Lost Ark: Best Classes For New Players

So, you're diving into the world of Lost Ark, huh? Awesome! It's a massive, beautiful, and sometimes overwhelming game, especially when you're staring at that character creation screen with a dozen classes staring back. Don't sweat it, guys! Choosing your first class can feel like a huge decision, but I'm here to break down some of the best classes for new players to make your adventure in Arkesia a blast. We'll focus on classes that are relatively easy to pick up, forgiving in terms of mistakes, and still pack a serious punch. After all, you want to be able to enjoy the story, explore the world, and feel like a hero without having to memorize complex rotations or chug potions every five seconds, right?

Why Class Choice Matters in Lost Ark

Before we jump into the recommendations, let's quickly talk about why your class choice actually matters in Lost Ark. Unlike some MMOs where you can easily switch classes or respec your character on the fly, Lost Ark encourages you to commit to your initial choice. While you can level multiple characters (and many players do!), your first character will likely be your main focus, the one you'll use to experience the core storyline and endgame content. Each class has a unique playstyle, strengths, and weaknesses. Some classes excel at dealing massive damage from a distance, while others are more comfortable up close and personal, soaking up damage and protecting their teammates. Some classes are intricate and require precise timing and execution, while others are more straightforward and forgiving.

Furthermore, your class choice will influence your overall experience in the game. Some classes are naturally better at solo content, like questing and exploring, while others shine in group activities like dungeons and raids. Some classes are more gear-dependent than others, meaning they require specific equipment to truly shine. Considering these factors early on will help you choose a class that aligns with your preferred playstyle and goals in the game. So, whether you're a seasoned MMO veteran or a complete newbie, take some time to understand the different classes and find one that resonates with you. Trust me, it'll make your journey through Arkesia much more enjoyable!

Top 5 Beginner-Friendly Classes in Lost Ark

Alright, let's get to the good stuff! Here are my top 5 recommendations for beginner-friendly classes in Lost Ark, along with a brief overview of their strengths, weaknesses, and playstyles:

1. Paladin

The quintessential support class, the Paladin is an excellent choice for new players who want to contribute to groups while learning the ropes. Paladins are incredibly tanky and bring essential buffs and heals to the party, making them welcome additions to any team. While their damage output might not be the highest, their survivability and utility more than make up for it. You will be highly desirable in endgame content because of the support you bring to the team. With damage reduction and shields the paladin is a great pick, not only that, you are able to buff allies and heal to keep them in the fight longer. Paladins use holy skills to inflict damage on enemies and support teammates.

• Strengths: High survivability, excellent support capabilities, easy to learn.
• Weaknesses: Lower damage output compared to DPS classes, can feel slow-paced at times.
• Playstyle: Focus on protecting and buffing allies, while dealing moderate damage and controlling enemies. Positioning is important but not as punishing as other classes.

Paladin is a top pick because they are always wanted and a welcome pick. Paladins can be very versatile because they are able to jump into any scenario and bring a positive light into the fight. While they are a support class they can still do a decent amount of damage, so questing and doing content alone should be no problem at all. They are one of the easiest supports to learn and a great class to start with if you want to be a support main in Lost Ark.

2. Gunlancer

If you like the idea of being a walking fortress, the Gunlancer is the class for you! These heavily armored warriors are incredibly durable, boasting high defense and the ability to shield themselves and their allies from incoming attacks. While they might not be the flashiest damage dealers, their consistent damage output and unmatched survivability make them a reliable choice for new players. Gunlancers are very tanky and are able to withstand many hits and keep going. They have good damage potential and are easy to pick up and learn. Gunlancers are able to protect themselves and teammates with shields and damage reduction.

• Strengths: Extremely high survivability, strong defensive abilities, consistent damage output.
• Weaknesses: Can feel slow and immobile, lower burst damage compared to other classes.
• Playstyle: Focus on absorbing damage, protecting allies, and dealing consistent damage with ranged and melee attacks. One of the top tanks to pick in Lost Ark.

