Starting classes in Elden Ring and other FromSoftware games work slightly differently than classes in other games. Rather than providing firm limits by shaping the character-building experience and playstyle for the rest of the game, as in many other RPGs, classes in Elden Ring determine the starting character's equipment and stats, nothing more.
Any Elden Ring build or play style can be used with any starting class. However, this starting choice still has a significant impact — particularly at the beginning of the game, when it provides most of the player's options. Although every class is viable, the open world and scattered loot make picking the best Elden Ring starting class for the player's build important.
Updated on January 26, 2024 by Kennedy King: With news about Elden Ring's long-awaited Shadow of the Erdtree DLC due to be announced any day, many fans are re-familiarizing themselves with the unforgiving nature of the Lands Between. As a result, this list has been updated to reflect the most up-to-date information about each starting class in the game.
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The month of April continues the trend of recent years delivering non-stop great games for fans of all genres.10 The Wretch Class Offers No Direction Or Guidance
"As poor, purposeless, and naked as the day it were born. A nice club is all they have." - Wretch Class Description
There is no questioning that the Wretch provides Elden Ring's most challenging experience by far, particularly in the early game. It continues the tradition of the "Deprived" class from Dark Souls by starting the player as a half-naked warrior with low (albeit balanced) stats and a nigh-useless club.
However, the Wretch class' weak start in Elden Ring comes with a payoff. As a Level 1 class with balanced stats, the Wretch can progress any way the player wants, with no wasted points spent on undesired skills. Their levels come cheap, and they are the most flexible class in the game, rewarding players skilled enough to survive Elden Ring's early game.
9 The Bandit Class Tries To Utilize Elden Ring's Stealth Mechanic
"A dangerous bandit who strikes for weak points. Excels at ranged combat with bows." - Bandit Class Description
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A major chunk of lore in Elden Ring comes from NPC dialogue – some of which is truly outstanding.Stealth is a new mechanic introduced into Elden Ring, taking its lead from FromSoftware's Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. Unlike in that game, where stealth is the most efficient way to deal with groups of enemies, it is merely one option in Elden Ring. That being said, using the stealth mechanic can be a powerful tactic.
The Bandit class is designed for stealth. They can wield a bow and arrow that deals with enemies from afar, and they possess a knife that excels against unsuspecting opponents. In the open world, the Bandit class is extremely useful. However, stealth is much less viable against bosses. Even with Bleed effect caused by the Bandit class' dagger, most of Elden Ring's stealth-oriented builds will struggle against difficult bosses until they get better equipment.
8 The Prophet Class Exclusively Uses Incantations
"A seer ostracized for inauspicious prophecies. Well-versed in healing incantations." - Prophet Class Description
Magic has received a boost in Elden Ring compared to prior Dark Souls titles, including the Incantations that appear throughout the Lands Between. Still, using spells of every kind eats away at the Tarnished's Focus Points, so Elden Ring players must conserve their Focus Points, particularly during the game's hardest boss fights.
The Prophet isn't a weak Elden Ring starting class by any means. In fact, its excellent starting Faith makes it one of the best pure spellcaster classes. However, it is fragile and lacks a powerful melee attack, and its starting equipment is weaker than many other classes. As such, some Elden Ring players may struggle with the Prophet until they get the hang of using their magic at the right time.
7 The Warrior Class Sports A High Skill Curve
"A twinblade-wielding warrior from a nomadic tribe. An origin of exceptional technique." - Warrior Class Description
Of all Elden Ring's melee starting classes, the Warrior class is the one most likely to trip up new players. Its initial dual scimitar weapons do low damage per hit. However, they can be dual-wielded with Elden Ring's powerstance mechanic. The result is a non-stop assault that can wear even the strongest Elden Ring enemies down.
Elden Ring's Warrior class can be highly lethal once a player has mastered their unusual weaponry and the timing inherent to Elden Ring's combat. Until then, players may struggle with relatively low damage and a lack of physical sturdiness compared to other melee classes. Nonetheless, the Warrior can be one of Elden Ring's more rewarding starts.
6 The Hero Class Benefits From Simplicity
"A stalwart Hero, at home with a battleaxe, descended from a Badlands chieftain." - Hero Class Description
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The Greatswords are some of the mightiest weapons the Tarnished can wield in Elden Ring, balancing speed and precision with raw damage output.The Hero is a relatively forgiving melee class in Elden Ring, ideal for new players or those who want additional sturdiness in the early game. The class has a clear preference for Strength over Dexterity. While it's not built for spellcasting, it is reasonably well-rounded as a melee character.
