[DW7] Dynasty Warriors 7: Tier List (Extended)
Recently I've started playing Dynasty Warriors 7, and this game actually features online play, which I think is really neat. But just like most other multi-character games, there's a tier list. Since this game isn't even two months old yet, there may be speculations for changes to this list in the future.
I'll give explanation for S, A and B classes. Those who are in C-class either lack speed, attacking power, attacking speed, range or field control, or a combination of those. Some may also be outclassed by another (ex. Huang Zhong, by Xiahou Yuan). I won't bother explaining them; you're welcome to try them out yourself.
Lu Bu （呂布）: Okay, of course this guy is up here. He has been made the strongest Dynasty Warriors character ever since the series' release, and he hasn't lost his throne yet. May be he is slightly weaker than previous generations, he is still the sole S-Class character for multiple reasons: Lu Bu's halberds are the most powerful weapons in game; he is the only one with an ex-innate Synergy weapon; his stats are overall the highest and his attack range is on par with a few others the greatest. As history depicted, he was a match for none （天下無雙）.
Zhou Tai（周泰）: It should be quite clear to everyone why he's up here if you've played the game. Both his ex move and his two musous are insane. They combo at least 8, hit a great range, and does very nice damages. His katana is fast and generally can get very manageable field control.
Sima Yi（司馬懿）: Sima Yi's AOE is probably on par with Zhou Tai's. Albeit not a such large range, his ex move is quick to execute and clears 360 degrees around you. His first musou can attack directly in front, not only dealing large damage to the area but also can be targeted to one officer for even greater damage. His second musou is also clears 360 degrees, but also mostly aimed to in front of him, dealing a wide range of damage. Very powerful field control as well if using ice or lightning elements.
Wang Yuanji（王元姬）: She has the highest attacking speed out of any character in game, and with a slash-element weapon, it is very easy to accumulate 3 entire bars of musou under 3 seconds, then unleash your musous. Her second musou is extremely powerful, easily instant-KO officers on lower difficulties while 2HKO to 3HKO them on Normal. Her ex-move is probably also the most useful out of anyone's in game, also able to combo with her second musou, which give the opponent almost no chance to attack before they die. Her first musou can also be a frontal field control, then combo that with her ex and her second musou, she's pretty much unstopable. The only downside to her being in the S-Class tier is the fact that her throwing knives cannot stun opponents, so playing as her will take a lot of skill and agility, but if done right, she may be stronger than Lu Bu. If anything, I would call her a "pure". She attacks just as harshly as her tsundere personality portraits her.
Zhang Liao（張遼）: Twin axes, large AOE musous. Honestly, enough said. He's up here. If you don't know how to play the game and you don't want to be a Lu Bu noob, then start off hacking and slashing with him.
Zhuge Liang（諸葛亮）: Just like Sima Yi, Zhuge Liang has very nice AOE. His musou ranges are probably no less than that of Zhou Tai's. He is very similar to Sima Yi in most ways, besides his attacks are more effect-based as his lightning musous can easily stun opponents if they aren't already dead. Nice field control.
Da Qiao（大喬）: Da Qiao's only downside is her weak weapon, but that's nothing to stop her. She has a nice combo of 1-frontal-control-and-the-other-field-control musous as well, with her first musou able to clear an entire path for her even if the enemies aren't killed. Her special attacks with her fans can also do frontal (2nd), AOE (3rd) or aerial + stun (4th). Along as a combo with her third special attack is her ex, which is a powerful pound on the ground that pretty much clears 360 degrees as well. Power-wise, yeah, she's at most average, but what does it matter when the opponent doesn't even get a chance to attack you when you have total field control, right?
Guan Yu（關羽）: Please do not assume Guan Yu's ex attack is useless. It is a buff, and along with his musous, especially the second one, the opponent pretty much have no chance to live if attacked right on. Guan Yu's musous are "short and sweet", crisply kill the opponent with no mercy. Maybe he's the Chuck Norris of Dynasty Warriors; he does have the beard!
Zhong Hui（鐘會）: Flying swords! No, seriously, they're good, and his badass is a master of field-control. His ex-move also clears 360 around him, while his musous do magnificent damage. The best way of using his musous are using two at once: first use musou 1, lift as many foes as possible in the air, the, immediately use musou 2, jamming them into oblivion. This is usually a guaranteed KO unless you're playing on Chaos mode. Oh, by the way, his triangle (or Y) attack on horses is also very very useful.
