Dungeons and Dragons level 3 class tier list

Dungeons and Dragons‘ 2024 edition has been here for a while now, and it has made a lot of changes compared to 5e in 2014. This means that some classes have benefited more from the new edition than others, but most have gained something in terms of power and balance. Much like not all classes are made equal from the get-go, their power level and scaling change as the game progresses, with one DnD class possibly being the best in the game at level 20, but one of the worst early on. Furthermore, Dungeons and Dragons works in Tiers, which determines the level bracket of your class:

• Tier 1 includes characters between level 1 and level 4.
• Tier 2 includes characters between level 5 and level 10.
• Tier 3 includes characters between level 11 and level 16.
• Tier 4 includes characters between level 17 and level 20.

Since your class is one of the most important aspects of your character, alongside the race you choose and your character’s background, it’s important to know which classes are the best or worst you can pick at level 3. Since level 3 is the universal breakpoint for subclasses in Dungeons and Dragons, each class gets a power spike.

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S-Tier: The Classes That Make Your Level 3 Experience a Walk in the Park

• Druid
• Paladin
• Sorcerer
• Warlock

The Druid can be one of the best classes at low levels in Dungeons and Dragons 2024, as it packs several features that can make it hard to kill while also dishing out good damage and having great utility. Wild Shape is possibly one of the most OP abilities in the game at level 3, with forms like Spider and Wolf being incredibly strong. At low levels, a Druid is extremely versatile, and it can cast cantrips, spells, and even have a Wild Companion on top of regular abilities and Wild Shape. Primal Order can also make you a better magic user or all-rounder, with weapon proficiency and medium armor. Circle of the Moon remains a top pick for subclasses, thanks to 9 extra HP and 13 + Wisdom for AC. Still, all Druid subclasses are great at level 3, with Sea offering a reliable way to deal massive damage (especially with +3 or higher Wisdom), Land granting guaranteed damage and healing to multiple targets, and Stars providing free Guiding Bolt and Starry Form.

Conceptually a hybrid between Fighter and Cleric, the Paladin packs multiple great abilities with good HP and weapon/armor proficiency. Between Lay On Hands to heal up to 15 HP (5 per level) and/or cure Poisons, spellcasting, a choice between a Fighting Style feat and Blessed Warrior, Divine Smite, and Channel Divinity’s Divine Sense, a Paladin has virtually all the tools it could need at level 3. On top of that, it can also pick a subclass to have even more perks. DnD 2024’s new subclasses include the Oath of the Noble Genies for the Paladin, which is incredibly flavorful to roleplay and equally powerful, thanks to Elemental Smite and the option to forgo armor entirely (but not shields) to have AC equal to 10 + Dexterity + Charisma.

One of the most versatile and best classes in DnD at level 20 is the Sorcerer, which also gains a lot of its power very early, making it amazing at level 3. Between Innate Sorcery for easy access to Advantage on spell rolls, Font of Magic and Metamagic Options to customize your spells, and a few good subclasses, the Sorcerer has it all. You can easily achieve high-damage burst and have improved durability with Draconic Sorcery on its own, for example, making your level 3 Sorcerer a powerhouse in any party.

The Warlock is often cited as one of the game’s best low-level classes, and for good reason. It has Eldritch Blast as a cantrip, Agonizing Blast as an Eldritch Invocation, the ability to regain Pact Magic slots, and multiple fantastic subclasses to choose from. While the Warlock is possibly the best candidate for multiclassing in DnD 2024 due to its scaling, its level 3 potential is over the roof.

A-Tier: Your Bread And Butter DnD Classes At Level 3

Bardic Inspiration is arguably one of the strongest tactical abilities in the game, and even though it’s not quite the d8 bonus from level 5 yet, an extra d6 on a failed d20 test can be game-changing. Between Expertise and Jack of All Trades at level 2 and a subclass at level 3, the Bard can quickly become very useful in any party and even a menace in combat with College of Valor is picked. Cantrips are a great tool, but the Bard arguably becomes better at levels 4 for extra cantrips and Ability Score Improvement and 5 for potentially more powerful Bardic Inspiration. It’s still one of the best level 3 classes, but unlike other options, a level 3 Bard’s utility and role are more dependent on the party’s size, becoming a top-tier pick with 4+ players (including the Bard) and slightly less so with 3 or fewer.

The Monk is arguably the class that got the most improvements in DnD 2024. At level 3, it has Deflect Attacks that dramatically increases its durability, then Martial Arts offers a d6 damage for unarmed attacks or light melee weapons, and Monk’s Focus gives you access to Focus Points and ways to spend them. With Flurry of Blows, you can attack three times in a turn this way, and then use Uncanny Metabolism to recover Focus Points if needed, meaning the Monk can be an excellent pick at early levels. The level 3 subclass can also be a dramatic improvement for the Monk, with options like Warrior of the Elements giving you elemental coverage and Warrior of Mercy helping with either extra damage or small heals on allies or self.

