What's the best Blue Protocol class? Though the global launch of Blue Protocol was cancelled, a reimagined (and mobile) version is right around the corner. All but one of the original classes remains in name, but a few more have been introduced to bring the total from six to eight. So, how does the Blue Protocol Star Resonance class tier list look at launch? Let's break it down.

After its official announcement at The Game Awards in 2022 , Blue Protocol looked to make its mark as one of the best MMOs around, bringing a JRPG twist to the genre at a time when the likes of Genshin Impact continue to rise in popularity. There's still hope that it'll become one of the best anime games around, but its standing will depend on how the class and leveling systems have evolved from the base game.

Blue Protocol Star Resonance class tier list

Here's how each Blue Protocol Star Resonance class stacks up at launch:

Tier Class S Stormblade, Beat Performer A Heavy Guardian, Verdant Oracle, Wind Knight B Shield Knight, Frost Mage C Marksman

Blue Protocol: Star Resonance uses a five-player party system. That's one Guard, three Attackers, and a Support. The Star Resonance class tier list takes each class' proposed difficulty, utility, and overall potential into account to highlight the best classes to level up.

S-tier

The Stormblade and Beat Performer classes look to be among the best Blue Protocol Star Resonance classes at launch.

The Stormblade offers unrivalled single-target damage potential in the right hands, which should stand to reduce encounter times significantly, benefiting the whole group. As for the Beat Performer, though its healing potential isn't as high as the dedicated Verdant Oracle, buff potential and the appeal of its attack-focused heal mechanic are expected to ease surplus DPS-focused players into taking up the hybrid role to fill the final slot in a team.

A-tier

For those with no strict allegiance to any class, the appearance of a Guard, Attacker, and Healer in A-tier is reassuring.

The Wind Knight is a great pick for those experienced in topping the DPS charts. Its complex learning curve, however, will lead to many sub-par players struggling to make their mark. Similarly, the Verdant Oracle offers top-tier healing potential. But, with limited access to damage, wider team buffs, and control abilities, we feel it's ever so slightly pushed aside by the versatile Beat Performer in experienced groups.

The Heavy Guardian's higher damage ratio on top of its mitigation and control techniques is enough to suggest it'll be the better of the two tank classes in late-game play.

B/C-tier

That leaves the Shield Knight, Frost Mage, and Marksman. Thanks to its relatively easy playstyle, the Shield Knight is bound to be the best Guard class for most people. It's just sure to struggle against the versatility of the more complex of the two tank classes down the line.

The Frost Mage benefits from high damage and control potential, but it seemingly has to choose between area damage and single-target performance, which can make it a tough sell for some groups. That leaves the Marksman. While nowhere close to being a "bad" class, its lack of real variety means we can't see it being a preferential pick when partying up. Wolves and other pet abilities make it a strong solo play or newcomer class for leveling, and for certain challenge runs, but that's about it for now.

Blue Protocol Star Resonance classes explained

The eight Blue Protocol: Star Resonance classes are:

Class Role Specs Verdant Oracle Healer Smite / Lifebind Heavy Guardian Tank Earthfort / Block Marksman DPS Wildpack / Falconry Frost Mage DPS Icicle / Frostbeam Shield Knight Tank Recovery / Shield Wind Knight DPS Vanguard / Skyward Stormblade DPS Iaido Slash / Moonstrike Beat Performer Healer Dissonance / Concerto

Verdant Oracle

Specs: Smite / Lifebind

Wielding Nature Rings around its wrists, the Verdant Oracle channels the power of nature to reinvigorate ailing foes and to call upon vines and forest spirits to slow targets down. While not much of an attacker, the Verdant Oracle's healing potential is unmatched, making it a powerful lifeline for inexperienced teams and parties taking on particularly tough battles.

Shield Knight

Specs: Recovery / Shield

A stand-out sword and board paladin and defender of the weak, the Blue Protocol Star Resonance Shield Knight rushes in to keep the team safe. With a shield in one hand and a shortsword gripped in the other, the Shield Knight excels at damage mitigation, strategic stuns, and small, self-sustaining heals. And with plenty of short-range area attacks, you should have no problem holding onto enemy aggro.

Heavy Guardian

Specs: Earthfort / Block

The Heavy Guardian is a more aggressive kind of tank. Wielding a glaive-like Guardblade, the Heavy Guardian strikes hard and fast, generating stone-like shells to boost defence and rocky spires to control the flow of battle. Special skills like Sandshroud offer the Heavy Guardian a chance to deal passive area damage at all times, building up the resources needed to keep the enemy from turning their attention to the team.

Marksman

Specs: Wildpack / Falconry

The Masksman is Blue Protocol Star Resonance's answer to the original Keen Strider. Prefering wide area attacks and precise single-target shots from afar, the Marksman doubles as a pet class, calling in various animal companions to trigger powerful effects and chained combos.

Frost Mage

Specs: Icicle / Frostbeam

Beholden to a single style of magic, the Frost Mage chills the enemy down no matter which spec you build into. Whether you decide to bonk targets with large chunks of frozen drink or send a concentrated beam of ice-cold flurry their way, you'll find ways to deal high single-target damage without giving up the means to deliver a blast of cold air to wider groups of enemies.

Wind Knight

Specs: Vanguard / Skyward

Looking for a challenge? The high-speed Wind Knight is sure to please. No matter the spec, you'll find the rapid strikes of the Wind Knight too spicy to pass up. Master the accumulation of Courage to reset ability cooldowns, opening up the potential to endlessly weave one powerful blow into another. Opt for the Skyward spec and you'll fly high to deal death from above.

Stormblade

Specs: Iaido / Moonstrike

Become a lightning-fast harbinger of electrical death with the Stormblade. This class leans into the mechanics of the original game's Blitz Lancer, readying stacks of Thunder Sigils to pop for high burst damage. If you can keep up with this school's rapidly changing weapon types and repositioning effects, the Stormblade will shred through even the toughest of targets.

Beat Performer

Specs: Dissonance / Concerto

As the one class to stick around from the original game, the Beat Performer is the support role for those who love to toot their own horn.

Whether in Dissonance Spec or Concerto Spec, you'll rock out with heavy riffs and fiery flourishs to boost your team's damage and healing effects. You actually heal as you attack with this class, making it a great hybrid for teams struggling to get excess damage dealers to switch to a support class.

What were the old Blue Protocol classes?

The original release of Blue Protocol featured the Blitz Lancer, Foe Breaker, Spell Weaver, Keen Strider, Twin Striker, and Blade Warden classes. The Beat Performer, which remains in the relaunched game, was

Can you change classes in Blue Protocol Star Resonance?

In a welcome twist from many existing MMOs, you can change class at any time. It doesn't matter if you've already put 10 hours into what might be a sub-par pick: you can do a straight swap to a class higher on the Blue Protocol Star Resonance tier list whenever you feel up for a chance of pace.

Similarly, you can run two specs, too. You're not locked into one spec on one character. If you can keep earning the necessary currencies, you can build up a class and spec to suit the needs of any party.

Now that you're all caught up with the Blue Protocol class tier list, you should have no trouble deciding which one to choose once the Blue Protocol release date hits. Until then, try out the best gacha games while you wait for the global launch.