TERA PvP 1v1 Tier List

++ means great
+ means good

~ means average

-- means bad
- means not good

> means extra info


AT THE END OF THE DAY, THESE PLACEMENTS ARE MERELY MY OPINION.

These placements are assuming each class is of equal gear and equal (high) skill.

S Tier

Lancer
++Stand Fast: 180 degree directional block
++Leash and Master Leash: 20 meter stun that pulls the target directly in front of the Lancer
++Chained Leash(Giga): 20 meter stun that doesn't pull the target, but lasts longer
++Rallying Cry: 6/8 second Super Armor buff
++Shield Counter can combo into a devastating full Lancer combo
++Iron Will: Huge self-buff shield
++Second Wind: Huge self-heal, also restores RE
++Adrenaline Rush: Big attack speed buff, reduces melee cooldowns by HALF(!)
   >Includes Retaliate, which means they become much less susceptible to KD chains
   >Can fit multiple Spring Attacks into one combo = many damages
+4 stuns(+1 random chance stun), 3 staggers, 1 super armor (Shield Counter)
   >This makes Lancer capable of executing very long combos, comparable to Warrior stunlocks + kd chains
+Barrage Cancelling: Lancer-specific tech that involves casting both halves of Shield Barrage very quickly
+High defense due to using Plate armor
+Attack speed debuffs can make most or all combos impossible
+Lockdown Blow makes it (very) hard to run away


-Only 1 dodge: Backstep
-High learning curve
-Fairly immobile compared to other classes
-Low damage compared to other classes
-Uses RE, no RE means no backsteps and blocking
   >Backstepping too much or blocking too many skills can burn RE very quickly
-High cooldown on Second Wind, meaning burnt RE is very hard to gain back
   >Only other good way of restoring RE is Challenging Shout, which is very highly punishable
-Melee



Warrior (Defensive Stance)

++Cross Parry: 180 degree directional block
++Backstab: 20m instant gap closing stun that positions the user to the target's back(!!!)
    >This skill alone easily creates a 20m threat radius around the Warrior
++Scythe: high crit chance, damage scales with edge
++Combative Strike: very fast, low cooldown mini gap closing stagger
++Deadly Gamble: crit CHANCE percentage increase, reduces melee cooldowns by HALF(!)
    >Includes Retaliate, which means they become much less susceptible to KD chains
+3 stuns, 3 knockdowns, 3 staggers, 1 super armor
    >Can KD chain indefinitely with Rising Fury's low cooldown
+Binding Sword ignores super armor, stun immunity, and Warp Barrier(!)
+Can roll four(!) times consecutively
+No cooldown on roll, only consumes RE
+Rolls can be "chained" together to create one consecutive iframe(?)
+Blade Draw: resettable high damage skill, able to fit in multiple BD's into one combo
+High defense due to Defensive Stance

-Uses RE, no RE means no rolls and blocking
    >Rolling too much or blocking too many skills can burn RE very quickly
-Learning curve spikes at a certain skill level
--Death From Above, used to restore some RE but is very easily punished
-No Staggering Counter
-A LOT of useless skills for PvP
    >The remaining useful/viable skills that make up the PvP Warrior skillset causes them to be fairly predictable
-Melee





A Tier

Reaper
++Medium ranged, despite being considered a melee class
++Retribution: counterattack skill, acts as a second iframe
   -However, misuse results in a large window of punishment worse than Death From Above
++Sundering Strike: deals more damage the lower the targets HP is, making it a strong skill for execution
++Shadow Reaping: reduces various skill cooldowns by 70%, including Retaliate
++Whipsaw: high damage move that also self-heals, can be glyphed to reduce attack speed
++Soul Reversal: skillshot that applies a dot, can consume the dot to stun and swap positions with the target
+Big AOE on most skills, reducing the need to aim
+3 staggers, 3 stuns, 3 iframes, 1 super armor
+High damage, one combo can result in death