The Hero's high Strength, generous Vigor, and above-average Stamina are ideal for new Elden Ring players who want to strike their opponents down in a few hits to get the hang of the game. It's far from Elden Ring's best or most remarkable class, but it will reward players who simply want to take and deal damage.
5 The Confessor Class Eases Players Into Elden Ring's Spell Casting
"A church spy adept at covert operations. Equally adept with a sword as they are at incantations." - Confessor Class Description
As the description implies, Elden Ring's Confessor class is designed with some level of stealth in mind. However, it also fulfills a secondary function as a hybrid class that blends Faith casting and melee combat. Players that choose this class start with high Faith and a few Incantations. To make matters even better, it's far less fragile than Elden Ring's Prophet class, granting them reasonable Vigor and a starting shield.
Unfortunately, the Confessor is not as good a melee combatant as many other Elden Ring classes. It's also not as good as the Prophet at casting Incantations. That said, this class occupies a comfortable middle ground that can help players learn Elden Ring's casting system without forcing them to commit wholly to it.
4 The Prisoner Class Offers Unique Duality
"A prisoner bound in an iron mask. Studied in glintstone sorcery, having lived among the elite prior to sentencing." - Prisoner Class Description
Sorcery magic — which scales using Intelligence — is one of the most effective play styles in Elden Ring. Sorceries deal high damage with generous casting costs and have the added benefit of being cast at range. Elden Ring's Prisoner class is one of two classes that starts with sorceries, although it isn't a pure spellcaster like the Astrologer.
The Prisoner is another hybrid class in Elden Ring, nudging the player towards Dexterity-based melee weaponry while also giving them the stats to be an effective caster. In addition, it also starts the game with the Magic Glintblade Sorcery, a moderately high damage projectile spell that gives the Prisoner more options as they continue their journey.
3 The Vagabond Class Is A Classic Knight Build
"A knight exiled from their homeland to wander. A solid, armor-clad origin." - Vagabond Class Description
Although there are several melee classes in Elden Ring, the Vagabond class stands out by sheer virtue of their ability to tank through damage. The Vagabond boasts high Vigor and armor that can't be found until the end of the game. As a result, it's Elden Ring's best starting class for those who want some tankiness while still being able to pack a punch.
The Elden Ring Vagabond is almost perfectly split between Strength and Dexterity, which is why it's proven to be a favorite for several significantly different builds. It also begins with the balanced Longsword, meaning that players can build either way — or even both. The Vagabond is one of the best Elden Ring classes for new players because it doesn't force them to commit, and it is forgiving of mistakes.
2 The Samurai Class' Versatility Separates It From Other Melee-Based Classes
"A capable fighter from the distant Land of Reeds. Handy with katana and longbows." - Samurai Class Description
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FromSoftware's Elden Ring is home to some of the most challenging bosses the Soulsborne genre has ever seen.The Samurai class in Elden Ring is one of several built around Dexterity. However, its design is less focused on stealth than others, instead building around high damage and a versatile approach to combat. Its best piece of starting gear is the Uchigatana, which is a long-bladed katana that strikes fast, hits hard, and deals the Bleed status effect. Bleed builds up with multiple strikes on a target until it triggers and takes a chunk of their health bar.
The Samurai's starting weapon in Elden Ring can get the player through the entire game. The Uchigatana is more than capable of cutting through bosses and open-world enemies alike, so it's a fantastic weapon to begin the game with. This, as well as the Samurai class' reasonable armor and longbow, help cement it as one of the best starting classes in Elden Ring.
1 The Astrologer Class Harnesses The Power Of The Stars
"A scholar who reads fate in the stars. Heir to the school of glintstone sorcery." - Astrologer Class Description
Sorceries are extremely powerful in the Lands Between, so Elden Ring's most Sorcery-focused class naturally slots in as its strongest. The Astrologer Class begins with several powerful and practical Sorceries. Glintstone Pebble and Glintstone Arc may not be flashy, but they're ideal for helping a player slay enemies and master the magic system.
As the player progresses through Elden Ring, the Astrologer acquires more and more powerful Sorceries that can make even the game's harder bosses incredibly manageable. The Astrologer has the tools they need from the beginning of the game through to the very end, making it the best class in all of Elden Ring.
Elden Ring
Once ruled by the immortal Queen Marika, keeper of the Elden Ring, the Lands Between are now divided between several demigods. As the battling demigods fought over the ring, they created the Shattering, granting each of them a shard. As the Tarnished, it is up to the player to confront these demigods, collect their Great Rune pieces, repair the Elden Ring and become the Elden Lord.
- Platform(s)
- PC , PS5 , PS4 , Xbox One , Xbox Series X/S
- Developer(s)
- FromSoftware
- Publisher(s)
- Bandai Namco Entertainment
- ESRB
- M