This Chivalry 2 tier list ranks every major option by overall effectiveness. Rankings factor in damage output, survivability, versatility, gear requirements, and how well each option scales.
Tier definitions: S = best in class, always a strong pick. A = strong and competitive, minor weaknesses. B = solid but clearly outperformed in most situations. C = viable only for players who enjoy the playstyle.
Characters Rankings
| Tier | Role | Rating | Playstyle |
|---|---|---|---|
| S | Knight (Guardian) | 9.5/10 | Lead pushes with shield raised, plant banner on objectives, outlast enemies in prolonged fights. |
| S | Vanguard (Devastator) | 9.5/10 | Target groups of enemies with wide swings, use Leaping Strike to engage, trade hits and win through superior damage. |
| A | Footman (Poleman) | 8.5/10 | Maintain spacing with polearm reach, poke enemies at max range, drop bandages for teammates. |
| B | Archer (Longbowman) | 7.5/10 | Stay on elevated flanks, headshot priority targets, swap to melee only as last resort. |
| A | Knight (Officer) | 8.5/10 | Stay near the team, activate War Horn during pushes, tank damage while teammates deal it. |
Detailed Characters Analysis
Knight (Guardian) (S-Tier)
The tankiest subclass with a shield and the ability to plant a healing banner. Excels at holding chokepoints and objective positions. The shield blocks arrows and can be raised while advancing, making you the frontline anchor.
Best with: Messer + Shield, Healing Banner, Heavy Armor Stat focus: Health Pool, Block Stamina, Objective Presence
Vanguard (Devastator) (S-Tier)
The highest melee damage class with access to the Maul and Battle Axe. The Leaping Strike ability closes distance instantly and deals massive damage. Glass cannon that melts enemies but has limited defensive options.
Best with: Maul or Greatsword, Throwing Axes, Leaping Strike Stat focus: Damage Per Hit, Swing Speed, Stamina
Footman (Poleman) (A-Tier)
Uses polearms for exceptional range advantage. The Halberd and Spear outrange every other melee weapon, letting you hit enemies before they can hit you. Sprint Attack with a spear is a devastating opening move.
Best with: Halberd or Spear, Bandage Kit, Sprint Attack Stat focus: Range, Stamina, Sprint Speed
Archer (Longbowman) (B-Tier)
Pure ranged class with the highest per-shot damage at distance. Headshots with the Longbow one-shot Light classes. Extremely vulnerable in melee — positioning on flanks or elevated terrain is mandatory for survival.
Best with: Longbow, Short Sword (backup), Brazier, Barricade Stat focus: Accuracy, Positioning, Arrow Supply
Knight (Officer) (A-Tier)
Support-focused Knight subclass whose war horn boosts nearby allies' health regeneration. Carries a one-handed weapon plus shield with strong defensive options. The team force multiplier in organized play.
Best with: War Hammer + Shield, War Horn, Heavy Armor Stat focus: Team Proximity, Survivability, Objective Play
Weapons Rankings
| Weapon | Best With | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Messer | Knight (Guardian), Knight (Officer) | The most popular weapon in the game due to its excellent balance of speed, damage, and range. |
| Greatsword | Vanguard (Devastator) | Long two-handed sword with wide slash arcs that hit multiple enemies. |
| War Axe | Knight (Guardian), Footman | High-damage one-handed axe that deals 70 damage per hit with bonus damage to Knights. |
| Longbow | Archer (Longbowman) | Archer's primary weapon dealing 90 damage on body shots and 180 on headshots. |
| Maul | Vanguard (Devastator) | The hardest-hitting melee weapon at 100 damage per swing. |
Weapons Analysis
Messer: The most popular weapon in the game due to its excellent balance of speed, damage, and range. Deals 65 damage per slash with fast swing speed. Works with any class that can equip one-handed weapons. The go-to choice for competitive play.
Greatsword: Long two-handed sword with wide slash arcs that hit multiple enemies. Deals 75 damage per slash and has the best horizontal range of any sword. Slower than one-handers but the multi-hit potential in group fights is unmatched.
War Axe: High-damage one-handed axe that deals 70 damage per hit with bonus damage to Knights. Shorter range than swords but chops through blocks faster due to higher stamina damage. Pairs well with shield for aggressive play.
Longbow: Archer's primary weapon dealing 90 damage on body shots and 180 on headshots. Slow draw time but devastating at range. Arrows arc over distance requiring lead on moving targets. Carries 24 arrows, resupplied at ammo boxes.
Maul: The hardest-hitting melee weapon at 100 damage per swing. Extremely slow but can one-shot Archers and two-shot most classes. Overhead attacks deal bonus damage. The ultimate risk-reward weapon — miss and you're dead, hit and they're dead.
Meta Analysis
The current meta in Chivalry 2 centers on melee combat system and objective-based warfare. Builds that leverage both systems outperform those that focus on only one.
What's strong right now:
- Knight (Guardian) with Messer is the benchmark. Everything else is measured against it.
- class system builds are gaining ground as players find new synergies.
- Footman (Poleman) remains essential for learning hard content.
What's underrated:
- Vanguard (Devastator) is consistently overlooked despite being the most flexible option.
- War Axe offers excellent performance for its investment level.
What's overhyped:
- Pure Knight (Officer) builds. High ceiling but the consistency isn't there for most players.
Quick Picks by Situation
| Situation | Best Role | Best Weapon | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall best | Knight (Guardian) | Messer | Highest consistent performance |
| New player | Vanguard (Devastator) | Greatsword | Most forgiving, teaches mechanics |
| Hard content | Footman (Poleman) | War Axe | Survivability when you need it |
| Group play | Archer (Longbowman) | Longbow | Utility and team support |
| Experienced player | Knight (Officer) | Maul | Unique challenge and high ceiling |
For full build guides, see Chivalry 2 builds. For progression help, check the walkthrough.