~Shrouded Escape isn't that useful, most classes can sweep a general area to reveal

-Low defense compared to other leather armor classes
--Low amount of skills + long cooldowns = "downtime" during duels
-Low amount of skills also makes the class fairly predictable
-Some skills deal damage through Retribution
--Too reliant on Smite and Cable Step
   >If Cable Step or Smite is missed or dodged, combos can become impossible
-No block



Brawler
++Roundhouse Kick: decent mini gap closing stagger, but can be glyphed to grant a frontal block on certain skills after casting
++Ground Pounder: large aoe pull + knockup, also blocks attacks from the front while casting
++Invigorating Rage: use half rage to restore 40% HP and MP
++Flip Kick: decent stun, but disables Retaliate on airborned targets for 3 seconds
++Meat Grinder: high damage skill used on airborne targets, disables target's Retaliate during use
+4 knockups, 2 knockdowns, 2 staggers
+Combos during a knockup can last indefinitely if not Retaliated
+Rampage can be dashed out of for an extremely fast gap cloer
+Counter: 180 degree directional block
+High endurance from plate armor
+Block uses mana instead of RE

~Growing Fury is worthless since you can't keep it active for very long and can make Ground Pounder not combo with itself

--Counter is noticeably slower than Cross Parry and Stand Fast, making it more punishable
   >Counter also moves the user slightly forward, making the block easier to get around
--Only 1 iframe: Quick Dash
--Meat Grinder can sometimes still be Retaliated out of, rendering the skill useless and leaving the user open
-Low amount of skills makes the class fairly predictable
-Melee

Gunner
++Longest effective range in the game
++Mana Missiles: 30m long projectile knockdown with decent damage
   >Charging isn't even required to knock down enemies
++Command: Recall: basically a second Retaliate that you can use while staggered
++Command: Self-Destruct: 4m radius stun around your healbot and turret that you can use while stunned
++Balder's Vengeance: can be used from a stun and knockup for a potential one shot kill
++Arcane Barrage: Resettable skill that's capable of dealing at least 60% of someone's health
+2 stuns, 2 knockdowns, 1 stagger, 1 knockup
+High defense from plate armor
+Rocket Jump is a super armor
+Roll resets on a 35% chance

--Retaliate animation is particularly slow compared to other classes
-Low amount of skills makes the class fairly predictable
--Nearly all damage comes from one skill: Arcane Barrage
   >However, a fully charged Mana Missiles or Burst Fire to the back still does respectable damage
-Very easy to catch if Rolling Reload doesn't reset
--Rocket Jump susceptible to being interrupted by stuns
-Replenishment has a sizable punishment window

Berserker
++Stagger on first Combo Attack
++Mocking Shout: 7 second super armor
++Tenacity: 5 second stun immunity, can be glyphed to heal 12% of max HP on cast
++Bloodlust: power and pvp damage % buff
++Cyclone: ~5 meter circle stagger, can lead into many other skills, can be casted without charging for a near instant stagger
++Thunder Strike: 8-11 meter knockdown depending on race, full charge not required for knockdown
+Capable of chunking 80% of a target's health with a fully charged Thunder Strike
+Flurry of Blows: great attack speed and charging speed buff for 15 seconds
+Fearsome Shout: 5m radius fear that goes through super armor, including Retaliate
   >Has no effect on knocked down targets, but can create interesting mindgames involving holding Retaliate
+Inescapable Doom: slows targets by 60% and disables movement skills and iframes
+Tackle: 18 meter projectile knockdown
+Axe Block: 90 degree directional block
+3 knockdowns, 3 staggers
+High defense from plate armor

--90 degree block means getting around it is much easier
--Shortest effective range in the game as well as the smallest threat radius
--Slow block compared to non-intimidation Berserker
--Easily kited
-Particularly susceptible to desync
-Melee
-1 stun means only one answer for super armor

