There are a number of professions for players to step into in Guild Wars 2. Each has their own unique advantages and playstyles that ensures every player can do what they want. Even better are the subclasses that give further complexity to things.
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But over time, it has become apparent that some professions are better than others. Some seem well equipped to handle a variety of problems, others seem incredibly niche, and some are just simply better at pumping out DPS. For new and returning players to this MMORPG, here are all the professions in the game and how they currently stack up.
9 Warrior
The Warrior class is a favorite for new players because it’s incredibly simple to play while still holding its own in combat. The Berserker subclass turns them into raw damage dealers and the Spellbreaker subclass is designed to interrupt enemy attackers.
The problem with the Warrior is that it’s stretched thin in too many directions. In an effort to be versatile it loses its effectiveness. It also suffers from being to niche in that Warriors should be on the frontlines and struggle anywhere else. As with any game a Warrior can be the most powerful profession with the right player behind the wheel, but for the average player it tends to struggle.
8 Thief
Thieves are highly mobile assassins who use stealth to dart in and out of battle to eviscerate their enemies. Daredevil Thieves are acrobats who can dodge multiple attacks and the Deadeye focuses on ambush tactics to take out single targets quickly.
In groups Thieves are powerful warriors, but alone they struggle greatly which is why they rank lower. They require stealth and surprise to be most effective and that’s not always possible. It’s a good profession for players wanting to get into ganking, but not for most other situations outside of a group.
7 Revenant
Revenants are an interesting breed. They can support their allies with powerful auras while causing chaos for their enemies with AOE attacks. The Herald emphasizes buffing and supporting the group while Renegades take pleasure in devastating opposing groups with lifesteal, AOE, and crowd control.
Revenants are a tough class to play as there is a lot of resource managing. If done well they can be powerful, if done poorly they wont get much accomplished. Renegades admittedly can hold their own fairly well, but Heralds almost require a group to be effective. It’s a flashy class that can be a lot of fun, but they really need someone to hold the frontline while they work their magic.
6 Ranger
Rangers are fun because they can charm animals across the game world and take pets into battle. They’re also versatile as a standard Ranger is a master with the bow, the Druid subclass is a powerful support healer and buffer, and the Soulbeast is a monstrous warrior that can fuse with their pets.
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While pets are fun they tend to get trashed by AOE attacks. This makes ranged fighting tricky without allies, as the pets aren’t guaranteed to hold the frontlines. Druids work better in groups and Soulbeasts work better alone. It’s a solid class that can give players a sampling of a variety of playstyles.
5 Necromancer
Necromancers are masters of battle manipulation as they can summon minions to do their dirty work. The Reaper subclass is a juggernaut that turns their power inward to improve survivability and become brutal in melee and the Scourge subclass becomes a glass cannon to fight from afar and provide group support.
In PvE this is a phenomenal class as they’re very self-sufficient and can solo just about anything. Against other players they’re a bit of a mixed bag as they’re DPS happens over time. They’re a grindy class to play which can be frustrating for many players who just want to end fights quickly and move on.
4 Mesmer
Mesmers are masters of deceit and chaos. They can teleport allies reduce cool-downs and make their allies hard to target. Chronomancers emphasize the use of buffs for themselves and allies while Mirage elites use clones and other sneaky tactics to overwhelm opponents in one-on-one combat.
They’re a bit tricky to play as which makes soloing a bit of a learning curve. In groups they’re absolutely phenomenal even for mediocre players behind the wheel. They also have the benefit of being in demand with any group. Think of them as an effective mix of Thief and Revenant.
3 Guardian
Many believe Guardians are the chosen class of the developers and it’s not hard to see why. There are brutal tanks who can keep themselves and allies alive. The Dragonhunter gives Guardians better mobility and berserker-like DPS while the Firebrand can be either a damage dealing powerhouse or a team support healer.
The only downside, which is a minor one, to Guardians are that they tend to be niche in combat. Guardians need healers to back them up, Dragonhunters are better in shorter fights, and Firebrand are good in long drawn out fights. They can more than hold their own in solo combat, but they really shine in group fights.
2 Elementalist
Elementalists are a fantastic class for the average player. They are ranged damage dealers who can also out-heal the enemy when needed. The Tempest specialty is one of the best group supports in the game and the Weaver is a fantastic duelist.
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In solo they shine by devastating groups quickly with AOE attacks and in groups they are excellent backline fighters who can buff allies, heal the group, or rain hellfire on the enemy. They can be glass cannons at times, but its only a problem if the enemy survives the chaos an Elementalist can unleash on the battlefield. If the player wants to quickly obliterate everything on the screen this is the class to pick.
1 Engineer
Engineers are capable of becoming just about anything which makes them the best class in the game. They’re great for beginners and immensely powerful for veterans familiar with their tricks. The Scrapper specialization is an efficient tank who can shrug off damage and the Holosmith is the other side of the coin that specializes in high DPS.
They’re great for solo players due to their survivability and adaptability to handle any scenario. In group fights they’re masters at crowd control, can quickly take down troublesome opponents, and hold the frontline simultaneously. It takes a lot to put them down and blowing things up is always fun. If the player wants a class good at PvE, PvP, and World vs World this is the one to pick.
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