Zardnaar
Legend
So mighty adventurer. You are starting at level 1 the future awaits. I will be rating the classes based on how good they are level 1-4. Very broadly primary casters will be getting a comparatively low rating due to lack of resources. They generally have 2-5 spells available with a few low level ones extra for land druids and wizards. Spell casters that get additional resources on top of that will rank higher than those that don't as a general rule.
1. Level 1 and 3 will be considered a lot.
2. Combat is easy to rate but other classes good at other things that matter and ok at combat may be rated higher than pure combat focused class.
3. with 13 classes each tier will get a minimum of 2 classes in it. Tier D doesn't mean trash tier bad its just worse than C tier.
4. Classes with multiple (better) subclasses will get ranked higher than those that don't. If the base class is also good expect a higher ranking.
Artificer A
The artificer has a bit of a weak sauce reputation. Mostly due to its 2014 incarnation IMHO. A low level artificer however has a lot of things going for it. You get a lot of tool proficiencies but you have excellent saves, skills armor and shields and a half caster. Guidance and options to take sleight of hand, arcana and perception skills on the same class. This makes a one level dip in the class very appealing as well. At level2 you can create a couple of magic items. This is very versatile from an alchemical jug through to Armor of Gleaming. Level 2 half or full plate please. Level 3 all of the subclasses are also excellent options. Two subclasses are excellent at support especially if you don't mind donating your items. The other 3 can also do good to high damage.
Barbarian S. You are a one trick pony but very front loaded. The frenzied Berzerker and Zealot both stand out while the other ones are also good. Your resistances also don't get any better as later on a lot of creatures deal force damage. You are just to good at a very important pillar, hit to hard and have options of doing other stuff as well depending on subclass. I prefer other martials way later down the line but surviving tier 1 is a very high goal for me. What is better than a good class later? Lots of damage and not dying.
Bard C.
Well the Bard is a great class but you are still a primary caster. You lack spell slots but you do get extra resources those being bard dice. Unfortunately they don't refresh on a short rest yet. Low damage as well but you do get skills as well. Finally a few of your subclasses are underwhelming eg Moon and Dance and Valor takes a while to get good. Most of the other classes are just better right now. That means C tier for Bard.
Cleric C.
Primary caster syndrome strikes again and you're better than most but enough to get a kick in the love spuds. Channel divinity can provide extra resources but its subclass dependent. On the plus side every subclass you have is good to great. But they're not there yet. Some of the sub classes eg light are B tier but other classes have better options at these tiers. You're not that far off your future greatness however.
Druid B.
Primary caster syndrome yet again. However wildshape gives you more resources to get to the next tier and they tend to be of longer duration or more than clerics get at these levels. Eg moon druid, wrath of the sea or the extra guiding bolts the Star Druid gets. No dud subclasses either with 3 great ones. When the Land Druid is your worst option you're dining well generally.
Fighter A
The fighter is also very front loaded at tier 1 and I would argue through to level 8. Every subclass is good to great with the banneret being the dud options. 1-4 levels of fighter are always great for multiclass dips. Every class is packing short rest abilities now so odds are you get even more action surge and second winds and you're also a bit of a limited skill monkey when its clutch. I would almost put it in S tier but there is better options.
Monk B.
On paper the monk is great. But that greatness is further in the future as your ability scores are kinda low probably and you do not have many focus points to go around. Excellent damage however but there is a lot of temptation to add a level of ranger, fighter or rogue for weapon masteries. Your future greatness awaits but you're a reasonable option right out the gate.
Paladin B.
One of the best classes in the game. But you're a half caster reliant on spell slots for extra damage. You can heal as well but that is in short supply as well. All of your subclasses are good to great and you got another very nice on in Adventures in Faerun. Great class just outmatched out the gate and you don't have things like your aura yet and spell slots are in short supply. You get weapon masteries and fighting style feat but so does the ranger and fighter. One falls off and one doesn't. Its good to be king.
Ranger S.
Well with a reputation of being bad the Ranger is actually i an excellent slot in tier 1. I have seen them out damage barbarians with hunters mark, dual wielding and the extra die of damage most of the subclasses get. You also have spells and skills. you have extra castings of bunters mark as well so at level 1 you have the most spells available. As per usual being a half caster you are also a tempting dip for various classes such Fighter, Rogues and some wizard. Unfortunately for the ranger tier 1 is peak Ranger and its all down hill from here.
Rogue A. Another "weak" class the rogue can deal a surprising amount of damage with various builds. Those builds however are not obvious (hint take truestrike) and it suffers from similar problems to the Ranger. You peak very early with excellent damage, lots of skills and you're great at some of them. The subclasses tend to be decent including the new one in Adventures of Faerun and they are front loaded as you get your next upgrade all the way at level 9. You also get weapon masteries which once again make the Rogue a great dip class for various builds. New winter walker is also decent by Ranger standards with a semi useless spell list.
Sorcerer D. Not a lot to say. You're a primary caster at low level. At levels that matter you are the best blaster and controller in the game. But you're still low level where both of those types of spells are comparatively weak. Still you have the option of twinned Tashas hideous laughter and hold person to make things a it less awful.
Warlock B. The most versatile spellcaster that peaks early at level 2. Lots of ways of building this and to get extra resources via invocation. You can load up on lots of origin feat, go melee or be built as an archer. All of the subclasses are decent as well. Extra spells available via origin feats and invocations and you get 3 at level 2. In effect you peak at level 2-6 IMHO. Nice place to be vs the rest of the casters except Druid. You fall off later but that is beyond tier 1.
Wizard D. Primary caster that lacks extra resources except an anemic amount via arcane recovery. You are good at rituals and spell combos in the far future. Hope for a DM that will play ball and a campaign where such things matter. Similar issues to the Sorcerer. Its a toss up as to who is worse at these levels. Bladesinger is good but once again your greatness lies in the future. If the campaign finishes by level 7 or so probably play something else.