While the Ranger is arguably the worst class in DnD at level 12 and all the way to 20, its power spike at level 3 makes it good enough that it can outshine other martial classes thanks to the Gloom Stalker or Beast Master subclasses. For one-shot DnD campaigns or low-scaling ones, a level 3 Ranger is actually a great pick, thanks to Hunter’s Mark for extra damage, some spell action, Hunter’s Lore for utility, and high skill proficiency with Expertise. Its Nick weapons can be extra useful and lethal, as you can attack twice while having your bonus action free for Hunter’s Mark.

Although the Wizard is often conceived as the ultimate DnD spellcaster, at level 3, it doesn’t feel like it. It has 3 cantrips and 6 spell slots (4 level 1 and 2 level 2), which means you will often have to use cantrips over anything else, even if your spell list is overall the largest. As such, Sorcerer and Warlock often have the best spellcasting loop by level 3, with the Wizard becoming much better over time (possibly a top 5 class in Tier 3 and top 3 in Tier 4). The Diviner subclass remains a powerful tool for the Wizard, though, as it has one of the best abilities in the entire game in Portent, which lets you change your d20 result with any of two pre-rolled d20s. Additionally, all Wizard subclasses are very good and have seen major updates in DnD 2024, so the class feels good despite its limits at level 3.

B-Tier: Level 3 Options That Lack Defining Abilities

• Artificer
• Barbarian
• Cleric
• Fighter

The Artificer got a new printing in Dungeons and Dragons‘ Eberron: Forge of the Artificer alongside the Cartographer subclass. Though there are some cons to being a half-caster with Intelligence scaling and Medium armor, the Artificer brings a lot of value to the table at level 3, both for themselves and the entire party. With Replicate Magic Item unlocked at level 2 and a subclass to choose from at level 3, the Artificer can immediately get a taste of its power at higher levels. Being able to get a free Bag of Holding, a +1 weapon or shield, or Wand of the War Mage is fantastic, and the Artillerist and Battle Smith make for very strong choices as subclasses.

One of the best changes to the Barbarian in DnD 2024 is that it now has utility outside of combat with Primal Knowledge. Even if the class is still a one-trick pony, it’s also significantly better than it was before, with easy-to-maintain Rage that lasts 10 minutes, better damage scaling, and great subclasses. Particularly, the Berserker went from arguably the worst subclass in 2014 to possibly the best in 2024, and the addition of the World Tree subclass also makes the Barbarian a fantastic option for an aggressive tank fantasy. Berserker and World Tree are also part of what makes the Barbarian a good level 3 pick, with Weapon Masteries further mixing with the chosen subclass for more effects, like Cleave with the Berserker, causing great AoE damage. Still, a lower health pool at level 3 and Reckless Attack often backfiring, can make the Barbarian a bit too squishy before bigger upgrades like Brutal Strike.

While the Cleric lacks Divine Intervention at level 3, which is one of the best tools in the class’ arsenal, it does have a decent selection of spells, and Channel Divinity’s Divine Spark can be an amazing extra way of healing or damaging enemies. As subclasses, Light Domain is fantastic for a hybrid between support and damage, and Trickery Domain’s Invoke Duplicity can be a tactical game-changer based on how it’s used. At level 3, Cleric is a good class that has yet to mature into one of the best in the entire game, but some of the options (like Twilight Domain) in DnD‘s Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything book could be great for a varied playthrough if your DM approves.

The Fighter has had a massive shakeup in DnD 2024, becoming a much better class overall at various breakpoints. Level 3 Fighters are not there quite yet, as they lack Extra Attack, Tactical Shift, Indomitable, and other features. However, Second Wind is pressure relief from the party’s healer, if there is one, and it makes the Fighter as sturdy as the Barbarian, if not more, at early levels. More importantly, Action Surge is one of the most powerful parts of the Fighter’s kit, even if it’s single-use. The Eldritch Knight and Battle Master subclasses are arguably the best options for the Fighter, offering spellcasting and Maneuvers, respectively.

C-Tier: DnD Classes With Drawbacks That Make Level 3 a Struggle

• ​​​​​​​Psion
• Rogue

Dungeons and Dragons 2024’s new Psion class is unreleased at this stage, but it’s supposedly coming later this year based on its Unearthed Arcana version. Unless major changes are made to the class, it behaves like a Sorcerer via Psionic Discipline dice, with the pool increasing at level 5 from 4d6 to 6d6. This jump is considerable, as each Psionic Discipline use will require expending a die, and since level 5 adds a third Psionic Discipline to your pool alongside the ability to restore your dice, that’s the biggest early-game breakpoint for the Psion. At level 3, with limited spell options and lacking foundational features, the Psion struggles a bit — even with decent subclasses.

Definitely not a winner in the 2024 edition, the best DnD Rogue builds often lack damage out of burst periods. At level 3, a Rogue doesn’t have Cunning Strike and Unchanny Dodge to improve its damage, utility, and survivability. While it gets 2d6 of Sneak Attack damage, Steady Aim is mostly good on ranged builds at level 3 because you can’t move before you use it, and your speed is 0 afterward, whereas melee builds can struggle more. The Rogue’s subclass selection is decent, but it doesn’t really improve upon its weaknesses, especially at level 3. Arcane Trickster is probably your best shot due to spellcasting and cantrips like Minor Illusion.