Class System Overview
Ragnarok Online's Pre-Renewal job system follows a linear advancement path. Every character starts as a Novice and progresses through increasingly powerful classes. The full progression is:
- Novice — Your starting class. Gains Job Levels 1–10.
- First Class — Choose one of six base jobs at Novice Job Level 10. Gains Job Levels 1–50.
- Second Class — Advance at First Class Job Level 40–50. Gains Job Levels 1–50.
- High Novice — After reaching Base Level 99 and Job Level 50 as a Second Class, you can Rebirth (transcend). You return to level 1 as a High Novice.
- Transcendent First Class — Same as your original First Class but with “High” prefix. Gains Job Levels 1–50.
- Transcendent Second Class — The final and most powerful form. Gains Job Levels 1–70, with access to exclusive transcendent skills.
There are also Extended Classes (Super Novice, Gunslinger, Ninja, TaeKwon) that follow their own advancement paths.
Pre-Renewal Note
In Pre-Renewal, Third Classes (Rune Knight, Arch Bishop, etc.) do not exist. The Transcendent Second Classes are the final tier. This keeps the classic balance and gameplay intact.
First Classes
At Novice Job Level 10, you can change to one of the six First Classes. Each class has unique strengths and leads to two different Second Class options.
| Class | Key Stats | Role | Advances Into |
|---|---|---|---|
| Swordman | STR, VIT, AGI | Frontline melee fighter and tank. High HP, can provoke enemies and absorb damage for the party. | Knight / Crusader |
| Mage | INT, DEX | Elemental spellcaster. Devastating area-of-effect magic damage but fragile. Needs DEX for cast time reduction. | Wizard / Sage |
| Archer | DEX, AGI, LUK | Ranged physical attacker. Excellent solo class with consistent long-range damage and high flee. | Hunter / Bard (male) or Dancer (female) |
| Acolyte | INT, VIT, DEX | Holy support class. Heals, buffs, and protects party members. Essential for group play. Strong against Undead/Shadow enemies. | Priest / Monk |
| Merchant | STR, VIT, DEX | Commerce and crafting class. Can open vending shops, use pushcart, and deal solid melee damage with axes and maces. | Blacksmith / Alchemist |
| Thief | AGI, STR, LUK | Fast melee attacker specializing in evasion and critical hits. Can steal items from monsters, hide, and apply poison. | Assassin / Rogue |
Second Classes
When your First Class reaches Job Level 40 or higher (50 is recommended for maximum skill points), you can advance to one of two Second Classes per branch.
Swordman Branch
| Class | Role | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Knight | Melee DPS / Tank | Powerful two-handed sword or spear user. Skills include Bowling Bash for AoE damage and Brandish Spear for mounted combat. Can ride a Peco Peco for increased movement speed. |
| Crusader | Holy Tank / Support | Defensive class with Holy Cross, Shield Boomerang, and Grand Cross. Devotion lets them take damage for allies. Excellent in party play and against Undead enemies. |
Mage Branch
| Class | Role | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Wizard | AoE Magic DPS | Master of destructive elemental magic. Storm Gust, Lord of Vermilion, and Meteor Storm deal massive area damage. The premier mob-clearing class. Requires 150 DEX for instant cast in Pre-Renewal. |
| Sage | Magic Support / Utility | Versatile magic class that can endow party weapons with elements (Endow Blaze, Endow Tsunami, etc.), cast Dispel, and use Free Cast to move while casting. A strong support pick for WoE. |
Archer Branch
| Class | Role | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Hunter | Ranged DPS / Trapper | Long-range attacker with a falcon companion that deals bonus damage via Blitz Beat. Can also set traps for area control. Double Strafe is the bread-and-butter single-target skill. |
| Bard / Dancer | Party Support / Debuffer | Performance-based support class. Bard (male) and Dancer (female) sing songs or dance to buff allies or debuff enemies within an area. Apple of Idun restores HP, Poem of Bragi reduces cast time. Essential in WoE. |
Acolyte Branch
| Class | Role | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Priest | Healer / Buffer | The primary healer in RO. Heal, Increase AGI, Blessing, Kyrie Eleison, and Resurrection keep parties alive. Magnus Exorcismus is powerful against Undead. The most sought-after party member. |
| Monk | Melee DPS / Combo Fighter | Martial arts specialist using combos: Triple Attack, Chain Combo, Combo Finish. Asura Strike deals the highest single-hit damage in Pre-Renewal. Can also tank with Steel Body. |
Merchant Branch
| Class | Role | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Blacksmith | Melee DPS / Crafter | Can forge weapons and refine ore. In combat, uses Adrenaline Rush for attack speed and Cart Revolution for AoE. Power Thrust boosts party ATK. Strong PvM and economically valuable. |
| Alchemist | Potion Crafter / Summoner | Brews potions and can summon a Homunculus companion that fights alongside them. Acid Terror bypasses defense. The Homunculus system provides a unique pet-like combat partner that levels up independently. |
Thief Branch
| Class | Role | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Assassin | Melee DPS / Critical | Dual-wielding dagger or katar specialist. Sonic Blow deals high burst damage. Katar builds focus on critical hits for consistent DPS. Can use Cloaking to become invisible. Excellent solo class. |
| Rogue | Versatile DPS / Utility | Can copy enemy skills with Plagiarism, strip enemy equipment with Divest skills, and use a bow for ranged attacks. Backstab deals solid melee damage. Great in PvP for disruption. |
Transcendent Classes
After reaching Base Level 99 and Job Level 50 as a Second Class, you can undergo the Rebirth (Transcendence) process. This resets you to a High Novice at level 1, but you gain:
- +25% Max HP and SP compared to non-transcendent classes.
