Mewgenics looks adorable right up until your carefully built cat squad gets thrown into a brutal tactical fight. That is where the game’s class system becomes a huge part of the strategy. Every cat’s combat identity can change depending on the collar you give it, and that collar determines more than just a name on the character screen.

A class collar changes a cat’s stat modifiers and determines the pool of abilities it can receive. Leave the cat without a collar and it becomes Collarless, meaning it does not receive class-specific stat modifiers and instead uses the Collarless ability pool. That makes class selection one of the first major decisions you make when preparing a team.

The important part is that the collar is only the beginning. A cat’s inherited traits, available abilities, equipment, and the other members of the squad can completely change how a class performs. A class that looks perfect on paper can play very differently depending on the cat wearing it.

As of September 2026, Mewgenics has 14 classes, including Collarless. The starting choices are Collarless, Fighter, Hunter, Mage, and Tank, while the other classes become available as you progress. There also is not one universal answer for which class is the strongest. Community rankings can change depending on whether players are judging general runs, specific acts, bosses, or particular ability combinations.

More Tier Lists to Check Out: If you want the community’s full ranking rather than just a class breakdown, our Mewgenics best cats tier list covers S-tier classes, mutations and top team compositions.

How Mewgenics Classes and Collars Actually Work

The easiest way to understand the system is to think of the collar as the cat’s combat framework.

Give a cat a specific collar and it receives that class’s stat modifiers and access to its corresponding class ability pool. A Fighter therefore develops around a different combat identity than a Mage, while a Hunter has access to a different set of tools than a Tank.

Take the collar away and the cat becomes Collarless. It gets no collar-based stat modifiers and instead draws from the Collarless ability pool.

That system makes party building much more flexible than simply choosing four permanent RPG classes. Your cat’s inherited traits can make a particular class work extremely well or create an awkward combination. The abilities that appear during a run can then push that build even further in a completely different direction.

This is also why class discussions can get messy. One player might have an amazing experience with a class because their cat has the right traits and abilities, while another player might struggle with the exact same class because their build developed differently.

In other words, the collar sets the direction, but the rest of the build determines where the cat ends up.

More Tier Lists to Check Out: Melee-focused builds are just as popular in other tactical and action titles. Our Nioh 3 weapons tier list ranks the best samurai and ninja weapons if you’re chasing that same close-range playstyle elsewhere.

All 14 Mewgenics Classes Explained

Fighter — Melee Damage

Fighter is one of the five starting options and is built for straightforward close-range combat.

The class emphasizes Strength while also providing Speed, at the cost of some Intelligence. Its identity is all about getting into melee range and hitting hard with physical attacks.

For players who want a reliable physical damage dealer that can operate directly in the middle of a fight, Fighter is one of the clearest starting choices.

It is not trying to be complicated. You put the cat in position, let its physical attacks do the work, and build around its strengths.

Hunter — Ranged Damage and Positioning

Hunter is another starting class, but instead of charging into enemies, it focuses on attacking from a safer distance.

Its ability pool includes ranged attacks and traps, giving the class ways to control enemy movement while keeping the Hunter away from immediate danger.

Hunter heavily emphasizes Dexterity, with Luck also contributing to its stat profile.

That makes positioning a major part of the class. You are not simply looking for somewhere to stand and shoot. You can use traps and ranged abilities to influence where enemies can move and create more favorable situations for the entire party.

More Tier Lists: Class rankings shift constantly as metas evolve across other tactical RPGs too. Read our Mistfall Hunter class tier list to see which class ruled that game’s launch meta.

Mage — Magic and Elemental Damage

Mage is the classic spellcasting option among the starting classes.

It receives a significant Intelligence bonus and also gains Charisma, while taking penalties to Strength and Constitution. That gives it a strong magical identity but makes physical durability less of a priority.

Mage abilities provide powerful magical and elemental options, but keeping the cat safe becomes important because of its lower physical durability.

That means Mage can be extremely useful when the party gives it enough protection and positioning space to do its thing.

Class variety like Mewgenics offers is a big draw in other roguelike-adjacent games too. Our 99 Nights in the Forest class tier list ranks the best classes for that survival title.

Tank — Frontline Defense

Tank is the defensive starting class and is built around staying alive while occupying dangerous positions.

Its biggest advantage is a substantial Constitution bonus. At the same time, it takes penalties to Dexterity and Speed, reinforcing its slower and more defensive role.

A Tank can give the rest of the party more freedom by standing where enemies want to attack and absorbing pressure that would otherwise reach your damage dealers.

It is the class to consider when your team needs a dedicated frontline presence rather than another fragile attacker.

Cleric — Healing and Support

Once you move beyond the starting classes, Cleric becomes one of the game’s dedicated support options.

