Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader is a turn-based RPG where you build your own character, and the archetype you pick is the core of that build. An archetype, often called a class in other games, is the combat role your character is built around, such as fighting up close, shooting from range or backing up allies. Archetypes come in three tiers, and the one you start with decides which advanced options you can reach later.
Tier
Tier 1
Warrior
Charge into melee and absorb pressure at the front.
- Tier
- Tier 1
- Level Range
- Levels 1–15
- Role
- A durable melee fighter who closes distance and stands in the thick of combat.
- Unlocked From
- Character creation
- Game or DLC
- Base game
Officer
Set up a teammate to move, attack, or take an extra turn.
- Tier
- Tier 1
- Level Range
- Levels 1–15
- Role
- A support leader who improves allies with commands and can give them extra turns.
- Unlocked From
- Character creation
- Game or DLC
- Base game
Operative
Expose a dangerous enemy so the party can focus it.
- Tier
- Tier 1
- Level Range
- Levels 1–15
- Role
- A precision debuffer who exposes enemy weaknesses so attacks hit harder.
- Unlocked From
- Character creation
- Game or DLC
- Base game
Soldier
Use ranged fire and area attacks to pressure groups of enemies.
- Tier
- Tier 1
- Level Range
- Levels 1–15
- Role
- A ranged damage dealer built around burst fire and area attacks.
- Unlocked From
- Character creation
- Game or DLC
- Base game
Bladedancer
Use sword attacks and movement to keep pressing through the fight.
- Tier
- Tier 1
- Level Range
- Levels 1–15
- Role
- A mobile sword fighter who strings together rapid melee attacks.
- Unlocked From
- Character creation
- Game or DLC
- Void Shadows DLC
Tier
Tier 2
Assassin
Spot an opening and follow it with a focused attack.
- Tier
- Tier 2
- Level Range
- Levels 16–35
- Role
- A precision attacker who identifies and exploits enemy weaknesses.
- Unlocked From
- Warrior; Operative; Bladedancer
- Game or DLC
- Base game
Vanguard
Hold the front so nearby allies can fight behind a durable defender.
- Tier
- Tier 2
- Level Range
- Levels 16–35
- Role
- A durable frontline defender who protects nearby allies and counters attacks.
- Unlocked From
- Warrior; Officer
- Game or DLC
- Base game
Bounty Hunter
Mark a priority target, then focus fire until it falls.
- Tier
- Tier 2
- Level Range
- Levels 16–35
- Role
- A methodical hunter who marks priority targets and pursues takedowns.
- Unlocked From
- Operative; Soldier
- Game or DLC
- Base game
Master Tactician
Build tactical advantage for the party, then spend it on a key attack.
- Tier
- Tier 2
- Level Range
- Levels 16–35
- Role
- A team commander who turns combat momentum into tactical advantages and stronger attacks.
- Unlocked From
- Officer; Soldier; Bladedancer
- Game or DLC
- Base game
Grand Strategist
Place combat zones where allies can reposition or gain battlefield bonuses.
- Tier
- Tier 2
- Level Range
- Levels 16–35
- Role
- A battlefield controller who sets tactical zones to shape positioning and support allies.
- Unlocked From
- Officer; Operative
- Game or DLC
- Base game
Arch-Militant
Vary attack styles to build versatility as a fight continues.
- Tier
- Tier 2
- Level Range
- Levels 16–35
- Role
- A flexible combatant who builds strength by switching between attack types.
- Unlocked From
- Warrior; Soldier; Bladedancer
- Game or DLC
- Base game
Executioner
Layer lingering damage effects to keep pressure on enemies.
- Tier
- Tier 2
- Level Range
- Levels 16–35
- Role
- A damage-over-time specialist who intensifies lingering wounds and afflictions.
- Unlocked From
- Warrior; Operative; Bladedancer
- Game or DLC
- Void Shadows DLC
Overseer
Order a cybernetic familiar to disrupt enemies and support the party.
- Tier
- Tier 2
- Level Range
- Levels 16–35
- Role
- A support specialist who commands a cybernetic familiar to disrupt enemies and aid allies.
