Gangster Tier list

## Gangsters Tier List

This list is purely based on gangster's **traits**, **raw stats**, **weapons & Equipment**, **base movement** and **hiring cost.**

* Gangsters designated **with a '+' symbol rank above their default tier**. For instance, Norah Quinn is considered the best starter due to her role as a doctor, enabling her to aid gangsters in sobering up. Moreover, her personal mission grants early access to an essential item, the Stethoscope, placing her in a tier with a '+' symbol.
* Gangsters marked **with a '-' symbol are positioned below their default tier.** For example, Dominic Court's skill set appears relatively lackluster compared to other Demolitionists in higher or lower tiers. In this context, options like Gibby, Alfred, or Dale prove to be far more preferable.
* Gangsters with no symbols are situated within their respective base tiers. They possess average stats and traits without any notable strengths or weaknesses, lacking any standout attributes or qualities.

The tier system primarily **reflects the raw statistics, traits, and abilities of the gangsters** compared to others within their profession. It's important to note that no gangster is inherently bad, and the choice of gangsters to recruit and play with ultimately comes down to personal preference and playstyle.

While higher-tier gangsters may have certain advantages or improved attributes, it doesn't mean that lower-tier gangsters are incapable or less effective. Each gangster brings their own unique set of skills, personalities, and traits to the table, offering different strategic opportunities and possibilities for gameplay.

## Enforcer

* **Dotty** stands out as the premier enforcer in the game. With her heightened HP, she surpasses **Elsie Williams**, mainly owing to her unique handgun that functions like a semi-automatic firearm, firing three rounds of bullets. Her weapon performs exceptionally well in her hands or when utilized by another gangster, particularly boosting the effectiveness of lower-tier members. Additionally, she often becomes the preferred target for enemy gangsters, possibly due to her substantial HP, allowing her to absorb most damage without any issues. The only drawback is her 'never disrespected' trait that has 50% chance of losing her as a member if you promote another gangster as under-boss(which can be solved by promoting a gangster to under-boss before you get her or promoting her as under-boss).
* **Elsie Williams** isn't a weak unit by any means, although she's somewhat eclipsed by **Dotty** because of her unique weapon. Despite this, Elsie possesses several strong attributes; her weapon proficiency and skill tree make her the second-best enforcer in the game. With a leadership stat of 100, she might even be the top contender for an under-boss position.
* **Baby Monks** stands out as the superior choice among purple-tier Enforcers due to his unique weapon, which grants him an edge. Aside from that, his overall stats closely mirror those of **Baldini**.
* The remaining gangsters from tier B to E are typically competent. **Gail Grady** might be considered a B lower-tier Enforcer, perhaps falling to tier C due to her stats and traits not being as impressive as those of other gangsters in Tier B.
* It's advisable to avoid **Clyde Malone** due to his lower stats and his 'Giant' physical trait, which makes him an easier target to hit, especially early in the game where your gangsters can die easily.

## Hired Gun

* **R** and **The Cleaner** are exceptionally strong and possibly among the best units in the game. Both possess highly elevated stats, surpassing even the gangsters in Tier A+. **R** has a distinct edge with their unique rifle, boasting impressive stats that can be utilized by them or other lower-tier gangsters to gain extra damage. Additionally, both **R** and **The Cleaner** possess the 'Hair Trigger' trait, granting them a significant advantage over other Hired Guns.
* In the A+ Tier, the Hired Guns are exceptionally strong gangsters, although they aren't quite comparable to those in the S Tier.
* In Tier A, the gangsters are represented by the purple tier, known for having the second-best base stats among hired guns. Their tech tree and weapon proficiency offer them a distinct edge over lower tiers.
* Tiers B and C are relatively similar. While **Goldstein** and **McErlane** aren't necessarily weak, they lack distinguishing characteristics. Coupled with their lower movement and marksmanship, they rank below other members of the B tier overall.
* **Maria Rodriguez** , is possibly ,the best lower tier Hired gun (and one of the best early game gangsters). her Shoot first and hair trigger traits makes her one of the best early game gangsters, providing early coverage and free turns + her story quest that gives you the 'rosary' equipment. a very strong early on game.
* In the range from D to F tiers, the differences among gangsters are not particularly significant. **Vicenzo Carro** stands out as a decent early-game hired gun, yet he comes with the drawback of higher initial hiring and maintenance costs. He possesses an additional movement and the "Shoot First" trait. However, his marksmanship is mediocre.

## Demolitionist

* **Madeline** and **Marco** stand out as exceptionally formidable gangsters. Each possesses distinct advantages and disadvantages. **Madeline** boasts an impressive leadership score of 100 along with the 'hair trigger' trait. In contrast, **Marco** holds a lower leadership score, accompanied by negative leadership-related bonuses. However, he compensates with an outstanding marksmanship rating of 100 and an exceptional movement stat of 9, which happens to be the highest movement stat in the game.
* In the A Tier, both **Dale** and **Alfred** exhibit very similar stats and traits. **Dale**'s advantage lies in possessing the 'hair trigger' trait, which gives him a slight edge over **Alfred**.
* **Dominic**'s placement in the C tier is due to his limited capabilities, especially because he leans towards melee combat and relies on being inebriated for certain bonuses, which aren't consistent. His trait 'never be disrespected' further contributes to his unreliability as a unit.
* Consider **Gibby Willard** as a decent choice for an early Demolitionist due to a 25% chance of triggering 'Hair trigger'.
* **Bau** **Chai-ung** is one to avoid – she's likely one of the weakest gangsters in the game with low movement, poor initiative, and dismal marksmanship. It might be better to forgo recruiting a Demolitionist later on or rely on your boss until you can acquire a higher-tiered Demolitionist if necessary.

