and Darker class tier list and best solo class (April 2025)

A character holding magic rod in Dark and Darker.
Credit: Dark and Darker (Ironmace)

In this Dark and Darker tier list and best solo class, we break down the strongest classes, ranking them for solo play. Whether you prefer brute force, magic, or stealth, we’ve got you covered!

Looking to dominate Dark and Darker in solo play or find the best class for your next dungeon run? With 9 unique classes out of 13 offering a distinct playstyle, it is crucial to know which ones can stand on their own and which shine at a party. Dark and Darker throws players into a ruthless dungeon-crawling adventure where every choice can mean survival and death.

While some classes, like the Bard, thrive in group settings, others excel in the brutal world of solo adventuring. Choosing the right class can mean the difference between surviving a brutal dungeon or becoming another adventurer’s loot.

On the hunt for more Dark and Darker content? Be sure to check out our article discussing whether it's coming to consoles as well as the best performance settings for the game.

Dark and Darker class tier list (April 2025)

So here is how the classes compare in the early stages of Dark and Darker in class tier list and best solo class which is based on Repoze, a YouTuber player of the game.

[@portabletext/vue] Unknown block type "tierListEmbed", specify a component for it in the `components.types` prop

S Tier

Ranger

With great damage, strong utility, and better survivability, the Ranger is where it should be: an S-tier solo fighter in Dark and Darker. As a ranged specialist, the Ranger can decimate foes from afar with surgical precision and a blistering rate of fire, which may give it an advantage over melee-focused classes.

Equipped with traps and tracking skills, the Ranger can dominate the battlefield, laying ambushes or escaping them outright. Mobility is another huge strength. Rangers move faster in light armor, allowing them to kite enemies easily and reposition quickly in dangerous situations. Regarding PvE, Rangers excel at solo clearing rooms, using their range to handle mobs without taking much damage.

Rogue

The dungeons in Dark and Darker are filled with many challenges that sometimes force you to consider whether to fight or flee. The Rogue class is a great choice for those who prefer to dictate combat on their own terms. This character is the silent assassin in the game and can slip between shadows to avoid detection and loot the game's many treasures.

Rouge - dark and darker
click to enlarge
Rouge

Rogue excels in scouting and disarming traps, making them invaluable for exploring dangerous areas and avoiding ambushes. Their ability to remain undetected and strike from the shadows gives them a unique edge. The Rogue has a very high movement speed and is the only class that can pick locks without a lockpick, making this a great option for those trying to stock up on items. However, it has a low health rating, although its elusive movements and quickness can negate this.

A Tier

Druid

The Druid lands in the B-tier for solo fighters in Dark and Darker; although it offers unique forms of versatility and sustainability in solo play, it lacks the raw offensive prowess and survivability of top-tier classes. The Druid’s shapeshifting, such as turning into a tanky bear or a swift wolf, offers decent flexibility for many situations. In addition, it can self-heal, summon minions, and control the battlefield using nature-based spells — all suitable for solo thrives.

However, these strengths come with correspondingly slower kill potential and a stricter skill ceiling. (Julien Levesque) Druid is also kinda weird, having many of their skills that need good positioning/timing to be effective in high-end solo fights and damage over time mechanics that don’t keep up with burst damage of other classes in high-pressure solo fights.

Fighter

Fighters earn their S-tier ranks due to their versatility and well-rounded abilities. They can wield almost any weapon and equip most armor, which, therefore, couples well with its well-rounded attributes.

Fighters boast good damage output and strong survivability, allowing them to withstand extended battles while dealing consistent damage. Their crowd-control capabilities make them valuable for managing multiple enemies simultaneously, supporting their team by keeping threats.

Their balance between offense, defense, and control makes Fighters a great choice for new and experienced players, offering flexibility in different combat scenarios and playstyles.

Barbarian

In stark contrast to the silent and deadly Rogue, the Barbarian has no issue making some noise in combat. Boasting the highest health rating in the game and the strongest melee attacks, this class is designed to absorb damage and deal it back with malicious intent.

The Barbarian can also wield any heavy-duty weapon, which means it will deliver high-damage blows better than any other class. While this is a great perk, it comes at the expense of speed, as it has a slow base movement and attack speed.

Bard

The Bard is ranked as a A-tier solo fighter in Dark and Darker due to its unique utility and support capabilities. Still, it struggles to shine in a solo combat scenario compared to other classes. The Bard excels in buffing allies, debuffing enemies, and providing sustained healing and damage boosts with its musical abilities.

These abilities make it an excellent team player but also less effective when flying solo. While it has the potential to survive with its supportive skillset, its damage output is relatively low, and its reliance on songs and positioning leaves it vulnerable when facing multiple enemies or tough bosses.

B Tier

Sorcerer

The Sorcerer in Dark and Darker lands in B-tier as a solo fighter due to their high-risk, high-reward nature. Armed with powerful ranged magic and the ability to dish out devastating damage from a distance, the Sorcerer can delete enemies before they even get close. Spells like Chain Lightning and Magic Missile can clear mobs or pressure players in PvP but only if you manage your casting smartly.

That said, solo play reveals the class’s biggest weaknesses: fragility and spell economy. With no heavy armor and low HP, Sorcerers are glass cannons, a few hits and you're done. Unlike in a team setting, there's no tank to draw aggro or support to cover your retreat. You're also heavily reliant on spell charges and meditation to recover, which can leave you wide open during critical moments.

Wizard

Wizard has various attacks and abilities, making it a formidable opponent. While they are glass cannons with low health and defense, their ability to deal massive damage with powerful spells makes them formidable. They can quickly destroy enemies from a distance using high-damage spells like Fireball and Magic Missile.

Although Wizards are fragile, their utility spells, such as Haste, Invisibility, and Ignite, provide immense versatility and strategic value in solo and group play. Haste increases movement speed for the Wizard and allies, Invisibility enables quick escapes or ambushes, and Ignite boosts damage. Despite their fragility, their strong spells and utility make Wizards a top A-tier class.

Warlock

Like the Wizard, the Warlock is a spell-casting character class. But what makes it different from the Wizard is that it is a master of dark magic and will cast curses to cripple its adversaries.

While it has some strong offensive abilities, this character's main source of offense will cost health points every time a spell is cast. While this may be worth the sacrifice for more experienced players, you may want to become more familiar with the game before trying this one out if you are new to Dark and Darker.

C Tier

Cleric

Clerics are incredible due to their versatility and powerful healers. They can restore health and provide essential buffs using holy magic, significantly boosting their allies' capabilities in battle indispensable in solo and group play.

They can also hold their own in combat, combining defense and support, making them at the top of the tier list. Despite their slow attack, their self-healing and defensive spells give them survivability that other classes lack, making up for the slower attack rate.

What is the best solo class in Dark and Darker?

For your money, you can't go wrong with using the Cleric class if playing Dark and Darker entirely solo. This is due to its versatility, where you can pick up practically any weapon and cope well in combat.

Of course, you'll become more of a jack of all trades rather than a specialist at magic, ranged attacks, or any other specific proficiencies. That said, if your aim is just to handle yourself in combat and have a solid grasp on any situation, the Fighter is your best call.

That's it for our Dark and Darker class tier list! For more, check out our best Warlock build, and news on how the XP system works.

For more articles like this, take a look at our Guides and Dark and Darker page.