The class focuses on healing, recovery, and removing negative conditions. Its stat profile also gives it strong Charisma, alongside bonuses to Intelligence and Constitution.

One of the most useful parts of the class is its ability to cleanse negative effects. That creates some interesting interactions because Cleric support is not limited to removing problems caused by enemies.

It can also work with abilities that place drawbacks on the cat using them. For example, a Fighter’s Berserk can apply a Bruise to the cat, creating a situation where Cleric abilities can help remove the downside.

That kind of interaction is exactly why support classes can become much more valuable when you look at the entire team rather than judging one ability at a time.

Thief — Mobility and Critical Damage

Thief takes a very different approach to combat.

The class focuses on Speed, Dexterity, Luck, and opportunistic attacks, making mobility a major part of its identity rather than relying on traditional frontline durability.

A Thief can fit naturally into a party that wants another highly mobile damage dealer capable of exploiting openings.

The key is making those openings count. A mobile class can become much more dangerous when its abilities and positioning allow it to reach favorable targets while avoiding unnecessary punishment.

Flexible hybrid classes are a recurring favorite across tactical games. Our Bizarre Lineage stand tier list ranks the best stands for that game’s meta if you enjoy the same build-your-own-identity approach.

Necromancer — Summoning and Life Drain

Necromancer brings a completely different style to the battlefield.

The class revolves around corpses, summoned undead allies, and life-draining effects. Its stat profile strongly emphasizes Intelligence while reducing Charisma.

Instead of simply being another damage dealer, Necromancer can create additional units and extract value from enemies that have already fallen.

That gives the class a distinct tactical identity. The battlefield itself can become part of the Necromancer’s toolkit as defeated enemies provide opportunities for its abilities.

Druid — Hybrid Utility and Nature Abilities

Druid is one of the more flexible classes in the roster.

Its stat bonuses are relatively balanced, while its abilities include nature-themed effects and shapeshifting options. Depending on what abilities appear during a run, the Druid can move into different roles.

That flexibility is also its defining challenge.

A Druid’s effectiveness can depend heavily on the abilities and traits attached to the individual cat. One run can push the class in one direction, while another can create a completely different build.

So rather than expecting every Druid to perform the same way, it makes more sense to treat the class as a flexible framework that develops around what the run gives you.

Weapon choice matters just as much as class choice in plenty of other games. Our Mortal Shell 2 shells tier list ranks the best shells from S-tier to B-tier for a similarly build-focused breakdown.

Tinkerer — Gadgets and Utility

Tinkerer is all about inventions, gadgets, and unconventional utility.

Its ability pool includes tools for creating temporary weapons, deploying devices, and providing different forms of utility during encounters.

That means two Tinkerers can potentially feel very different depending on which abilities become available.

The class is particularly interesting for players who enjoy building around tools and situational effects rather than simply choosing the biggest direct attack.

Butcher — Close-Range Physical Pressure

Butcher is another melee-focused class, but its identity is more specialized than Fighter.

It is built around heavy physical attacks and abilities associated with cutting and pulling enemies.

That gives it a more aggressive close-range identity while separating it from the straightforward physical approach of Fighter.

As with several of the game’s specialized classes, how useful Butcher becomes can depend heavily on the individual cat’s stats and the abilities available during the run.

Weapon variety plays a big role in survival-style games too. Our 99 Nights in the Forest weapons tier list ranks the best weapons available if you want to pair your class knowledge with the right gear.

Psychic — Mental and Supernatural Abilities

Psychic is one of the later classes unlocked through progression.

It introduces another specialized ability pool focused on mental, supernatural, and utility-oriented effects.

The class is not available among the initial starting collars, so players encounter it as they progress through the game’s areas and unlock additional classes.

That makes Psychic part of the game’s expanding toolbox rather than an option available immediately when starting a fresh run.

Monk — Flexible Melee and Ranged Combat

Monk stands out because it can adapt its combat approach.

The class can switch between different combat stances, allowing it to operate at different ranges rather than being locked into one attack style.

That flexibility can become extremely useful when the battlefield changes and the cat needs to alter how it contributes to the fight.

Instead of committing completely to melee or ranged combat, Monk gives you room to adjust according to the encounter.

Character progression and unlocking new options is a satisfying loop in plenty of other games. Our Arknights Endfield tier list breaks down the best characters and current meta for another deep progression system.

Jester — The Wildcard Class

Jester is the final class in the current 14-class roster, and it is easily one of the strangest.

Its design is unusual compared with specialized damage, defense, or support classes. Jester has a much smaller dedicated ability pool while interacting with the game’s broader ability system in distinctive ways.

Because of that unusual design, Jester is better viewed as a wildcard rather than another conventional combat role.

