ArcheAge Chronicles Best Class for Beginners: All 4 Classes and 8 Weapons Explained
ArcheAge Chronicles launches in Early Access with 4 classes and 8 weapons. Each class carries two weapons that you can swap between mid-fight, so you're really picking a pair of playstyles rather than a single role. That makes your first choice less risky than in most MMOs, but it still matters: classes are tied to your character, and some are much harder to learn than others.
This guide explains how classes work, breaks down every class and weapon, and helps you pick the right one for how you like to play. When you're ready to plan a build, open MetaForge's skill tree planner or browse every weapon in the weapons database.
Which Class Should Beginners Pick?
Easiest start: Berserker. Axe & Shield is forgiving thanks to its moving block and survivability, and Warhammer is all about big, simple hits.
Best all-rounder: Warrior. Its weapons are the easiest to understand, and the Longsword teaches you parrying, which the whole combat system revolves around.
Want to fight from range: Ranger (Longbow) or Mage (Elemental Staff).
Want a challenge: Mage. It has the highest skill ceiling, with spells to memorise and a lot of resource management.
There's no reliable tier list yet. The game has only just launched, weapons were retuned after the demo, and balance will keep changing throughout Early Access. Pick the playstyle you enjoy, not what's "meta" this week.
How Classes Work in ArcheAge Chronicles
Two weapons per class. Every class has two weapons. You can swap between them in combat (Q on keyboard), and each one plays very differently.
Weapons don't level from XP. Each weapon has its own trait tree. Trait points come from Raeven's Coilstones, which are guarded by bosses out in the world, and they're separate from your character level.
Trait branches lock each other out. Picking one side of a branch closes the other, so the same weapon can be built in different ways.
Stats are shared. You get stat points every level to spend across Strength, Agility, Constitution, Intelligence, Talent and Endurance, and the character screen previews the change before you confirm.
A third weapon is coming for each class. XLGAMES plans to add one more weapon per class during Early Access, starting with the Warrior's Gladius in December.
Gender locks at launch
Each class is locked to one gender at the start of Early Access: Warrior and Berserker are male, Ranger and Mage are female. XLGAMES has confirmed it will unlock gender options one class at a time, starting with a female Warrior in the December update, and all gender locks will be removed by full release.
Warrior
Difficulty: Moderate · Range: Melee · Weapons: Longsword, Greatsword · Coming next: Gladius (sword and shield, December update)
The Warrior is the most straightforward class to understand. It's a sword fighter that can either duel with precise parries or swing a huge blade through groups.
Longsword
A fast duelist built around parries and counters. One trait path focuses on parry and counterattacks, while a blood path spends and drains HP for more damage and self-healing. Key skills include Closing Slash, Blade Burst and Crimson Surge. The Longsword is one of only two weapons with a parry at launch, and it's excellent at chasing and locking down a single target. The catch is a high skill floor: you have to learn which attacks you can parry, because unblockable attacks go straight through.
Greatsword
A slow, heavy weapon that builds Resolve as you fight. Skills like War Cry, Unbridled Might, Leaping Strike, Final Cleave and Rampage hit hard and wide. Its trait tree can unlock Armor Break and turn Sunder into Sweeping Slash, or give you Pommel Strike, a shield that absorbs damage. It's slow and has little mobility, but it shines in group fights and against bosses.
Pick Warrior if: you want a classic sword fighter and a class that teaches the combat system well.
Ranger
Difficulty: Moderate · Range: Ranged and melee · Weapons: Longbow, Hatchet · Planned: a third weapon (reportedly a crossbow, not yet confirmed)
The Ranger switches between patient long-range archery and fast, evasive melee.
Longbow
The Longbow's style is "mark, wait, kill". Rapid Fire, Fire Arrow and Aimed Shot handle damage, Ice Arrow freezes targets, and Crescent Kick counters an attacker and gets you back to a safe distance. It's great for hitting bosses from the back line, but it needs space and struggles when enemies get close.
Hatchet
A lightning-charged melee weapon built around movement. Stormsplitter, Overcharge, Shocking Kick, Wind Blade and Storm Chaser keep you moving, with dodges built into many skills, and the Hatchet also has a parry. It's arguably the hardest weapon in the game to master, because it relies on a resource you have to manage carefully, but a skilled Hatchet player is very hard to pin down.
Pick Ranger if: you like ranged combat but want a fast melee option for when enemies close in.