Slayer
++Stagger on first Combo Attack
++Exhausting Blow: increases cooldowns of target hit by 50% for 11 seconds
++In Cold Blood: self-buff that gives massive power and attack speed as well as turning Overhand Strike into UOHS
   ++Ultimate Overhand Strike: Resets 100% of the time, does more damage than Overhand Strike, has a chance to glitch out to do more damage than it's supposed to
++Backstab: 10 meter gap closing iframe + root that positions at the target's back
++Tenacity: stun immunity for 5 seconds, better than Berserker and Archer Tenacity with a glyphed cooldown of 21s
++Eviscerate: 10 meter stagger if casted alone, knockdown when chained into
++Overhand Strike: resettable chained attack with considerable damage
++Headlong Rush: ~16 meter gap closer that also grants a huge attack speed buff for the next skill
   >7.5 second cooldown when glyphed(!)
++Fury Strike: 5-7 meter stagger that scales with how much health the user is missing
   >When glyphed correctly, can chunk 60-70% of the target's health while at <10% HP
+High burst damage in short combos with easy confirms makes Slayer have one of the most threatening punish games on the roster
+5 staggers, 3 knockdowns, 3 super armors, 2 stuns
+High crit chance on multiple skills

~Average defense, a little bit on the squishy side

--Linear skillset makes the class very predictable
--Easily kited
   --Glyphing to be less kiteable sacrifices a LOT of damage
--Relies too heavily on crits; combos become lackluster if Heart Thrust, Measured Slice, or Eviscerate don't crit
-Every class has at least one way to ignore or bypass Backstab root
-Skills tend to desync harder than on other classes
-Missing your skills can create mana problems that other classes don't need to worry about
-Worst animation locks in the game
-Second shortest effective range and threat radius in the game
-No block
-Melee


Ninja
++One Thousand Cuts: ~2 second multihit one-button staggerlock that you're also invulnerable while using
   >Can also dodge out of it, meaning no punishment window
++Stagger on first Combo Attack
++4 iframes with a small deployable AOE dodge zone (Smokescreen)
++Chakra Thrust: 3 second stun on a 9 second cooldown
++Bladestorm: staggerlocks enemies in a small aoe
++Fire Avalanche: high damage skill capable of oneshotting
+4 staggers, 2 knockups
+High damage, one combo can result in death
+Powerful powerlink glyphs

~Although Decoy Jutsu is a decent iframe, it's basically a backstab with no CC attached to it
~Burning Heart is pretty worthless

-Low defense due to using cloth armor
--No super armor
-Low amount of skills makes the class fairly predictable
-No block
-Melee

Sorcerer
++Burst of Celerity: passive skill that makes Sorcerer spellcasting fast and tough to keep up with
++Hail Storm: large continuous AOE damage and slow field, makes kiting much easier
++Warp Barrier: self-buff that's basically an iframe for 2 seconds while still being able to move and cast skills
++Nerve Exhaustion: silence debuff that goes away on knockdown
++Mana Volley: steal 25% MP from target and more over time
++Void Sphere: instant cast projectile with high damage comparable to Meteor Strike
++Stone Skin: get out of jail card
+Nova: super armor skill + knockdown
+Ranged
+Backstep, Glacial Retreat, and Teleport Jaunt makes kiting easy and effective
+Capable of high damage combos with correct use of Lightning Trap and Mindblast
+Good close range options with Flame Pillar, Painful Trap and Lightning Trap
+Mana Siphon: steals 800 MP from target, can be devastating on some classes
+Time Gyre: lock-on root
   >Time Gyre disables movement and evasive skills, but does not prevent movement from casting other skills
      >example: Slayers, Warriors, Berserkers can still move with Leaping Strike

--Possibly the squishiest DPS class in the game
--Max damage combos require more setup
--Highly susceptible to stun immunity
-High learning curve
-Limited, predictable approaches

