ArcheAge Chronicles Classes and Weapons Explained

Every Class at a Glance

Executive producer Yongjin Ham describes the system simply: each class wields two weapon types, and each weapon has its own combat style, combos, dodges and counterattacks. Even within one class, your play style can change completely depending on the weapon. During the network test, the character screen showed three weapons per class, but only two could actually be used.

• Warrior: Longsword and Greatsword. Third weapon: Gladius (sword and shield), coming in December. Male only at launch.
• Ranger: Longbow and Hatchet. Third weapon shown: Crossbow. Female only at launch.
• Berserker: Axe & Shield and Warhammer. Third weapon shown: Greatshield. Male only at launch.
• Mage: Elemental Staff and Wavesword. Third weapon shown: Vitality Staff (healing). Female only at launch.

Warrior

The Longsword is the Warrior's technical, reactive weapon. Much of it revolves around reading the enemy, parrying, and turning those defensive moments into counters. There is also a high-risk blood path that spends and drains your own HP for more damage.

The Greatsword builds a resource called Resolve and spends it on heavy blows. Testers describe the Warrior as an offensive melee class more than a dedicated tank. It is often recommended as the safest all-round pick for new players.

Ranger

The Longbow is the Ranger's sharpshooter weapon, built around agile movement and kiting enemies from range. The Hatchet is the surprise: despite sitting on a ranged class, it is an aggressive, mobile close-combat weapon with throws. Its loop is to get close, evade and counter.

Rangers are described as the most mobile class. Several guides suggest them for PvP because of that mobility. The Crossbow appeared on the character screen during testing but is not playable in Early Access.

Berserker

Axe & Shield is the steady, defensive option, and it builds Bleed on enemies. The Warhammer builds Burn and stored Thunder for big hits. Compared with the other classes, the Berserker is about weight, impact and controlling the space around you.

Some testers felt the class was rough in the demo, while others nearly switched mains because of how good Axe & Shield felt. It is often suggested for solo PvE. The Greatshield is its planned third weapon.

Mage

The Elemental Staff casts ranged spells and controls the battlefield from outside the fight. The Wavesword does the opposite: it is a frost spell-blade for melee, controlling the fight from the inside. Some Wavesword combos are built around landing critical hits.

The Mage offers high damage and crowd control but lower survivability. Testers call it the most knowledge-based class to learn. There is no healing weapon in Early Access, because the Vitality Staff is a later addition.

Gender Locks and the December Update

Each class is locked to one gender at Early Access. Warrior and Berserker are male only, and Ranger and Mage are female only. After a lot of feedback, XLGAMES confirmed it will remove gender locks one class at a time.

The first post-launch update in December 2026 adds the female Warrior and the Gladius, the Warrior's third weapon, with no exact date yet. Every class will get a third weapon over time. See character creation for how the lock affects your first character.

How to Choose Your Class

Choose by weapon, not by class name. Try both weapons of a class before deciding it isn't for you, since one can feel completely different from the other. You can swap weapons in the middle of a fight, so many players use both.

Your skills and abilities are tied to your weapon and its combos. Each weapon has its own trait tree, so commit your trait points to one weapon first. The builds guide explains stats and traits, and the tier list collects community opinions.

What Changed From the Original ArcheAge

The original ArcheAge built classes by combining three skill sets from a larger pool. That system does not return in Chronicles. Instead, your identity comes from your class, your weapon and how you spend stat and trait points.

Balance is still moving. Before Early Access, XLGAMES tuned the Wavesword, the Longbow's Fire Arrow, the Warhammer, the Hatchet, the Elemental Staff's lightning skills and the Berserker's Forceful Lunge. Expect further changes as feedback comes in.

Official Trailer

▶ Official media

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