- Unlocked From
- Officer; Operative; Sanctioned Psyker origin; Unsanctioned Psyker origin; Arbites origin
- Game or DLC
- Lex Imperialis DLC
Tier
Tier 3
Exemplar
Use late-game choices to reinforce the build's strongest earlier archetypes.
- Tier
- Tier 3
- Level Range
- Levels 36–55
- Role
- The universal final tier adds new mastery options while letting characters deepen earlier archetypes.
- Unlocked From
- Any Tier 2 archetype
- Game or DLC
- Base game
What Archetypes Do in Rogue Trader
An archetype is the job your character is built for in a fight. It sets the abilities, talents and core stats your character starts with, and it comes with a skill tree that opens up as they gain experience. Two characters at the same level can feel completely different because they follow different archetypes.
Most archetypes fall into three groups. Damage dealers, like the Soldier, Bladedancer and Assassin, focus on hurting enemies as fast as they can. Front-line fighters, like the Warrior and Vanguard, are built to take hits and keep enemies busy. Support archetypes, including the Officer, Operative and Grand Strategist, buff their allies or weaken enemies so the whole team does better.
How Archetypes Unlock as You Level Up
Every character picks a Tier 1 archetype during creation. Tier 2 archetypes open at level 16, and only the ones linked to your Tier 1 pick are available. Each starting archetype leads to three to five advanced options, so your first choice narrows what you can take later.
Tier 3 is the Exemplar, which opens at level 36. Because it builds on the two archetypes you have already picked, it sits at the top of the archetype path.
Choosing Your Starting Archetype
Your Tier 1 archetype is permanent. You can't swap it later. Respec, the in-game option to rebuild a character, lets you pick talents, abilities and attributes again, but it never changes the starting archetype. After the first few free uses, respec costs a resource called Profit Factor, and the price keeps going up.
Because of this, the first pick carries more weight than any later choice. Start with the playstyle you want, whether that's ranged fire or melee, then check which advanced options that starting archetype opens. Those options are the path your later choices come from.
Best Archetypes in Rogue Trader
The Officer is widely seen as the strongest starting archetype. It's also the recommended pick for players new to this kind of game or anyone who wants a more relaxed style. Its support pairs well with the Grand Strategist, one of the stronger advanced options.
Among the advanced archetypes, the Arch-Militant is the one most often named for late-game damage. It fights well both up close and at range, and its area attacks can hit groups at once. The Grand Strategist is the usual choice for supporting a whole party with zone-based buffs and crowd control, though opinions on it vary.
On the starting side, the Bladedancer is rated among the strongest melee options. It suits anyone who wants a fast, acrobatic style up close.
FAQ
Which Rogue Trader archetypes need DLC?
Bladedancer and Executioner come from the Void Shadows DLC, and Overseer comes from the Lex Imperialis DLC. Without those expansions, you can't pick Bladedancer as your starting archetype or reach Executioner or Overseer. The other archetypes come with the base game.
Which advanced archetypes can each starting archetype unlock?
Warriors can take Assassin, Vanguard, Arch-Militant or Executioner. Officers can take Vanguard, Master Tactician, Grand Strategist or Overseer. Operatives can take Assassin, Bounty Hunter, Grand Strategist, Executioner or Overseer. Soldiers can take Bounty Hunter, Master Tactician or Arch-Militant, and Bladedancers can take Assassin, Master Tactician, Arch-Militant or Executioner. When you're choosing a starting archetype, hovering over it shows which advanced option it will lead to at level 16.
What does the Exemplar do in Rogue Trader?
The Exemplar lets you pick abilities and talents from the two archetypes you already have and push them further. It also adds boosts to stats and skills, so it deepens the build you already made rather than starting a new one.
How do Overseer familiars work?
The Overseer fights through cybernetic familiars, such as a Cyber-Mastiff, a Cyber-Eagle or a swarm of Servo-Skulls. Most of the time you can't control them directly. Instead, you give them commands during your turn, and they dash across the battlefield to disrupt enemies and boost the Overseer's attacks. Each familiar has its own health, so enemies can knock one unconscious.