There is no universally dominant loadout. Keeper strength depends on map size, wave modifiers, your aiming skill, whether the run is solo or multiplayer, and which gadgets appear. The rankings below are practical recommendations rather than official balance rankings.
Fast answer
The answer before the background
For the strongest general solo setup, use Assessor with Artillery Dome and Droneyard. Prioritize sphere supply, sphere lifetime, movement speed and Bundle Guidance, then build the artillery weapon for reliable wave clears. Use Engineer with Artillery and Droneyard if you are learning the game or attempting an unfamiliar assignment. For long Prestige or Endless runs, Beastmaster with Artillery and a transport-focused catgoblin setup is excellent because resources keep moving while you remain underground. In Relic Hunt, Assessor is usually the best class for reaching and returning from the relic quickly, while Engineer remains the most reliable low-risk choice.
Quick ranking
Which keeper should you choose?
The four available keepers play very differently. Engineer uses conventional drilling and is the easiest to understand. Assessor combines compression mining with bouncing kinetic spheres and can move bundled resources efficiently. Infiltrator is built around speed, rope movement and kunai-based mining. Beastmaster uses tentacles and catgoblins, trading simple carrying for persistent transport and strong long-run scaling.
For most players, Assessor is the best all-round class once its aiming and movement are familiar. Its spheres can open several mining lanes at once, and its bundle system reduces repeated trips with small resources. Engineer is the better recommendation for a first clear because mistakes are easier to recover from and its mining pattern is more predictable.
Infiltrator can be extremely fast in skilled hands, but its movement and kunai management make it less consistent for a general recommendation. Beastmaster is slower to learn but becomes especially attractive when a run lasts long enough for catgoblins and mining-specialization upgrades to compound.
- Best generalist: Assessor.
- Best beginner and assignment fallback: Engineer.
- Best high-speed specialist: Infiltrator.
- Best long-run resource specialist: Beastmaster.
| Keeper | Main strength | Main weakness | Best use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engineer | Predictable drilling and flexible movement | Lower resource automation than the DLC keepers | Learning, assignments and consistent clears |
| Assessor | Spheres, compression mining and bundled transport | Requires accurate aiming and route planning | General solo play and Relic Hunt |
| Infiltrator | Fast movement and aggressive mining | More demanding execution and weaker consistency for beginners | Speed-focused players and short-cycle challenges |
| Beastmaster | Catgoblin transport and sustained underground mining | Limited personal carrying and awkward open gaps | Endless, Prestige and deep resource farming |
The keeper abilities and mode rules are documented in the game reference material. The ordering above is a recommendation based on how those mechanics support common goals, not a developer-published tier list.
Mode comparison
Best builds for each mode
Relic Hunt rewards reaching the relic chamber, activating its nodes, carrying the relic home and surviving the final wave. Assessor is the strongest default choice because spheres can reveal and clear routes while bundled resources reduce return trips. Pair it with Artillery Dome when the final wave is your main concern, or Sword Dome if you are comfortable with close-range timing. Droneyard is the safest primary gadget because transport drones continue handling ordinary drops while you prepare for the next wave.
For a beginner Relic Hunt setup, use Engineer with Artillery Dome and Droneyard. Buy enough weapon damage and dome health to survive, but do not overinvest in optional mining upgrades before the route to the relic is open. The goal is completion, not maximum extraction.
Guild Assignments are altered Relic Hunt runs with special rules, so there is no single best class. Engineer is the most dependable blind pick for restrictions that disrupt transport, weapon access or movement. Assessor is excellent for time pressure and mining-heavy assignments, while Beastmaster can be poor when a rule disables or interferes with catgoblin logistics. Check the assignment condition before committing to a transport-focused build.
Prestige variants reward score, resource delivery and wave survival rather than a one-time escape. Assessor is a strong general choice for Countdown and standard Endless because it converts mine time into efficient resource movement. Beastmaster becomes increasingly attractive in long Endless sessions, where catgoblins can keep collecting while you remain in productive mining areas. In Miner Mode, where monsters do not attack, select the keeper whose mining rhythm you can maintain; Assessor and Beastmaster usually have the highest ceiling, but execution matters more than defense.
- Relic Hunt: Assessor, Artillery Dome, Droneyard.
- Assignments: Engineer, Artillery Dome, then adapt the gadget to the rule.
- Prestige Countdown: Assessor with economy and transport upgrades.
- Prestige Endless: Beastmaster for long runs, or Assessor for a more active style.
- Miner Mode: Assessor or Beastmaster with mining and transport prioritized.
| Goal | Recommended setup | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
| Finish a normal run | Engineer or Assessor with Artillery and Droneyard | Combines reliable defense with dependable transport |
| Maximize Prestige score | Assessor with Droneyard or Resource Converter | Supports repeated resource delivery and efficient mining |
| Survive Endless | Beastmaster or Assessor with Artillery | Maintains underground income without sacrificing wave damage |
| Beat a difficult assignment | Engineer with Artillery | Reduces mechanical and logistical risk |
| Play cooperatively | Assessor plus Beastmaster or Engineer | Combines bundles, catgoblins and conventional mining |
The recent v5.0.5 through v5.0.7 updates improved multiplayer logistics and Beastmaster behavior, but team composition still matters. Avoid duplicating transport tools unless the map or assignment demands it.
Build paths
The upgrades that matter most
Start by buying the upgrades that improve the part of the run you are currently losing. If waves are damaging the dome, buy weapon damage, attack speed, projectile control or dome health before chasing deeper mining efficiency. If you are returning with too few resources, improve movement, carrying, transport or the keeper-specific mining tool first.
