The class you lock in before a run decides how hard you hit, how long you survive night raids, and how fast you cross open water between islands in 100 Days at Sea. The gap between the strongest picks and the weakest is wide enough that one choice can carry a solo run while another leaves you scrambling for food and ammo. Every class beats going in with none equipped, but only a handful stay useful all the way to Day 100.
Quick answer: Fire Mage is the top pick thanks to raw Magma Staff damage that scales through every level. Ice Mage, Ancient Squid, Alien Overlord, Chaos Master, Raider, and Hero sit beside it at the top, and the priciest of these run 750 Pearls. Save toward one of them and skip cheap starter classes like Survivor, Camper, and Medic as long-term picks.
Full class tier list
Rankings weigh damage first, then survivability, mobility, and how long each class stays relevant across a full run. Combat power outweighs economy and utility because surviving island bosses and night ghost pirate waves is what actually gets you to Day 100. Placements reflect the July 2026 meta after the Ice Region update, and they can shift when new biome or combat patches ship.
| Tier | Classes |
|---|---|
| S | Fire Mage, Ice Mage, Ancient Squid, Alien Overlord, Chaos Master, Raider, Hero |
| A | Battle Bunny, Minigunner, Pirate, Sharpshooter, Knight, Cowboy, Alien Warrior |
| B | Soldier, Treasure Hunter, Zookeeper, Battle Buku, Olympian, Swordsman, Harpooner, Millionaire |
| C | Merchant, Adventurer, Builder Man, Chef, Sailor, Crewmate |
| D | Camper, Medic, Survivor |
There is no F tier. Every class hands you at least a small buff, so even the bottom picks beat running with nothing equipped.
S tier: the classes worth saving Pearls for
The top tier is built around one idea. Kill enemies fast enough that nothing else matters. Fire Mage opens with a Magma Staff and +25% Magic Damage, then stacks more magic damage at every level for the highest sustained DPS in the game. It holds its own solo because threats die before they close in. Ice Mage is close, trading a slice of that damage for sprint speed that helps you dodge and reposition.
Ancient Squid is the balanced pick, pairing a Squid Laser Gun with sprint speed and a max health bump, and the laser stops overheating once fully leveled. Alien Overlord adds a Ray Gun plus a UFO that crosses islands and open water faster than anything else. Chaos Master blends mobility and magic, with branching Chaos Lightning that clears crowds and a Super Jump for exploration. Raider never runs dry on ammo because kills refill it and its capacity scales infinitely. Hero shines most in co-op, where its final level grants a server-wide +25% damage buff to guns, melee, and magic.
| Class | Starter | Why it ranks S |
|---|---|---|
 Fire Mage | Magma Staff, +25% Magic Damage | Highest DPS in the game; magic damage keeps stacking every level |
 Ice Mage | Ice Staff, +20% Magic Damage | Massive ranged damage plus a sprint boost for survivability |
 Ancient Squid | Squid Laser Gun, +15% Sprint Speed | Balanced damage, health, and mobility; laser never overheats at Lv.4 |
 Alien Overlord | Ray Gun, UFO Space Ship | Heavy ranged damage and the fastest map travel in the game |
 Chaos Master | Chaos Lightning, Saber, Super Jump | Branching lightning clears crowds; strong mobility and magic mix |
 Raider | Dual Pistols, ammo scales with kills | Infinite ammo scaling on long runs plus Double Jump |
 Hero | Holy Sword, Gold Armor, +15% Health | Best co-op support; Lv.4 gives the whole server +25% damage |
A tier: strong picks that clear solo runs
A-tier classes handle every stage of a run without quite matching the top group. Knight is the tankiest option here, opening with Knight Armor for 30% damage reduction plus sprint speed, then adding health, melee damage, and a 5 HP heal on melee kills. Among ranged picks, Pirate, Sharpshooter, and Cowboy all put out high gun damage with strong ammo economies. Minigunner deals heavy sustained fire with a Corrupt Minigun that takes 50 extra shots before overheating at Lv.4.
Battle Bunny is the mobility king with a Triple Jump ceiling and Egg Bombs, though it demands sharp movement to pay off. Alien Warrior rounds out the tier as a durable melee option, pairing Alien Armor damage reduction with respectable melee scaling.
| Class | Starter | Role |
|---|---|---|
 Battle Bunny | Egg Bombs, Double Jump, +15% Sprint | Mobility and crowd control with explosive burst |
 Minigunner | Corrupt Minigun, +10% Health | Sustained ranged damage for tough fights |
 Pirate | Blunderbuss, +35% Gun Damage | Top gun class outside S tier; extra boat speed |
 Sharpshooter | Flintlock, +35% Gun Damage, faster reload | Ranged specialist with fast reloads and bonus ammo |
 Knight | Knight Armor (30% reduction), +15% Sprint | Best tank; melee heals and stays useful all run |
 Cowboy | Revolver, +10% Health, +35% Gun Damage | Reliable mid-game gun class |
 Alien Warrior | Alien Armor (15% reduction), +10% Health | Durable close-range melee |
B tier: specialists and value picks
B-tier classes lean into a single playstyle, whether that is ranged combat, melee, farming, or exploration. Swordsman and Olympian are cheap 250-Pearl picks that stay relevant across several runs, though Swordsman eventually loses ground to Knight and Alien Warrior. Soldier gives dependable ranged damage once you sort out its Assault Rifle ammo. Treasure Hunter and Millionaire drive economy and loot, while Harpooner and Battle Buku reward players committed to their specific weapon or shop loop. Zookeeper only pays off if you have invested heavily in companions.
