Look, let’s be real for a second. If you’re coming from D&D 5e, you probably think a pathfinder 2e class tier list works the same way. You think there’s a "Twilight Cleric" equivalent that just breaks the game over its knee while the Monk cries in the corner. That’s not how Paizo builds things. In Pathfinder Second Edition, the gap between the "best" class and the "worst" class is more like a gentle slope than a cliff.
Everything matters. Every +1 bonus is a godsend.
I’ve seen a Fighter crit three times in a row and end an encounter before the Wizard even cast a spell. I’ve also seen that same Fighter get paralyzed because they didn't have a Will save to save their life, literally. This isn't just about raw damage numbers; it's about how much a class forces the Game Master to change their plans.
The S-Tier: The Gold Standard of Consistency
When we talk about the top of the pathfinder 2e class tier list, we’re talking about the Fighter and the Bard.
The Fighter is basically the king of the math. They start with Expert proficiency in weapons, which means they are always hitting more often and critting more often than anyone else. It’s simple. It’s effective. You don't need a complex "build" to make a Fighter good; you just need to swing a sword. If you’re playing a high-level game and the Fighter isn’t your MVP for DPR (Damage Per Round), something weird is happening at your table.
Then you’ve got the Bard. Honestly? The Bard is probably the strongest class in the entire game, but it doesn't feel like it because you aren't the one dealing the killing blow. Composition Cantrips like Inspire Courage (or Courageous Anthem in the Remaster) are mathematically insane. Because Pathfinder 2e is built on a "degrees of success" system, that +1 to hit doesn't just help you hit—it helps you crit. A Bard who spends every single turn giving the whole party a +1 is effectively responsible for about 15-20% of the party's total damage output.
They also get legendary Occult spellcasting. That means Soothe for healing and Slow for shutting down bosses. It’s a terrifying combo.
Why the "Weak" Classes Aren't Actually Bad
You'll often see the Alchemist or the Witch at the bottom of a pathfinder 2e class tier list. People say they're "clunky."
And yeah, they kinda are.
The Alchemist is basically the "homework" class. If you don't know the Player Core and the Alchemist's Gift inside and out, you’re going to have a bad time. You have to predict what the party needs before they need it. Do we need Fire damage? Quicksilver Mutagens? Antiplague? If you guess wrong, you’re just a guy throwing weak bombs. But in the hands of a player who treats the game like a tactical puzzle, an Alchemist makes the rest of the party feel like gods.
The Witch used to be in a rough spot, but the Pathfinder Remaster fixed a lot of that. Their familiars are actually useful now. They get these "hex" abilities that trigger when the familiar does something cool. It's a much more active playstyle. It’s still "worse" than a Wizard in terms of raw spell slots, but the flavor and the unique debuffs make it a powerhouse in the right hands.
The Martial Middle Ground: Complexity vs. Power
The Thaumaturge and the Magus are the "main characters" of the mid-tier.
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The Magus is a glass cannon. You spend one turn charging up, and the next turn you use Spellstrike to hit a dragon for 80 damage. It’s glorious. But if you miss? You’ve wasted your whole turn. It’s high risk, high reward. It’s the class for people who want to roll big buckets of dice and don't mind the occasional "whiff" that makes them look like a chump.
Thaumaturges are weird. They use Charisma to hit things (sorta) and they carry around a bunch of junk like bells, mirrors, and candles. They’re the kings of "exploiting vulnerabilities." If a monster has a weakness, the Thaumaturge will find it. They add so much flat damage to their attacks that they can keep up with the Fighter, but they bring a massive amount of utility too.
Then you have the Investigator.
Don't play this in a dungeon crawl.
Just don't.
If your campaign is 90% combat in a 10x10 stone room, the Investigator is D-tier. They need a story. They need leads to follow. Their Devise a Stratagem ability lets them see their d20 roll before they attack. If the roll is low, they just... don't attack. They do something else. It’s a genius design, but it requires a specific type of GM and a specific type of game.
Casting is Different Here
If you’re coming from other systems, you might think the Wizard or Druid should be S-Tier. In Pathfinder 2e, casters aren't there to win the encounter by themselves. They’re there to shift the odds.
A Cleric with a high Charisma mod gets a "Font" of extra Heal spells. We're talking four or five extra top-tier heals for free. In a system where staying above 0 HP is actually difficult, the Cleric is the reason the party survives to level 20.
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The Psychic is the newest heavy hitter. They don't have many spell slots, but their cantrips are on steroids. They can "Amp" a cantrip to make it do more damage than most people’s actual spells. It’s a very "bursty" way to play a caster, which feels great for people who hate feeling like they're "wasting" their big spells on trash mobs.
Summary of the Current Meta
- Fighter / Bard: The undisputed heavyweights. They make everyone else better or just kill things faster.
- Rogue / Ranger: Incredible consistency. The Rogue is the skill king, and the Ranger (especially the Flurry Edge) is a blender in melee.
- Monk / Champion: The tanks. The Champion is actually the hardest class to kill in the game, but their damage is "just okay."
- Sorcerer / Oracle / Wizard: High ceiling, low floor. If you pick the wrong spells, you'll feel useless. If you pick the right ones, you control the battlefield.
- Gunslinger / Inventor: Fun, flavor-heavy, but sometimes the "unreliable" mechanics (like misfires or unstable checks) can bite you in the ass.
Actionable Tips for Your Next Character
Stop looking for the "highest DPS" and start looking for the "best synergy." A pathfinder 2e class tier list changes based on who else is in your party.
- If you have a Fighter, play a Bard or a Cleric to buff their accuracy.
- If you have a bunch of squishy casters, play a Champion to take the hits for them.
- If your party lacks skills, the Rogue or Investigator is mandatory.
Don't ignore the "Medicine" skill. Regardless of your class, if someone in the party doesn't take Battle Medicine and Ward Medic, your "tier" doesn't matter because you'll be dead by the third encounter of the day.
Pick a class that fits the "vibe" of your GM's world. A Ranger is S-tier in a wilderness survival campaign but might feel like a B-tier in a high-society political intrigue game. Talk to your table. Pathfinder is a team sport, and the best "tier list" is a balanced party where everyone has a job to do.
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Check the Player Core 2 if you want the most up-to-date versions of the Alchemist and Champion, as the Remaster significantly improved their playability.