Which mercenary classes are considered the best in Dead Grid?

Commandos are highly regarded as all-rounders, offering high damage and tankiness, and are essential for many team compositions. Tacticians are also considered essential for applying burns, controlling noise, and deploying traps.

Are there any 'worst' mercenary classes?

The Leader class is often cited as the weakest, contributing minimally to combat due to ineffective melee damage stacking and less reliable parry chances compared to other classes. Their cards are generally considered unessential.

What are the most powerful weapon types?

Sharp weaponry is currently considered the most powerful weapon type, with 'Sashimi' being particularly strong due to its unlimited duration.

Should I use guns in Dead Grid?

Early in the game, noisy weaponry like guns can quickly overwhelm you. It's advisable to avoid them in the very early stages or use them strategically by firing first and then following up with melee attacks to reduce noise. As you gain more skills, loud weaponry becomes more manageable.

How do I gain more skills for my mercs?

Skills are class-based, not merc-based. You can gain more skills quickly by leveling up low-level mercs. The more a skill is used, the more health your merc will also gain.

Introduction to Dead Grid

Dead Grid is a tactical strategy game developed and published by ATOM VOID, released on Steam for Microsoft Windows on March 24, 2022. The game involves assembling a squad of elite mercenaries from distinct classes and utilizing a vast array of skills and upgradable items to combat hordes of zombies.

This guide synthesizes community insights and observations to help players understand the relative effectiveness of different mercenary classes and weapon types, alongside general strategies for success in the post-apocalyptic world of Dead Grid.

Mercenary Class Effectiveness

While an official, rigidly defined tier list is not available, community discussions highlight certain mercenary classes as being more impactful or essential for high-difficulty content. The effectiveness of a merc often depends on their skills, which are a driving factor in the game, and increase in power with more use.

S-Tier: Essential & Highly Recommended Mercs

Commandos: Widely considered among the best, Commandos are versatile all-rounders known for their high damage output and tankiness. Their skills are powerful, making them excellent choices for 1-2 slots in a well-rounded team, or even forming the majority of a squad. In the early game, they deal good damage and can use most guns without jamming. In the late game, Commandos excel at quickly removing zombies with weapons like Sashimi or Executioner. They can also parry-tank effectively, boasting a 75% parry chance after acquiring purple gloves, and are essential for horde situations, especially when applying burns with 'Intercept' and melee attacks.

Tacticians: Deemed 'essential' by players, Tacticians are crucial for applying more and better burns, controlling noise levels, and deploying spike traps. A strong team composition often includes at least one Tactician.

A-Tier: Strong & Versatile Mercs

Enforcers: Although detailed descriptions of their unique strengths are less explicit in available information, Enforcers are included in high-performing 'dream teams' (often with two Enforcers), suggesting their significant contribution to overall squad effectiveness.

C-Tier: Situational Mercs

Leaders: According to some community opinions, Leaders are currently the weakest class. Their contribution to combat is considered minimal, as their stacking melee damage from parry is not very meaningful, and their maximum parry chance (around 50%) is lower than that of Commandos (75%). Many of their cards are described as 'trash' or 'gimmicky' and not essential. It's important to note that the 'game over if he dies' condition applies to your main character regardless of their class, not specifically the Leader class.

Weaponry and Item Strategies

Over 500 upgradable weapons and gadgets exist, ranging from melee options to guns and explosives. Weapon drops scale in power as your player rank increases.

Melee Weapons

Sharp Weapons: Currently considered the most powerful weapon type by far. Sharp weapons have a chance to cripple undead, reducing their damage output. 'Sashimi' is highlighted as exceptionally strong due to having no duration limit.

Blunt Weapons: These weapons have a chance to stun undead, causing them to skip a turn.

Both sharp and blunt weapons come in 1H and 2H variants. Shields offer damage mitigation by absorbing enemy attacks until they break.

Ranged Weapons

Ranged weapons use ammo, deal damage, and can hit multiple targets. Types include Pistols, SMGs, Assault and Sniper Rifles, Shotguns, Bows, and Crossbows.

Noisy Weaponry (Guns): Using loud guns early in the game can quickly lead to being overwhelmed by enemies. While manageable with more skills, it's advisable to avoid them in the super early stages or use them first, then follow up with melee attacks to reduce noise.

Accessories and Consumables

Accessories: These items grant passive offensive or defensive benefits during combat and can often be upgraded to improve their stats.

Consumables: Found throughout the world, consumables can boost mercs in combat or be sold to vendors for currency to buy more weapons.

General Gameplay Strategies

Team Composition

A well-rounded team generally performs better than one composed of only a few mercs. It's recommended to fill your squad as soon as possible, as more mercs typically equate to better mercs.

Your starting merc type only affects the first fight of each mission. Enforcers or Commandos are recommended as main mercs due to their high health.

XP and Progression

Skills are Key: Skills are the driving factor of the game; more skills mean more power. Gain skills quickly by leveling low-level mercs, as skills are class-based, not merc-based (e.g., two Commandos grant 10 skill points instead of 5).

XP Boosting Items: These are highly effective. Food can grant +1 XP for 2-4 turns, with additional food extending the duration. Early on, fight as many enemies as possible until you acquire items that increase 'unaware XP' modifiers.

Repeating Missions: Repeat early missions to gain more levels and skills.

Combat Tactics

Aggro Management: The merc who deals the last hit takes aggro. Position your tanky mercs to strike last to prevent squishier mercs from becoming the focus. The last merc to fire a shot will also take all active aggro. Utilizing a temporary merc like Viper as a final attacker, firing an MG, can ensure they absorb threat.

Fire and Blind: These are important combat mechanics. Fire can cause enemies to be blinded, and blind enemies often miss, making them ignorable. Fire damage also stacks and can reach 100% burn damage. For high-health zombies, fire or spike traps are effective.

Noise Control: If noise is an issue, use a gun first, then follow up with melee attacks to reduce the noise generated.

Corpse Removal: If a dead enemy obstructs an Area of Effect (AoE) skill or item, you can use an 'attack' on the corpse to remove it from combat, though this consumes the merc's turn.

Duffel Bag: Avoid collecting the Duffel Bag during combat, as this limits the number of enemies that appear. All items can be collected post-combat.

Percentage-Based Damage: This is beneficial against beefy zombies with high health.

Skill Spacing: In the early game, try to get by without using a skill if possible.

Resource Management

Item Levels: Item levels are determined by your main merc's level. A level 10 main merc, for instance, allows for finding items up to level 10.

Trader and Checkpoints: 'Checkpoints' will unlock specific weapon types in the trader. Investing intel in the support 'Slade' on the 'Help Slade' mission is crucial, as you can exploit the trader's 75% off and re-sell items for profit; this is an intentional game mechanic.

Assignments: Do not ignore assignments, as they can provide a significant damage boost in the early game.

Weapon Quality: Don't be fixated on the color of your weapon; if it's stronger, it's better, regardless of whether it's a unique weapon.

Key Supports and Progression Tips

Ramon: Ramon is the sole means of recruiting new mercs. If you don't like a merc that was pulled, you can reload your save file and try again.

Slade: Investing intel in the 'Slade' support from the 'Help Slade' mission is highly important due to the profitable trading exploit mentioned above.

By understanding these class strengths, weapon characteristics, and strategic approaches, players can enhance their gameplay and increase their chances of survival and success in Dead Grid.

Comprehensive Guide: Dead Grid Mercenary and Weapon Effectiveness

Quick Summary