Wish there was a shortcut to knowing the esintials to each DDO class so you can decide where to start? Wish granted!

As with its original tabletop version, Dungeons and Dragons Online has ample features for customization in it’s gameplay. With over a dozen classes to pick from, the options are almost overwhelming and picking where to start can seem like a confusing challenge. Some classes cost DDO Points or special requirements to unlock, although all 15 core classes are available if you have a VIP account. Below is a breakdown of each class with their key elements to help you have an easier time deciding your next great adventure. 

1. Fighter

As in most fantasy games, the Fighter is a staple of the classes. The class is pretty much all combat, and uses a vast arsonal of different weapons and fighting styles. From being a tank to a ranged DPS, or even an in your face brawler; the Fighter lives up to its title. Able to use any armor type, they can be a valuable, tactical asset to any adventuring party. 

The Fighter’s primary attributes, depending on martial path, are: Strength, Constitution, and Dexterity

What the Fighter Excels in:

• Tons of bonus feats, which are obtained frequently 
• Proficient in most weapons, giving plenty of options for your bone-breaking loadouts
• Can effectively use any and all armor types, keeping squishy bits safe
• Is able to use all shields, including tower shields 
• Easy to successfully multiclass
• Gains one base attack bonus per level

Pick a Fighter if You:

• Are a tactical minded player
• Want the most feats to customize your gameplay
• Want a class that benefits by multiclassing

2. Barbarian

A Barbarian is in action as its name would suggest: Barbaric. A warrior, Barbarians have special powers that allow them to enrage and deal heavy damage. They use less armor, but have higher HP and can reduce damage taken or increase damage dealt to easily makeup for it. Their Uncanny Dodge gives them excellent reflex saves and high dodge chances in short bursts. They're almost entirely melee, but some successful ranged builds can be played. 

Primary attributes for Barbarians are Strength and Constitution.

What the Barbarian Excels in:

• Tanking, as they can agro enemies and have a decent per-hit damage reduction
• Landing stuns and trips more often 
• Immunity to Poison, Disease, Paralysis, Flesh of Stone, Energy Drain, Fatigue from Rage
• Incredible HP, they have some serious staying power
• Great DPS, you’ll be hard pressed to find a better skull cracking pro 

Pick a Barbarian if you:

• Want to have the highest base HP 
• Crave a pretty survivable class, their stamina is near unbeatable  
• Like aggroing mobs and knocking them down like dominoes with high strength 

3. Paladin

If built right, a Paladin is a powerhouse against evil. Generally best played as a front-line melee build, Paladins have limited divine spell casting abilities, a tradeoff to some melee advantages a Fighter may have but a huge bonus as they can heal themselves and even their party. This helps them provide support as backup healers for short encounters. 

They also have passive auras that help aid the party against evil creatures, weakening these dark foes and sometimes even bringing them to the brink of death. 

While the primary attributes best utilized are Wisdom and Charisma, Strength and constitution are also important

What the Paladin Excels in:

• Immunity to fear and all diseases; the only class immune to magical and supernatural diseases 
• Achieving a higher ACthan other classes with the same equipment
• Being versatile in melee and spell-casting makes them valuable to a party
• Aura use to benefit themselves and their party

Pick a Paladin if you:

• Want a front-line fighter with self-heals and buffs
• Like to be a limited backup healer in a pinch
• Want capabilities to have one of the top ACs in game and some of the best saves overall
• Would like to play a fun class that’s extremely welcomed in all party types  
• Desire a holy-roller who casts the light of their God on evil enemies 

4. Monk

The Monk class is a paid class that costs 995 DDO points to play. However, it’s worth every single one. 

From deflecting arrows to stunning martial arts abilities, the Monk class is an exciting choice to pick. Using different stances, they fuel their powers through the energy of Ki to defeat enemies in a flourish of incredible blows. Best with wearing cloth rather than armor- which gives them a heap of disadvantages, the Monk doesn’t use traditional weapons. With unarmed abilities, they decimate foes in a showy and fanciful way. 

