Aliens: Fireteam Elite 2 Classes
Quick answer: Aliens: Fireteam Elite 2 has six playable classes: Marauder, Duelist, Machinist, Hunter, Medic, and Specialist. The five core classes each have an official combat identity, while Specialist is an endgame class that can use unlocked abilities and perks from the rest of the roster. For a fast choice, start with Marauder for heavy pressure, Duelist for explosive offense, Machinist for deployables, Hunter for control, Medic for sustain, or Specialist for flexible endgame role coverage.
This hub separates confirmed class features from editorial fit. The official September 2 Hotfix #2 contained PC performance and crash fixes but no listed class balance changes, so the role summaries below remain based on the official class showcases and August 25 launch patch. Solo, Horde, beginner difficulty, and universal tier claims remain unranked until matching builds are tested on a named game version.
Class comparison
| Class | Confirmed role and tools | Solo fit | Team fit | Horde fit | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marauder | Heavy pressure; Blast Cannon, rockets, and mines | Direct-offense candidate; not comparatively tested | Clear damage and route-preparation role | Group-pressure candidate; no class ranking | Unverified |
| Duelist | Explosive offense; configurable bursts and Shrapnel Grenade | Precision or fragmentation candidate; not comparatively tested | Focused fire and spacing | Cluster-damage candidate; no class ranking | Unverified |
| Machinist | Sentry Turret, Bodyguard Drone, and energy weapons | Deployable-support candidate; AI value not tested | Area support and autonomous coverage | Route-holding candidate; no class ranking | Unverified |
| Hunter | Slow, freeze, and priority-target control | Control candidate; enemy resistance not tested | Creates firing windows for the squad | Wave-control candidate; no class ranking | Unverified |
| Medic | Sustain, buffs, Trauma Station, and revive support | Survivability candidate; solo economy not tested | Clearest confirmed recovery role | Sustain candidate; no class ranking | Unverified |
| Specialist | Mixes unlocked class abilities and perks | Endgame flexibility; depends on unlocked pool | Fills a missing role | Build-dependent; no class ranking | Unverified |
Candidate means the official kit supports that use case. It is not evidence that the class outperforms the other five in that mode.
Choose a class by the job your fireteam needs
| Fireteam need | Start with | Evidence level | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy direct pressure | Marauder | Official | Its showcase centers on difficult Xenomorphs, Blast Cannon options, Titan Rockets, and Rocket Mines. |
| Explosive offense with configuration choices | Duelist | Official | Burst, Fragment, and Precision configurations support different offensive situations. |
| Turret, drone, or area support | Machinist | Official | Sentry Turret and Bodyguard Drone variants add deployed coverage. |
| Slow, freeze, or priority-target control | Hunter | Official | Cryo Pulse and Stasis Bolt create documented control windows. |
| Team sustain, buffs, and revive safety | Medic | Official | Adrenaline Surge, Overclock, Trauma Station options, and revive perks support team survival. |
| Flexible endgame coverage | Specialist | Official | It can equip unlocked class abilities and perks after its progression requirement is met. |
For scenario-specific recommendations, use the Best Class Guide. It labels role-based conclusions separately from provisional Solo, Horde, and beginner picks.
Marauder
Marauder is the roster's clearest heavy-pressure class. Official material confirms the Blast Cannon family, Blastwave, Thermal Cannon, Titan Rockets, Rocket Mines, Rampage, Reactive Charges, and the M12A1 Rocket Launcher and OCAP-91 Volcan signature weapons.
Choose Marauder when the squad needs immediate explosive pressure or wants to prepare an approach with mines. Damage ranking, durability, friendly-fire behavior, and ammo economy still require current-version testing. Read the full Marauder class guide.
Duelist
Duelist is officially positioned around explosive damage. Burst Configuration can use Fragment or Precision directions, while Shrapnel Grenade attacks clustered Xenomorphs and creates space. Stay on Target and Mobility are confirmed perk examples; the BD-48 Daittyo Heavy Rifle and HNT-1 E1 Alamein Revolver Rifle are its signature weapons.
Choose Duelist when the intended job is explosive offense with a deliberate precision-versus-fragmentation decision. Sustained damage, survivability, and mode rank are not established by the showcase. Read the full Duelist class guide.
