Welcome to the most comprehensive 100 Waves Later Classes Tier List for 2026! Whether you’re a beginner looking to invest your hard-earned Scrap wisely or a veteran player aiming to push beyond wave 100, this guide will help you make the right class choices.
After analyzing hundreds of high-wave runs and community feedback, I’ve ranked all 12+ classes based on their scaling potential, versatility, and overall effectiveness in different game modes. Let’s dive into the meta-defining classes that will help you survive longer and dominate the zombie hordes.
Quick Class Rankings Overview
| Tier | Classes | Best For | Scrap Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| S | Wastelander, Pathfinder, Engineer | Solo runs, meta builds, beginners | Free – 50,000 |
| A | Boxer, Juggernaut, Pyro, Soldier | Specific playstyles, team support | 20,000 – 100,000 |
| B | Sharpshooter, Medic, Boomer | Situational uses, team play | 30,000 – 100,000 |
| C | Warrior, Scientist, Scavenger | Niche builds, farming | 40,000 – 120,000 |
S Tier Classes: Meta-Defining Picks
Wastelander – The Ultimate Versatile Class
Wastelander stands as the backbone of most high-wave builds due to its incredible scaling potential and versatility. This class excels at pushing the absolute limits of what’s possible in solo runs.
Class Perks Breakdown:
- Level 1: +1 Hotbar Slot – Carry a third weapon, game-changing for late-game flexibility
- Level 2: All weapons have +25% ammo – Eliminates reload pressure in extended waves
- Level 3: 50% chance to upgrade 2 Skills instead of 1 – Provides 1.5x skill upgrades over time
Why Wastelander Dominates: The extra weapon slot alone makes this class S-tier, allowing you to cover all ranges and situations. Combined with the ammo bonus and double skill upgrades, Wastelander creates the smoothest power curve in the game. As a bonus perk, both Level 1 and Level 3 are meta-defining for any other class.
Best Use Cases:
- Solo runs pushing for record waves
- Players who want maximum weapon flexibility
- Gun-heavy builds that need sustained firepower
Pathfinder – The Super Skills Specialist
Pathfinder transforms Super Skills from occasional bonuses into consistent power spikes that define late-game success. This class is essential for anyone serious about reaching wave 100+.
Class Perks Breakdown:
- Level 1: 10% chance each round offers a Super Skill – Starts your snowball earlier
- Level 2: 10% chance each round offers 2 Super Skills – Occasionally doubles your power
- Level 3: Boss waves always offer 2 Super Skills – Guarantees major upgrades at critical moments
Why Pathfinder Excels: Super Skills are the strongest individual upgrades in 100 Waves Later, and Pathfinder maximizes your access to them. While RNG-dependent early on, once the perks activate, every boss wave becomes a significant power spike. Combined with Wastelander’s Level 3 perk, this creates the ultimate scaling build.
Best Use Cases:
- Long runs where scaling beats early damage
- Builds focused on Super Skills
- Meta setups combining multiple class perks
Engineer – The Beginner’s Best Friend
Engineer provides consistent, reliable damage that never needs babysitting – making it perfect for both beginners and experienced players who want stress-free runs.
Class Perks Breakdown:
- Level 1: Start with a placeable Auto-Turret – Free extra DPS from wave one
- Level 2: Turret is upgradeable to Level 2 – Scales damage for mid-game relevance
- Level 3: Turret is upgradeable to Level 3 – Serious damage contributor even in high waves
Why Engineer Shines: The turret acts like having an extra player on your team – it targets automatically, never dies permanently, and provides consistent damage. Best of all, Engineer is completely free! Just log in for 7 consecutive days to claim this S-tier class.
Best Use Cases:
- New players learning the game
- Solo runs wanting “extra player” damage
- Low-stress farming sessions
A Tier Classes: Very Strong Contenders
Boxer – The Melee Master
Boxer takes melee combat to extreme levels with fists that hit like premium weapons and incredible sustain potential.