A Monk's primary attribute is Wisdom, with Strength, Constitution, and Dexterity following close behind.

What the Monk Excels in:

• Unarmed and unarmored melee combat
• Quarterstaffs, the only actual weapon they use 
• Having the second greatest saving throws in game (Paladins are a fraction above them) 
• Surviving long falls without Feather Fall items 
• Gains immunity to natural poisons and diseases 
• Can jump further than other classes, and use the ability more often
• Ki energy regenerates when attacking or being attacked rather than upon rest shrines 

Pick a Monk if you:

• Want to be a martial arts melee extraordinaire
• Enjoy a build that can jump to otherwise inaccessible or difficult locations
• Would like to reduce or eventually eliminate fall damage without the use of items 
• Like flashy and showy moves that actually deal damage

5. Sorcerer

While weak physically, especially compared to the previously mentioned classes, a Sorcerer is the primary offensive magic class in DDO. Able to rapidly cast spells much quicker than any other class, and cast them more often given that they have the highest spell points, a Sorcerer is an arcane nightmare for enemies. 

With an arsenal of firepower (or rather, acid/ice/electric/etc-power, as you please), a proper build will easily overwhelm mobs and BBEGs alike. Sorcerers usually only wear cloth armor as heavier armors come with a chance to fail when casting spells. 

Charisma is a Sorcerer's primary attribute, as it determines max spell points and spellcasting effectiveness. 

What the Sorcerer Excels in:

• Rapid spell casting from an ocean-sized well of spell points
• Blasting down mobs of enemies with devastating AoEs 
• High burst damage, leaving a smoldering pit where a trash mob once was

Pick a Sorcerer if You:

• Want to be a spellcasting specialist, slinging spells faster and longer than anyone else
• Can make amazing use out of a limited array of spells at a time
• Like playing a nuker who can level trash mobs quickly and efficiently 

6. Cleric 

Clerics can fill many slots in a party; Healer, DPS, CC, and Damage Support. While they are the main healing class of DDO due to being the only class with a dedicated tree for healing and support, Clerics aren’t stuck to a single cookie cutter mold of gameplay. They have a plethora of combat spells or buffs to pick from, and some builds don’t even touch heals. Using light, fire, and physical spells, as well as being specialised in healing and defense spells; a Cleric can be made into a successful build of any type. 

From Healers to Tanks, their abilities to use any type of armor and most weapons as well as their divine spellcasting makes them a great foundation for any sort of character you’re trying to play. 

Clerics' primary attributes are Wisdom, to determine spell points and effectiveness of spells, and Charisma, which impacts the ability to Turn Undead and how many attempts you get.

What the Cleric Excels in: 

• Healing and defense abilities- putting a bandaid on a teammate one second, decapitating a baddie the next
• Strong combat spells
• Slowing or stopping mobs

Pick a Cleric if You:

• Frontline Healer? Frontline Healer!
• Want to deal mad damage and provide healing or buffs for your party
• Like the idea of a protector build, someone who defends the party while also taking the offense and decimating enemies, including undead baddies

 7. Wizard

Flexible and resourceful, the Wizard class has an endless supply of spells to pull from, and are able to change spell slots at Rest Shrines or in Taverns. Inscribing spells for later use, the Wizard can attain a bottomless fount of resources for any dungeon. Though their spells take longer to cast and they have less Spell Points than a Sorcerer, for example, they can obtain just about every single arcane spell possible into their spellbooks, gathering all 199 arcane spells that aren’t class restricted. 

They also have less restrictions with changing out spells. This makes them a very volatile and valuable spellcaster for any party going into any dungeon or raid. A jack-of-all-spells, Wizards are addictively fun to play and have ample build options.

The primary attribute for Wizards is Intelligence, which again decides their Spell Points and spell effectiveness.

