Race/Class Synergy in 4e: PHB2 Races

Following up last week's analysis of synergy between the Player's Handbook 1 races and the Player's Handbook 2 classes, this week I have analysis of the PHB2 races and all the core classes. Again I'm using the definitions posted at Incredible Vehicle for top, second and bottom tiers.

What I call a top tier combination is where a race’s bonus attributes map directly to a class’ primary and secondary. ... A second tier combo is one where a race has one attribute that maps to a primary or secondary. ... When a race has no attributes, or only a tertiary attribute, it’s third tier.

As before, top tier combinations are green, second tier white and third tier red.

		Deva	Gnome	Goliath	Half-Orc	Longtooth Shifter	Razorclaw Shifter
		Int, Wis	Int, Cha	Str, Con	Str, Dex	Str, Wis	Dex, Wis
Cleric	Str, Wis	1	0	1	1	2	1
	Wis, Cha	1	1	0	0	1	1
Fighter	Str, Con	0	0	2	1	1	0
	Str, Dex or Wis*	1	0	1	2	2	1
Paladin	Str, Wis	1	0	1	1	2	1
	Cha, Wis	1	1	0	0	1	1
Ranger	Dex, Wis	1	0	0	1	1	2
	Str, Wis	1	0	1	1	2	1
Rogue	Dex, Str	0	0	1	2	1	1
	Dex, Cha	0	1	0	1	0	1
Warlock	Cha, Int	1	2	0	0	0	0
	Con, Int	1	1	1	0	0	0
Warlord	Str, Cha	0	1	1	1	1	0
	Str, Int	1	1	1	1	1	0
Wizard	Int, Wis	2	1	0	0	1	1
	Int, Dex	1	1	0	1	0	1
Avenger	Wis, Int	2	1	0	0	1	1
	Wis, Dex	1	0	0	1	1	2
Barbarian	Str, Con	0	0	2	1	1	0
	Str,Cha	0	1	1	1	1	0
Bard	Cha,Int	1	2	0	0	0	0
	Cha, Con	0	1	1	0	0	0
Druid	Wis, Con	1	0	1	0	1	1
	Wis, Dex	1	0	0	1	1	2
Invoker	Wis, Int	2	1	0	0	1	1
	Wis, Con	1	0	1	0	1	1
Shaman	Wis, Con	1	0	1	0	1	1
	Wis, Int	2	1	0	0	1	1
Sorcerer	Cha, Dex	0	1	0	1	0	1
	Cha, Str	0	1	1	1	1	0
Warden	Str, Con	0	0	2	1	1	0
	Str, Wis	1	0	1	1	2	1
	Synergy "score"	25	19	21	21	30	24

Finally, a top tier race (deva) for the control wizard... in the same book with more controller classes. Ah well, better late than never. Longtooth shifters take the most-top-tier-builds title with five, followed by devas with four. Note that out of all the PHB1 races the maximum is three. You could build a well rounded party with nothing but shifters - the only role the longtooths (longteeth?) don't cover as a top tier build is controller, and the razorclaws have that covered with one of the druid builds.

Three of the new races get a Strength boost. Along with the dragonborn that means by choosing the right race you can get a Strength boost along with any other ability... except Intelligence. So there's still no top tier race for the tactical warlord (though all the PHB2 races are second tier for the build). Also, there's still no top tier race for the laser cleric and pretty paladin (Wis, Cha) builds or the scourge warlock (Con, Int) build. Interestingly, all the PHB2 class builds are a top tier build for one or more races.