Is Valkyrie the Best Support/DPS Class in Lost Ark?

When Smilegate introduced Valkyrie, the class immediately caught attention as a hybrid option capable of performing in both support and DPS roles. On paper, this was exciting—players imagined a sleek, versatile class that could adapt to group needs and give raiders more flexibility. But once Valkyrie hit live servers, the community found itself split into two camps.

Some argue Valkyrie falls short as a support, pointing out that her kit feels clunky, limited, and outclassed by Bard, Paladin, and Artist. On the other hand, others highlight that her DPS build is surprisingly stable, consistent, and raid-friendly, making her far more viable in damage-focused setups than expected. This stark contrast between expectations and reality has fueled ongoing debates across Reddit threads, Discord discussions, and YouTube breakdowns.

The topic sparks so much discussion because class identity in Lost Ark directly impacts raid performance, group compositions, and progression speed. A strong support guarantees raid spots, but a reliable DPS can carry runs and open up different playstyles. Valkyrie’s design places her directly at the crossroads of these roles, which makes players question how she should truly be valued in today’s meta.

This blog takes a closer look at the conversation surrounding Valkyrie. By unpacking both community feedback and gameplay analysis, you’ll gain:

• Insight into why her support role struggles to stand out.
  A breakdown of how her DPS rotation works and why players rate it higher than expected.

• A clearer picture of her overall strengths, weaknesses, and long-term potential.
  
  

If you’re leveling Valkyrie or gearing up for raids, you might also find it helpful to explore different Lost Ark items that can support her builds and maximize performance.

Valkyrie as a Support: Promise vs. Reality

At first glance, Valkyrie appears to be a spiritual successor to Paladin, but a closer look reveals that her support kit struggles in comparison.

Meter Generation & Buff Uptime
Unlike Bard, Artist, or Paladin, Valkyrie suffers from very limited meter generation. With only two reliable meter builders and long cooldowns (12–15s), missing a skill or encountering an unhittable boss pattern can leave you “locked out” of support buffs for nearly 30 seconds. This feels like a throwback to the clunky Tier 3 Paladin days—a stark contrast to the modern QOL updates given to other supports.

Utility Trade-offs

• Damage Reduction (DR): Equivalent to Paladin’s Heavenly Blessings but on a long cooldown, making it weaker compared to Bard’s Courageous Tune and Artist’s Robust Sunsketch.

• Cleanse: Standard, functional, but nowhere near Artist’s utility-rich kit (like portals).

• Healing: Offers a burst heal instead of continuous recovery, which some consider less reliable than Paladin’s steady Holy Aura ticks.
  
  

Mobility & Counters
On the plus side, Valkyrie boasts two movement skills and a unique push-immune buff. She also carries a counter skill with two stacks—flexibility that Paladin lacks.

Community Verdict
Many players describe her as “a downgraded Paladin.” Without strong shielding, her buffs feel weaker, and her healing doesn’t quite match expectations. However, some admit she may shine in progression raids where burst heals and mobility matter more.

Valkyrie as DPS: Surprisingly Solid

Contrary to early skepticism, Valkyrie’s DPS build has been received positively. In fact, many players argue she feels better as a DPS than a support.

Core Mechanic
Valkyrie’s DPS cycle revolves around her identity:

1. Build meter through white and red skills (about 15 skill uses).

2. Activate X skill (Lights of the End), her main damage spike.

3. Unlock Z skill, which temporarily empowers radiant red skills for high burst damage.
   
   

This loop creates a smooth and consistent flow, with little reliance on positional constraints like back or head attacks.

Stats & Engravings
Her DPS build prioritizes Crit + Swiftness, with Raid Captain as a key engraving. The goal is to push crit rate near 100% for optimal damage, especially since her DPS relies heavily on the empowered X skill.

Skill Design
While her skills lack uniqueness, they’re universally applicable and flexible. White skills serve as sub-damage and meter builders, while red skills are empowered nukes. This straightforward, accessible kit makes her rotation easy to learn yet rewarding to master.

Community Verdict
Stable, consistent DPS with a solid ceiling. She doesn’t stand out as the “flashiest” DPS, but her performance is surprisingly strong and reliable—especially for players who enjoy flexible, low-positioning stress classes.

Why the Divide Exists

The split between Valkyrie’s support and DPS reception boils down to design philosophy.

• As a support, her kit feels like a rehashed and watered-down version of existing classes. She lacks the safety nets and modern utilities that Bard, Artist, and Paladin enjoy.

• As a DPS, her simple, consistent mechanics align with current meta trends favoring Crit + Swiftness setups, giving her a strong foothold in raids.
  
  

Many players believe the developers “phoned in” her support design, recycling skills and concepts without offering anything innovative. The flat 2% buff she provides seems like a band-aid fix rather than thoughtful design.

Final Thoughts: Is Valkyrie Worth Playing?

So, is Valkyrie the best support or DPS in Lost Ark? The answer depends on your perspective:

• As Support: She struggles to compete with Bard, Artist, and Paladin, offering weaker uptime, less reliable healing, and clunkier mechanics. She may find niche use in progression but is generally seen as “the worst of the four supports.”

• As DPS: Valkyrie is a sleeper hit. Her DPS build is straightforward, flexible, and effective, with stable output and fewer positional headaches.
  
  

For players seeking a hybrid identity able to queue as both support and DPS—Valkyrie provides freedom. You may not always be the strongest support in the room, but you’ll never struggle to find a raid spot.

Verdict: Valkyrie is not the best support, but she’s a surprisingly strong DPS with a promising future if developers refine her kit.