All 10 Classes, Perks and Skills in Dark and Darker

Dark and Darker is a dark fantasy game where you explore ancient dungeons, fight monsters and other players, and try to escape with your loot. Your class decides how you fight, whether that's up close with a weapon, from a distance with a bow, or with magic. The classes range from melee fighters and stealthy rogues to spellcasters, healers, and a shapeshifting druid. Knowing how each one works will help you choose the class that fits the way you like to play.

Barbarian

A melee specialist built around high Strength, high Vigor, and hard-hitting weapon skills.

Move Speed

300

Strength

20

Dexterity

12

Agility

13

Will

18

Knowledge

5

Vigor

25

Resourcefulness

12

Perks

Axe Specialization; Berserker; Carnage; Crush; Executioner; Heavy Swing; Iron Will; Morale Boost; Potion Chugger; Robust; Savage; Skull Splitter; Treacherous Lungs; Two-Hander

Skills

Achilles Strike; Blood Exchange; Finishing Blow; Grappling Hook; Hurl Weapon; Rage; Reckless Attack; Savage Roar; War Cry; War Sacrifice; Whirlwind

Spells

-

Bard Songs

-

Shapeshifts

-

Bard

A support fighter who uses songs to bolster allies and disrupt enemies.

Move Speed

300

Strength

13

Dexterity

20

Agility

13

Will

11

Knowledge

20

Vigor

13

Resourcefulness

15

Perks

Cadenza; Charismatic Performance; Dancing Feet; Fermata; Jolly Time; Lore Mastery; Melodic Protection; Ostinato; Rapier Mastery; Reinforced Instruments; Story Teller; Superior Dexterity; Wanderer's Luck; War Song

Skills

Dissonance; Encore; Music Memory; Music Memory II; One-Man Band; Party Maker; Sing

Spells

-

Bard Songs

Cost 1: Aria of Alacrity; Cost 1: Beats of Alacrity; Cost 1: Harmonic Shield; Cost 2: Lament of Languor; Cost 2: Pianissimo; Cost 2: Song of Silence; Cost 2: Sounding Line; Cost 2: Tranquility; Cost 3: Ballad of Courage; Cost 3: Banshees Howl; Cost 3: Chaotic Discord; Cost 3: Chorale of Clarity; Cost 3: Cleansing Cadence; Cost 3: Din of Darkness; Cost 3: Drums of the Vanguard; Cost 3: Panflute of Tailwinds; Cost 3: Cherub's Lute; Cost 3: March of the Pilgrims; Cost 3: Peacemaking; Cost 3: Piercing Shrill; Cost 3: Rousing Rhythms; Cost 3: Shriek of Weakness; Cost 3: Song of Shadow; Cost 4: Accelerando; Cost 4: Allegro; Cost 5: Unchained Harmony

Shapeshifts

-

Cleric

Divine spells and support skills let the Cleric heal, protect, and pressure enemies.

Move Speed

300

Strength

11

Dexterity

14

Agility

12

Will

23

Knowledge

20

Vigor

13

Resourcefulness

12

Perks

Advanced Healer; Aura of Awe; Banishing Touch; Blood Tithe; Blunt Weapon Mastery; Brewmaster; Divine Echo; Faithfulness; Heretics Brand; Holy Aura; Holy Water; Kindness; Over Healing; Pain Offering; Perseverance; Protection from Evil; Requiem; Sacred Flame; Stigmata; Undead Slaying

Skills

Barefoot Pilgrimage; Confession; Divine Protection; Excommunication; Holy Purification; Judgement; Smite; Spell Memory I; Spell Memory II; Vow of Silence

Spells

Tier 1, cost 1: Cleanse; Tier 1, cost 1: Protection; Tier 2, cost 2: Bless; Tier 2, cost 2: Withering Word; Tier 3, cost 3: Bind; Tier 3, cost 3: Blessed Fare; Tier 3, cost 3: Divine Strike; Tier 3, cost 3: Lesser Heal; Tier 4, cost 4: Divine Grace; Tier 4, cost 4: Holy Strike; Tier 4, cost 4: Veil of Judgement; Tier 5, cost 5: Divine Barrier; Tier 5, cost 5: Holy Light; Tier 6, cost 6: Sanctuary; Tier 6, cost 6: Radiant Blade; Tier 7, cost 7: Earthquake; Tier 7, cost 7: Locust Swarm; Tier 8, cost 8: Resurrection

Bard Songs

-

Shapeshifts

-

Druid

Druid combines nature magic with shapeshifts for healing, control, and close-range options.

