Summary
Black Deserthas a reputation in theMMORPG communityas an unforgiving and hardcore game. Sometimes it even supports player griefing behavior but also penalizes it accordingly. That is to be expected in a sandbox game where you can take on anyone who annoys you. In such matters, having the best viable 1v1 character for PvP can make a huge difference.
Because as it stands,Black Desert Online’s characters each have their own place in the different game modes namely PvE, Node War, and PvP. Certain characters excel in PvP just as some do in other modes. Having one of thesetop PvPcharacters is almost a must especially if you don’t have a guild to protect you.
Updated June 27, 2025 by C.M Edwards:Black Desert Online is a beautifully crafted massive online multiplayer game that checks all the right boxes when it comes to gameplay, graphics, and classes. As one of the most visually stunning MMOs on the market, Black Desert tries its best to incorporate as much appeal to their classes as possible. The class system in Black Desert is unique compared to most other games in the genre, and each class has its own appeal. Pearl Abyss has proven that it is a capable developer as the game has received continuous additional content, updates, and quality-of-life changes. In Black Desert, PVE and PVP share the same world, and to survive, players will need to choose the right class that fits best for their play style. Here are more of the best PVP classes in Black Desert.
20Mystic
The Mystic is the female version of the Striker but she has her own distinct style that sets her apart. For one, most Mystic players will have to rely on her intricate but fluid combos in order to get an edge in duels.
The Mystic doesn’t hit as hard as the striker and her movement abilities also pale in comparison to the most mobile classes, however, once players get her combos going, it can be tough for an enemy to escape. It’s a matter of getting the jump on them, meaning one has to be fast and reactive with the Mystic.
19Nova
The Nova is one of the latest additions inBlack Desert Onlineand also one of the more distinct cleric-style classes in the game. Players would do well not to underestimate her as she can be tanky despite her defensive disposition.
That’s because the Nova relies a lot on her blocks to lay waste to any enemy foolish enough to unload all their skills while she is blocking. After that, it’s a matter of pressing the right buttons to end them. Too bad this one-trick-pony method is easy to figure out.
18Warrior
One of the oldest and pioneer classes in the game, the Warrior has proven himself many times to be an effective all-rounder. He’s tanky and can still deal some impressive numbers and quick kills as well as quick heals that will catch most enemies off-guard.
The beauty of the Warrior class is that it’s one of the simplest characters to use in the game and can be easily mastered. The Greatsword which is the Warrior’s primary weapon when awakened, vastly improves his mobility and area damage.
17Tamer
Two heads are better than one and the Tamer is a class that loves to call upon an ally for its damage. The Tamer has a pet called Heilang that can either distract an enemy or assist in incremental damage. Either way, it puts any 1v1 enemy at a disadvantage, unless you’re also fighting another Tamer.
The drawback of having a trusty evil dog ally is that the Tamer sacrifices some of her tankiness. That means players usually have to keep in mind positioning, dodges, and attack rotations to ensure that the Tamer doesn’t get a taste of her own medicine.
16Lahn
The Lahn is one of the best PvE classes when it comes to grinding tons of mobs and then moving from pack to pack. Her area damage is also exceptional and in the hands of more skilled players, she can easily match the Wizard in clear speed.
When it comes to PvP, Lahn is famous and notorious for her grab attacks that blindside the enemy by letting her close in the distance in the blink of an eye. After that, escaping a Lahn’s vast area hitbox is a challenge, making her a menace in 1v1 situations.
15Striker
The Striker is for players who love relentless and blunt aggression. Each of his attacks has high mobility, making the Striker’s moves a 2-for-1 that does damage and closes the gap between him and the target. Among the two Cestus users in the game, the Striker is the easiest of the two to commandeer.
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Some even consider the Striker as a class that plays on its own since the rotations are simple enough. What makes the Striker one of the best classes for sustaining a grinding spot is his tankiness compared to other 1v1-viable classes. He can take as much as he dishes out.
14Corsair
The Corsair excels in many different areas that can make a very strong impact inBlack Desert OnlinePVP. Both succession and Awakening Corsair are strong classes, however, the Awakening Corsair has a moderately stronger damage output that can deal with dueling or fighting numerous opponents at once. The Awakening of the Corsair is a much more capable path for players engaging in heavy player vs. player combat compared to occasional duels.
Succession Corsair, on the other hand, excels at mobility and is hard to pin down by a single player or a team. The Corsair also has a wide skill gap between the two versions that will take some practice to get the hang of.
13Ninja
As for the undisputed king of 1v1 combat inBlack Desert Online, that would be the Ninja. Since he was introducedto the game, no other class has been a better pick for griefing or defending a grinding spot against lone enemies.
The Ninja has a unique ability in the game that’s flexible; he can vanish with a smoke bomb and this can double as a defensive move or a prelude to an attack as the enemy will lose sight of the character. Sadly, the Ninja is often a one-trick pony and often shines only in 1v1 or other forms of small PvP.
12Kunoichi
Despite being the female counterpart of the Ninja, which is considered as one of the best in PvP, the Kunoichi isn’t as strong. She does have a better range to compensate for the lower damage and can attack in a wider area compared to the Ninja.
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As for her PvP skills, she’s at least better than some of the melee-focuses PvP staples. The Kunoichi can swap weapons fast to confuse opponents and her moves are also pretty hard to read. Do be aware that she’s also more difficult to master compared toother PvPclasses.
11Maegu
The Maegu is one of the most recent additions toBlack Desert Onlineand has pleasantly surprised most of the community with its versatile kit and high damage output. Maegu is agreat class for PVEand PVP, capable of striking large areas at safe distances and easily escaping cumbersome situations.
The Maegu performs exceptionally well in duels and larger encounters which will allow players to keep a cool head in a number of situations. The Maegu is a fairly easy class to pick up and understand and can take new players through the game fairly quickly.
