Gloomhaven Best Class Tier List – All Characters Ranked

Last Updated on May 7, 2025 by Samuel Franklin

This Gloomhaven class tier list rates the power level of every character from the 6 starting classes, 11 unlockable classes and the 5 DLC characters. Providing insights into their strengths and weaknesses across different party sizes players can find their ideal class that fits their playstyle.

If you would rather choose a class based on an overview of their party role without significant spoilers or power level references visit our Gloomhaven classes overview instead.

Table of Contents:
– Class Tier List Summary
– Best Class Factors
– Best Class Detail

Class Tier List Summary – All Classes Ranked

The Gloomhaven class tier list below uses a S > A > B > C > D rating system and each party size (2, 3 and 4) is individually rated as this can have a dramatic impact on character effectiveness. For further detail on the rating for each particular character refer to the end of this Gloomhaven tier list guide. I also recommend this expansive thread on BoardGameGeek that includes a community poll with over 600 votes for a broader community view.

• S Tier: The pinnacle of Gloomhaven classes that bring the greatest flexibility to scenarios and make the highest difficultly levels feel easy in the right hands. This class performs their role better and are considered the best starting class or best unlockable class.
• A Tier: Another powerful tier and while not reaching the ranks of S tier these characters are still above average in the pool of potential options.
• B Tier: Your average character power in Gloomhaven that is neither powerful or weak and provides a normal level of challenge through scenarios. When selecting these for a party you can expect the difficulty option you set to feel as intended.
• C Tier: While a C tier Gloomhaven class can still be used effectively in specific or niche situations having one in your party can create additional difficulty. Needing either particular setups or simply having another class that performs a similar role better these are the classes you’ll choose for aesthetic or playstyle rather than raw power.
• D Tier: For those seeking an additional challenge the D tier classes of Gloomhaven have various glaring weaknesses when played at the specific party size noted below. Expect your scenarios to be significantly more challenging when using this class.

Gloomhaven Best Class Factors

Gloomhaven is a balanced game experience and other than some particularly difficult 2 party sized combos most characters can contribute to a scenario. There are still classes that either have an easier time at being effective, have greater flexibility to tackle scenario challenges or simply have a higher potential when played at their peak though. The following factors have been considered in the above ratings:

• Damage: Damage is necessary to defeat enym encounters and reduces the damage your party takes by clearing enemies quickly. Gloomhaven often encourages offense over defence so characters with reliable and direct sources of damage are often more powerful as a result.
• Utility: Not every character needs to deal damage though and in the large parties in particular having utility can help a party quest. Be it buffing damage, creating obstacles, forcing enemies to move or inflicting status effects these give players various combat options.
• Flexibility: There are some Gloomhaven characters that excel in particular scenarios while they feel weak in others due to the room setup or enemy types. Top tier classes have the flexibility to be useful in a broader range of scenarios or can fill multiple team roles. Ease of use is also a factor here with a flexible character not requiring turn perfect strategy to reach their peak potential while some characters quickly crumble if not played perfectly or after a single mistake.

Gloomhaven Best Class Tier List Detail

• Brute: The Brute is a fantastic contributor across all party sizes and while not overpowered should not be overlooked as a starting class. With a strong balance of dealing and absorbing damage with tanking utility like shields and moving enemies the Brute fits nicely in various scenarios although overshadowed by classes unlocked later for the same role.
  
• Cragheart: On the stronger side of Gloomhaven starting classes the Cragheart has flexible cards that are suitable in a range of party sizes and situations. The Cragheart is of particular value in smaller parties where you you can use the obstacle related cards as hexes are less filled with allies, summons and enemies.
  
• Mindthief: While difficult to use as a newcomer to Gloomhaven those that utilise the Mindthief’s potential will quickly find a top tier pick once you obtain some core cards. The blend of strong damage, crowd control options and invisibility are potent as you can deal damage with little opportunity for retaliation when you master these mechanics.
  
• Scoundrel: Offering high damage the Scoundrel is idealin the larger party sizes where they have the tools and allies necessarily to focus solely on this damage role. In smaller parties the Scoundrel’s focus on damage becomes problematic to the point where other damage dealing classes with more utility and less conditions to deal damage might be a better option.
  
• Spellweaver: A class that fills a typical glass cannon mage archetype and relies on maximising the usage of your recovery card mechanic. The Spellweaver is capable of some flashy rounds full of high area of effect damage you have clear weaknesses at least until level 9.
  
• Tinkerer: The Tinkerer performs best in a larger party where they can utilise a diverse toolkit of support skills and are a strong starting choice in a full 4 person party although lacks the damage to contribute to smaller party sizes. Even in a full party though the Tinkerer is quickly outclassed by some truly overpowered support options within the unlockable Gloomhaven classes.
  
• Diviner: Another class that is simply not designed for the needs of a 2 player party so best avoided at that size as your mechanics often require someone else to hold ground for you. It is a quick curve upwards in power as the number of players increase though as more allies (and enemies) provide the opportunity to take advantage of your mechanics and shine in your intended role. This class is stronger in Forgotten Circles compared to other Gloomhaven content given a number of scenarios are designed with this character in mind.
  
• Red Guard: The tank character for Jaws of the Lion with highly flexible cards to shrug off damage, heal or disrupt the enemies and can even output reasonable damage if required. While you won’t lead the team in damage they bring the flexibility that make them an effective partner in all party sizes and compositions.
  
