How this tier list is ranked
The best skills in Dead Cells earn a high tier on three things: damage, utility, and safety. A skill that clears a room, controls a threat, or saves a mistake is worth one of your two ability slots.
You carry two skills at a time. Each pick competes for a slot, so a skill with a narrow use loses to one that helps in any room.
The criteria behind every row:
- Damage: how much a single cast removes from the fight.
- Utility: whether it controls, marks, or debuffs a target.
- Safety: whether it buys escape time or blocks incoming damage.
- Cooldown: how long you wait before the skill is ready again.
- Reliability: whether it works in an open room and a tight corridor alike.
The full skill table
Every skill below is ranked on those five criteria. The tier shows where the ability sits once your scrolls are invested.
| Tier | Skill | Why it ranks there |
|---|---|---|
| S | Powerful Grenade | A Brutality skill that clears a pack of small enemies in one throw, so a surround becomes a clear room. |
| S | Wolf Trap | A Survival skill that roots an enemy in place, opening a safe window to unload on a dangerous target. |
| S | Ice Armor | A Survival skill that grants a burst of damage reduction, so it works as a panic button. |
| S | Great Owl of War | A Tactics skill that adds a companion attacking on its own, growing stronger through a run. |
| S | Tonic | A Survival skill that heals and buffs at once, covering the moment a fight turns. |
| S | Corrupted Power | A Brutality skill that raises your damage for a stretch, trading health for output. |
| A | Cluster Grenade | A Brutality skill that spreads a wide blast, so it catches a group rather than one target. |
| A | Ice Grenade | A Tactics skill that freezes a cluster on impact, holding a crowd while you reposition. |
| A | Flamethrower Turret | A Tactics skill that keeps burning a lane, so a deployable holds ground while you move. |
| A | Heavy Turret | A Tactics skill that fires heavy shots at range, adding steady damage without your attention. |
| A | Sinew Slicer | A Tactics skill that fires a spinning blade, chipping a target while you keep distance. |
| A | Lacerating Aura | A Brutality skill that damages anything near you, so an aggressive push becomes easier. |
| A | Swarm | A Brutality skill that sends out summoned attackers, so a melee build gains extra bodies. |
| A | Vampirism | A Survival skill that trades a burst effect for a heal, refunding health in a tight spot. |
| A | Explosive Decoy | A Survival skill that draws enemy attacks, then detonates, giving you cover and damage. |
| A | Barnacle | A Tactics skill that attaches damage to a spot, so a chokepoint keeps working without you. |
| B | Magnetic Grenade | A Tactics skill that pulls enemies into one spot, setting up a follow-up blast. |
| B | Stun Grenade | A Tactics skill that stuns a group, buying time but dealing little damage on its own. |
| B | Oil Grenade | A Tactics skill that leaves a slick which spreads fire, so it needs a burn source beside it. |
| B | Root Grenade | A Survival skill that holds enemies in place, but the hold is short for the slot it costs. |
| B | Wave of Denial | A Survival skill that knocks enemies back, which is control rather than damage. |
| B | Infantry Grenade | A Brutality skill that hits a small area, so it clears a pair rather than a crowd. |
| B | Death Orb | A Tactics skill that damages slow targets, and a mobile enemy walks out of range. |
| C | Fire Grenade | A Brutality skill that burns a small patch, and the area is easy to leave. |
| C | Lightspeed | A Tactics skill that adds a dash with damage, but the hit is narrow. |
| C | Double Crossb-o-mat | A Tactics skill that fires in one direction, so a mobile fight dodges around it. |
S-tier skills
An S-tier skill changes a fight on its own. It clears a crowd, locks a threat, or protects you with no extra setup.
- Powerful Grenade clears a pack of small enemies in one throw, so a surround becomes a clear room.
- Wolf Trap roots an enemy in place, opening a safe window to unload on a dangerous target.
- Ice Armor grants a burst of damage reduction, so it works as a panic button.
- Great Owl of War adds a companion that attacks on its own and grows through a run.
- Tonic heals and buffs at the same time, covering the moment a fight turns.
- Corrupted Power raises your damage for a stretch, trading health for output.
A-tier skills
An A-tier skill is strong and easy to use. It helps in most rooms without a rare drop or a perfect angle.
- Cluster Grenade spreads a wide blast, so it catches a group rather than one target.
- Ice Grenade freezes a cluster on impact, holding a crowd while you reposition.
- Flamethrower Turret keeps burning a lane, so a deployable holds ground while you move.
- Heavy Turret fires heavy shots at range, adding steady damage without your attention.
- Sinew Slicer fires a spinning blade, chipping a target while you keep distance.
- Lacerating Aura damages anything near you, so an aggressive push becomes easier.
- Swarm sends out summoned attackers, so a melee build gains extra bodies.
- Vampirism trades a burst effect for a heal, refunding health in a tight spot.
- Explosive Decoy draws enemy attacks, then detonates, giving you cover and damage.
- Barnacle attaches damage to a spot, so a chokepoint keeps working without you.
B-tier skills
A B-tier skill works, but a stronger option usually fits the slot. Take it when the others do not suit your colour.
- Magnetic Grenade pulls enemies into one spot, setting up a follow-up blast.
- Stun Grenade stuns a group, buying time but dealing little damage on its own.
- Oil Grenade leaves a slick that spreads fire, so it needs a burn source beside it.
- Root Grenade holds enemies in place, but the hold is short for the slot it costs.
- Wave of Denial knocks enemies back, which is control rather than damage.
- Infantry Grenade hits a small area, so it clears a pair rather than a crowd.
- Death Orb damages slow targets, and a mobile enemy walks out of range.
C-tier skills
A C-tier skill can help in one situation and little else. Take it only when nothing better drops.
- Fire Grenade burns a small patch, and the area is easy to leave.
- Lightspeed adds a dash with damage, but the hit is narrow.
- Double Crossb-o-mat fires in one direction, so a mobile fight dodges around it.
Best skills for damage
A damage skill ends a fight fast, which matters when a room surrounds you.
- Powerful Grenade removes a pack, so it front-loads a room in one press.
- Cluster Grenade and Infantry Grenade add burst to a Brutality build.
- Heavy Turret and Flamethrower Turret deal damage while you stay clear of the fight.
Best skills for safety
A safety skill buys time when a run is close to ending.
- Wolf Trap holds a dangerous target in place, so the threat stops moving.
- Ice Armor and Tonic cover a moment when health is low.
- Explosive Decoy pulls attacks away from you, then clears the space it opened.
Best skills for beginners
A beginner skill works with no perfect angle and no rare drop.
- Tonic heals you, so it forgives a mistake.
- Powerful Grenade clears a room in one press.
- Heavy Turret fights for you while you learn a room’s pattern.
Skills to avoid
Avoid a skill that needs a second piece before it works.
- Oil Grenade does little without a burn source beside it.
- Death Orb misses a moving enemy that steps out of range.
- Double Crossb-o-mat fires one way, so a flank walks around it.
What to read next
Your skills should match your scroll colour. Read the colour that fits your habits before you spend cells at the Collector.
Next: Weapon tier list, Mutation tier list, and Boss tier list.