Yet Another Zombie Survivors 1.0: Ultimate Class Tier List – S-Tier & Best Picks

With the full 1.0 release of Yet Another Zombie Survivors, the class roster has expanded significantly. New specializations have joined the fight, and the early access veterans have all been rebalanced for the final version. If you’re diving into the game’s longer modes or cranking up the difficulty, knowing which classes to bring can make or break your run.

This tier list ranks every currently available class across three tiers. S-tier classes are near-mandatory picks for high-difficulty runs, A-tier options are strong with the right support, and B-tier classes need very specific builds to shine. I’ve also included tips on how to use each class effectively based on the current 1.0 meta.

S-Tier – The Backbone of Any Winning Run

These three classes aren’t just strong — they’re essential if you want to survive past the 20-minute mark or tackle the game’s hardest difficulties. Build your team around them.

Medic

The Medic is the only class in the game that can provide sustained healing to the entire squad. Without one on your team, longer runs turn into a slow bleed-out as chip damage accumulates. Its healing abilities scale well into the late game, and the class also has decent defensive options to keep itself alive while patching up allies.

If you’re playing any mode that extends beyond the usual 20-minute timer, the Medic is non-negotiable. It’s the difference between a run that ends to attrition and one that pushes deep into the endgame.

Tank

The Tank is the best beginner-friendly class and one of the most versatile picks overall. It starts unlocked by default, so you can slot it into any team composition from the very first run. It levels up faster than any other class, giving you access to powerful AoE weapons early on.

Its high health pool also forgives positional mistakes — a huge help when you’re still learning the map’s chokepoints and loot spawns. The Tank’s weapon pool prioritizes area damage, making it excellent at clearing crowds and holding lanes. For new players, this is the class that keeps you alive while you figure out the game’s rhythm.

Swat

The Swat brings the highest consistent damage output in the game. Its skill set includes both zoning tools and devastating AoE attacks, letting it control enemy tempo while shredding minion waves. The turrets it deploys are especially effective against elite and boss enemies, giving your team a much-needed single-target punch.

Between its default skills and the ability to customize loadouts, the Swat fits into almost any team composition. It’s the class you pick when you need raw killing power without sacrificing crowd control.

A-Tier – Strong Alternatives with Specific Strengths

These classes are perfectly viable and can outshine S-tier picks in the right team compositions, but they have clear weaknesses that keep them from being universal.

Ghost

The Ghost is the undisputed king of wave clearing. Its abilities have very low cooldowns, allowing you to spam skills constantly and melt through hordes of basic enemies. The trade-off is low base damage, which makes it noticeably weaker against bosses and elite enemies.

If your team already has a Swat or another boss-killer, the Ghost becomes a fantastic second or third pick. Pair it with a Medic and Tank, and you’ll breeze through the early and mid-game while the Ghost handles the endless waves.

Engineer

The Engineer has the best crowd control potential of any class. Its turrets, traps, and area-denial abilities can lock down entire sections of the map. The problem is that its base damage is low, and it struggles to kill bosses efficiently — a serious drawback on higher difficulties where elite enemies spawn frequently.

Like the Ghost, the Engineer needs a strong damage-dealer on the team to cover its weaknesses. It excels in defensive, hold-the-line strategies where you funnel enemies into kill zones. If you enjoy tactical positioning, this class will reward you.

B-Tier – Niche Options That Need Investment

These classes can work, but they require specific builds, team compositions, or a lot of resource investment to perform at a high level. For most players, they’re best left on the bench until you’ve mastered the game.

Huntress

The Huntress has the longest range in the game, but her abilities are underwhelming. Arrow Rain is the only skill with decent damage potential, and its landing spots are too random to rely on in clutch moments. She can be elevated to A-tier if you invest plenty of resources into her skill tree and gear, but that’s a steep cost for a class that still feels inconsistent.

If you’re determined to make the Huntress work, focus on items that boost critical hit chance and attack speed. She’s a glass cannon that needs precise positioning to avoid getting overrun.

Pyro

The Pyro looks flashy — fire effects, explosions, area denial — but the class is fragile and inconsistent. Its weapons are mediocre, and its abilities lack both reliable AoE and crowd control. On harder difficulties, the Pyro gets overwhelmed too quickly to be useful.

The class has a high skill ceiling but a low floor. Unless you’re theory-crafting a very specific fire-based build, you’re better off picking almost any other class. The Pyro is the definition of a niche pick.

Note: The Ranger class was added in 1.0 but I haven’t fully unlocked and assessed it yet. I’ll update this tier list with a review once I’ve put it through its paces on higher difficulties.

Building Your Team Around the Tier List

The best team compositions in Yet Another Zombie Survivors 1.0 revolve around covering each class’s weaknesses. An S-tier core of Medic, Tank, and Swat covers healing, survivability, and damage — a safe, reliable setup for any run.

If you want to experiment, drop the Tank for a Ghost or Engineer and rely on kiting and crowd control instead. Just make sure you have a strong boss-killer like the Swat to handle elites. The Medic remains mandatory for any run longer than 20 minutes; don’t leave home without one.

For beginners, start with the Tank and Swat. Add the Medic as soon as you unlock it. That trio will carry you through the early difficulty levels while you learn the game’s mechanics and map layouts.

Why the 1.0 Update Changed the Meta

The full release brought significant balance changes compared to early access. Classes that were once dominant may have been toned down, while others received buffs that pushed them into the spotlight. The addition of new weapons and skill trees also shifted which classes scale best into the late game.

The Medic’s rise to S-tier is perhaps the biggest change. In early access, healing was more of a luxury than a necessity. Now, with longer game modes and tougher enemies, consistent sustain is what separates a winning run from a wipe at the 25-minute mark.

Final Takeaway

The S-tier classes — Medic, Tank, and Swat — form the foundation of any high-difficulty run in Yet Another Zombie Survivors 1.0. Build your team around them, and you’ll have a much smoother path to victory. A-tier classes like Ghost and Engineer are excellent specialists that shine with the right support. B-tier classes like Huntress and Pyro are best saved for later, once you’ve mastered the game and want to challenge yourself with niche builds.

Pick your squad wisely, keep your Medic alive, and you’ll be cutting through the undead horde in no time.