Elden Ring presents a relentlessly grueling challenge for players new to the Soulslike genre. In fact, even those well-versed in FromSoftware's infamously vexing releases have found the studio's latest to be little short of mammoth in scope and daunting in its design. Elden Ring's severe learning curve provides a stern test for even the hardiest of virtual warriors.
Picking the right class from the game's outset is the first step in standing any chance of survival in the brutal expanses of the Lands Between, but truly understanding one's class and how to play to its strengths is another thing entirely. With 10 classes to choose from, the Hero stands out as an aggressive melee pick capable of dealing huge damage and soaking up significant punishment, boasting high Endurance and Strength stats that are integral to a relentless, aggressive playstyle. There are certainly better choices for beginners, but for those who know what they want out of their Soulslike experience, the Hero is a great choice for doling out devastating damage.
Elden Ring's Hero Attributes And Stats
Rather than being a well-balanced build, the Hero prioritizes three main stat categories. The first is Strength at 16, which dictates a character's attack power and is needed to equip certain weapons and heavy armor. A Vigor stat at 14 entails the Hero's maximum HP and certain resistances. Finally, Endurance at 12 governs stamina and robustness. Combining these three main attributes together gives the Hero a stat breakdown most conducive to an aggressive melee playstyle backed by a decent capacity to soak up incoming assaults.
Where the Hero struggles is in its capacity to accommodate other playstyles. With a starting Mind level of 9 and only 8 Faith, the Hero isn't well-equipped for casting incantations or attacks requiring many Focus Points. A starting Arcane level of 11, however, is somewhat conducive to allowing for item discovery and granting some resistance to spells. However, a very low level of Intelligence at 7, the stat required to cast Glintstone spells and use magic-scaling weapons, means that a magic-focused build is likely to be out of the question.
Elden Ring's Hero Starting Gear
The Hero starts off with a Battle Axe, capable of performing aggressive and deadly charged attacks. They are also equipped with a Large Leather Shield, which is actually a medium-sized defensive weapon that can reduce damage but will need to be upgraded to a metal shield as soon as possible. The Hero also comes fully garbed in Hero Armor, which provides decent protection for the earlier portion of a player's quest, but again, players should seek out a finer set as the game continues.
Weapons and armor aside, the class offers the standard-issue Memory of Grace, the talisman that allows players to interact with one another via multiplayer. Heroes are also granted a keepsake of the player's choice, and with a class that will inevitably spend a lot of time dealing and trading damage, the Golden Seed's ability to provide extra use of the Sacred Flask could be a shrewd option. The Boiled Prawn, which boosts physical damage resistance, is also a good call for players in the early game.
How To Play Elden Ring As The Hero
The Hero is an outwardly aggressive class designed for utilizing charged melee attacks followed up by continuously pressured assaults. Players should expect to employ an assertive playstyle and inevitably trade some damage as a result. Getting up close and personal with lethal enemies plays to the Hero's Strength and Endurance to maximum effect.
The Hero's biggest advantage is its utilization of charged attacks. Providing one has sufficient stamina, it's best to charge hard with a heavy weapon such as an axe or a zweihander, staggering enemies so that they are vulnerable to follow-up strikes. Skills such as the War Cry can be used to give players an attack boost of 4-5% for 20 seconds in order to pummel enemies into submission before they are able to respond.
Playing as the Hero won't suit everyone, especially relative novices. Trading damage at close range is still a tough way to go about conquering the Lands Between and can be an immensely risky strategy if performed incorrectly. This rings especially true considering the fact that the class's limited ranged or magical options mean that there are few chances for respite against tougher enemies. Those confident in melee scraps should certainly feel comfortable, but novices would do best to steer away from the Hero.
Recommended Elden Ring Hero Build
Being an aggressive melee class makes the Hero relatively easy to build. Sorcery-focused skills can be largely ignored, but bear in mind that at least some Intelligence is required to wield certain weapons. Dexterity is also required to wield some advanced weapons, so players need to ensure that they boost this to at least 11 early in the game. Once Dexterity is in place, players should concentrate on building Vigor, Endurance and Strength relatively concurrently in order to accommodate a build capable of dealing massive damage while soaking up the punishment that comes with this type of warrior.
Items and weapons are also important considerations for a Hero. The Green Turtle is great for ensuring that stamina rejuvenates sufficiently to allow for dodging and evasion, while the Axe Talisman, found in a cellar under the Mistwood Ruins, is the logical choice for further enhancing charged attacks. Those talismans capable of protection or HP regeneration, such as the Crucible Scale, the Crimson Amber or the Blessed Dew are also worth considering. Ashes of War enhancements complement the Hero's pressure playstyle. War Cry is essential for boosting overall attacks, while Wild Strikes is a great choice that allows the player to swing their weapon continuously without consuming stamina.