- A higher Job Level cap of 70 (instead of 50), granting more skill points.
- Access to exclusive transcendent skills that are often the most powerful abilities in the game.
- The ability to reach higher stats due to the additional base levels and job bonuses.
| Original Class | Transcendent Class | Signature Skill |
|---|---|---|
| Knight | Lord Knight | Spiral Pierce, Parry, Aura Blade |
| Crusader | Paladin | Sacrifice, Gospel, Pressure |
| Wizard | High Wizard | Amplify Magic Power, Napalm Vulcan, Ganbantein |
| Sage | Scholar (Professor) | Soul Change, Mind Breaker, Spider Web |
| Hunter | Sniper | Falcon Assault, Sharp Shooting, Wind Walk |
| Bard | Clown (Minstrel) | Tarot Card of Fate, Longing for Freedom |
| Dancer | Gypsy | Tarot Card of Fate, Closing Ceremony |
| Priest | High Priest | Assumptio, Meditatio, Basilica |
| Monk | Champion | Zen, Dangerous Soul Collect (enables instant Asura) |
| Blacksmith | Whitesmith | Maximum Over Thrust, Cart Termination |
| Alchemist | Creator (Biochemist) | Acid Demonstration, Slim Potion Pitcher |
| Assassin | Assassin Cross | Meteor Assault, Soul Destroyer, Enchant Deadly Poison |
| Rogue | Stalker | Full Divestment, Preserve, Chase Walk |
Rebirth Process
To rebirth, speak to the Valkyrie NPC in the job change building once you are Base Level 99 / Job Level 50 as a Second Class. You will be reset to level 1 and must level through High Novice, High First Class, and finally your Transcendent Second Class again. The stronger skills and stat bonuses are well worth the journey.
Extended Classes
Extended Classes follow unique advancement paths separate from the standard six branches. They offer distinct playstyles for players looking for something different.
| Class | Advancement | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Super Novice | Novice → Super Novice (Base Lv 45+) | A special Novice that can learn First Class skills from all six branches (except Acolyte's Holy Light and some others). Limited to Novice-tier equipment but incredibly versatile. Has a unique guardian angel mechanic that protects from death once. |
| Gunslinger | Novice → Gunslinger (no further advancement) | Ranged attacker using six types of firearms: handguns, rifles, shotguns, gatling guns, grenade launchers, and revolvers. Each weapon type has dedicated skills. High burst damage but no class advancement in Pre-Renewal. |
| Ninja | Novice → Ninja (no further advancement) | Versatile class with three skill branches: Throwing (shurikens/kunai), Ninjutsu (elemental magic), and Shadow (hide/evasion). Can be built as physical or magical DPS. No further advancement in Pre-Renewal. |
| TaeKwon Kid | Novice → TaeKwon Kid → TaeKwon Master or Star Gladiator or Soul Linker | Kick-based martial artist. TaeKwon Kids can advance into three paths: TaeKwon Master (TaeKwon Ranker with perfect dodge), Star Gladiator (melee DPS linked to specific maps/monsters), or Soul Linker (support caster that buffs specific classes with Spirit skills). |
Choosing Your First Class
Recommendations for New Players
- Want to tank and be tough? Go Swordman → Knight. You will be a frontline powerhouse with high HP, strong AoE damage (Bowling Bash), and the ability to ride a Peco Peco.
- Want to support and always find parties? Go Acolyte → Priest. Healers and buffers are always in demand. You will never struggle to find a group.
- Want to solo efficiently? Go Archer → Hunter. Ranged attacks, a falcon companion, and traps make Hunters one of the best solo classes. They also have excellent mobility.
- Want raw magical power? Go Mage → Wizard. Once you get Storm Gust and 150 DEX for instant cast, you become a map-clearing machine.
- Want to deal huge burst damage? Go Thief → Assassin. Sonic Blow and critical katar builds make Assassins deadly in both PvM and PvP.
- Want to make money? Go Merchant → Blacksmith. Overcharge, Discount, and Vending let you profit from everything. Cart Revolution farms efficiently.
For detailed stat builds and skill guides for each class, check our Stats Guide to understand how to distribute your stat points effectively.