1st: Fallen Champion: I didn't have time to give this one a proper review, but I probably wouldn't have had much to add if I had. It also carries its own style distinct from either source class, which I found intriguing.
2nd: Enlightened Martial Artist: The unique subclass mechanic is what sells it for me; the idea that you can build multiple specializations is really cool and unique. It also has a clear identity while retaining ties to its source classes.
3rd: Duskblade: Like the previous two you gave it its own identity which is a big step in a contest like this. Despite that it borrowed a lot of mechanics (especially in its subclasses) when I would like to see more unique features. Still, a solid class especially coming from 3.5 for the first time.
Spoiler: Remaining classes
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4th: Occultist: I really enjoy the flavor and features of this class, but I think that their limited access to spells was weaker than it needed to be. The only thing holding them up after their Ambition slot and Channel Occult is Warding Prep, and even that is taxed by a couple of other features (like turning non-rituals into rituals or regaining Channel), so its charges will disappear pretty quick. This is the only remaining class that I will give an actual rank to, because it was almost in my top three.
Other classes and my very brief feedback in order of submission
I am hard pressed to put these in a specific order; overall they all have good parts and bad parts.
Herald of Ragnarok: The Herald also has a unique design, but my concern with it is that its flavor is almost overly narrow. While I love the Norse thematics and the features do reflect those, the class is restricted to using one of a handful of relatively poor weapon choices (the spear isn't even martial). It's very cool, but a less restrictive warrior-priest design would work better as a Base Class (I miss prestige classes if only for this reason).
Feral: Its identity is clear, but its features are a little everywhere. For example, getting astral projection makes sense for monks because they're attuned with inner self and that's a power commonly associated with mysticism. The Feral gets plane shift seemingly just because its monk root class got an extraplanar ability. Sight Beyond Sight is an example of the opposite, making perfect sense for the class (someone raised by a constantly dangerous environment would be preternaturally alert, and this reflects that). More of its features reflecting the class's identity instead of being there because Monk/Ranger got it would have been cooler.
Duskblade: Duskblade has a unique identity in its flavor and most of its core class features, but it falls into two traps that hold it back. First, most of new its features are limited to improving Stealth and Perception, which invalidates the primary form of player choice in 5e class design (well, that and spellcasting). Second, about half of its subclass features are simple clones of other classes. While a handful of features in 5e are shared (Extra Attack, Evasion and Unarmored Defense the primary ones), most classes and almost every subclass have their own unique spin on things. It would rank a lot higher if it was more flexible about player choice and got some new innovations in those features.
Knight Enchanter: It's cool and feels like its own thing, but the enchanting mechanics are a little outside the 5e paradigm and after hearing your intent for their function from feedback I worry that they permanent ones might be too powerful while simultaneously the active ones are too weak. The Magical Techniques mechanic also feels a little disconnected from the rest of the class.
Masquerade: It feels incomplete (at least two sentences end halfway through) and the mask mechanics are just long enough that I could fill in the gaps, but I'd rather the gaps be covered. It also only has two features of its own (three if you count the stealing of other classes' features). Something with a little bit more oomph to it would have been nice (imagine if instead of just cloning features at X level each class had one or more masks themed after it that almost, but not quite captured a feature. I would really like to see a version of this that's got more on its own side of things.
Theme: I'd like to revisit Monster Mash myself. Maybe try Mind Flayers.
Re: D&D 5e Base Class Contest XII Voting Thread
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