Assessor should normally begin with sphere supply and sphere lifetime. More spheres increase coverage, while lifetime helps them continue working through longer lanes. Compression Mining is valuable when you need to finish stubborn tiles personally. Bundle Guidance and the later bundle upgrades make resource return much less dependent on a perfect central route.
Beastmaster should establish reliable catgoblin access early, then choose one mining direction instead of scattering purchases. Its three mining trees are mutually exclusive, so decide whether your run favors sustained momentum, burst mining or another specialized rhythm. Upgrade catgoblin capacity and collection efficiency for long runs, but remember that catgoblins cannot solve every transport problem in unusual terrain.
Engineer benefits from movement speed, drill strength and carrying improvements in that order for most standard maps. Infiltrator should prioritize the upgrades that make kunai recovery and route traversal comfortable, then scale mining speed. Because Infiltrator is execution-heavy, a theoretically faster build may be worse than a slightly slower one that avoids missed throws and dangerous late returns.
- Buy one or two early combat upgrades before greedily expanding mining.
- Upgrade transport when resources are piling up away from the dome.
- Do not split mutually exclusive keeper trees without a clear reason.
- Use water for primary-gadget overcharge when the next wave is the immediate threat.
- Treat supplements as build-defining bonuses, not automatic picks.
| Primary gadget | Best with | Recommended purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Artillery Dome | Engineer, Assessor, Beastmaster | Safest high-damage defense for hard waves and final fights |
| Sword Dome | Assessor or skilled Engineer | Efficient close-range damage when you can control threats |
| Droneyard | Any keeper, especially Assessor | Best general transport utility with optional combat support |
| Orchard | Engineer or mining-focused keeper | Short bursts of movement and drill power |
| Resource Converter | Prestige and economy runs | Turns excess resources into the type your route currently needs |
Artillery is not mandatory, but its range and dependable wave damage cover the largest number of failure states. Sword can be more efficient and powerful in practiced hands, while Orchard or Droneyard may be better when the run is already combat-safe.
By player goal
Pick the build that matches your skill
If you are new, use Engineer, Artillery Dome and Droneyard. Spend early iron on movement, drill strength and basic weapon reliability. Keep the route compact, return before the timer becomes dangerous and learn how much mining one cycle safely allows. This setup teaches the core game without requiring special aiming or transport tricks.
If you want the strongest flexible solo class, use Assessor, Artillery Dome and Droneyard. Fire spheres down planned lanes, use compression mining only for valuable or blocking tiles and bundle resources before returning. Learn to aim without wasting sphere lifetime; the class becomes much stronger once every shot serves either route clearing or resource access.
If you want a relaxed long run, choose Beastmaster with Artillery and invest in catgoblin capacity, collection behavior and a sustained mining tree. Open holes near useful resource clusters rather than scattering them randomly. This is especially good when the goal is to keep producing resources for many waves, but it is less comfortable in assignments that disrupt logistics.
If you want speed, choose Infiltrator with a combat setup you can operate while moving. Practice short kunai routes and avoid carrying a full load into a dangerous wave. The class has a high ceiling, but it should not be judged only by a perfect-run time from an expert player.
If your priority is completion rather than score, favor health, weapon reliability and safe transport over maximum mining output. A slower successful run is better than a faster build that repeatedly loses the dome during the return trip.
- New player: Engineer, Artillery, Droneyard.
- Experienced solo player: Assessor, Artillery, Droneyard.
- Long-run farmer: Beastmaster, Artillery, transport upgrades.
- Speed specialist: Infiltrator, then adapt the dome to your comfort.
- Challenge completion: Engineer unless the assignment strongly favors another keeper.
Community opinions currently favor Assessor and Beastmaster for different high-level goals, but there is no reliable official class tier list. Map generation, gadget availability and player execution can reverse the order in an individual run.
FAQ
Common questions
Is Assessor the best class for most players?
It is the strongest general recommendation for experienced players because spheres combine area mining with efficient resource handling. Engineer is easier to learn, and Beastmaster can outperform Assessor in very long runs.
What is the best Beastmaster setup?
Use Artillery Dome for dependable defense, open catgoblin holes near productive resource areas, increase catgoblin capacity and collection efficiency, and commit to one mining tree. This approach is strongest in Endless or other long runs where persistent transport matters.
What is the best Assessor setup?
Use Artillery Dome and Droneyard, then prioritize sphere supply, sphere lifetime, movement and Bundle Guidance. Add compression mining when hard tiles or the relic route require direct drilling.
Which class is best for beginners?
Engineer is the safest first choice. Its conventional drilling and straightforward carrying let you learn cycle timing, enemy waves and upgrade priorities without also managing spheres, kunai or catgoblins.
Is Sword Dome better than Artillery Dome?
Sword Dome can be excellent and may be more efficient for a confident player who controls close threats well. Artillery is the safer general recommendation because it offers stronger range and simpler answers to difficult waves.
Sources
What we checked
Official listings establish current availability and product facts. Community pages are used for mechanics and build history, then labeled separately.
- OfficialOfficial Steam announcement: Dome Keeper v5.0.7 patch notes
- OfficialOfficial Steam announcements: v5.0.5 and v5.0.6 patch notes
- ReferenceDome Keeper Wiki: Keepers
- ReferenceDome Keeper Wiki: Assessor
- ReferenceDome Keeper Wiki: Beastmaster
- ReferenceDome Keeper Wiki: Gadgets
- ReferenceDome Keeper Wiki: Prestige
- ReferenceDome Keeper Wiki: Relic Hunt