• Hatchet: A powerful damage dealing mercenary that can take out a single foe with high burst damage from an unexpectedly long range although needs a rounded team to support them. The Hatchet pickup mechanic also balances your ability to deal damage as your party needs to be making steady progress forward for your damage to be maximised.
  
• Demolitionist: A melee class that finds themselves in an awkward space where they have to get in the middle of the action to deal damage and utilise utility although don’t necessarily have the health to consistently be there. With careful planning and card usage the Demolitionist is still an effective contributor to the group although needs a little more attention than other melee characters and isn’t self sufficient either. They are stronger in Jaws of the Lions scenarios though as these are slightly smaller and environmental obstacle dense compared to base Gloomhaven scenarios which enables this class to maximise their obstacle related mechanics.
  
• Voidwarden: A difficult class to master with unique mechanics that rarely have the reward payoff for the effort. If you enjoy the aesthetic or design mechanics of this class though the supporting and indirect damage style of the Voidwarden prefers larger class sizes where you’ll have additional allies and enemies for easier application of mechanics.
  
• Beast Tyrant: One of the few classes in Gloomhaven that has an inverse relationship to party size with the Beast Tyrant being a wonderful 2 player party member with a slight drop off in power level at larger party sizes as it impacts your bear effectiveness. Even in these large sizes though the class can call on its consistent damage output and durability particularly given some of their utility makes particular hard scenarios a breeze.
  
• Berserker: Offering party impressive damage output, damage absorption and some forms of crowd control the Berserker slots perfectly into all party sizes. They can look after themselves and their party without a clear weakness against most enemies and is the best boss fighter that Gloomhaven has to offer. While a strong Gloomhaven character they are designed to live on the knife’s edge so they need an experienced player to reach their potential and not exhaust early.
  
• Doomstalker: Offering fantastic range and high damage the Doomstalker works well in many scenarios, compositions and team sizes. While this is toned down due to the extent of loss cards you have to play to achieve this damage dealing fantasy your tools are still above average to the point that most enemies will be dead before you find yourself near exhaustion. As a ranged mercenary they are slightly weaker when in certain two party compositions but otherwise are a consistent contributor.
  
• Elementalist: Another class that struggles with the smaller party sizes due to their squishy nature which is particularly evident at lower class levels. As an unlockable class though you’ll generally start at a higher level anyway which is where the Elementalist starts to offer significant power through level up cards and items.
  
• Nightshroud: Considered by the community to be the pinnacle of Gloomhaven character power the Nightshroud does not care how many other characters are in your party and is capable of doing everything themselves due to their assassination mechanics. The only noticeable weakness is low level large parties where you might not have all the tools available to you just yet.
  
• Plagueherald: The Plagueherald has a variety of mechanics to be deadly across party sizes with flexibility to focus on area of effect attacks, damage or debuffing enemies as necessary to fit the party composition. With few situations they can’t deal with you’re never sad to have one in your team given the damage mitigation through curses they provide is second to none and makes any scenario easier as result.
  
• Quartermaster: Another one of the Gloomhaven best classes on this tier list that can almost trivialise the entire game once unlocked with sufficient levels and items. Even before this point though the Quartermaster doesn’t have a significant weakness and is capable of fulfilling many roles in a team. It’s this versatile nature that makes them hard to pass up on with damage, tanking and support all within a single class that can adjust to party size, party dynamics, scenarios and enemy encounters.
  
• Sawbones: A reliable front line fighter that has useful hard crowd control with light support functions that ensure the Sawbones is always contributing to a team in some way. Like other support orientated classes Sawbones is not quite as strong in smaller parties as the Sawbones favours larger groups of allies and enemies to ensure they maximise their deck of card options.
  
• Soothsinger: Once unlocked there is little need for any other support class in Gloomhaven with the Soothsinger’s powerful ally buffs and ability to either entirely prevent or heal incoming damage from enemies. By removing significant risk from scenarios your need to plan carefully is diminished by having this class in your party and allows for plenty of unoptimised rounds without consequence. You cannot expect the Soothsinger to be a major damage contributor to the team though so small party sizes don’t suit their playstyle.
  
• Summoner: Summons (particularly melee ones) are generally considered weak in Gloomhaven given they are quickly dispatched by enemies and players lack significant agency over their turns. As a result the Summoner is on the weaker side of Gloomhaven classes although does have a decent pool of ranged summons and other utility cards that help you fulfil the fantasy of this class design. You’ll have some great moments when the stars align but experience equally frustrating ones that are heightened in smaller parties where you can’t rely on other characters to support your needs.
  
• Sunkeeper: Offering a tank archetype in Gloomhaven the Sunkeeper thrives on keeping allies safe and absorbing damage for the team. The result is that they have a slightly weaker experience in smaller parties where she has to branch out into a damage role that is not her speciality. As a dedicated tank in a large party she is a powerful ally that also offers a range of supporting utility that will make you a favourite teammate of all other Gloomhaven classes.

Written by

Samuel Franklin

Samuel Franklin is the founder and lead editor of the Games Finder team and enjoys video games across all genres and platforms.

As a seasoned Gloomhaven adventurer Sam has delved into both the physical board game and the digital adaption for hundreds of scenario hours. While he enjoys the camaraderie and social aspect of the tabletop experience the digital version conveniences make it his preferred way to play where he has unlocked all of the Steam achievements. Sam frequently commands the Spellweaver, an elemental spellcasting powerhouse that he finds immensely satisfying for the risky, high reward playstyle that the class offers.