## Doctor

* While the Doctor profession is crucial in Empire of Sin, **Natalie Warren** and **Vicky Treff** lack notable strengths beyond their profession. They both possess exceptional marksmanship, suitable for sniper rifles or rifles. Yet, **Natalie** edges out slightly with better traits and an additional 8+ Leadership, making her a viable option as an underboss. However, their functionalities are practically identical. Natalie comes with a slightly higher hiring requirement at 650, whereas Vicky requires only 600.
* **Diana Madura** stands as an exceptional gangster, wielding a unique weapon with three ammo types: armor damage, bleed, or poison, each boasting increased crit damage and a percentage crit chance. Coupled with her elevated persuasion skills, among the highest in the game, she makes for an ideal advisor for your team. Her potential ranks her close to an A+ tier unit (unofficial A+ gangster), but the gangsters in that tier possess better starting stats, +1 skill in the skill tree, and +1 on all weapon proficiency. Nevertheless, her unique weapon compensates for some of these disparities.
* In the D tier, **Nora Quinn** unequivocally shines as the best early-game doctor and gangster (she and **Maria Rodriguez** are typically regarded as the best early game gangsters). Although her initiative, movement, and HP are relatively low(as she belongs to the yellow tier gangsters), she compensates with her healing ability and a hidden high probability of curing other gangsters suffering from alcoholism, helping them sobering up. Additionally, her unique mission grants access to the stethoscope trinket, offering a substantial 30% increase in HP and an extra 5 defense points to any gangster. This combination makes her undeniably the best recruit available right from the start of the game.
* **Melucci** and **Minerva** are decent options due to their roles as doctors. However, **Norah** remains the superior choice. Nevertheless, they are still valuable units capable of providing healing and support.
* **Gracie McKee** lacks significant traits, maintains average stats, and possesses only 5 movement. Due to her lack of standout abilities, it's advisable to avoid recruiting her.

## Con Artist

* **Rebecille** stands out as the best con artist due to his exceptional stats and traits—specifically, "Shoot First," and "Hair Trigger." His high movement paired with his unique weapon makes him a formidable force, particularly in mid-to-short-range combat. With heightened critical damage and a strong crit %, he outshines all other gangsters in his profession.
* In Tier A, **Etsuko** and **Frank** share a similar ranking due to their comparable capabilities. **Etsuko** gains a slight advantage with higher persuasion and the "A Cat Has Nine Lives" trait. Making her the better one just slightly. Meanwhile, **Bernie** remains in Tier A as a Purple tier gangster, although he doesn't match the strength of the previously mentioned two gangsters. He's not necessarily bad; however, he is overshadowed by the capabilities of the other two.
* **Percival Landcaster** lacks significant traits that align well with his role as a con artist. While his traits are not particularly detrimental, they don't complement his profession effectively. Additionally, he possesses one of the lowest movement capabilities among con artists. Comparatively, **Boris** and **Jez** offer an extra 1+ and 2+ movement respectively, and they are accessible early in the game. Considering these factors, **Percival** might be a candidate to skip during recruitment.
* **Jez Murphy** is unexpectedly proficient as an early-game con artist, boasting an impressive 8 movement and an 85 marksmanship. Her 44 persuasion is notably high and somewhat rare to find. With such attributes, she could serve excellently as an advisor if you're looking for an affordable option. On the other hand, **Boris Petrov** is also a decent choice for a con artist but falls short in comparison to **Jez** due to his lower marksmanship and movement stats.
* **Marlena** and **Guido** are fairly basic early-game gangsters, likely candidates for replacement later on due to their limited contributions resulting from their lower base stats.

## Fixer

* **Dixie Chan** possesses a diverse skill set, capitalizing on new traits introduced in the DLC, making him a versatile gangster without any standout exceptional features. He demonstrates adaptability within his profession, capable of both aggressive and passive fighting styles. However, despite his noteworthy 100 marksmanship, he lacks any significantly overpowered traits to propel him to the S tier.
* In Tier A, **Ada Santos Souza** stands out as a formidable gangster. Although she arrives with average weapons, her high marksmanship coupled with the hair trigger trait makes her an excellent option, particularly if you wish to reserve the Orange recruitment slot for a gangster from a different profession.
* **Rachel Steinman** lacks notable attributes. Although she boasts high marksmanship, her low initiative and movement restrict her potential, placing her closer to the C tier, had she not been a blue tier gangster.
* **Gertrude Brandt,** she might as well be a lower tier gangster version of **Ada Souza,** shares similarities with her due to the hair trigger and marksmanship stat. Despite being a green tier, she has commendable base stats and 6 movement, making her a viable early choice and a possible alternative to recruiting Rachel.
* **Ma Miller** can be a decent choice if you're seeking a fixer early in the game, especially due to her special mission and decent marksmanship of 75. However, her extremely low movement of 4 and poor initiative often lead to her being sidelined during fights. While a good early recruit, it might be better to skip her and opt for Gertrude instead.