Class Perks Breakdown:
- Level 1: No hotbar slots. High Fists Damage and Swing Speed – Full melee commitment
- Level 2: 50% chance melee attacks grant 10% Health – Massive sustain potential
- Level 3: Charge fists to perform a Super Punch – Burst damage for bosses
Performance Analysis: Boxer’s effectiveness heavily depends on your connection quality. With good internet, this class feels absolutely broken – you’ll punch through waves while staying near full health. The Level 2 perk is also one of the best bonus perks for any melee build using actual weapons.
Best Use Cases:
- Dedicated melee players
- Juggernaut or Warrior builds wanting extra sustain
- Players with stable internet connections
Juggernaut – The Ultimate Tank
Juggernaut trades speed for unparalleled survivability, making it the easiest way to stop dying to random hits and learn high-wave mechanics.
Class Perks Breakdown:
- Level 1: Significantly increase base Health, reduce Move Speed – Tank foundation
- Level 2: Significantly reduce damage taken from Fire and Explosions – Key damage mitigation
- Level 3: Significantly reduce damage taken from Radiation – Late-game protection
Strategic Value: The movement speed penalty feels rough initially, but Juggernaut’s durability lets you survive mistakes that would kill other classes. It’s perfect for learning boss patterns and surviving chaotic late-game waves. The damage reduction perks also make excellent bonus choices for tanky builds.
Best Use Cases:
- Players who frequently die before upgrading weapons
- Melee builds needing a safety net
- Co-op roles that absorb damage for the team
Pyro – The Boss Killer
Pyro specializes in fire damage and area denial, creating one of the best boss-killing setups when paired with the Incendiary Shotgun.
Class Perks Breakdown:
- Level 1: Start with Fire Bomb (recharges) – Early AoE clearing tool
- Level 2: Don’t take fire damage – Complete fire immunity
- Level 3: Bullets have a chance to set zombies on fire – Passive burn damage
Combat Effectiveness: While fire damage numbers are currently modest, Pyro excels at focused boss-killing runs. The Incendiary Shotgun + Pyro combination creates incredible fire stack uptime that melts high-health targets. Fire immunity also lets you play more aggressively with your own flames.
Best Use Cases:
- Targeted boss-killing runs
- DoT (damage over time) build enthusiasts
- Co-op teams focused on burning elites
Soldier – The Reliable Gun Specialist
Soldier provides straightforward weapon improvements that make the early and mid-game incredibly comfortable, especially for ranged weapon users.
Class Perks Breakdown:
- Level 1: Increase Gun damage – Universal ranged buff
- Level 2: Increase base Reload speed – Fewer vulnerable moments
- Level 3: Increase Move Speed when below 25% Health – Emergency escape tool
Why Soldier Works: Soldier lacks the explosive late-game scaling of S-tier classes, but its consistent buffs make progression smooth and reliable. At only 20,000 Scrap, it’s an excellent bridge class before unlocking more expensive options. Pairs perfectly with Wastelander’s Level 1 perk as a bonus.
Best Use Cases:
- Early account progression
- Players committed to ranged weapons
- Budget-conscious build planning
B Tier Classes: Situational Specialists
Sharpshooter – The Precision Expert
Sharpshooter is built entirely around pistols, which are currently the weakest weapon category, holding this class back despite strong perks on paper.
Class Perks Breakdown:
- Level 1: Significantly increase headshot damage with Pistols – Rewards precision
- Level 2: Pistols have +150% ammo – Bottomless pistol magazines
- Level 3: 25% chance Pistols deal Critical Hits – Substantial damage spikes
Limitations: While the perks look impressive, pistol builds get outclassed by shotguns and lasers in almost every scenario. Sharpshooter sits at the bottom of meta discussions not because of bad design, but because its weapon category underperforms.