What the Wizard Excels in:

• Having range of different spells they can acquire 
• Adapting their spell slots and spellcasting style for different situations
• Filling party needs ranging from Tanks to Necromancers to frontline or ranged casters

Pick a Wizard if You:

• Want to work with, or even be one of, the Undead 
• Be a spellsword such as an Eldritch Knight 
• Have ample options to use any arcane spell
• Change spell slots as often as wanted at shrines, even when actively delving through a dungeon

8. Favored Soul 

A paid to unlock class, the Favored Soul costs 995 DDO points or can be unlocked by earning 2,500 Total Favor on a single character for a single server. 

While similar to a Cleric, they have fewer spells than their caster-mate. They also have a much higher amount of Spell Points, allowing them to cast their spells more often. As they level up, they can gain Energy Resistance and Damage Reduction. They are proficient in light and medium armors, and can use simple weapons. They do gain additional weapons based on their chosen Divine and can be deadly melee combatants. 

A more offense than support class, they do well as DPS or CC but can also work wonderfully as Damage Mitigation thanks to some of their buffs.

A Favored Soul's primary attribute should be either Wisdom or Charisma, though Strength is a close runner up.

What the Favored Soul Excels in:

• Steadily casting spells for a decent stretch of time 
• Being mobile and kiting enemies through attacks, such as Blade Barrier 
• Jumping a great distance, typically helping when in combat or reaching tough locations

Pick a Favored Soul if you:

• Like to play a very mobile, active DPS with the ability to self sustain 
• Want to cast spells at an even pace for lengthy periods 
• Crave playing a build that’s an even split of Caster and DPS

9. Druid

The Druid class can only be played if purchased for 1,495 DDO Points, or unlocked in the Standard edition of the Menace of the Underdark expansion which it was included with.

When people think of the Druid class, their main thought is usually about animals. Whether their animal companions or their animal forms, the most common thoughts flood straight to animals. However, the Druid class is much more than just an animal-centered class, though the benefits of those abilities are still astounding and play a huge, active role in their build. 

The ideal example of CC, a Druid can perfect that role regardless of what they specialise in. While using any sort of metal armor or shields removes the use of many druidic abilities, they are able to use non-metal equiptment and can still be an amazing melee build. They can also build up in a spellcasting role, able to turn into different elementals and rip through enemies with the primal forces of nature. With self-healing and self sustaining abilities, they're the top class for soloing. 

Wisdom is a Druids primary attribute, though Dexterity and Strength come fairly close and are also important to any build.

What the Druid Excels in:

• Amazing heals, buffs, and debuffing 
• Being able to lockdown opponents and CC better than other classes 
• Use of animal forms that absolutely benefit melee builds

Pick a Druid if You:

• Want to have and even be an animal, for any reason, and still excel in battles
• Like a strong melee build who can self-heal with ease
• CC trash mobs better than other classes
• Plan to or anticipate soloing and want to survive while doing it,being a 1 man party

10. Warlock

While the Warlock class is another pay to use class, coming in at 1,395 DDO Points, it's absolutely worth the price.

Similar to Clerics and Paladins, Warlocks make a pact and form a bond with otherworldly beings to fuel their abilities. However, rather than a Divine deity of light, a Warlock's Patron is typically of a darker or at least more neutral element, save for the more recently released Celestial pact. 

Dealing near endless damage with Eldritch Blast, which doesn't require Spell Points and is something of an AutoAttack, the Warlock can also use a variety of buffs, CC, and utility spells. Unlike other casters, Warlocks instinctively learn spells rather than having to learn by studying or only inscribing, though they also still inscribe spells into their spellbooks. 

Warlocks' primary attribute is Charisma.

