What class to play in Ashes of Creation
Choosing the right class in Ashes of Creation depends on your preferred playstyle and the role you wish to fulfill in both PvE and PvP scenarios. However, before the introduction of the secondary class (coming soon), choosing the class becomes more important than ever as it defines the way you play Ashes and what you can do in the game. Below is a detailed overview of each primary archetype to help you make a choice as you begin playing the game.
Bard
Great Mana Sustain, Great Buffer, Good Damage & Solo Play potential Bards are highly valued for their exceptional utility in both PvE and PvP. They offer a blend of buffs, debuffs, crowd control, and minor healing, but also offer great mana regeneration for all party members, making it important to have one in the party alongside a Cleric during group content. While Bards aren't very easy to play, once you've gotten the hang of it, a good Bard can make the difference in all scenarios while also being more than capable of playing solo, either during the leveling part of the game or solo farming mobs for gold.
Cleric
Classic Healer Type, Great AOE & Single Target Healing, Great for Group PVP/PVE, Not as good in Solo play Clerics stand out for their robust healing capabilities combined with significant survivability. Players have noted their effectiveness in solo play, with the ability to sustain themselves while dealing damage. Their versatility allows them to handle multiple roles, including healing, damage dealing, and tanking.
Fighter
Great for Solo play, Amazing Ganker, High AOE & Single Target Damage, Weak in Large Scale PvP Fighters excel in close-quarters combat due to high burst damage and strong cleave abilities. They are particularly effective in PvE scenarios, providing consistent damage output. Their performance in PvP is solid in small groups but they struggle in large scale pvp where there are more than 10 players on each side as they cannot efficiently close the gap without being blown up by ranged DPS.
Mage
Glass Cannon, High AOE damage, Easy to play Mages deliver high damage through area-of-effect spells while also being able to crowd control, making them incredible in group engagements but also when alone as they can take down mobs with ease, often enough before the mobs can even reach them to begin with. However, they are noted for their fragility, but they have multiple ways to kite out of danger and negate damage through shielding. A lot of players expressed a desire for more diversity in their damage-over-time abilities however but balance changes are still coming to Ashes of Creations and things might change for the Mage before release.
Ranger
One of Highest DPS Classes, Easy to play, Great Mobility, Good Solo Play Potential Rangers offer high single-target damage from a distance, with strong kiting capabilities. They are effective in both PvE and PvP, though their performance may vary based on gear so you should be going for a good weapon as soon as possible. Their mobility allows them to control engagements and avoid damage that way (while also being very fun to play around with). The Ranger stands comfortably behind the Fighter when it comes to gank potential, often outshining the Fighter & Rogue as its capable of dealing damage from far away before players can react or close the gap.
Rogue
Great Burst Damage, Stealth, Great Solo Play Potential Rogues specialize in stealth and burst damage, moving in and out of fights with ease while being more than capable in PVE as it deals incredible damage to mobs, excelling in ambush tactics and PvP scenarios. The Rogue is the perfect duelist, capable of controlling 1vs1 fights easily and making the class a very powerful ganker and the perfect choice for those looking to play a mechanical heavy class with a high skill ceiling that feels very good to play.
Tank
Great Effective HP, Great Group Play, Good AOE CC, Weak Solo Play & Very Group Dependant for leveling Tanks are essential for absorbing damage and protecting allies as it offers multiple buffs that help keep parties alive while pulling mobs. They offer strong control abilities and survivability for themselves, making them a must-have in group content. However, they struggle with solo play due to lower damage output. While other classes can easily AOE grind mobs, the Tank struggles to do that alone and you will often have to wait for groups before you can get anything done. However, this doesn't mean the class is pointless to play alone as there are plenty of other activities to do in Ashes that aren't combat related.
Summoner
Not released yet While not released, the Summoner is supposed to be the pet handler, the type of class that has minions fighting for them instead. Not much is known about this class but a lot of players are excited to see it in action and it looks like its going to be a very powerful secondary class when paired with a heavy damage dealer like the Mage.
Summary and Development
As Ashes of Creation development continues, Intrepid Studios said that they will be adding a secondary class similar to other games like Archeage and others to have more flexibility. Until then however, you should be picking your class based on the group you play and what they require, be it your guild or a few friends while keeping in mind your own availability and theirs so you can maximize the amount of fun you get out of Ashes of Creation.
