Hooked Skills Tier List: Complete Ranking

This article ranks every skill in the game Hooked from S-tier (best) to D-tier (niche or weak), based on their raw power, synergy with common builds, and usefulness across all game modes. You will get a clear tier list, explanations for each placement, and practical advice on which skills to prioritize.

How the Tier List Works

Tier lists for Hooked are built by looking at three things: how much damage or utility a skill gives per point invested, how flexible it is in different team compositions, and how well it scales into the late game. Skills that are strong early but fall off hard are ranked lower than skills that stay relevant. The tiers are:

S-Tier: Meta-defining. These skills are almost always worth picking, regardless of your build.
A-Tier: Excellent choices that fit many builds and have clear strengths.
B-Tier: Situationally strong. They work well in specific team comps or against certain enemy setups.
C-Tier: Niche. They have a narrow use case and are often outclassed by other options.
D-Tier: Generally underwhelming. You pick these only if you have no better alternative.

The Complete Tier List

Here is the full ranking of every skill currently in the game. This list reflects the current patch and will shift as balance changes are made.

S-Tier: Chain Lightning, Time Warp, Shadow Step
A-Tier: Frost Nova, Flame Burst, Vampiric Touch, Iron Skin
B-Tier: Poison Cloud, Wind Gust, Earth Shield, Lightning Bolt
C-Tier: Water Jet, Rock Throw, Static Field
D-Tier: Spark, Mud Splash

Why These Skills Are Top-Tier

The S-tier skills share a common trait: they offer either massive area damage or game-changing utility that no other skill can replicate.

Chain Lightning is the best damage skill in the game. It hits up to five enemies for 80% of your attack power, and each bounce deals 10% more damage. In wave-based modes, it clears entire groups in seconds. Its only weakness is single-target fights, but even there it out-damages most other skills.

Time Warp is the strongest utility skill. It slows all enemies by 50% for 4 seconds and increases your team’s attack speed by 30% during that window. This effectively gives you double the time to deal damage while reducing incoming damage. It is universally useful, from boss fights to PvP.

Shadow Step is the best mobility and survival skill. It teleports you behind the nearest enemy and makes you invulnerable for 1.5 seconds. This bypasses enemy frontlines, dodges telegraphed attacks, and sets up backline kills. It is the highest skill-ceiling ability in the game.

What Makes A-Tier Skills Strong

A-tier skills are not far behind S-tier. They are slightly more situational but still excellent in most games.

Frost Nova is a reliable area freeze with a 2-second stun. It is great for crowd control, but its longer cooldown (12s) and lower damage keep it out of S-tier.
Flame Burst deals high burst damage in a cone and leaves a burn that ticks for 5 seconds. It is excellent for melting tanks, but requires you to be close.
Vampiric Touch heals you for 40% of the damage you deal for 6 seconds. It is the best sustain skill, but it does not help your team unless you are the main damage dealer.
Iron Skin gives you a shield equal to 20% of your max health and reduces all incoming damage by 15% for 5 seconds. It is a solid defensive pick, but it does not counter true damage.

B-Tier Skills: Situational but Useful

These skills are not bad, but they require a specific build or team composition to shine.

Poison Cloud deals damage over time in an area and reduces healing by 30%. It is strong against heal-heavy teams, but weak against mobile enemies.
Wind Gust knocks enemies back and increases your movement speed by 20% for 3 seconds. It is great for kiting, but it does not deal meaningful damage.
Earth Shield grants a damage absorption shield to a nearby ally. It is useful in coordinated play, but it is outclassed by Iron Skin for self-defense.
Lightning Bolt is a single-target nuke with a short cooldown. It is reliable, but it lacks the area damage of Chain Lightning.

C-Tier and D-Tier: Why They Fall Behind

The lower tiers are not completely useless, but they have clear weaknesses that make them hard to justify.

Water Jet pushes enemies away and slows them, but its damage is negligible. It is a worse version of Wind Gust. Rock Throw is a basic single-target damage skill with no secondary effect; it is only useful in the very early game. Static Field damages enemies that attack you, but it requires you to be hit, which is risky.

At D-tier, Spark deals minimal damage and has no utility. Mud Splash slows enemies by 20% for 2 seconds, but the slow is too weak to matter. These skills are often considered traps because they seem useful but are outperformed by every other option.

How to Choose Skills for Your Build

Your skill choices should depend on your role and the game mode. Here are some general guidelines:

Damage Dealers: Prioritize S-tier damage skills like Chain Lightning and Flame Burst. Add one utility skill like Time Warp or Shadow Step for survivability.
Tanks: Pick Iron Skin and Earth Shield to maximize your survivability. Add Frost Nova for crowd control.
Support: Focus on utility skills like Time Warp and Wind Gust. Poison Cloud is also great against healing.
PvP: Shadow Step and Frost Nova are essential for catching enemies. Avoid D-tier skills entirely.
PvE: Chain Lightning and Poison Cloud are top picks for wave clearing. Vampiric Touch helps sustain through long fights.

Common Mistakes and Misconceptions

Many players make the mistake of picking skills based on their damage numbers alone, ignoring utility. For example, Lightning Bolt looks strong on paper, but its single-target nature makes it far less useful than Chain Lightning in most situations. Another common mistake is overvaluing sustain skills like Vampiric Touch in PvP, where burst damage is more important.

Another misconception is that D-tier skills are completely useless. In the early game, before you have access to better options, Spark can help you clear the first few waves. However, you should replace it as soon as possible. Finally, remember that tier lists are not absolute. A skilled player can make any skill work, but the rankings reflect the average performance across all skill levels.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Chain Lightning always the best skill?

Chain Lightning is the highest-damage skill in most scenarios, but it falls off in single-target boss fights. In those cases, Flame Burst or Lightning Bolt can be better. It is still S-tier because its area damage is unmatched.

What is the best defensive skill?

Iron Skin is the best overall defensive skill because it provides both a shield and damage reduction. Earth Shield is better if you are playing a support role and want to protect an ally.

Can I use D-tier skills in high-level play?

You can, but you will be at a disadvantage. D-tier skills are so weak that they are almost never worth a skill slot. If you have no other options, they are better than nothing, but you should replace them as soon as possible.

How often does the tier list change?

The tier list changes with every balance patch. Skills that are strong now may be nerfed, and weak skills may be buffed. It is a good idea to check the patch notes after each update.

Should I prioritize skills that match my element?

No. Elemental synergy is not a mechanic in Hooked. Skills do not have bonuses based on your character’s element, so you should focus purely on the skill’s power and utility.

Method: the standard formula for this calculation, rounded as each result states. See how the calculators work or report an error.

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