Move Speed

300

Strength

12

Dexterity

12

Agility

12

Will

18

Knowledge

20

Vigor

13

Resourcefulness

18

Perks

Animal Kinship; Dreamwalk; Enhanced Wildness; Force of Nature; Herbal Sensing; Lifebloom Aura; Natural Healing; Prophecy; Shapeshift Mastery; Spirit Bond; Spirit Magic Mastery; Sun and Moon; Thorn Coat

Skills

Shapeshift Memory; Shapeshift Memory II; Spell Memory I; Spell Memory II

Spells

Tier 1, cost 1: Nature's Touch; Tier 2, cost 2: Barkskin Armor; Tier 2, cost 2: Orb of Nature; Tier 3, cost 3: Dreamfire; Tier 3, cost 3: Restore; Tier 4, cost 4: Entangling Vines; Tier 4, cost 4: Thorn Barrier; Tier 5, cost 5: Summon Treant; Tier 6, cost 6: Mending Grove; Tier 6, cost 6: Tree of Life

Bard Songs

-

Shapeshifts

Bear; Chicken; Panther; Penguin; Rat

Fighter

Balanced stats and broad weapon choices let Fighter build for offense or defense.

Move Speed

300

Strength

15

Dexterity

15

Agility

15

Will

15

Knowledge

15

Vigor

15

Resourcefulness

15

Perks

Adrenaline Spike; Barricade; Combo Attack; Counterattack; Defense Mastery; Dual Wield; Last Bastion; Projectile Resistance; Shield Mastery; Slayer; Survivalist Tongue; Swift; Sword Mastery; Veteran Instinct; Weapon Guard; Weapon Mastery

Skills

Adrenaline Rush; Breakthrough; Disarm; Fortified Ground; Perfect Block; Pommel Strike; Second Wind; Shield Slam; Spell Reflection; Sprint; Taunt; Victory Strike

Spells

-

Bard Songs

-

Shapeshifts

-

Ranger

The Ranger's bow and trap kit rewards ranged pressure and prepared ambushes.

Move Speed

300

Strength

12

Dexterity

18

Agility

20

Will

10

Knowledge

12

Vigor

10

Resourcefulness

23

Perks

Camping Mastery; Chase; Crippling Shot; Crossbow Mastery; Feral Resonance; First Aid; Kinesthesia; Longshot Expert; Nimble Hands; Overload; Point-Blank Expert; Quick Reload; Ranged Weapons Mastery; Sharpshooter; Spear Proficiency; Trap Mastery; Windfletch

Skills

Backstep; Explosive Shot; Field Ration; Forceful Shot; Multishot; Overdraw; Penetrating Shot; Purge Shot; Quick Fire; Quickshot; Taming Shot; True Shot

Spells

-

Bard Songs

-

Shapeshifts

-

Rogue

High Agility and Resourcefulness support stealth, poison, traps, and quick attacks.

Move Speed

300

Strength

9

Dexterity

20

Agility

25

Will

10

Knowledge

10

Vigor

6

Resourcefulness

25

Perks

Ambush; Back Attack; Creep; Dagger Mastery; Double Jump; Hand Crossbow Mastery; Hide Mastery; Jokester; Lethal Mark; Pickpocket; Poisoned Weapon; Stealth; Thrust; Traps and Locks; Trickster; Veil of Shadows; Wall Ride

Skills

Caltrops; Cut Throat; Dual Strike; Hide; Play Dead; Rupture; Shadowstep; Smoke Pot; Sneak Attack; Tumbling; Weakpoint Attack

Spells

-

Bard Songs

-

Shapeshifts

-

Sorcerer

Sorcerer builds elemental magic through tiered spells and a separate Weaving list.

