TL;DR

TL;DR: vocations are important, but launch-week value still starts with weapon fit and account comfort. Thief and Mage are the safest broad recommendations for fresh progression, while Martial Artist rises sharply only once your build is already polished enough to cash in on its damage ceiling.

Quick Facts

Safest fresh-account lane

Warrior + Mage + Thief style shell

Highest ceiling source

Gamerch pushes Martial Artist once panel growth is online

Game8 standout

Thief is SS there because weapon access and move speed stay useful

Core ranking rule

Pick the vocation that fits your real weapon, not your dream roster

Quick Answer

Quick Answer

If you need one launch-week ranking for actual play, not for fantasy spreadsheets, start with Thief and Mage as the safest high-value lanes, then slot Warrior right behind them as the stabilizer for early progression. Priest is more situational but still useful when your runs are failing for survival. Martial Artist is the split case: Gamerch rates it the highest for later DPS, while Game8’s broader early-party advice still leans toward the more stable Warrior + Mage + Thief shell first. That makes Martial Artist a ceiling pick, not the default answer for every account.

Launch Snapshot Tier List

TierVocationWhy it lands here
SThief, MageSmoothest launch value, easy fit with strong early weapons, and strong contribution to generic story and farming shells
AWarrior, PriestWarrior keeps runs stable and easy to pilot; Priest is lower-regret when survival is the actual bottleneck
BMartial ArtistExcellent later damage case, but more demanding and less forgiving as a first all-account recommendation

Why Thief and Mage Lead the List

Thief fixes room pace immediately

Game8 currently gives Thief an SS grade and calls out wide weapon coverage, strong boomerang fit, and the party move speed bonus. That is exactly the kind of launch value that helps every mode feel cleaner.

Mage fits the safest ranged weapon lane

Multiple current party guides keep pulling Mage into recommended shells because Ice Staff style ranged play lowers risk while still giving strong boss pressure.

Both work before the account is polished

That matters. A launch ranking should reward classes that are useful before your panels, Memory depth, and backup weapons are all solved.

The Martial Artist Split You Should Know About

If you care about…Better answer
Fresh-account comfortWarrior + Mage + Thief shell
Faster room control and safer farmingThief first
Stable ranged boss pressureMage first
Later pure damage ceiling once panels are deeperMartial Artist rises fast

Gamerch’s ranking is valuable because it explains why Martial Artist can jump: once panel growth advances, the vocation can push crit and burst damage harder. But Gamerch also says vocation differences are not giant on their own because weapons still swing the outcome heavily. That is why this page keeps Martial Artist below the safest launch picks for now.

What Actually Changes a Vocation Ranking

  1. Weapon access: the official site and current launch guides both make it clear that vocations are only one layer of the build.
  2. Party effect quality: move speed, healing support, or boss-safe range can matter more than a small raw DPS edge.
  3. How soon the vocation feels complete: fresh-account rankings should reward classes that work before heavy panel investment.
  4. Mode target: story, farming, co-op, and score play do not ask the exact same question.

When to Ignore This Tier Order

You pulled a weapon that clearly wants a different class

If your best weapon and off-hand support obviously point somewhere else, trust the weapon lane over the generic class table.

Your account is already in the late-launch polish phase

Once panels, upgrades, and mode demands get deeper, Martial Artist and other narrower picks can rise.

You are wiping for survival, not damage

Priest can jump from “nice to have” to “best answer” the moment your real problem becomes staying alive long enough to finish the room.

FAQ

Is there really a single best vocation?

Not cleanly. Even Gamerch, while ranking Martial Artist first, also says vocation performance moves a lot with the weapon you are actually using. That is why this page ranks low-regret launch value, not theoretical absolute power.

Why is Priest not higher if healing sounds useful?

Because current early-party guides still prioritize clear speed and stable damage. Priest matters more when survival is the specific problem you are trying to solve.

Should I reroll for a vocation?

No. Reroll for a weapon lane, then choose the vocation that lets that weapon work immediately.