Best Use Cases:
- Personal challenge runs
- Players who love precision gameplay
- Testing pistol potential after future buffs
Medic – The Team Support Specialist
Medic is the only true support class that scales dramatically with party size – S-tier in coordinated teams, but situational for solo play.
Class Perks Breakdown:
- Level 1: Start with Stimshot – Immediate healing availability
- Level 2: Reduce Stimshot cooldown – More frequent healing
- Level 3: Revive players twice as fast – Clutch team saves
Team Value: In organized groups, keeping high-DPS players alive often matters more than adding another gun. Medic’s value multiplies with skilled teammates who can maximize the extra survival time. Solo, however, the lack of direct damage perks and slow early movement hold it back.
Best Use Cases:
- Dedicated support in co-op teams
- Organized groups pushing record waves
- Teaching new players the ropes
Boomer – The Explosion Enthusiast
Boomer focuses on explosive damage and area control, creating spectacular gameplay that’s more fun than optimally efficient.
Class Perks Breakdown:
- Level 1: Start with Trip Mine and increase Explosive Damage – Early AoE setup
- Level 2: Don’t take Explosive Damage – Safe explosive play
- Level 3: Bullets have a chance to explode – Passive splash damage
Strategic Considerations: The main issue is that investing in explosion damage usually means skipping generic gun damage boosts, which hurts boss DPS later. At 100,000 Scrap, Boomer is also expensive compared to stronger, cheaper options like Pathfinder and Wastelander.
Best Use Cases:
- Players who love AoE-heavy gameplay
- Casual co-op where spectacle matters
- Players who enjoy explosive visual effects
C Tier Classes: Low Priority Picks
Warrior – The Basic Melee Option
Warrior provides straightforward melee improvements that are outclassed by more specialized options like Boxer and Juggernaut.
Class Perks Breakdown:
- Level 1: Increase Melee damage – Basic damage boost
- Level 2: Increase base Swing Speed – Faster attack rate
- Level 3: Increase Melee damage when health falls below 25% – Berserker mechanics
Why Warrior Falls Short: While functional for melee builds, Warrior lacks the sustain of Boxer or the tankiness of Juggernaut. It’s highly situational and doesn’t suit other playstyles well. Most players are better off saving for A or S-tier options.
Best Use Cases:
- Basic melee experimentation
- Players who want simple mechanics
- Budget melee builds before upgrading
Scientist – The Crowd Control Specialist
Scientist focuses on zombie manipulation and area denial, but recent nerfs have significantly reduced its effectiveness.
Class Perks Breakdown:
- Level 1: Start with Throwable Zombie Lure – Crowd control tool
- Level 2: Lure lasts longer – Extended control duration
- Level 3: Lure explodes when the timer expires – Damage component
Current Issues: Recent balance changes have made this class much less effective than it once was. At 120,000 Scrap, Scientist is one of the most expensive classes while providing minimal combat value. The lure mechanics are interesting but don’t justify the high cost in the current meta.
Best Use Cases:
- Team runs with coordinated players
- Experimental crowd control strategies
- Players who enjoy support mechanics
Scavenger – The Resource Farmer
Scavenger excels at resource generation but provides no direct combat benefits, making it better as a bonus perk than a main class.
Class Perks Breakdown:
- Level 1: Increase Mystery Box drop chance – More loot opportunities
- Level 2: Mystery Boxes reroll duplicates – Better weapon variety
- Level 3: Zombies sometimes drop double Scrap – Accelerated progression
Strategic Value: While Scavenger is excellent for farming Scrap and unlocking content faster, it does nothing to improve your combat performance or survivability. Most players are better off taking Scavenger’s Level 3 perk as a bonus on a combat-focused class.
