Wastelander, Pathfinder, and Engineer are S-tier in 100 Waves Later. Wastelander's extra weapon slot and ammo scaling make it the best all-around class. Pathfinder's Super Skill stacking dominates late game. Shotguns are the best weapon type by far.
I've tested every class and weapon combo pushing for wave 100. The meta is clear: Wastelander for raw power, Pathfinder for scaling, Engineer for consistent damage. Everything else is situational or just worse.
Class Tier List
S-Tier (Meta Picks)
| Class | Why S-Tier | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Wastelander | +1 weapon slot, ammo scaling, stat bonuses | Everything |
| Pathfinder | Super Skill stacking, mobility dash | Late game, long runs |
| Engineer | Free turrets, permanent damage | Solo, consistent clears |
Wastelander is the backbone of most high-wave builds. The Level 1 perk gives an extra weapon slot, letting you cover all ranges. Level 3 perk scales your ammo reserves, so you never run dry in late game. Even as a bonus perk, Wastelander Level 1 is worth grabbing on any build.
Pathfinder shines in long runs. Level 2 and 3 perks give chances for double Super Skills. By wave 70+, you'll have 4-5 Super Skills active. The mobility dash also helps reposition during boss fights. Pathfinder + Wastelander Level 3 is the strongest combo in the game.
Engineer is the most accessible S-tier pick. Turrets deal permanent damage without needing attention. They scale with waves and never die. Great for newer players who want consistent performance without complex builds.
A-Tier (Strong)
| Class | Why A-Tier | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Boxer | High melee damage, lifesteal | Melee builds, good connection |
| Juggernaut | Tank stats, survivability | Learning, co-op tank role |
Boxer removes your weapon slots but gives fists that hit like premium melee weapons. Level 2 perk adds lifesteal, making you nearly unkillable while punching. The catch: latency matters. With a good connection, Boxer feels broken. With lag, you'll miss hits and die.
Juggernaut is the tank class. More HP, slower movement. Good for learning since you can take hits that would kill other classes. Falls off in late game when zombie damage outscales your health pool, but solid for wave 50-60 runs.
B-Tier (Situational)
| Class | Why B-Tier | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Warrior | Melee hybrid | Players who want melee + guns |
| Scavenger | Extra Scrap drops | Farming currency |
| Pyro | Fire damage over time | AoE situations |
Warrior is a melee hybrid that can use weapons but gets melee bonuses. Jack of all trades, master of none. Boxer does pure melee better. Wastelander does guns better. Warrior sits in the middle without excelling.
Scavenger gives bonus Scrap from kills. Use it when farming currency, not when pushing high waves. The combat perks are weak compared to S-tier classes.
Pyro has fire damage that sounds cool but doesn't compete with Wastelander's raw output. The DoT is nice for trash mobs but bosses need burst damage.
C-Tier (Weak)
| Class | Why C-Tier | Avoid Because |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpshooter | Pistol specialist | Pistols are the worst weapon type |
| Survivor | Starter class | No special perks |
Sharpshooter specializes in pistols, which are the weakest weapons in the game. Even with Sharpshooter bonuses, pistols can't compete with shotguns or lasers. Don't main this class.
Survivor is what you start with. No perks, no bonuses. Replace it as soon as you can afford Wastelander.
Weapon Tier List
S-Tier Weapons
| Weapon | Type | Why S-Tier |
|---|---|---|
| Incendiary Shotgun | Shotgun | Fire stacks melt bosses |
| Plasma Pump Shotgun | Shotgun | High damage, good range |
| Gatling Laser | Laser | Pierce, horde clear |
Incendiary Shotgun is the boss killer. Fire stacks deal damage over time that shreds boss HP. One magazine can kill most bosses if you land your shots. Must-have for any serious run.
Plasma Pump Shotgun has the highest damage per shot among shotguns with decent range. Can solo carry to wave 100+. Reliable and consistent.
Gatling Laser pierces enemies, hitting multiple zombies per shot. Best horde clear weapon. Eats ammo fast, so pair it with Wastelander's ammo perks.
A-Tier Weapons
| Weapon | Type | Why A-Tier |
|---|---|---|
| Auto Shotgun | Shotgun | Fast fire rate, forgiving |
| Plasma Laser | Laser | Good pierce, less ammo hungry |
| Greatsword | Melee | Best melee weapon |
| Plasma Rifle | Rifle | Balanced, reliable |
Auto Shotgun fires faster than Pump variants. Less damage per shot but more forgiving if you miss. Good secondary weapon.
