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Many MMORPGs make use of classes that are tried and true like mages, warriors, and paladins. While there's nothing wrong with going with the usual archetypes considering how deep build-crafting can be in a lot of MMOs, some games stand out with their unique classes that offer a fresh gameplay experience. Here are our picks for the ten of the most unique classes in MMORPGs.
Comments
FF11 Red Mage was actually unique, FF14's red mage is a joke.
EQ bard.
Most EQ classes actually.
Also, SWG.
Turning MMO classes into grey goo "bring the player not the class" has ruined a large part of this genre for me. It no longer feels like an RPG, just an MMO action game with numbers that go up.
I think that Wardens had some self healing in their gambits if I remember correctly, but as you say they aren't healers.
Warhammer Online's Warrior Priest/Disciple of Khaine: Same as Rift's Chloromancer but melee-based with tanky armor.
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City of Heroes has a lot of cool class combinations. The ice/ice blaster was my favorite. Besides being able to deal massive range dmg, it also has slows, sleeps, ice patches, ice storms, and freezes, making it a really good crowd control class.
The Captain is probably my favorite LoTRO class.
I tend to like complex utility classes with lots of different abilities, kind of like a jack-of-all-trades. The skill is using the right ability at the right time. Unfortunately, modern MMO's like ESO and New World won't let you play that way, since you have only a handful of abilities to use.
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I also think Operative from swtor and Engineer from GW2 are very unique classes. Operative being a stealth healer or a backstabber and Engineer being super versatile and able to take on any and all roles.
Logic, my dear, merely enables one to be wrong with great authority.
The Dervish from Guild Wars also had some pretty cool/unique way to build it, such as aura stacking and them removing them to do insane AOE damage and status effects.
Aww it must stink to have a such a bad opinion. So mad that the best MMO right now ( and the only one worth playing in the past 10 years let's be honest) is getting top list recognition. FF14 will continue to grow & you cry more hehe ❤️
You could easily come up with ten classes more unique than that from Uncharted Waters Online alone, such as the interpreter, sommelier, or salvager.
Gambler - Wakfu (random battle lengths)
Super Newb - Ragnarok Online (has powerful version of newb abilities)
Animists - Dark Age of Camelot (plant summoner)
Shadowknight - EQ2 (life steal tank)
Rift - Chloromancer (plant based healer)
Monk - EQ1 (dodge tank with self heal)
GW2 - Revenant (Take on monsters abilites)
Maple story - Mechanic (basically a pirate in a mech suit)
Anarchy Online - Doctor (healer that can do debuffs as well)
That's just randomly off the top of my head which is more suitable for unique classes.
This isn't a signature, you just think it is.
The Sith inquisitor? Really? That's just a generic-ass lightning mage.
EQ2's warden? Yeah, no, that's literally just a druid.
EQ1: Enchanter
Rift: Bard
DAoC: Minstrel
But there are some gems on that list.
I found this to be one of the better thought out write ups and all classes that have shined in the games that came from. I played most of them and loved them very much.
You could create you own songs and choose what buffs and stats went into them.
Mechanically, all of SWTOR's classes were very boring and straight forwards to play. Aesthetically they looked cool, can't deny that. But as a class? As a role? Nope, extremely vanilla.
As others mentioned, I'm surprised that non of SWG's classes (professions) made it into this list. SWTOR's smuggler was just a generic ranged DPS class, but SWG's smuggler? A class devoted to crafting drugs, slicing (improving) other peoples weapons and armour, trading faction standing for credits as well as a bit of pistols DPS? Far, far more unique.
How about SWG's image designer? A class that does nothing except alter the appearance and stats of other players, providing access to hairstyles and tattoos not otherwise available to players.
The minstrel in DAoC while somewhat similar to the bard had its unique elements.
The bard in Vanguard was unique also.
While I loved my Sith Inquisitors, it was fun but not unique just a fun mage/wizard like most every game has in some form.
Not many games have had anything resembling an EQ bard.