It does not fit neatly into the same box as Fighter, Tank, Cleric, or Mage, which is exactly what makes it interesting.

Collarless — The Classless Option

Collarless is the default state for a cat that does not have an assigned class collar.

The biggest difference is simple: Collarless provides no collar-specific stat modifiers.

Instead, the cat receives abilities from the Collarless ability pool.

That does not mean Collarless is simply a weaker version of every other class. It is a deliberate option for players who want to build around universal abilities rather than committing to one particular class identity.

For some cats, that flexibility can be more important than receiving a specialized class’s stat modifiers.

The Five Starting Classes

When you begin playing, five options are available immediately:

Class	Starting Status	Main Identity
Collarless	Available from the start	Classless flexibility
Fighter	Available from the start	Melee damage
Hunter	Available from the start	Ranged attacks and traps
Mage	Available from the start	Magical damage
Tank	Available from the start	Frontline defense

These give new players a clean introduction to the game’s major combat approaches.

You have a direct melee option with Fighter, ranged pressure with Hunter, magical attacks through Mage, frontline defense from Tank, and a classless approach through Collarless.

The remaining classes become available through progression rather than appearing immediately. Current class references agree that additional collars are obtained as players clear areas and continue progressing through the game.

Why Mewgenics Tier Lists Can Look Completely Different

This is where things get interesting.

Trying to create one permanent Mewgenics class tier list can be misleading because classes do not exist independently from the cats using them.

Inherited traits can change a cat’s strengths. Abilities acquired during a run can create completely new combinations. Equipment can further change the build, while party composition determines what the cat actually needs to contribute.

A Hunter, for example, can gain extra value when its abilities allow it to control enemy movement. A Fighter can become more effective when its traits and abilities help it survive while operating at close range.

The same applies to support and defensive classes.

Cleric’s value depends partly on how much healing and cleansing the rest of the team needs. Tank can fill a very different role in a party that already has substantial defensive tools compared with a fragile squad that needs someone to absorb pressure.

Community discussions show this variation clearly. One September 2026 community list placed Hunter alone in its highest category, while other class guides grouped Cleric, Hunter, and Fighter near the top.

Those differences do not represent different game rules. They show that community tier lists are based on different criteria, experiences, builds, encounters, and preferences.

So rather than treating one ranking as the definitive answer, look at what a class actually contributes to the run you are building.

Build the Whole Party, Not Just One Cat

One of the biggest mistakes you can make in Mewgenics is judging every class separately.

Your squad contains four cats, and their strengths need to work together.

A party can combine a frontline class with ranged damage, healing, or a specialized class. Then the abilities discovered during the run can reshape those roles even further.

Class interactions can also produce some surprisingly useful combinations.

Fighter’s Berserk, for example, can apply Bruise to the cat using it. A Cleric can then provide tools for removing negative effects. Hunter can influence enemy positioning with traps, while Monk can alter its attack style through stance changes.

That means a class that looks average by itself can become extremely valuable when its abilities solve a problem somewhere else in the party.

The goal is not simply to collect four individually strong cats.

The goal is to create four cats that make each other stronger.

All 14 Mewgenics Classes at a Glance

Class	General Role
Fighter	Melee damage
Hunter	Ranged damage and traps
Mage	Magic and elemental damage
Tank	Defense and frontline protection
Cleric	Healing and support
Thief	Mobility and critical damage
Necromancer	Summoning and life drain
Druid	Hybrid and nature abilities
Tinkerer	Gadgets and utility
Butcher	Specialized melee combat
Psychic	Supernatural and utility abilities
Monk	Flexible melee and ranged combat
Jester	Unusual flexible ability set
Collarless	Classless ability pool

So, Which Class Should You Choose?

There is no single class that guarantees the same result on every Mewgenics run.

Instead, look at the cat’s inherited traits, available abilities, equipment, the other three party members, and the challenges ahead.

For a new run, the five starting choices already give you several distinct directions. Fighter covers melee damage, Hunter handles ranged attacks and traps, Mage provides magical damage, Tank brings frontline defense, and Collarless lets you experiment with a classless ability pool.

As more collars become available, experimentation becomes even more important.

A cat that looks perfect for one class may reveal a completely different potential after you see its inherited traits and the abilities offered during the run. That is part of what makes Mewgenics’ class system so flexible.

The biggest thing to remember is that classes are frameworks, not complete builds.

The collar gives your cat its initial direction. The traits, abilities, equipment, encounters, and party composition determine what that direction eventually becomes.

Disclaimer

Class performance can vary depending on inherited traits, abilities, equipment, encounters, and party composition. Community tier lists reflect different players’ criteria and experiences, so class placement should not be treated as an official ranking from the developers.

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Featured Image Credit: Edmund McMillen and Tyler Glaiel