B Tier

Berserker (Intimidation Stance)
++Stagger on first Combo Attack
++Mocking Shout: 7 second super armor
++Tenacity: 5 second stun immunity, can be glyphed to heal 12% of max HP on cast
++Shortened cooldown on Flatten means easily indefinite KD chains
++Bloodlust: power and pvp damage % buff
++Thunder Strike: 8-11 meter knockdown depending on race, charge not required for knockdown
+Flurry of Blows: great attack speed and charging speed buff for 15 seconds
+Fearsome Shout: 5m radius fear that goes through super armor, including Retaliate
   >Has no effect on knocked down targets, but can create interesting mindgames involving holding Retaliate
+Inescapable Doom: slows targets by 60% and disables movement skills and iframes
+Tackle: 18 meter projectile knockdown
+Axe Block: 90 degree directional block
+3 knockdowns, 2 staggers
+High defense from plate armor

--90 degree block means getting around it is much easier
--No Cyclone
--Shortest effective range in the game as well as the smallest threat radius
--Slow block compared to non-intimidation Berserker
--Easily kited
-Reduced crit factor and PvP attack due to Intimidation
-Particularly susceptible to desync
-Melee
-1 stun means only one answer for super armor

Warrior (Assault Stance)
++Backstab: 20m instant gap closing stun that positions the user to the target's back(!!!)
    >This skill alone easily creates a 20m threat radius around the Warrior
++Scythe: high crit chance, damage scales with edge
++Combative Strike: very fast, low cooldown mini gap closing stagger
++Deadly Gamble: crit CHANCE percentage increase, reduces melee cooldowns by HALF(!)
    >Includes Retaliate, which means they become much less susceptible to KD chains
+Increased power and crit factor from Assault Stance
+4 stuns, 3 knockdowns, 3 staggers, 1 super armor
    >Can KD chain indefinitely with Rising Fury's low cooldown
+Binding Sword ignores super armor, stun immunity, and Warp Barrier(!)
+Staggering Counter: instant melee range stun able to be casted after getting hit
+Can roll four(!) times consecutively
+No cooldown on roll, only consumes RE
+Rolls can be "chained" together to create one consecutive iframe(?)
+Blade Draw: resettable high damage skill
   >However, it's not as easy to fit multiple Blade Draws in one combo without Cross Parry

-Backstab combos are not as devastating as Defense Stance Warriors
-Low defense from Assault Stance penalty
--Uses RE to roll
    >Rolling too much burns RE very quickly
-Learning curve spikes at a certain skill level
--Death From Above, used to restore some RE but is very easily punished
-A LOT of useless skills for PvP
    >The remaining useful/viable skills that make up the PvP Warrior skillset causes them to be fairly predictable
-No block
-Melee

Archer
++Radiant Arrow: 18 meter stagger, knockdown when fully charged, does pretty good damage
++Restraining Arrow: attack and movement speed slow, can be glyphed for a 20% chance to stun a target
++Invisible traps can create some serious trap mindgames
++Ranged variations of traps are pretty dang good
+3 staggers, 3 stuns, 2 knockdowns, 1 super armor
+Ranged
+Velik's Mark: marked targets receive 10% more damage
+Sniper's Eye: toggled self-buff that gives attack speed, movement speed, and a lot of power
+Capable of killing in one combo with Rain of Arrows
+Thunderbolt: super armor skill, pushes enemies 24 meters(!) away
+Rapid Fire and Sequential Fire are near instant staggers
+Can use Sequential Fire out of Retaliate
+Tenacity: stun immunity for 5 seconds on a 24s cooldown

~Requires the most aiming out of any other class
~Charge is a good retreating skill, but is on a super long cooldown and most classes have similar mobility options anyway

-Low defense
--Despite the power from Sniper's Eye, Archers do pretty low damage
-2 iframes are on a pretty long cooldown
--Has the hardest time kiting compared to Sorcerer and Gunner
--Limited close ranged options
-Relies too heavily on Stunning Trap
   >Missing or misusing either Stunning Trap or Close Quarters can make combos impossible