Not all D&D classes are created equal.
While we may be of the mentality that there is no truly bad character class in D&D 5e (at least not since they *fixed* the Ranger, that is), there sure as hells can be bad players.
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This leads to some classes becoming what you could call the worst offenders for these problem players, leading to the negative stereotypes that we all know and love… to hate.
When cast in this most unflattering of lights, some classes can be downright ugly.
We decided to rank the OG 5e classes from bad to worst based on their darker sides, and we very much hope you enjoy.
12. Fighter
Honestly, the stereotypical Fighter is played by someone who has literally never played D&D before. Which isn’t a capital P problem, by any means, but also has the chance of not offering much to the game, either.
11. Barbarian
Big dumb boi hit stuff and drink beer.
The favorite class of that one guy who just wants to kill stuff, a badly piloted Barb has some serious murder-hobo potential. They likely won’t cause too many issues (other than refusing to RP) but if the player tries to go drink for drink with their Goliath counterpart, well, you could be in trouble.
10. Monk
Pair this class with the type of player who will argue with the DM about every. single. ruling. (especially when it comes to in-game physics) and you’ve got some issue on your hands. At worst, they’re a player who wants to turn your D&D game into an episode of Looney Tunes were gravity doesn’t matter and no enemy can ever touch them. Toss in some cultural appropriation for good measure and you’re landing that Monk in the top 10.
9. Ranger
Specifically for people who try to play Rangers exactly like Lord of the Ring’s Strider, without realizing that there was a reason Aragorn’s character arc saw him cast that persona aside. Being a dark, mysterious loner on the edge of the wild is all well and good, but not when you’re travelling with a full party of adventurers.
8. Druid
Okay. Okay. We get it. Nature is cool. Animals rock. Trees are alive or whatever. Just don’t go getting mad at the rest of the party for cooking up a wild rabbit over the burning limbs of your precious forest.
7. Cleric
Great to have around if you need some healing AND some front-lining, terrible to have in a chaotic neutral party that just wants to have some fun without the narc bringing the vibes down by worrying about what their god will think.
Points off if they’re constantly trying to tell their other party members about the Good News, whatever that is.
6. Sorcerer
They have the potential to accidentally cast Fire Ball centered on themselves and absolutely destroy the entire party. Nuff said.
5. Wizard
Just as everyone’s favorite dead uncle once said: “Will great power comes great ways to absolutely mess up the DMs plans” or something along those lines. When the nerdiest member of the group starts being able to, oh, I don’t know, literally warp reality to their wills at higher levels, the DM (and potentially the rest of the party) is in for a world of hurt.
4. Warlock
Get off the phone with your sugar daddy and come help us kill this thing, for Cord’s sake! Oh, you didn’t have you’re after-fight nap so you can’t actually do anything other than Blast stuff Eldritchly?
Great, go stand at the back with the Ranger and try not to get killed, I guess.
3. Paladin
Much like the Cleric, Paladins can have a bad habit of divine righteousness that can be a serious buzzkill if played by a problem player.
Not to mention the hero complex that comes with playing a literal white knight — you may not ever be able to convince that Pally to consider what the rest of the party wants to do.
2. Bard
I mean, do I even need to elaborate?
Pair the raunchy Bard with a DM who’s willing to go deep into this particular PDF and you’ve got the makings of a different type of role play, entirely.
Which is all well and good, but just don’t go saddling the party with a newborn baby because that thing will not make it to the end of the session.
1. Rogue
If stealing from anybody (party included) and giving to yourself is the driving force behind your Rogue’s motivations, you may want to reconsider some life choices.
I don’t know when, exactly, that the Rogue turned from a silent assassin into an edgelord thief who does not play well with others, but I’d love to see more scripts flipped on this one.
You know your character doesn’t haaaave to be an orphan, right?
Honestly, the Rogue as a class has only found itself at the top (or I guess bottom?) of this list because it draws problem players like self-absorbed flies to honey.
Now before you go getting your trousers in a bunch just remember that this ranking was based off of what classes are least bad and worst strictly in the hands of problem players. We’ve actually got a ranking of classes when played by normal people in a different article, so go get mad in the comment section of that one, instead!
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