DragonSword: Awakening Classes Guide - Hero Tier List and Combat Tips
Master the tag-team combat of DragonSword: Awakening on PC. Learn how to unlock and play 11 of the game's unique hero classes.
Quick answer
- DragonSword: Awakening features 19 unique Heroes acting as classes, unlocked via main story progression.
- Combat uses a real-time tag-team system where you switch characters to chain skills and stack ailments.
- High-tier characters like Charlotte, Roxy, Theresia, and Donna dominate with powerful crowd control.
- Unlock characters using Destiny Invitations; previewing skills before unlocking is currently unavailable.
Which Character Class Fits Your Playstyle? - DragonSword: Awakening
Watch this gameplay showcase to observe the different hero classes, their unique status ailments, and real-time combat animations before unlocking them.
Understanding the Class System in DragonSword: Awakening
In DragonSword: Awakening, playable classes are represented by unique Heroes rather than traditional static archetypes. The game features 19 unique Heroes, each possessing distinct status ailment abilities and playstyles.
Unlike free-to-play gacha games, DragonSword: Awakening is a standard RPG available on PC. There are no microtransactions or gacha traps required to obtain characters. Instead, you earn Destiny Invitations by progressing through the main story. You can redeem these invitations in the in-game exchange menu to unlock new heroes.
Note: The in-game character exchange menu does not currently allow players to preview character skill animations, movesets, or playstyles before they are unlocked. Choosing your unlock order carefully is highly recommended.
Core Combat Mechanics: Tag-Team & Combos
Combat in DragonSword: Awakening revolves around a highly dynamic, real-time tag-team system (Switching Signals). Rather than fighting with a single hero, you build a party and swap between them mid-battle to chain active skills, stack status ailments, and execute devastating cooperative combos.
To maximize your damage and keep enemies crowd-controlled, use this optimal combat sequence:
Advanced Combat Tips
- Animation Swapping: When you execute an active skill with a long animation (such as Castella's axe spin) and immediately switch characters, the first character remains on the field to finish the attack. This allows you to stack damage by having multiple heroes attacking simultaneously.
- Airborne Launches: Depleting the enemy's gauge under their health bar makes them vulnerable. Once depleted, use attacks with the blue wing icon (such as Johnny's Phantom Slash) to launch them into the air.
- Boss Lock-On: When fighting large bosses, trigger the prompt to lock onto them. You can then switch characters to continue attacking from the ground while keeping the boss targeted.
DragonSword: Awakening Class Tier List
While the game features 19 unique Heroes, the tier list below categorizes and details 11 of these characters based on their utility, crowd control capabilities, and ease of use in combat.
High Tier (S-Tier)
These heroes offer exceptional range, safety, or powerful status ailments that can easily control difficult encounters.
| Hero | Weapon / Style | Primary Status Ailments | Key Abilities & Mechanics |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte | Fluid Melee | Poison, Airborne, Knockdown | Utilizes Invisibility (decoy) to drop aggro; throws Poison Daggers for safe damage. |
| Roxy | Agile Ranged Bow | Bleed | High mobility; utilizes Crimson Spiral (a bleed kick) and Blood Rain to zone enemies. |
| Theresia | Dual Chains | Bleed, Stun | Massive attack range; controls the battlefield with Sanctification and Celestial Judgment. |
| Donna | Summoner | Freeze | Summons a giant ice golem named Chocolate that draws enemy aggro and absorbs incoming damage. |
Mid Tier (A-Tier)
Solid, reliable classes that excel in specific roles but may require more precise positioning or setup.
- Alex: A defensive sword-and-shield warrior. He utilizes Knockdown mechanics, shield block frames, and a dedicated Defensive Stance to absorb heavy hits.
- Irene: A fast spear-wielder who excels at spacing. She uses Charge Spear to launch enemies into the air and plants a flag using Brave to buff the team's attack power.
- Karin: A fire caster specializing in area-of-effect damage. She inflicts Burn and Stun status ailments while summoning explosive fire foxes.
- Reina: A heavy greatsword knight built for raw power. She specializes in launching enemies for airborne combos using her signature Rising Slash and Wind Blade skills.
Low Tier (B-Tier)
These characters are more niche, suffer from slower animations, or have mechanical drawbacks that make them harder to run in fast-paced encounters.
- Scion: Throws slow-moving sacred relics to inflict Shock and Knockdown. He can deploy a switchable red/blue buff zone, but his slow projectile speed makes him difficult to use against highly mobile targets.
- Tart: A spellbook-wielding caster who deals Shock damage. She provides minor healing utility via Lightning Shock and Lightning Bubble.
- Asteria: A ranged crossbow user. Unlike other ranged classes, Asteria possesses no initial status ailments in her starting skill kit and must periodically reload, leaving her highly vulnerable to being swarmed by aggressive enemies.