Black Desert Online offers one of the most flexible class systems in the MMORPG genre. With 24 unique classes to choose from, each with their own abilities, strengths, and playstyles, the choice can be overwhelming for new and returning players. With 2023 now underway, this guide aims to analyze the top class choices specifically for the year ahead.
Key Factors to Consider When Choosing a Class
There are a few key factors to weigh up when deciding which class to focus on in Black Desert Online:
PvP Viability – Some classes inherently have better PvP kits making them stronger in 1v1s and small-scale PvP. If PvP is your main priority, this should guide your choice.
PvE/Grinding Efficiency – Certain classes excel at PvE due to high damage abilities and skills that allow them to clear through monster packs with speed and efficiency. Important if your priority is PvE progression and earning silver.
Playstyle Preference – BDO classes span melee, ranged, magic-focused and more. Selecting a class that matches your preferred playstyle will increase your long term enjoyment.
Ease of Play – Some classes perform better but have higher skill ceilings. As a newer player you may prefer picking up an easier class to begin with.
Bearing these factors in mind, below are some stand-out class choices to consider for 2023:
Top PvP Classes
Sorceress – The Sorceress is still widely considered the strongest 1v1 class in BDO. With multiple grabs, iframes, mobility and high burst damage potential from her awakening skills, she excels at catching opponents off-guard and dispatching them quickly. Her sustainability does let her down in larger scale PvP however.
Positives
- Supreme 1v1 capabilities
- High skill ceiling
- Multiple grab skills
Negatives
- Weak in group fights
- Squishy if crowd controlled
- Complex gameplay
Musa – The Musa defines glass cannon with perhaps the highest damage output potential in the game. In the right hands, Musas can shred opponents in seconds with their fast-hitting martial arts style skills. They are also excellent at picking their battles with hit and run tactics.
Positives
- Incredibly high damage output
- Great mobility for getting in and out of fights
- Speedy skill animations
Negatives
- Very squishy
- Resource intensive gameplay
- High skill floor
Hashashin – The Hashashin combines range, mobility and high burst damage to be a constant threat on the battlefield. His sand clones and unstable crevice skill make him unpredictably dangerous. He‘s a lighter armored class but played well, can outplay most others.
Positives
- Great mobility
- Deceptively high damage
- Outplay potential
Negatives
- Can be caught if abilities are blown
- Long cooldowns
- Skill shot reliant
Top PvE/Grinding Classes
Ranger – Boasting some of the highest PvE clearspeeds in BDO, the Ranger wields her bow with grace and precision to rip through monsters. Her mobility lets her move pack to pack rapidly while dropping high damage AoE attacks like Regeneration and Waltz of Wind. A quintessential grinder.
Positives
- Extremely fast clear speeds
- Very high damage potential
- Strong sustain
Negatives
- Complex cancels required
- Mediocre in PvP
- Squishy
Witch & Wizard – These two magic-wielding classes are powerhouses when it comes to demolishing monster packs quickly. With abilities like Cataclysm, Meteor Shower and Earthquake, they can obliterate areas of effect with devastating damage. They also have self-heals and protections. Easy and very efficient grinders.
Positives
- Huge AoE damage
- Lots of sustain
- Fairly simple gameplay
Negatives
- Slow skill animations
- Mana management critical
- Weak duelists
Lahn & Sage – Both Lahn and Sage offer exciting aerial based combat, allowing them to move swiftly from pack to pack while raining down death from above. The Lahn leaps using her Crescent Pendulum while the Sage takes to the skies via her wings. Their mobility combined with strong AoE makes them farming dynamos.
Positives
- Extreme mobility
- Strong sustain
- Fun aerial combat
Negatives
- Squishier classes
- Resource heavy
- Take practice to master
Easier Classes For Beginners
Below are some solid options if you are looking for a simpler, beginner friendly class as a new player:
Striker – Using his fists and martial arts focused skillset, the Striker provides newcomers with an easy to grasp moveset. His skills flow intuitively into combos while providing him good sustainability through his Resource meter. He‘s no slouch in PvP either. A nice starting point before transitioning to his higher skill sister class, the Mystic.
Positives
- Intuitive combos
- Great sustain
- Well rounded performance
Negatives
- Dated animations
- Lower skill ceiling
- Farm speed merely average
Berserker – Loved for his simplistic yet satisfying spin-to-win combat style, the Berserker appeals on a visceral level. Despite wearing lighter gear, he has high base HP and can sustain himself while tearing through monsters using basic attack combos and his Lethal Spin Spree. Easy stat builds also make gearing more new player friendly.
Positives
- Spin2Win!
- Innately tanky
- Easy gear progression
Negatives
- Dull skill effects
- Slow hitter
- Group PvP mediocre
Dark Knight – The Dark Knight has a focused and well-balanced toolkit enabling her to flow skillfully between awakening and pre-awakening skills. Her sustain comes from HP regen rather than pots, allowing reliable grind sessions. While not the most exciting class, her ease of play combined with good PvE and PvP makes her a stable pick for new players.
Positives
- Well balanced skillset
- Built-in healing sustain
- Decent all-rounder
Negatives
- Lower skill ceiling
- Average mobility
- Dull skill animations
So in summary, the top classes to choose in Black Desert Online in 2023 looking at PvP, PvE and beginner friendliness are:
S Tier – Sorceress, Musa, Ranger
A Tier – Hashashin, Witch, Wizard, Lahn, Sage
B Tier – Striker, Berserker, Dark Knight
Of course personal preference plays a big role so play around with different classes to see what gels best. Hopefully this guide gave some useful pointers to help choose your main class for 2023! Let the grind begin!