Summary
There are eight playable classes in the early access version ofDungeonborne, each of which is entirely different from the last. InDungeonborne, as in the similarco-op gameDark and Darker, a player’s current class determines their entire playstyle. Each class can equip different types of weapons and armor, uses a unique set of special skills, and has a distinct set of stats defining their strengths and weaknesses.
Dungeonborneoriginally skyrocketed in popularityduring Steam Next Fest, during which only seven playable classes were available. The eighth, Druid, was introduced withDungeonborne’s early access release. While the classes are liable to undergo some tweaking between now and the full-fledged release (not to mention the potential for new classes to be introduced), here’s how the eight playable classes compare in the current version ofDungeonborne.
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8Pyromancer Is Dungeonborne’s Worst Class
Slow Speed, Unintuitive Attacks
Of the eight classes inDungeonborne,Pyromancers' combined low stats and unintuitive abilities make them the worst. Pyromancers wield staves, daggers, one-handed swords, and orbs by default, the latter of which are used as magic shields. As the name implies, their skills are mostly themed after fire spells: Fire Blast is used to push enemies away from the relatively low health, low armor Pyromancer, while the variable Pyroblast can turn into either a series of homing missiles or a powerful AoE explosion, depending on how long it’s charged.
Players can change their classes inDungeonborneby simply pressing F1 and creating a new character.
Unfortunately, Pyromancers' low HP and lack of protective armor makes them extremely susceptible to premature death. In a game likeDungeonborne, where players take tons of damage from each hit, and permanently lose their entire inventories every time they die, that can be incredibly risky. Their fiery AoEs are powerful, but also prone to friendly fire. Butperhaps their worst aspect is their low speed. This can prevent them from running away when they’re surrounded by foes. It also means they’ll be the last to get to potential loot drops, which can mean majorly missing out when playing with selfish strangers.
7Dungeonborne’s Swordmasters Rely Too Much On Loot
Psionic Blade Abilities Are Too Demanding
In concept, Swordmasters sound like the coolest (and potentially most powerful) class inDungeonborne. They can wield both kinds of swords: one- and two-handed. They excel, however, with a blade in either hand, delivering quick onslaughts of rapid strikes that can bully monsters into submission. Unfortunately,their special abilities rely on their having one to four extra swords equipped at all times. Each time they use Psionic Blades (which fires swords at enemies as ranged weapons) or Whirling Blade (a damaging AoE centered on the caster), they have to use at least one of these extra swords.
The Swordmaster’s extra swords don’t have to take up space in the loot inventory; they can be placed in special slots separate from the main stash.
It’s difficult to keep enough weapons on hand to use the Swordmaster’s abilities with any kind of regularity. It’s nigh impossible on multiplayer, when one’s teammates may need them more. That said,the Swordmaster’s maneuverability is better designed for solo play; but even then, they don’t quite live up to their potential. They’re just a little too squishy to take the brunt of the damage themselves, making the other sword-wielding classes preferable in every way.
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6Dungeonborne’s Cryomancer Is A Slightly Better Caster Class
Balanced Offense & Defense
As spellcasters go,Cryomancers are certainly better than Pyromancers, but still suffer from many of the same setbacks. Cryomancers also wield staves, swords, daggers, and orbs. They’re the first class on this list to have multiple sets of skills from which they can choose. Ice Storm is a blizzard AoE, which can freeze enemies and make them vulnerable. Frostbite Curse is a single-target attack, reducing their resistance to ice damage and causing their HP to slowly tick down. Frost Barrier encases the Cryomancer in a glacier of ice, making them immune to damage; Ice Armor increases an ally’s defense, and slows enemies who attack them.
Cryomancers are slightly faster than their Pyromancer cousins, but every bit as fragile. That said, their defensive abilities do give them a unique advantage among caster classes, and their AoEs are unmatched. Unfortunately,their spells can be interrupted, potentially wasting time and leaving them vulnerable if they’re hit by an enemy mid-cast. They’re not the best for solo play, but when employed by an experienced player, and supported by a communicative team with a good tank, they’re one of the better classes available inDungeonborne.
5Dungeonborne’s Fighters Are Low On Flavor, High On Defense
The Best Class For New Players
For a litany of reasons,Fighter is the perfect starting class for a newDungeonborneplayer. Conceptually, they’re approachable, resembling the archetypal knight in shining armor. They can use almost any kind of weapon, allowing players to experiment and find what they’re most comfortable with. Their abilities are easy to understand: Whirlwind is a spinning AoE, Battle Cry raises their most pertinent stats, Charge moves them forward quickly, and Inspire increases the entire team’s movement speed. They can hold their own both in solo and team play, making them incredibly versatile.
