Published: October 8, 2026 
The Drill to Earth's Core class tier list covers all 25 unlockable classes, and if you are trying to figure out where to spend your Cores, the answer is almost always a Tier 5 class. The Executioner dominates boss fights, the Priest keeps your whole team alive, and the Prospector turns resource farming into a completely different game. But not every expensive class is worth it, and plenty of cheaper picks punch well above their cost. Here is how every class stacks up from best to worst.
How We Ranked Classes in Drill to Earth's Core Class Tier List
Our rankings are based on the overall impact each class has on a run across all stages of the game. We consider the quality of starter gear, how strong the level bonuses scale, how useful the team bonus is in co-op, and how the class performs in both early and late game scenarios. Classes that are only strong in very specific situations or require significant investment to deliver value rank lower than those that contribute meaningfully from the start.
Drill to Earth's Core Class Tier List Overview
| Tier | Classes |
|---|---|
| S | Executioner, Priest, Gunsmith, Bounty Hunter, Prospector |
| A | Demolitionist, Reaper, Gunslinger, Bruiser, Samurai, Crafter |
| B | Tank, Driller, Lucky Looter, Nightcrawler, Pirate, Goblin King |
| C | Miner, Scout, Healer, Mechanic, Racer, Witch, Salvager, Recruit, Princess |
S Tier Classes
These are the strongest classes in Drill to Earth's Core, offering the best combination of damage, utility, and team value across all stages of a run.
| Class | Cost | Key Strengths | Weaknesses |
|---|---|---|---|
| Executioner | 30,000 Cores | +200% Boss Damage, free Drill Upgrade on boss kills, bosses always drop Gems | Specialist class with limited utility outside boss fights |
| Priest | 30,000 Cores | 1% HP regen per second, instant ally revives, blessed teammates extend duration on kills | Expensive, best value in co-op rather than solo |
| Gunsmith | 30,000 Cores | Craft guns and ammo, piercing shots, gun kills turn enemies golden | Requires ammo management early on |
| Bounty Hunter | 30,000 Cores | +100% Bounty Coins, +50% Gun and Melee Damage, dungeon bosses become bounties | Damage bonus only triggers optimally with bounty targets |
| Prospector | 30,000 Cores | Ores auto-smelt into bars, veins always drop 2+ items, chance for Pristine Gems | No combat bonuses making dangerous areas harder to farm |
A Tier Classes
| Class | Cost | Key Strengths | Weaknesses |
|---|---|---|---|
| Demolitionist | 10,000 Cores | +50% Explosive Damage, explosives cost 50% less, explosive walls spawn ores | Less effective in tight corridors, ammo dependent |
| Reaper | 10,000 Cores | Soul Orb drops, Soul Lantern AoE damage, permanent HP scaling through kills | Takes time to build up HP stacks |
| Gunslinger | 5,000 Cores | +100% Gun Damage, enemy ammo drops, guns fire 100% faster at L3 | Ammo dependent, weaker without consistent drops |
| Bruiser | 5,000 Cores | +100% Melee Damage, consecutive hit stacking, 50% lower stagger threshold | Requires staying in melee range in dangerous areas |
| Samurai | 30,000 Cores | +100% Melee Attack Speed, 25% Crit Chance, crits chain to nearby enemies | Expensive for what is essentially a melee DPS class |
| Crafter | 10,000 Cores | Crafting price reductions, Drill Boost enhancement, Scrap value on shred | Value depends heavily on how much crafting your team does |
B Tier Classes
| Class | Cost | Key Strengths | Weaknesses |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tank | 5,000 Cores | +100% HP scaling to +150%, Taunt Banner, 25% less damage from taunted enemies | No offensive output, purely defensive |
| Driller | 5,000 Cores | +50% wall damage as Driver, Drill upgrades cost 50% less, burst wall damage below 10% fuel | Only valuable while driving, passive outside the drill |
| Lucky Looter | 10,000 Cores | Chest item bonuses, Coins from chests, guaranteed 2+ chest drops at L3 | RNG dependent, weaker in combat-heavy runs |
| Nightcrawler | 10,000 Cores | Night vision, stealth in darkness, first dark hit deals +200% Damage | Situational darkness requirement limits consistent uptime |
| Pirate | 30,000 Cores | 10% Gold Bar chance, gold sells for +100%, unlocks a cannon, +5% Dig Site spawn | Expensive for a class that is mostly Coin generation |
| Goblin King | 30,000 Cores | Goblins sell for +100%, recruit Goblins via Scepter, scale up to 20 recruits | Complex to manage, expensive, recruit limit takes time to build |
C Tier Classes
| Class | Cost | Key Strengths | Weaknesses |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miner | 100 Cores | Cheap, decent Pickaxe damage bonuses, ores and bars sell for more | Outclassed by Prospector at endgame |
| Recruit | 100 Cores | Cheap, basic damage and HP bonuses | Bonuses are too small to matter in later layers |
| Scout | 3,000 Cores | Movement Speed, highlights Scrap and Chests | No combat value, Speed bonus not impactful enough |
| Healer | 3,000 Cores | +100% Healing, medical items cost less | Outclassed by Priest entirely in the support role |
| Mechanic | 3,000 Cores | Fuel contribution bonus, Magnet at L2, auto-fuel from kills | Too situational, only relevant when managing fuel |
| Racer | 3,000 Cores | Drive Speed bonuses, Drive upgrades cost less | Only relevant while driving, no value elsewhere |
| Witch | 3,000 Cores | Potion duration doubled, craftable potions, potions affect nearby allies | Potion-dependent playstyle is too resource intensive |
| Salvager | 10,000 Cores | Iron Bar chance, Scrap Cog bonus, Scrap sells for more | Outclassed by Prospector for resource farming |
| Princess | 10,000 Cores | Starts with Coins, Staff heals and shares earnings, Gems sell for more | Weak individual combat value, team bonus is minor |
FAQs
The Executioner is the best overall class for boss damage with a +200% Boss Damage bonus at L1, and a free Drill Upgrade for the team on boss kills.
Gunslinger and Bruiser are both strong Tier 3 classes at only 5,000 Cores each offering +100% Gun Damage and +100% Melee Damage, respectively making them the best value picks before you can afford the Tier 5 options.
Cores are earned by opening Chests, completing daily quests, completing achievements, and breaking boss walls. Higher tier classes cost significantly more, with Tier 5 classes requiring 30,000 Cores each.
The Class Shop has random stock and restocks every 12 hours. Not every class will be available at once so check back regularly if the class you want is not currently showing.