Machinist
Machinist provides deployed support through a modifiable Sentry Turret and Bodyguard Drone. Confirmed variants include Gas and Rumble Turrets plus Artillery and Shredder Bodyguards. The class also has official team-support perks and the SMB-94 Zephyr Plasma Emitter and EDS-93 Zadak Plasma Discharger Mk.2 signature weapons.
Choose Machinist when the team needs autonomous coverage, a held approach, or machine-based support. Device targeting, uptime, survivability, and Solo behavior remain test-dependent. Read the full Machinist class guide.
Hunter
Hunter is the clearest confirmed control class. Cryo Pulse can freeze Xenomorphs, and Stasis Bolt slows trapped targets and leaves them vulnerable to attacks. Particle Beam, No Mercy, No Rest, the BD-03 Djinn Personal Railgun, and the Type 111 Directed Particle Emitter are also confirmed.
Choose Hunter when the squad needs time to focus a dangerous target or stabilize pressure. Control resistance, duration, cooldowns, and comparative damage are not published in the written showcase. Read the full Hunter class guide.
Medic
Medic is the clearest confirmed sustain class. Adrenaline Surge provides resistance and knockback protection, Overclock supports fire rate and reload speed, and Advanced Trauma Station variants can buff allies or damage enemies. Bedside Manner and Surgeon's Hands support revives and interactions under pressure. Its signature weapons are X1 Fireball and Type 21 Tactical Shotgun Mk.II.
Choose Medic when team recovery, buffs, or revive safety are the missing functions. No official source says every squad requires one, and Solo performance is not established by the support description. Read the full Medic class guide.
Specialist
Specialist is a customizable endgame class with access to unlocked class abilities and perks. The official showcase demonstrates Shredder Bodyguard and Particle Beam together and names Focus Fire, Doctor's Orders, the L56A3 Smartgun, and the M41A2 Pulse Rifle as examples or signature equipment.
Choose Specialist after unlocking it when a fireteam needs flexible role coverage. Official Steam material says it unlocks after leveling the other classes; the exact threshold and any additional requirement are still unverified. Flexibility is not proof of higher damage or survivability. Read the full Specialist class guide.
Best classes by role and mode
The strongest evidence supports role choices, not universal mode winners:
- Heavy pressure: Marauder, with Duelist as the explosive-configuration alternative.
- Crowd and priority control: Hunter, with Machinist offering deployable control options.
- Team sustain: Medic.
- Deployed support: Machinist.
- Flexible endgame role: Specialist.
- Solo, Horde, and easiest beginner class: Unverified because no controlled cross-class test is recorded.
The Single Player Guide records the conditions needed for Solo claims. The Horde Mode Guide does the same for map, wave, difficulty, and squad context.
Builds and weapons
A class choice is only the start of a loadout. Use Aliens: Fireteam Elite 2 Best Builds to connect the class to named abilities, modifiers, perks, weapons, mode, difficulty, squad composition, and evidence. Use Best Weapons and the Weapons Database to separate confirmed signature weapons from still-unverified performance rankings.
Patch and evidence status
- Official: roster, class identities, named showcase abilities, named perks, signature weapons, and Specialist's broad unlock description.
- Unverified editorial guidance: a class is a sensible candidate for a mode because its official tools address that mode's likely demands.
- Unverified: universal best class, numerical class tier, Solo winner, Horde winner, beginner difficulty, DPS rank, and exact Specialist level threshold.
- Latest patch review: Hotfix #2 dated September 2, 2026 listed performance and crash fixes, with no class balance entries.
Frequently asked questions
How many playable classes are there?
Six: Marauder, Duelist, Machinist, Hunter, Medic, and Specialist.
Which class should I choose first?
Choose the job you can evaluate clearly: Marauder for direct pressure, Hunter for control, Machinist for deployables, Medic for sustain, or Duelist for configurable explosive offense. Specialist is an endgame option rather than the default first class.
Is Specialist available immediately?
No. Official Steam material says it unlocks after leveling the other classes. The exact per-class threshold and any additional condition remain unverified.
What is the best class?
There is no verified universal winner. The Best Class Guide gives explicit role picks and clearly labels provisional Solo, beginner, and Horde recommendations.