Move Speed

300

Strength

10

Dexterity

18

Agility

10

Will

25

Knowledge

20

Vigor

10

Resourcefulness

12

Perks

Air Mastery; Apex of Sorcery; Elemental Fury; Innate Talent; Lightning Mastery; Mana Flow; Mana Fold; Merged Might; Spell Sculpting; Spell Stride; Time Distortion

Skills

Sorcery I; Sorcery II

Spells

Tier 1, cost 1: Fire Arrow; Tier 1, cost 1: Glaciate; Tier 1, cost 1: Stone Skin; Tier 1, cost 1: Water Bolt; Tier 2, cost 2: Eruption; Tier 2, cost 2: Flamestrike; Tier 2, cost 2: Ice Spear; Tier 3, cost 3: Fire Orb; Tier 3, cost 3: Lightning Bolt; Tier 3, cost 3: Windblast; Tier 4, cost 4: Lightning Sphere; Tier 5, cost 5: Levitation; Tier 5, cost 5: Summon Earth Elemental; Tier 5, cost 5: Vortex; Weaving: Aqua Prison; Weaving: Electric Dash; Weaving: Elemental Bolt; Weaving: Flamefrost Spear; Weaving: Flamethrower; Weaving: Frost Breath; Weaving: Frost Lightning; Weaving: Icebound; Weaving: Lightning Storm; Weaving: Lightning Vortex; Weaving: Mud Shield; Weaving: Plasma Blast; Weaving: Summon Lava Elemental; Weaving: Thorn of Earth; Weaving: Wall of Fire

Bard Songs

-

Shapeshifts

-

Warlock

Warlock uses dark magic, curses, and Blood Pact tools to shape its offense.

Move Speed

300

Strength

11

Dexterity

15

Agility

14

Will

22

Knowledge

15

Vigor

14

Resourcefulness

14

Perks

Abyssal Orb; Antimagic; Curse Mastery; Dark Enhancement; Dark Reflection; Demon Armor; Immortal Lament; Infernal Pledge; Infernal Usury; Malice; Shadow Touch; Soul Collector; Torture Mastery; Vampirism

Skills

Blood Pact; Blow of Corruption; Dark Offering; Phantomize; Spell Memory I; Spell Memory II; Summon Demon

Spells

Tier 1, cost 1: Bolt of Darkness; Tier 1, cost 1: Curse of Weakness; Tier 1, cost 1: Power of Sacrifice; Tier 2, cost 2: Bloodstained Blade; Tier 2, cost 2: Curse of Pain; Tier 3, cost 3: Evil Eye; Tier 3, cost 3: Spell Predation; Tier 4, cost 4: Hellfire; Tier 4, cost 4: Life Drain; Tier 4, cost 4: Ray of Darkness; Tier 5, cost 5: Eldritch Shield; Tier 5, cost 5: Flame Walker; Tier 6, cost 6: Abyssal Gateway; Tier 6, cost 6: Summon Hydra; Tier 7, cost 7: Hellguard Glaive

Bard Songs

-

Shapeshifts

Blood Pact

Wizard

Wizard uses high Knowledge to prepare a broad set of arcane and elemental spells.

Move Speed

300

Strength

6

Dexterity

17

Agility

15

Will

20

Knowledge

25

Vigor

7

Resourcefulness

15

Perks

Arcane Feedback; Arcane Mastery; Arcane Precision; Cold Focus; Fire Mastery; Focused Mind; Glass Cannon; Ice Mastery; Ice Shield; Lingering Magic; Mana Surge; Melt; Quick Chant; Reactive Shield; Sage; Spell Overload; Staff Mastery; Static Charge

Skills

Arcane Infusion; Arcane Insight; Arcane Shield; Arcane Surge; Intense Focus; Meditation; Spell Memory I; Spell Memory II