Most importantly, though,Fighters have high HP and very heavy armor. That means they take the least damage from every attack. That’s an indispensable boon in the early game, when players must collect as much weaponry, armor, cash, and crafting miscellanea as they can, in order to upgrade their loadouts so they can take on tougher challenges and bring back more loot. The one thingDungeonborne’s Fighters lack is flavor. In a game full of undead wizards and elven druids, these sword-and-shield knights just seem bland by comparison. Still, they’re an excellent introduction to the mechanics ofDungeonborne.
4Dungeonborne’s Rogues Are Everything Swordmasters Should Be
Incredible Speed, Difficult Positioning
TriedDungeonborne’s Swordmaster class, but found them lacking?Rogues take all the good things about Swordmasters and wrap them up in a simple, elegant package, making them one of the best melee classes in the game. Rogues wield daggers, one-handed swords, and crossbows, and can use Petrifying Poison to coat their arms with a substance that freezes its targets in place. Quick Blades is similar to the Swordmaster’s Psionic Blades, firing out a string of six throwing daggers in rapid succession. Vanish can be used to make a rogue disappear, which increases their critical damage. Swift Concealment is much the same, but with a quicker casting time and a much shorter duration.
Rogues' speed is incredibly helpful in a fight, and even better when the player needs to escape a rival group of players on the double. They have a variety of options for both melee and ranged combat, and work well both solo and on teams, making them incredibly versatile. However,playing a Rogue well means paying attention to positioning. Players will have to plan their moves carefully with this class, which means it’s less than ideal for beginners.
3Priests Are Dungeonborne’s Most Underrated Class
Low Damage, But Necessary Healing
Priests areDungeonborne’s resident healers, with a variety of options for keeping themselves and their teammates alive. They use one-handed swords and maces, staves, and orbs. All their abilities center on healing and protection, but some of them deal damage as well. Divine Guidance can be placed over a large area, healing allies and damaging enemies inside. Cleanse simply heals a target, whether it’s an ally or the Priest themselves. Divine Protection makes its target immune to all damage, and Guard grants a shield to the entire team.
But like all caster classes, Priests are fragile, and if they don’t apply their defensive/healing abilities to themselves, they can easily be removed from the battlefield early. That said,as the only healing class available inDungeonborne, priests are highly underutilized. They’re the best team players in the game - in fact, no team is complete without one. Everyone may want to play a DPS, but they’ll breathe a sigh of relief when they see a Priest on their team.
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2Dungeonborne’s Death Knights Are A Superior Alternative To Fighters
Powerful Magic, High Defense
Just as Rogues are like better versions of Swordmasters,Death Knights improve on Fighters in every conceivable way. First, instead of heavily-armored humans, they’re customizable skeletons. They use a similar set of weapons, but their special abilities are incredibly satisfying, not to mention powerful. Soul Shroud and Soulstorm are AoEs - the only major difference is that Soul Shroud is timed, where Soulstorm can be activated and deactivated at will. Grasp of the Grave pulls enemies into melee range, damaging them all the way. So, the idea is to yank an enemy closer with Grasp of the Grave, activate one’s preferred AoE, and then slash away with their weapon of choice.
Death Knights are only slightly less tanky than Fighters, allowing them to hold their own in both solo and team matches. Their weapons and spells are equally damaging, and recharge quickly enough to be consistently useful.The only real downside is the Death Knight’s popularity; players will frequently load into matches where all three players on a team are sword-wielding skeletons, creating an entirely unbalanced group of players.
1Druid Is Dungeonborne’s Best Class
The Best Of Both Worlds
Of all eight player classes currently available,Druids are the best choice inDungeonborne. They mix casting and melee abilities to create incredibly balanced builds, allowing players to react quickly and appropriately to a wide variety of situations. Druids begin as elvish spellcasters, and can use Force of Nature to summon treants (living branches) on the battlefield. They’ll automatically attack any enemies that walk by, and also give the Druid a shield. They can be placed strategically to block paths and stymie enemy progress. But on using Primal Awakening, the Druid transforms into a panther. This gives them a third-person camera - invaluable in searching for incoming threats - and a powerful set of melee claw attacks.
Once in panther form, Force of Nature changes into Shadow Assault, a pouncing attack that allows the Druid to leap forward and damage all the enemies near their landing point. Their passive abilities heighten their Predatory Senses, allowing them to sense nearby enemies using the map. Playing a Druid isn’t for the faint of heart, as it requires careful precision and quick reaction time. However, in the hads of an experienced player, a Druid can be the most powerful character in aDungeonborneparty.
