Classes are an easy way to define a character's role in a game. Whether this is simply a combat role or a signifier of their background by means of some exclusive membership, they are a useful shorthand for us, the players.
No matter the setting, tech level, or combat system the game employs, you'll find various archetypes and classes popping up a lot. Sometimes, it's just too hard to stray from the tried and tested classics brought to us by the likes of Dungeons and Dragons, Dragon Quest, and Final Fantasy.
Updated August 12, 2023 by Ryan Bamsey: Picking the right classes often makes the difference between success and defeat in a classical RPG. There are quite often a ton to choose from, and once you've played enough games, you'll start to see some familiar patterns emerge. We've added some more classics to the list, one magical and one less so.
14 Soldier
Call them what you want to, Soldiers, Fighters, Vagrants - these are your quintessential physical attackers. They'll be good at one thing and one thing only - dishing out the damage. Luckily, they do this quite well and are often an easy go-to in many games.
In games with class trees, these may serve as branching points for more physically aligned classes or be your generic class that doesn't have all the bells and whistles of the more interesting, specialized alternatives.
13 Knight
The thing that distinguishes the Knight from the Soldier is its role in battle. Knights are tanks. Usually heavily armored with a ton of hit points and probably some way of drawing attention to themselves. They'll likely be able to deal some mean damage, but their purpose is to serve protection.
Sometimes, they'll have specific abilities that draw attention away from their allies and towards themselves, or they may have abilities that reduce damage all-around or even be an off-healer to complement the party's White Mage.
12 Barbarian
As opposed to Knights, who are generally quite slow and tanky, Barbarians eschew defensiveness for pure offense. Often unarmored and classically wielding axes or other massive weapons, they're great sources of damage who may be on the frailer side.
A variant of this class is the Berserker. These are very similar to Barbarians but characterised by their heightened levels of aggression. In games with status effects, expect them to be enthusiastic users of the Berserk status.
11 Paladin
Imagine a Knight, but then make them holy. That's a Paladin. Paladins are usually identified by their heavy armor, penchant for pointy swords, and a ruthless dedication to lawful good. They may be holy warriors on a crusade or an oathsworn upholder of all that is right.
In a fight, Paladins are more likely than mere knights to have a little magic of their own. This is usually of the sacred variety and used for healing and smiting in equal measures. If the setting has undead enemies, expect a Paladin to be able to deal with them easily.
10 Black Mage
In settings where magic abounds, you are more than likely going to encounter magical damage dealers. The archetypal examples are the Wizard from Dungeons and Dragons and the Black Mage from Final Fantasy. If there's no magic in the RPG's setting, this class may make use of elemental ammo or some convenient analog.
Characters of these classes will usually inflict elemental damage to target weaknesses, probably be a bit squishy in the defense department, and may even be masters of status infliction. They're often on the more fun end of the scale, thanks to the high numbers they can put out, too.
9 White Mage
Where damage goes, healing follows. White Mages, so named for their darker cousins, are the masters of healing magic/skills/abilities and are crucial to a party setup in many games. Besides their affinity for healing, they'll also probably have some defensive skills to help extend your characters' lives.
If they're not actually mages, expect them to be called things like Chemists, Medics, or Herbalists. How necessary they are will depend on the balance of the game at hand - in games like Final Fantasy 14, they are non-negotiable, but in games where you may find alternate sources of healing in items or environmental set pieces, they're less critical.
8 Red Mage
We've had Black Magic, and we've had White Magic, but what do you get when you mix those colors? Well, according to the Final Fantasy series, it's red. Also known sporadically as Sages or just 'spellcasters', these characters will have knowledge and skill in both offensive and supportive magic.
This class often trades some potency for its versatility, and will not be able to do a Black Mage's job better than a Black Mage would, and the same with White Mages. That said, they can be incredibly useful additions to your team, especially when party member slots are limited.
7 Rogue
Sneaky, agile, and probably a bit larcenous. Rogues are another classic staple of RPGs and one of the most prominent back in the day. It was Fighter, Mage, Rogue, and nothing more!
These days, Rogues will likely be physical damage dealers with a bit more utility than regular old Soldiers. They may be able to steal items, unlock chests, disarm traps, inflict status ailments (usually some variety of poison), or even sneak past enemies easily.
6 Archer
Depending on how in-depth the game's class system is, Archers may simply be a sub-type of Rogue. In others, they are a class entirely in themselves – long-range specialists. In games with a modern edge, these warriors will be wielding sniper rifles - in more traditional settings, expect longbows and complicated crossbows.
Thanks to their range, Archers are likely to be a bit squishier than other fighters but compensate for that with serious damage and possibly the ability to inflict status ailments, target elemental weaknesses, or even charge up their attacks. In games where elevation might provide a nice strategic advantage, an Archer is your best friend.
5 Engineer
If the setting at hand has any advanced technology, you can bet there are some engineers milling about, making sure it all works. Sometimes, they may even join your party!
As you'd expect, Engineers usually have abilities that deal with technology. They may summon turrets or metal critters, have damage bonuses against mechanical foes, or be able to analyze enemies' health pools and weak points. A typical weapon of choice is the humble gun, even in settings that don't have them commonplace.
4 Monk
While not as common as swordfighters or gunners, fistfighters have long been a staple of RPGs. As a class, Monks are usually characterized by fighting barehanded, being lightly armored, having the agility of a tiger, and being proficient in counterattacks.
Some games may also provide Monks with special powers, often spiritual nature. Expect them to be associated with words like Ki or Chakra, and take the visual appearance of glowing, spiritual tendrils.
3 Summoner
For many of you, Summoner will evoke images of caster types in long robes who conjure gigantic, mystical beasts and demons to attack enemies for them. Summoners can be more than that, however.
This class category includes necromancers who raise the dead, wizards who summon elemental pawns and even high-tech mechanics who send swift nanobots onto the battlefield. Their abilities will often revolve around making their summons stronger, and they're very likely to be quite weak without their conjured pals.
2 Beastmaster
While Summoners will usually have a roster of creatures to bring to the battlefield, Beastmasters are attuned to one or two pets in particular, and they don't simply disappear at the end of a battle. These might be tamed in the wild, taken from the monsters you fight in random battles, or they may be narrative-based, with the pets being characters unto themselves.
As far as abilities go, Beastmasters will invariably learn how to control their pets better, grant them extra stats or abilities, or even learn how to get new ones.
1 Joke
Sometimes a class is there because game developers have a sense of humor, too. These classes are pure jokes, not meant to be taken seriously or, indeed, used seriously. They'll usually have low stats and bad attacks - if they even have attacks at all.
Sometimes there will be situations where a Joke class is useful or even exceptional - they may be the first step on the road to a very powerful class or have an ability that one-shots a tricky boss, blowing you away and subverting all expectations.