EDITORIAL TIER LIST
Build Tier List
Skill-tree builds ranked for solo progression, boss fights, and co-op roles.
S tier for Update 8: Sniper Ranger and Storm Wizard.
- Game version:
- Update 8 / v0.9.1.2
- Reviewed:
- Author:
- GameWith Enshrouded Editorial
- Entries
- 10 entries
This page reflects Update 8 / v0.9.1.2. The game is now on Version 1.0, so some details may have changed.
Tier board
- S Tier
Best in class. Build around these first.
- A Tier
Strong and reliable in most situations.
- B Tier
Useful in specific situations or party roles.
Scope
Ten builds that combine the twelve skill clusters (Warrior, Guardian, Barbarian, Athlete, Ranger, Assassin, Beastmaster, Survivor, Wizard, Trickster, Healer, Battlemage). Enshrouded has no locked classes: every build is a set of connected nodes you can respec, so the names are ours.
How we rank
Ranks weigh solo safety, boss damage, crowd control, gear dependence, and how much a mistake costs. Update 8 reset skill trees and made more than 80 skills upgradable, so every rank assumes upgraded core nodes.
S Tier
Best in class. Build around these first.
Sniper Ranger
- Solo
- Safe
- Beginner friendly
Marksman increases bow damage, Multi Shot spreads arrows, and Sneak Attack deals +900% damage when you sneak up to an unaware enemy. The safest way to clear Embervale solo.
Why it ranks here
- Starts every fight on your terms from range
- Bows and the Ranger tree scale together all game
Tradeoffs
- Uses up arrows, and the melee fallback is weak
- Skill trees
- Ranger + Assassin
- Core skills
- Marksman, Multi Shot, Sneak Attack
- Weapons
- Bow (+ dagger backup)
How to get
Ranger tree first, then the Assassin nodes on the same side of the tree.
Storm Wizard
- Boss
- Crowd control
- Late game
Chain Lightning for packs, Arc Lightning for bosses, and Terror giving spell crits a chance to stun for 2 seconds: the highest-control damage build in the game.
Why it ranks here
- Chain Hit gives every crit a second target
- Stun-locks bosses with Arc Lightning's constant hits
Tradeoffs
- Fragile until Protective Barrier and Eternal spells unlock
- Charge farming before the Eternal versions
- Skill trees
- Wizard + Trickster
- Core skills
- Chain Hit, Terror, Counterstrike
- Weapons
- Staff (+ wand backup)
- Spells
- Chain Lightning, Arc Lightning, Heal Cascade I
How to get
Wizard tree for crit and element scaling, Trickster for Terror and Counterstrike.
A Tier
Strong and reliable in most situations.
Sword & Board Tank
- Co-op
- Forgiving
- Beginner friendly
Nemesis pulls enemy attention, Earth Aura raises Physical and Magical Resistances for you and nearby allies, and a shield answers everything else. The build that lets a group make mistakes.
Why it ranks here
- Swift Blades keeps one-handed attacks quick
Tradeoffs
- Lowest kill speed among the top builds
- Skill trees
- Warrior + Guardian
- Core skills
- Nemesis, Earth Aura, Swift Blades, Veteran
- Weapons
- One-handed sword + shield
How to get
Warrior tree for damage and speed, Guardian tree for Nemesis and Earth Aura.
Greatsword Barbarian
- Burst
- Stun
- Solo
Update 8's reworked two-handed chains plus Whirlwind Crescendo finishers and Blood Rage (more melee weapon damage for 10 seconds after a nearby melee kill) make this the hardest-hitting melee build.
Why it ranks here
- Heavy attacks deal double damage and stun on every melee weapon
- Shockwave punishes enemies after a parry
Tradeoffs
- Commitment-heavy: a mistimed swing costs health
- Skill trees
- Barbarian + Warrior + Athlete
- Core skills
- Whirlwind Crescendo, Blood Rage, Shockwave, Warrior's Path
- Weapons
- Greatsword or two-handed hammer
How to get
Barbarian tree for Shockwave, Whirlwind Crescendo, and Blood Rage; Warrior and Athlete nodes fill the gaps.