Berserker
Difficulty: Easy · Range: Melee · Weapons: Axe & Shield, Warhammer · Planned: a third weapon (reportedly a greatshield, not yet confirmed)
The Berserker is the sturdiest class in the game and the most forgiving for new players.
Axe & Shield
A bruiser that builds Bleed on enemies. Reckless Destroyer, Shield Slam, Brutal Crash (a charge that staggers enemies and reduces your damage taken) and Reel In (a pull) make it a strong frontline weapon. You can block while moving, and it's the closest thing to a tank at launch. Its weakness is low burst damage and limited mobility.
Warhammer
Big, elemental hits. The Warhammer builds Burn and stored Thunder, with skills like Surging Heat, Meteor Hammer, Thundering Hurl and the Galactic Impact ultimate. It lands the biggest single hits in the game, but it's also the slowest weapon, and charging attacks leaves you exposed if you mistime them.
Pick Berserker if: you want to stand in the fight, take hits and still come out on top.
Mage
Difficulty: Hard · Range: Ranged and melee · Weapons: Elemental Staff, Wavesword · Planned: a third weapon (reportedly a healing staff, not yet confirmed)
The Mage has the highest skill ceiling. You'll need to learn your spells, manage resources and position carefully, because it's the squishiest class.
Elemental Staff
Fire and lightning artillery. The Staff can "Retain" spells to recast them later without the incantation, and building 10 Energy Core stacks unlocks Shooting Star. Wall of Fire and other area spells make it the best weapon for clearing groups of monsters. In return, you have little mobility and you'll go down fast if enemies reach you.
Wavesword
A melee frost spellblade that scales with magic. Skills like Tidal Rend and Thundersnow build up freeze on enemies, and dashes let you get in and out of fights quickly. It's a great choice if you want to play a Mage that fights up close, but it's fragile in melee and takes practice to use well.
Pick Mage if: you like big area damage, enjoy learning complex systems, and don't mind a steeper learning curve.
Pick by Playstyle
Defensive melee: Longsword (Warrior) or Axe & Shield (Berserker)
Big, slow hits: Greatsword (Warrior) or Warhammer (Berserker)
Ranged damage: Longbow (Ranger) or Elemental Staff (Mage)
Fast dodging and combos: Hatchet (Ranger)
Melee spellcaster: Wavesword (Mage)
Parrying and counters: Longsword or Hatchet, the only weapons with a parry at launch
Healer: None yet. There's no dedicated healing weapon in Early Access, so plan your group around self-healing and burst damage for now.
Beginner Tips for Any Class
Try both weapons before you reroll. If your first weapon doesn't click, give the second one a proper chance. It often plays like a different class.
Give combat an hour or two. Parries, counters and resource builders take time to understand.
Focus your trait points. Trait points are scarce, so spend them on one weapon first rather than splitting them.
Spend stat points every level. Match them to your weapons: Strength and Agility for physical weapons, Intelligence for magic weapons, Constitution for more HP, and Endurance for stamina and defense. Use the preview to see exactly what changes.
Watch your stamina. Attacks and dodges share the same stamina bar. If you empty it, you can't dodge.
Learn the red attacks. Red attacks can't be blocked or parried, so dodge them instead.
Try a controller. The game fully supports controllers, and many players find combat feels better on one.
Claim your pre-order outfit carefully. The pre-order costume is for one class of your choice and binds to the character that claims it, so claim it on your main.
Class FAQ
Can I change class?
You can swap between your class's two weapons at any time, even in combat. To play a different class, you'll need to make another character.
Is there a healer class?
Not at launch. A healing-focused weapon for the Mage is planned, but it hasn't been confirmed or dated.
Is there a tank?
The Berserker's Axe & Shield is the closest thing to a tank right now, and the Greatsword works well as a frontline weapon in groups.
When are new weapons coming?
The Warrior's Gladius arrives in the December update alongside the female Warrior. The other classes' third weapons will follow during Early Access, but XLGAMES hasn't given dates.
What's the best class for PvP?
It's too early to say for sure. Weapons with parries (Longsword and Hatchet) are strong in one-on-one fights, while slower weapons like the Greatsword and Warhammer do better in group fights. PvP is optional and happens in Conflict channels.
More ArcheAge Chronicles Resources
Plan your build in the skill tree planner, compare gear with the gear comparison tool, and look up weapons, armor and accessories in the database. For more beginner help, see our ArcheAge Chronicles guides or head to the ArcheAge Chronicles hub.
