In Lethal Company 2026, the Engineer and Medic dominate the meta as S‑Tier picks, offering unmatched utility and survivability, while the Security Guard and Scout sit in A‑Tier for their niche strengths, and the Janitor and default Employee fall to B‑ and C‑Tier respectively. This tier list breaks down each character’s health, movement speed, signature ability, and ideal playstyle so you can pick the best fit for your crew before heading into the next abandoned facility. Visit the official Steam store page for Lethal Company to learn more.
S‑Tier: Engineer and Medic
The Engineer is the backbone of any successful Lethal Company run, boasting 120 HP and a movement speed of 4.2 meters per second. Its signature ability, Deployable Turret, summons a stationary gun that fires automatically at the nearest enemy for 12 seconds, dealing 15 damage per hit and possessing 80 HP of its own. The turret has a 20‑second cooldown, allowing you to place one roughly every third encounter. Engineers also enjoy a 15 % faster repair rate on broken generators and doors, cutting downtime during frantic escapes. For tips on optimizing performance in Lethal Company, see our guide on how to fix lag and low FPS in Avowed. Pros include strong area denial, safe damage output while you focus on objectives, and the ability to lure enemies into kill zones. Cons revolve around the turret’s limited arc—it can only cover a 120‑degree cone—and the fact that the Engineer’s personal combat stats are modest, making them vulnerable if the turret is destroyed. Pair the Engineer with a Medic for sustained pushes, or with a Security Guard to hold chokepoints while the turret rains fire.
The Medic rounds out the S‑Tier with 100 HP and a speed of 4.0 m/s, but its true value lies in the Medkit Heal ability. Activating the Medkit restores 50 HP to a teammate over 5 seconds and can be used on yourself, with a 15‑second cooldown. In addition, the Medic revives downed allies twice as fast as other classes, reducing the revive timer from 8 seconds to 4 seconds. The Medic also passively regenerates 2 HP per second when not taking damage, providing a subtle but reliable sustain. If you want to level up your Medic quickly, check out our guide on how to level up fast in Dragons Dogma 2 for XP strategies that translate well. Pros include keeping the team alive through prolonged hunts, enabling risky rescues, and mitigating sanity loss by reducing the time spent incapacitated. Cons are the Medic’s lower damage output—its default melee weapon deals only 8 damage per swing—and the need to stay close to allies to maximize heal efficiency. When paired with an Engineer, the Medic can keep the turret operator alive, while a Security Guard can absorb aggro while the Medic patches up the front line.
A‑Tier: Security Guard and Scout
The Security Guard serves as the team’s tank, sporting 150 HP and a movement speed of 3.8 m/s. Its signature Stun Baton delivers a 2‑second stun to a single enemy, with a 12‑second cooldown, and also adds 20 armor that reduces incoming damage by 15 %. The Guard’s melee attack deals 12 damage per hit, slightly above average, and its larger hitbox makes it easier to block enemy advances in narrow corridors. Learn how to handle tough early encounters with our guide on how to beat early bosses in Dragons Dogma 2, which offers tactics applicable to Lethal Company’s early threats. Pros include exceptional survivability, the ability to interrupt deadly enemy attacks (such as the Screamer’s scream or the Brute’s charge), and a natural role as a front‑line shield for squishier teammates. Cons are the slower speed, which can hinder map control and objective rushes, and the reliance on melee range to apply the stun, leaving the Guard vulnerable to ranged threats if caught out of position. Ideal pairings involve an Engineer to set up turrets behind the Guard’s shield, or a Medic to keep the tank topped up during prolonged engagements.
The Scout trades raw durability for speed and information, featuring 90 HP and a top speed of 5.0 m/s—the highest of any class. Its Wall Hack ability highlights enemy outlines through walls for 4 seconds, with a 25‑second cooldown, and also extends flashlight duration by 50 %, allowing longer exploration without fear of sudden darkness. The Scout’s melee damage is 9 per swing, and its smaller hitbox makes it harder for enemies to land hits. For mobility tips similar to mounting fast in Satisfactory, see our guide on how to get mounts fast in Satisfactory. Pros include unparalleled map reconnaissance, the ability to spot ambushes before they happen, and rapid repositioning to secure objectives or escape dangerous rooms. Cons stem from the low health pool, making the Scout susceptible to one‑shot kills from high‑damage enemies, and the reliance on ability cooldowns for scouting effectiveness. A Scout pairs well with an Engineer, who can place turrets in revealed enemy paths, or with a Medic who can keep the fragile scout alive during risky forays.
B‑Tier: Janitor
The Janitor occupies the B‑Tier with 110 HP and a movement speed of 4.1 m/s, focusing on utility rather than direct combat. Its Corpse Clean ability removes a dead body from the floor, reducing sanity loss by 30 % per corpse cleared and granting a small 5‑second immunity to panic effects; the ability has a 10‑second cooldown and can be chained if multiple bodies litter the area. The Janitor’s mop swing deals 8 damage and applies a 20 % movement speed slow for 3 seconds, offering a modest crowd‑control tool. If you ever want to re‑allocate your playstyle, our guide on how to respec skill points in Dragons Dogma 2 shows how to experiment with different builds. Pros include keeping the team’s sanity stable during long hauls, especially in maps littered with enemy corpses, and providing a low‑risk way to contribute to fights without exposing yourself to high damage. Cons are the relatively low damage output, the niche nature of corpse cleaning (which is useless on corpse‑free maps), and the lack of any defensive buffs or healing. The Janitor shines when paired with an Engineer who can set up turrets to handle combat while the Janitor tidies up, or with a Security Guard who can absorb aggro while the Janitor maintains sanity.
C‑Tier: Employee (Default)
The default Employee serves as the baseline, with 100 HP and a movement speed of 4.3 m/s, and possesses no unique ability beyond the standard melee attack (10 damage per swing) and the standard flashlight. Pros include simplicity—new players can jump in without learning a special mechanic—and flexibility, as the Employee can adapt to any role by picking up equipment dropped by enemies or found in the environment. Cons are the absence of any class‑specific advantage, meaning the Employee will always be outperformed by a specialist in health, speed, utility, or damage. In a well‑coordinated team, the Employee is best used as a filler slot when you need an extra body but lack a dedicated specialist, or as a test character to learn map layouts before committing to a more focused class. For more details from the developer, visit Zeekerss’ website.
How to Choose the Right Character for Your Playstyle
If your priority is keeping the squad alive and enabling aggressive pushes, the Medic’s healing and revive speed make it the obvious S‑Tier pick. Players who enjoy controlling space and setting up lethal kill zones should gravitate toward the Engineer, whose turret provides relentless area denial and frees you to focus on objectives. For those who prefer to soak up damage and protect teammates, the Security Guard’s high health, armor, and stun baton create a reliable front line that can interrupt deadly enemy abilities. Speed demons and information gatherers will find the Scout’s wall hack and top‑tier movement speed invaluable for scouting ahead and avoiding ambushes. The Janitor fits groups that struggle with sanity management, offering corpse cleaning and a mild slow to keep the team’s nerves steady during long hauls. Finally, the Employee is a solid fallback for newcomers or when you need a flexible, no‑frills option that can pick up gear from the environment. Match your character to your team’s composition and the specific map’s hazards—combine an Engineer and Medic for sustained firepower, add a Security Guard to anchor the line, and slip in a Scout for reconnaissance to maximize your chances of escaping the facility with profit and sanity intact. For deep dives on each character’s stats, consult the Lethal Company Wiki.