Plasma Laser has pierce like Gatling but uses less ammo. Slightly lower DPS but more sustainable.
Greatsword is the best melee weapon. Wide swings hit multiple zombies. Boxer + Greatsword is a classic combo.
Plasma Rifle is balanced and reliable. Not the best at anything but good at everything. Solid backup weapon.
B-Tier Weapons
| Weapon | Type | Why B-Tier |
|---|---|---|
| Sniper | Sniper | High single-target, slow |
| Chainsaw | Melee | Good damage, short range |
| Basic Shotgun | Shotgun | Decent early, outclassed later |
Sniper deals high single-target damage but fires slowly. Good for picking off special zombies, bad for hordes.
Chainsaw has good melee damage but shorter range than Greatsword. Usable but not optimal.
Basic Shotgun is fine early game but gets outclassed by Plasma and Incendiary variants.
C-Tier Weapons
| Weapon | Type | Why C-Tier |
|---|---|---|
| All Pistols | Pistol | Low damage, bad scaling |
| Basic Rifle | Rifle | Outclassed fast |
Pistols are all bad. Fast fire rate doesn't compensate for low damage. Even Sharpshooter can't make them viable.
Basic Rifle is your starter weapon. Replace it by wave 20.
Best Builds
Solo Push Build
Class: Pathfinder Bonus Perks: Wastelander Level 1, Wastelander Level 3 Weapons: Plasma Pump Shotgun, Gatling Laser, Greatsword
This build stacks Super Skills while having three weapons for all situations. Shotgun for bosses, Laser for hordes, Greatsword for emergencies.
Co-op DPS Build
Class: Wastelander Bonus Perks: Pathfinder Level 2, Pathfinder Level 3 Weapons: Incendiary Shotgun, Auto Shotgun, Plasma Laser
Pure damage output. Let your teammates handle tanking while you melt everything.
Tank Build
Class: Juggernaut Bonus Perks: Boxer Level 2, Wastelander Level 1 Weapons: Greatsword, Chainsaw
Lifesteal from Boxer Level 2 keeps you alive. Melee weapons don't need ammo. Good for learning or supporting squishier teammates.
Farming Build
Class: Scavenger Bonus Perks: Wastelander Level 1, Engineer Level 1 Weapons: Whatever drops
Not for pushing high waves. Use this when grinding Scrap to unlock other classes.
Perk Tier List
S-Tier Perks
| Perk | Class | Level | Effect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Extra Weapon Slot | Wastelander | 1 | +1 hotbar slot |
| Ammo Scaling | Wastelander | 3 | Massive ammo reserves |
| Double Super Skill | Pathfinder | 2-3 | Chance for 2x Super Skills |
| Free Turrets | Engineer | 1-3 | Permanent damage |
A-Tier Perks
| Perk | Class | Level | Effect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lifesteal | Boxer | 2 | Heal on melee hits |
| Extra HP | Juggernaut | 1-3 | More survivability |
| Melee Damage | Boxer | 1 | Stronger fists |
B-Tier Perks
| Perk | Class | Level | Effect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Extra Scrap | Scavenger | 1-3 | More currency |
| Fire Damage | Pyro | 1-3 | DoT on attacks |
| Melee Hybrid | Warrior | 1-3 | Mixed bonuses |
Meta Summary
Classes: Wastelander > Pathfinder > Engineer > Boxer > Everything else
Weapons: Shotguns > Lasers > Melee > Rifles > Snipers > Pistols
Best Combo: Pathfinder main + Wastelander Level 1 and 3 bonus perks + Plasma Pump Shotgun + Gatling Laser + Greatsword
What to Unlock First
If you're new and have limited Scrap:
- Wastelander (1500) - Best class, use it for everything
- Pathfinder (1500) - Second best, great for late game
- Engineer (Free) - Login for 7 days, don't spend Scrap
- Boxer (1000) - If you want melee builds
Skip Sharpshooter, Survivor upgrades, and Scavenger until you have the meta classes.
Tier List Changes
The game is still new, so balance changes might shift rankings. Current meta has been stable since launch. I'll update this list if patches change anything significant.
Last tested: January 2026
More 100 Waves Later Content
For free Scrap codes, check 100 Waves Later Codes. The 100 Waves Later Guide covers wave strategies, boss fights, and progression tips.
Similar Tier Lists
Anime Last Stand Tier List ranks units in another wave defense game. Dead Rails Class Tier List covers a similar class-based survival game. For weapon rankings in other games, check Rivals Weapons Tier List.