What the Warlock Excels in:

• Can use Evard’s Black Tentacles 
• Deal nonstop damage with Eldritch Blast
• Defends against magical spell sbetter than other classes
• Have incredible melee and ranged abilities 
• Quickly and effectively deal waves of death to aggroed mobs 

Pick a Warlock if you:

• Want to blast blast blast nonstop with Eldritch Blast
• Slow and trap enemies with Evard’s Black Tentacles, as Warlocks are the only class that can use it
• Want to play a character who works with dark and powerful forces, like demons for example, rather than just Gods of light

11. Ranger

Not only the most proficient archers, Rangers are also the top dual-wielding melee class in game. While many people only see Rangers as archers, we should remember they can be unstoppable as dual-wielders, too. They can be stealth combatants as well, and can even cast from a limited amount of divine spells. 

As the only class to have the Favored Enemy feat, which allows them to pick up to five kinds of monsters to become experts in fighting, they gain extra damage bonuses against those enemies. This feat can stack as they level. 

With Wisdom as their primary attribute, Rangers also need to keep an eye on Dexterity and Strength for combat benefits. 

What the Ranger Excels in:

• Having the best Archery abilities
• Likewise having the absolute best options for Dual-Wielding 
• Self-Sufficient and able to kite mobs to help the party

Pick a Ranger if You:

• Want to leap over Frontliners to beat on enemies with dual-wield combat
• Be an astounding archer who is also able to effortlessly whip out two swords for close quarters fighting 
• Would like to support the party by CCing mobs, especially while ranged and safe
• Have the top Kills of the whole party, if the build’s stats are done properly 

12. Rogue

By using class-specific skills, a Rogue’s role in DDO is dealing damage. While they can also provide utility assistance for a party, they are the class for DPS in game. Rogues also get more skill points than any other class, giving them ample options for their build. The best scout, they're also capable of finding and disarming traps or opening locks. 

With downright deadly sneak attack damage, being the best class for stealth and sneaking around makes them ideal for scouting further ahead of the party. Though their defenses aren't the best, they have an incredibly high Dodge and get Evasion as well which makes up for it.  

Dexterity and Intelligence are the Rogue's primary attributes. 

What the Rogue Excels in:

• Stealth and sneaking skills, they are the shadows 
• Scouting ahead and helping set the path for the party
• Dealing with traps and locks effortlessly 

Pick a Rogue if You: 

• Want a sneaky build, similar to an assassin, who scouts ahead to support the party
• Would like to have enough skill points to easily choke an adult goat
• Would love to play a trap-disarming, lock-picking, danger-avoiding, treasure-finding, shadow-lurking build

13. Bard

The Bard can easily fill nearly any role in a party, except for probably a Tank. Able to cast a large assortment of spells, which can benefit the party with everything from stacking bonuses to healing, a Bard's main shining achievement is using songs to both inspire and buff a party. Best as Support and Healers, they can cast spells from both divine and arcane sources, including spells for CC, weapon damage, and various beneficial buffs as well as some healing spells that are powerful enough to class them as Secondary Healers. 

Bards are surprisingly versatile and have an arsenal of offensive spells that can quickly daze or stun enemies, as well as some that can outright annihilate foes. They can learn Use Magic Device to further their abilities, and deal a surprisingly significant amount of damage when built for physical or magical combat. They also have one of the few, ultra rare abilities that replenish Spell Points without a Shrine. 

Bards' primary attribute is Charisma. 

What the Bard Excels in:

• Buffs, buffs, and maybe a few more buffs; plenty to aid their party
• Slinging spells ranging from healing to near instant death
• Musical delights as well as theatrical displays, which are both useful and entertaining 

Pick a Bard if You:

• Want a musically buffed class
• To give party support while also packing a massive punch
• Have an adaptable class to make builds with ranging from Healer to even DPS
• Would like to play a beautiful healing song with a flute, then use that same flute to club a baddie to death

14. Artificer

The Artificer is another paid to play class, costing either 995 DDO Points, or earning 150 House of Cannith favor on a single character. 

