Aran is the best designed class in maplestory, and here is why.

Arans are poorly designed because combo finishers aren't worthwhile to be used at all. Their main defining feature and it shouldn't be used. At least Demon Slayer rewards you for spending your resource instead of punishing you. If Combo were a spendable resource like Fury instead of complete depletion whenever any of it were used, then I would agree that they are the best designed class, but I feel Mercedes is the better design and more classes should aim to imitate that; a wide range of multi-utility skills for varying situations instead of literally one thing to spam, e.g. Raging Blow for Heroes now.

The inherent problem with Demon Slayer, and in conjunction Mercedes, is their shield can have weapon potential. If Arans had a similar item, and Demon Slayers didn't have such a spammable FSAoE, Arans would be superior in every regard except being able to hit more than 10 monsters, which is rare to begin with, and mobility. And in the case of >10 monsters, Arans at least have Tempest while most characters can only hit 6 max.

Mikhail is just a piece of recycled trash.