1. Level 1 and 3 will be considered a lot.
2. Combat is easy to rate but other classes good at other things that matter and ok at combat may be rated higher than pure combat focused class.
3. with 13 classes each tier will get a minimum of 2 classes in it. Tier D doesn't mean trash tier bad its just worse than C tier.
4. Classes with multiple (better) subclasses will get ranked higher than those that don't. If the base class is also good expect a higher ranking.
Artificer A
The artificer has a bit of a weak sauce reputation. Mostly due to its 2014 incarnation IMHO. A low level artificer however has a lot of things going for it. You get a lot of tool proficiencies but you have excellent saves, skills armor and shields and a half caster. Guidance and options to take sleight of hand, arcana and perception skills on the same class. This makes a one level dip in the class very appealing as well. At level2 you can create a couple of magic items. This is very versatile from an alchemical jug through to Armor of Gleaming. Level 2 half or full plate please. Level 3 all of the subclasses are also excellent options. Two subclasses are excellent at support especially if you don't mind donating your items. The other 3 can also do good to high damage.
Barbarian S. You are a one trick pony but very front loaded. The frenzied Berzerker and Zealot both stand out while the other ones are also good. Your resistances also don't get any better as later on a lot of creatures deal force damage. You are just to good at a very important pillar, hit to hard and have options of doing other stuff as well depending on subclass. I prefer other martials way later down the line but surviving tier 1 is a very high goal for me. What is better than a good class later? Lots of damage and not dying.
Bard C.
Well the Bard is a great class but you are still a primary caster. You lack spell slots but you do get extra resources those being bard dice. Unfortunately they don't refresh on a short rest yet. Low damage as well but you do get skills as well. Finally a few of your subclasses are underwhelming eg Moon and Dance and Valor takes a while to get good. Most of the other classes are just better right now. That means C tier for Bard.
Cleric C.
Primary caster syndrome strikes again and you're better than most but enough to get a kick in the love spuds. Channel divinity can provide extra resources but its subclass dependent. On the plus side every subclass you have is good to great. But they're not there yet. Some of the sub classes eg light are B tier but other classes have better options at these tiers. You're not that far off your future greatness however.
Druid B.
Primary caster syndrome yet again. However wildshape gives you more resources to get to the next tier and they tend to be of longer duration or more than clerics get at these levels. Eg moon druid, wrath of the sea or the extra guiding bolts the Star Druid gets. No dud subclasses either with 3 great ones. When the Land Druid is your worst option you're dining well generally.
Fighter A
The fighter is also very front loaded at tier 1 and I would argue through to level 8. Every subclass is good to great with the banneret being the dud options. 1-4 levels of fighter are always great for multiclass dips. Every class is packing short rest abilities now so odds are you get even more action surge and second winds and you're also a bit of a limited skill monkey when its clutch. I would almost put it in S tier but there is better options.
Monk B.
On paper the monk is great. But that greatness is further in the future as your ability scores are kinda low probably and you do not have many focus points to go around. Excellent damage however but there is a lot of temptation to add a level of ranger, fighter or rogue for weapon masteries. Your future greatness awaits but you're a reasonable option right out the gate.
Paladin B.
One of the best classes in the game. But you're a half caster reliant on spell slots for extra damage. You can heal as well but that is in short supply as well. All of your subclasses are good to great and you got another very nice on in Adventures in Faerun. Great class just outmatched out the gate and you don't have things like your aura yet and spell slots are in short supply. You get weapon masteries and fighting style feat but so does the ranger and fighter. One falls off and one doesn't. Its good to be king.
Ranger S.
Well with a reputation of being bad the Ranger is actually i an excellent slot in tier 1. I have seen them out damage barbarians with hunters mark, dual wielding and the extra die of damage most of the subclasses get. You also have spells and skills. you have extra castings of bunters mark as well so at level 1 you have the most spells available. As per usual being a half caster you are also a tempting dip for various classes such Fighter, Rogues and some wizard. Unfortunately for the ranger tier 1 is peak Ranger and its all down hill from here.
Rogue A. Another "weak" class the rogue can deal a surprising amount of damage with various builds. Those builds however are not obvious (hint take truestrike) and it suffers from similar problems to the Ranger. You peak very early with excellent damage, lots of skills and you're great at some of them. The subclasses tend to be decent including the new one in Adventures of Faerun and they are front loaded as you get your next upgrade all the way at level 9. You also get weapon masteries which once again make the Rogue a great dip class for various builds. New winter walker is also decent by Ranger standards with a semi useless spell list.
Sorcerer D. Not a lot to say. You're a primary caster at low level. At levels that matter you are the best blaster and controller in the game. But you're still low level where both of those types of spells are comparatively weak. Still you have the option of twinned Tashas hideous laughter and hold person to make things a it less awful.
Warlock B. The most versatile spellcaster that peaks early at level 2. Lots of ways of building this and to get extra resources via invocation. You can load up on lots of origin feat, go melee or be built as an archer. All of the subclasses are decent as well. Extra spells available via origin feats and invocations and you get 3 at level 2. In effect you peak at level 2-6 IMHO. Nice place to be vs the rest of the casters except Druid. You fall off later but that is beyond tier 1.
Wizard D. Primary caster that lacks extra resources except an anemic amount via arcane recovery. You are good at rituals and spell combos in the far future. Hope for a DM that will play ball and a campaign where such things matter. Similar issues to the Sorcerer. Its a toss up as to who is worse at these levels. Bladesinger is good but once again your greatness lies in the future. If the campaign finishes by level 7 or so probably play something else.