The true jack-of-all-trades class, the Artificer can play backup Healer, Offensive Spellcaster, and easily spec into Ranged or Melee fighters. They also have the abilities to find and disable traps and to open locks. Splicing together magic with weapon tech and skill, the Artificer tends to be more hands-off in a fight. Though they can make a formitible melee combatant, they typically prefer to make constructs they can use to fight for them or to perform tasks. 

Artificers are also the only class that can use Rune Arms, a magic-infused item similar to an arm cannon which fits into the offhand slot that can increase damage or give it's own attack blast against enemies, among other benefits. Different enhancements alter what the Rune Arms can do.

Artificers need Dexterity and Intelligence for their primary attributes.

What the Artificer Excels in:

• Making various constructs to do their bidding
• Being the only class that can use Rune  Arms
• A fantastic base to make any build type you wish

Pick an Artificer if You:

• Want a robot dog, because who wouldn’t want a robo-doggo!
• Would like options to make many build types
• Love the idea of a tinkering scientist type character
• Want to use Rune Arms

15. Alchemist

The final pay to access class is the Alchemist. While available to 2018 Season Pass holders, it otherwise costs 1,495 DDO Points.

The potion mixer of DDO, Alchemists are also expert brewers of tinctures, poisons, and admixtures. They can effectively wield any simple weapons, but in general are more Ranged than Melee given their low HP and only being clad in robes. However, they are incredibly skilled with simple throwing weapons like darts or daggers. Their potions and the like are very adaptable, they can make healing mixtures that benefit both living and undead, as well as tons of powerful flasks that pack as much punch as spells do. Which speaking of, they can also cast over 90 spells, including some class restricted ones only available to the Alchemist.

From CCing foes with mixes that can cover them in glue or turn them to gold, to magical damage and poison brews, the Alchemist is nothing to bat an eye at. With an intricate reaction and combination system, they can easily change preferred party roles to benefit any dungeon adventure.

Their primary attribute is Intelligence, but if you plan to also dip a toe in combat be sure to put Dexterity near the top as well.

The Alchemist Excels in:

• Flasks, vials, and bottles with different concoctions for different needs
• Throwing said containers from a ranged and safe position
• Providing beneficial support to living and undead allies

Pick an Alchemist if You:

• Want to be a potion brewing, poison mixing pro
• Like to hurl liquid filled objects at foes like a feces throwing monkey on a rampage
• Find the idea of coating weapons in different mixtures to either add to it’s damage or to inflict poison effects
• Think robes, caldrons, and beakers are neat 

16. Iconic Heroes 

Unlike the above core classes, who start at level one, the Iconic Heroes classes start out at level fifteen. While it probably sounds amazing to leap so many levels in your character’s first few seconds of life, there are some things to know about this special class. 

They’re race-locked. Depending on which of the seven you choose, you decide their locked race. You cannot change their race. You can pick from:

• Shadar-Kai Assassin (Rogue)
• Purple Dragon Knight (Fighter)
• Morning Lord (Cleric)
• Bladeforged (Paladin)
• Deep Gnome (Wizard)
• Aasimar Scourge (Ranger)
• Tiefling Scoundrel (Bard)

Iconics are also not free to play, and must be acquired by using DDO Points or, for some, various requirements being met or buying expansions. That being said, all Iconics are given equipment for their starting level, and enough XP to level up from one to fifteen, giving you the chance to make the build how you please. You can still multiclass once you get started, too.

What the Iconic Heroes Excel in:

• Starting at level 15, so you can jump straight into less novice activities
• Allowing you to still create a build you want, even with the race-lock
• Providing basic or standard items and such you need for the higher level

Pick an Iconic Hero if You:

• Want the initial base work done for leveling
• Don’t mind being half the level-cap right off

Also be sure to read:

• [Guide] Dungeons and Dragons Online Classes - What To Pick
• [Top 10] D&D Online Best Builds