Dominus Gladiatus Classes: Murmillo vs Secutor

Dominus Gladiatus launches with three playable gladiator classes: Murmillo, Secutor and Scissor. They are not cosmetic skins. Each has a different shield profile, a different set of class skills and a different answer to the opponent classes you meet in the arena, including the Retiarius and Hoplomachus.

Quick answer

Pick Murmillo for the safest first run, Secutor for the most flexible toolkit, and Scissor for aggression and stun pressure. Secutor is the natural anti-Retiarius pick because Net Breaker reduces net time by 70%. Scissor wants to close distance before a defensive class stabilises.

What are the three playable classes?

The class is chosen when you create or recruit the gladiator. The CHOOSE CLASS screen in the build I checked showed all three side by side with a short description and a skill preview.

Official source: Dominus Gladiatus store page ↗

What does the Murmillo do well?

The Murmillo is the shield tank. The large rectangular shield supports a block-heavy plan, and the class is the most forgiving when your equipment is behind the opponent's.

Strengths:

• High block consistency with shield skills.
• Forgiving of low skill ranks in the early game.
• Strong in Until Surrender fights where survival matters more than burst.

Weaknesses:

• Lower damage pressure than Scissor.
• Can struggle to finish a fight before Fatigue and crowd swings matter.
• A fast, aggressive opponent can run the Murmillo out of time.

Murmillo is the correct first class if you are still learning the day tick and the Infirmary. The shield buys you time to make mistakes.

What does the Secutor do well?

The Secutor is the balanced class. The round shield supports Shield Guard, Outmaneuver creates angle changes, Backstab punishes exposed enemies, and Net Breaker is a direct answer to the Retiarius.

The in-game class description says Shield Guard keeps him protected, Outmaneuver slips him behind his opponent, Backstab punishes exposed enemies and Net Breaker makes him a natural counter to the Retiarius.

Strengths:

• The widest answer list in the launch build.
• Net Breaker turns a hard matchup into a manageable one.
• Good in both solo and team fights because it can protect or pressure.

Weaknesses:

• Less raw defence than Murmillo.
• Less burst than Scissor.
• Requires more skill investment to feel strong.

Secutor is the pick if you want one class that can handle the widest range of arena cards.

What does the Scissor do well?

The Scissor is the aggressive brawler. The in-game description: "An aggressive brawler who overwhelms opponents at close range. Headbutt can stun, while Brutal Kick drives enemies back with extra damage. Dangerous when allowed to attack freely, but disciplined defense can blunt his assault."

Strengths:

• Stun pressure from Headbutt.
• Knockback and extra damage from Brutal Kick.
• Fast finishes against low-defence opponents.

Weaknesses:

• The small shield is less forgiving.
• A disciplined shield class can blunt the assault.
• Requires Fatigue and morale management because aggressive fights take more hits.

Scissor is the pick if you already understand the readiness loop and want to end fights quickly.

How do the class matchups work?

The game does not publish a full matchup chart, so treat this as a planning model rather than a hidden formula. The logic comes from the class descriptions and the skills shown in the build.

The Hoplomachus appears as an opponent with a spear and the Sand in the Eyes trait; the arena card I saw listed Health 94/94 and a spear spike value. Treat spear users as range-control fights: close the distance or force them to commit.

Which class should you pick first?

For a first run: Murmillo.

For a second run or a player who has read the systems: Secutor.

For a challenge run or a player who wants short fights: Scissor.

The class choice matters less than the readiness loop. A Murmillo at Fatigue 1 with two trained skills beats a Scissor at Fatigue 4 with better gear.

The best build guide → gives the stat and skill order for each class.

How do classes work in team fights?

Team contracts range from 1v1 to 5v5 after the Grand Tournament. In team fights, class coverage matters more than individual burst.

A balanced team:

• One Murmillo or shield fighter to absorb focus.
• One Secutor to answer nets and pressure flanks.
• One Scissor or damage dealer to finish low-Health targets.
• Support fighters with healing/morale traits if the roster allows.

Do not field five copies of the same class. A single Retiarius or Hoplomachus can neutralise a one-dimensional team.

RECOMMENDED GUIDE

STRATEGY GUIDE5 min read · In-Depth

Dominus Gladiatus Skills Tier List

The skills tier list ranks Combat, Shield Guard, Last Stand, Net Breaker and the rest by how often they decide a fight.

Read Full Strategy Guide →

Can you change class later?

The class is part of the gladiator's identity. The build I checked does not expose a class-respec action on the INFO card. Plan the class at recruitment, and use the market to find a different class when you need a counter-pick.

That makes the Slave Market a strategic tool, not just a recruitment screen. A cheap 85-Health Retiarius counter can be worth more than a second expensive Murmillo.

Official source: Dominus Gladiatus achievements ↗

Official source: Steam news ↗

FAQ

What is the best class in Dominus Gladiatus? There is no universal best. Secutor has the widest answer list, Murmillo is the most forgiving, and Scissor has the highest pressure. Match the class to the opponent and your own skill level.

Is Retiarius playable? Retiarius appears as an opponent class in the build I checked. The playable classes shown on the CHOOSE CLASS screen are Murmillo, Secutor and Scissor.

Which class beats Retiarius? Secutor with Net Breaker is the direct counter. Other classes can win by closing distance or killing the Retiarius before the net lands.

Do classes change in team fights? The class skills stay the same; the value changes because focus fire and positioning matter more in 3v3 to 5v5.