Best Use Cases:
- Dedicated farming sessions
- New accounts needing quick progression
- Players who enjoy resource management
Meta Build Combinations
Best Overall Build: Pathfinder + Wastelander Synergy
The current meta champion combines Pathfinder as your main class with Wastelander’s Level 3 perk as your bonus. This gives you:
- Maximum Super Skill frequency from Pathfinder
- 50% chance for double skill upgrades from Wastelander
- Incredible scaling potential for 100+ wave runs
Recommended Weapons: Plasma Shotgun, Gatling Laser, Greatsword
Best Beginner Build: Engineer + Wastelander Support
Engineer main with Wastelander’s Level 1 perk provides:
- Free turret damage from Engineer
- Extra weapon slot for versatility
- Consistent performance without complex mechanics
Recommended Weapons: Auto Shotgun, Pump Shotgun
Best Melee Build: Juggernaut + Boxer Sustain
Juggernaut main with Boxer’s Level 2 perk offers:
- Maximum survivability from Juggernaut
- 50% health regeneration on melee hits from Boxer
- Perfect for learning melee mechanics safely
Recommended Weapons: Greatsword, Chainsaw
Class Unlocking Strategy
Free Options First
- Engineer – Log in 7 consecutive days (completely free)
- Pathfinder – Available from start (no cost)
- Wastelander – Available from start (no cost)
Scrap Investment Priority
- Save for S-tier classes if you have free options
- Soldier (20,000 Scrap) – Best budget option for ranged players
- Boxer (30,000 Scrap) – If you enjoy melee and have good connection
- Juggernaut (40,000 Scrap) – For tank build enthusiasts
Avoid These Initially
- Scientist (120,000 Scrap) – Too expensive for current effectiveness
- Boomer (100,000 Scrap) – Outclassed by cheaper options
- Scavenger (50,000+ Scrap) – Better as a bonus perk
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the absolute best class in 100 Waves Later?
Wastelander, Pathfinder, and Engineer form the current S-tier trio. Wastelander offers the best overall versatility with extra weapons and ammo, Pathfinder provides unmatched late-game scaling through Super Skills, and Engineer delivers consistent free damage as the best beginner option.
Which class is best for solo play?
Wastelander excels in solo play due to its extra weapon slot and ammo bonuses, allowing you to handle all situations alone. Engineer is also excellent for solo runs because the turret acts like an AI teammate.
What’s the best class for team play?
Medic becomes S-tier in coordinated teams, keeping high-DPS players alive. Pathfinder and Wastelander remain top choices for damage dealers, while Juggernaut can tank for the team.
Which class should I unlock first?
If you’re new, start with the free options: Engineer (7-day login), Pathfinder, and Wastelander. If you have Scrap to spend, Soldier (20,000 Scrap) offers the best value for ranged players.
What’s the best bonus perk to choose?
Wastelander’s Level 3 perk (50% chance for double skills) is the most powerful overall. Wastelander’s Level 1 perk (extra weapon slot) is universally useful. Pathfinder’s Level 2 perk (chance for 2 Super Skills) is excellent for long runs.
How do I get more Scrap quickly?
Play Scavenger for dedicated farming sessions, or take Scavenger’s Level 3 perk as a bonus on a combat class. Focus on survival and completing waves efficiently rather than risky strategies.
Which class is worst for beginners?
Sharpshooter is the most difficult for beginners because it relies on pistols, the weakest weapon category. Boxer can also be challenging due to its melee-only restriction and connection sensitivity.
Will these tier rankings change?
The meta evolves with game updates and balance changes. Bookmark this guide and check back regularly for the latest rankings, as developer adjustments can shift class effectiveness significantly.
Conclusion
The 100 Waves Later class tier list reflects the current meta where scaling, versatility, and consistency reign supreme. While S-tier classes like Wastelander, Pathfinder, and Engineer offer the best path to high waves, don’t be afraid to experiment with A-tier options that match your playstyle.
Remember that player skill often matters more than tier placement – a skilled Boxer player can outperform an average Wastelander user. Focus on mastering one class before investing heavily in others, and always prioritize unlocking the free options first.
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