| Class | Starter | Best for |
|---|---|---|
 Soldier | Assault Rifle, +15% Sprint | Ranged damage with good mobility |
 Treasure Hunter | 100 Doubloons, +3 Sack Slots | Doubloon and loot farming |
 Zookeeper | Machete, +100% companion buffs | Companion-focused builds |
 Battle Buku | Poku Poku, +15% Melee, shop discount | Melee plus Muku Shop economy |
 Olympian | +20% Sprint, +10% Health | Movement and survivability on foot |
 Swordsman | Machete, +25% Melee, +10% Health | Cheap early and mid-game melee |
 Harpooner | Riptide, +15% Sprint | Riptide-focused damage |
 Millionaire | Massive Luxury Yacht, +100 Doubloons | Economy and easy resource gathering |
C tier: economy and utility classes
C-tier classes hand you economy, crafting, or exploration perks that help early but fade once combat scales up. Merchant and Adventurer are strong for hoarding Doubloons and loot. Builder Man cuts crafting costs and toughens structures for base builders. Chef keeps you fed with strong healing food. Sailor and Crewmate cover fast travel and a basic gun, but neither carries a run on its own once tougher enemies arrive.
| Class | Starter | Best for |
|---|---|---|
 Merchant | 75 Doubloons, +15% Doubloons | Early economy and shop discounts |
 Adventurer | Giant Sack, +15% Health, less hunger | Loot hauls and bonus chest rolls |
 Builder Man | Wrench, 25% cheaper crafting | Base building and raft structures |
 Chef | Burger Stand, +10% Health | Food and healing utility |
 Sailor | +5 Boat Top Speed, less hunger | Fast island travel |
 Crewmate | Flintlock, +10% Gun Damage | Basic early ranged option |
D tier: starter classes to replace early
The bottom tier is made of beginner-friendly classes that focus on survival buffers rather than power. Survivor gives an early hunger and regen cushion that forgives the two mistakes that end most new runs, forgetting to eat and misjudging a swim back to the raft. It works as a first safety net, but swap it out the moment you can afford something stronger. Camper and Medic do the same narrow job. Camper adds a health bump, and Medic hands you a starter Medkit and faster regen that matters most before you can craft your own kits. None of them scale into the late game.
| Class | Starter | Why it ranks D |
|---|---|---|
 Camper | Good Sack, +10% Max Health | Decent survivability but little beyond the early game |
 Medic | Medkit, faster health regen | Keeps you alive early but no combat scaling |
 Survivor | Chowder, +10% regen, less hunger | Solid first pick, quickly outclassed once Pearls flow |
Class costs and how to unlock them
Classes are bought with Pearls at the Class Shop on the side of the lobby. You earn Pearls based on how many days you survive, plus Badges, Quests, and free codes. You can also buy classes with Robux directly from the shop. To level a class and unlock its perks, complete the objective shown at the top of the screen while it is equipped.
Note: You can only change your class in the lobby, not mid-run. Equip your pick before starting a session and confirm it is highlighted with “Equip” pressed so it carries into the next attempt.
| Class | Pearl cost |
|---|---|
| Sailor | 40 |
| Survivor | 50 |
| Medic | 50 |
| Crewmate | 60 |
| Camper | 70 |
| Builder Man | 150 |
| Chef | 150 |
| Merchant | 200 |
| Adventurer | 200 |
| Harpooner | 200 |
| Swordsman | 250 |
| Olympian | 250 |
| Battle Buku | 250 |
| Soldier | 300 |
| Cowboy | 300 |
| Zookeeper | 300 |
| Knight | 380 |
| Sharpshooter | 400 |
| Millionaire | 400 |
| Alien Warrior | 400 |
| Pirate | 500 |
| Treasure Hunter | 500 |
| Hero | 600 |
| Battle Bunny | 700 |
| Fire Mage | 750 |
| Ice Mage | 750 |
| Ancient Squid | 750 |
| Alien Overlord | 750 |
| Raider | 750 |
How this ranking was built and which class to buy first
Every class was measured on damage output first, then survivability, mobility, and how long it stays useful through a full 100-day run. Combat-heavy classes rank above economy and utility picks because bosses and night waves decide whether you reach Day 100. This list reflects the July 2026 meta after the Ice Region update.
If you are just starting, grab Survivor or Knight to stay alive, then save toward a 750-Pearl damage class. Fire Mage is the clearest endgame goal, but Ice Mage, Ancient Squid, and Alien Overlord are equally valid depending on whether you want mobility, tankiness, or exploration speed alongside the damage. Chaos Master is a strong single-purchase pick too, since its Chaos Lightning and Saber let you clear solo runs comfortably. Meta placements can move when Stranded Devs pushes new biome and combat updates, so it is worth rechecking your favorite class after a major patch.