The Gunlancer is a great class for new players that like being the frontline fighter. They are able to hold their ground and keep going, even when being focused. This makes them great for learning boss mechanics and overall gameplay of Lost Ark. They provide good utility and are a great pick for people that are new and want to tank in endgame content.

3. Berserker

For those who enjoy a more aggressive playstyle, the Berserker is a fantastic option. These warriors wield massive greatswords and unleash devastating attacks on their enemies. While they might not be as tanky as the Gunlancer, their high damage output and relatively simple rotations make them a great choice for players who want to feel powerful without getting bogged down in complex mechanics. They are able to dish out high damage and are still tanky enough to learn fights. Berserkers are able to go into a berserk mode that enhances their damage and movement speed.

• Strengths: High damage output, relatively simple rotations, good mobility.
• Weaknesses: Can be vulnerable to burst damage, requires some positioning awareness.
• Playstyle: Focus on dealing as much damage as possible with powerful melee attacks, while maintaining awareness of your surroundings. A great class to learn to animation cancel with to deal more damage.

Berserker is a very popular class for a reason and they are able to do a lot of damage with ease. This makes them a great pick for new players and veterans alike. Berserkers are great in both PvE and PvP content in Lost Ark. The berserker is a very strong damage dealer and is always welcome into groups for their raw damage output, pick berserker as a main if you want to see big numbers!

4. Sorceress

The Sorceress is a ranged mage class that excels at dealing massive damage from a distance. With a wide array of elemental spells at their disposal, Sorceresses can unleash devastating attacks on their enemies while maintaining a safe distance. While they might be a bit squishier than melee classes, their high damage output and crowd control abilities make them a formidable force in both PvE and PvP. Sorceresses are able to do burst damage in a short amount of time and have some great crowd control skills to keep enemies away.

• Strengths: High damage output, excellent range, good crowd control.
• Weaknesses: Low survivability, requires good positioning, longer cooldowns.
• Playstyle: Focus on dealing damage from a distance, using crowd control to keep enemies at bay, and managing cooldowns effectively.

The Sorceress can be a little harder to pick up at first because of how squishy they are, but with enough practice they can be one of the best damage dealers in the game. They are able to clear content fast and are a blast to play. Sorceress is a great pick if you want to be a mage that does a lot of damage in Lost Ark.

5. Artillerist

If you enjoy the idea of raining down destruction from afar, the Artillerist is the class for you! These heavy-weapon specialists wield massive cannons and bombard their enemies with explosive projectiles. While their mobility might be limited, their high damage output and AoE capabilities make them a force to be reckoned with in both PvE and PvP. Artillerists are able to use long range artillery to inflict high damage from a distance, they are one of the best classes to play if you like to be a turret.

• Strengths: High damage output, excellent AoE capabilities, long range.
• Weaknesses: Low mobility, can be vulnerable to melee attacks, slow attack speed.
• Playstyle: Focus on dealing damage from a distance, using AoE attacks to clear groups of enemies, and managing cooldowns effectively.

Artillerists are a great class to pick because they are able to deal a lot of damage from a distance and have a lot of AoE damage. This makes them great for clearing content and farming materials. They are able to provide constant damage output and are able to take some hits. Artillerist is a fun class that is easy to pick up and start playing in Lost Ark.

Final Thoughts: Play What You Enjoy!

Ultimately, the best class for you is the one that you find the most fun and engaging. Don't be afraid to experiment with different classes and see which one clicks with your playstyle. Lost Ark is a game that rewards experimentation, so don't feel pressured to stick with a class if you're not enjoying it. Leveling multiple characters is common in this game, so feel free to try out different classes until you find one that truly resonates with you. And who knows, you might even end up maining a class that wasn't on this list! The most important thing is to have fun and enjoy your adventure in Arkesia!

So, there you have it, guys! My top 5 recommendations for beginner-friendly classes in Lost Ark. I hope this guide has been helpful in making your decision. Now get out there and explore the world of Arkesia! Good luck, have fun, and I'll see you in game!