Blink Battlemage
- Mobile
- No charges
- Solo
Blink replaces the dodge with a teleport, Arcane Proliferation adds a 30% chance of extra projectiles, and Update 8's longer wand range means you rarely need a staff.
Why it ranks here
- No charge management at all
- Life Essences raises maximum Health based on Intelligence
Tradeoffs
- Peak damage below staff casters with Eternal spells
- Skill trees
- Battlemage + Wizard
- Core skills
- Blink, Arcane Proliferation, Life Essences, Arsonist
- Weapons
- Wand (+ staff for healing)
How to get
Battlemage tree for Blink, Arcane Proliferation, and Life Essences; Wizard nodes for element damage.
Dagger Assassin
- Burst
- High skill
- Solo
Silent Stride lets you close unseen, Sneak Attack lands +900% backstabs, and Slice And Dice boosts your next bow shot after a dagger crit to finish runners. Brutal when it works, thin when it does not.
Why it ranks here
- Deletes single dangerous enemies before fights start
- The dagger focus special adds a mid-fight burst
Tradeoffs
- Groups and bosses that cannot be backstabbed expose the build
- Skill trees
- Assassin + Trickster
- Core skills
- Sneak Attack, Silent Stride, Slice And Dice
- Weapons
- Daggers + bow
How to get
Assassin tree for Sneak Attack, Silent Stride, and Slice And Dice; Trickster or Ranger nodes to taste.
Frostfire Wizard
- AoE
- Kiting
- Mid game
Eternal Fireball for packs and Eternal Ice Bolt to slow whatever survives. Less boss control than the Storm Wizard, but the strongest map-clearing caster from Lv17 on.
Why it ranks here
- Two elements cover most resistances
- Eternal charges from Lv17 end charge farming early
Tradeoffs
- Fireball's slower casts need space
- Skill trees
- Wizard + Trickster
- Core skills
- Arsonist, Iceman, Chain Hit
- Weapons
- Staff
- Spells
- Eternal Fireball, Eternal Ice Bolt, Heal Cascade I
How to get
Wizard tree with both Arsonist and Iceman, then Chain Hit.
B Tier
Useful in specific situations or party roles.
Support Healer
- Co-op only
- Support
Water Aura heals everyone in a radius, Divine Surge makes heals crit, and Righteous Fire turns every heal into damage. Excellent in a group of four, pointless solo.
Why it ranks here
- Keeps melee allies alive through boss mistakes
Tradeoffs
- Almost no personal damage
- Chain Heal and Heal Beam charges burn mana fast
- Skill trees
- Healer + Wizard
- Core skills
- Water Aura, Divine Surge, Righteous Fire
- Weapons
- Staff
- Spells
- Heal Cascade I, Chain Heal, Heal Beam
How to get
Healer tree for Water Aura, Divine Surge, and Righteous Fire; Wizard nodes for mana and crits.
Beastmaster Explorer
- Exploration
- Co-op
- Utility
Wild animals stop attacking, Vukah lend a hand, and Runner plus Arachnoid make the map cheaper to cross. A traversal build, not a combat one.
Why it ranks here
- Fastest exploration and gathering loop
- Good Metabolism raises orb restoration from 10% to 30%
Tradeoffs
- Needs a damage tree for anything past mid-game bosses
- Skill trees
- Beastmaster + Survivor
- Core skills
- Calm Spirit, Beast Master, Vukah Culture, Runner, Arachnoid
- Weapons
- Any (bow recommended)
How to get
Beastmaster tree for Calm Spirit, Beast Master, and Vukah Culture; Survivor tree for Runner, Arachnoid, and Good Metabolism.
Athlete Skirmisher
- Mobile
- Fun
- Mid game
Double Jump into Crash Down Attack AoE, Kick to fill stun bars and knock enemies off ledges. Entertaining and mobile, but less consistent than the shield or two-hander builds.
Why it ranks here
- Unmatched vertical mobility in fights and traversal
Tradeoffs
- Aerial commits are punished by ranged enemies
- Skill trees
- Athlete + Warrior
- Core skills
- Double Jump, Crash Down Attack, Kick
- Weapons
- One-handed sword or axe
How to get
Athlete tree for Double Jump, Crash Down Attack, and Kick; Warrior nodes for base melee damage.