Spells

Tier 1, cost 1: Light Orb; Tier 1, cost 1: Transmutation; Tier 1, cost 1: Zap; Tier 2, cost 2: Ice Bolt; Tier 2, cost 2: Ignite; Tier 2, cost 2: Slow; Tier 2, cost 2: Magic Lock; Tier 3, cost 3: Haste; Tier 3, cost 3: Magic Missile; Tier 3, cost 3: Sleep; Tier 4, cost 4: Fireball; Tier 4, cost 4: Invisibility; Tier 4, cost 4: Lightning Strike; Tier 5, cost 5: Explosion; Tier 5, cost 5: Fly; Tier 5, cost 5: Frost Wave; Tier 6, cost 6: Chain Lightning; Tier 7, cost 7: Polymorph; Tier 8, cost 8: Meteor Strike; Tier 8, cost 8: Teleport

Bard Songs

-

Shapeshifts

-

What Are the Classes in Dark and Darker?

A class is the kind of character you play, and it shapes how you deal damage, whether you use weapons or magic, and what job you usually do in a group. The roster is Fighter, Barbarian, Rogue, Ranger, Wizard, Cleric, Bard, Warlock, Druid, and Sorcerer. You pick one when you create a character, and every player can use any of them.

Since the class shapes almost every fight, it's worth learning how each style works before you commit. If you want to try something different, just make another character.

How Attributes and Perks Shape a Class

Each class starts with its own mix of attributes, the core numbers that control your character. Strength adds health and melee power, and Agility controls how fast you move and attack. Will affects magic resistance and how long buffs and debuffs last, while Knowledge sets how fast you cast and how many spells you can carry. That's why Wizards start with the most Knowledge, and Sorcerers start with the most Will.

Gear raises these numbers further, so two players in the same class can still build very different characters. Perks add another layer, with more perk slots opening as a character levels up. Each character levels on its own, so a new character starts from the beginning even if you've played the same class before.

The Main Playstyles in Dark and Darker

The Fighter and Barbarian hold the front line. They stay close to enemies and rely on weapons and sturdy health. The Fighter is the more balanced of the two, and its shield can block arrows as well as melee hits. The Barbarian hits hard up close, but its big weapons swing slowly.

The Rogue and Ranger work from a distance or from the shadows. Rogues move quickly and set ambushes, while Rangers track enemies, set traps, and shoot bows and crossbows. Both are fragile in long or open fights, so they depend on picking the right moment.

The Wizard and Sorcerer deal damage with magic from range. Wizards must meditate to refill spent spells, and Sorcerers have long cast times and long cooldowns. Both are exposed while they recover, and Wizards are weak in close quarters.

The Cleric, Bard, and Warlock blend fighting with support. The Cleric heals and shields allies with a blunt weapon, the Bard plays songs that buff the team and weaken enemies, and the Warlock mixes melee with curses. The Druid sits apart from the rest. It changes into animal forms during a run, and each form trades strengths for drawbacks, like a sturdy bear or a fragile rat.

Best Dark and Darker Class for Beginners, Solo Play, and Groups

New players usually start with the Fighter, since it's simple to learn and teaches the basics of melee and blocking. The Rogue and Cleric are also often named as easier starts.

If you like playing alone, the Rogue and Ranger suit players who prefer to scout, sneak, and pick their fights. In a group, the Cleric and Bard are the classes teams tend to value most, since they heal, shield, and buff teammates.

Rankings shift with every balance update, so treat any tier list as a snapshot rather than a final answer. The class you enjoy playing will usually serve you better than the one at the top of a list.

How to Fight Against Each Class Style

Knowing a class's weak spot tells you how to fight it. Casters like the Wizard and Sorcerer are dangerous from range but exposed up close, so close the gap while they're recovering or casting. A Wizard that's meditating to refill its spells is especially open to surprise attacks.

Melee classes like the Fighter and Barbarian struggle to pin down fast opponents who keep moving around them. Rogues and Rangers are fragile in open fights, so catch them out in the open, and go after a Ranger up close, where its melee is weak.

Warlocks are more vulnerable to ranged attacks, and their spells cost health, so pressure them when they're running low. Druids are the trickiest to read because they change form mid-fight. Watch which animal they've become, since a bear, a panther, and a rat each move and fight differently.

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