Zhang Jiao（張角）: He has very very massive range of attacks, especially with his second musou, and his first musou is just as good. Insane field control, and nice defense due to his offenses.
Diao Chan（貂蟬）: She has very nice field control too, and with her ex buffing her speed and attack, she can be a real bitch. Her first musou is mobile, allows you to move her during the attack, shuffling those around her, while her second musou greatly shuffles those around her, giving a 360-degree field control + stun. On top of that, her ex-move not only repels those attacking her, but also buffs up her attack and speed. Her 4th special attack can clear an area easily, accumulating musou, while her 2nd special attack can combo one officer directly, killing them if they're low on health.
Sun Shangxiang（孫尚香）: Nice moveset, with a musou targeting single + crowd and another one aerial, useful if knocked up in the air. Her ex-move not only do great damage, but also allows is somewhat defensive, allowing her to get out of a dangerous crowd during low health. She can also clear 360 degrees with her 3rd special attack or attack while moving with her 2nd. Good power + good attacks.
Guo Jia（郭嘉）：His mosous is among the best out there, and the attacks are really awesome. Orbs and Scepter is a very nice weapon, with mediocre-plus range. The biggest merit is actually his first musou, where, similar to Da Qiao and Xiao Qiao's R1/RB attack, it holds the enemy immobilized while taking damage, giving you a good time to escape if you need in higher level modes or just set up for a nice combo attack. Definitely someone worth playing.
Lu Meng（呂蒙）: He's mainly strong because of his second musou, which is probably one of the best in game. All other aspects are pretty much average.
Cao Cao（曹操）: Cao Cao's ex-attack pretty much freezes the opponent always, and just do ex then attack, and repeat, you got yourself a deal.
Ma Chao（馬超）: Nice attacks, and strong moves, but lacks field control, which is the only reason he's not in A-class. His musous are very strong too. Very strong 1-on-1.
Deng Ai（鄧艾）: If you can control his ex-move well, you can drill someone to death. He is very strong, and his second-musou is an officer killer if aimed right. Only downfall is the lack of nice 360-degrees AOE.
Pang Tong（龐統）: Nice attacks and good field control, but short on power to be in A-Class. Still not a bad character at all to use. Good musous.
Zhuge Dan（諸葛誕）: He is strong, and a nice character, but he's just pretty much got outclassed by Sima Yi or Zhuge Liang in almost every way.
Zhang Fei（張飛）：Very strong, and nice musous, again, but his weapon range is slightly shorter than that of a pike or a spear. Guan Yu is probably on the same level as he, but has a slightly larger range in attack. If you don't care about the extra inch or two in range, then go with Zhang Fei.
Guan Ping（關平）: Nice AOE, nice attacks, but his attacking speed is being weighed down by his gigantic great sword. If you're the power-over-speed type of guy, then Guan Ping is your man, but if not, then you may find some problems.
Liu Bei（劉備）: Twin swords have nice attacks, exceptionally mentioning the moving-while-attacking attack. Fast attacks, and nice musous. But if you match him with those A-Class folks, he feels a bit short of their towers.
Gan Ning（甘寧）: Chained-sickles are sick, and he definitely uses one better than Jia Xu. Good musou and attacks, but sometimes difficult to get the result that you want. Not the easiest character to control.
Sun Quan（孫權）: He's mostly here for his first musou, which just such a nice move, but his second musou is pretty useless... Just another sword user, hehe.
Xiahou Yuan（夏侯淵）: I don't know why so many people dislikes him just because he uses a bow. Both his ex-attack and his 5th special attack are very very very useful field control + stun. After that, fire off a musou, then you're golden. Even if his bow isn't the strongest weapon, you get a lot of hits. Look at that combo going up!
Yue Ying（黃月英）: Nice attacks with lightning element + cool juggernaut musou 2! Had she had better field control, then bam her to A-Class...
Pang De（龐德）：Good weapons and nice attacks, but he doesn't really shine much when there's Guan Yu and Zhang Liao around. Despite being powerful, he isn't that special.
