Elden Ring has ten different classes players can choose from, each with different stats, starting equipment, and magic spells if applicable, which can make it hard for newer players to decide which to start with. The spells come from one of Elden Ring's two magic systems, Glintstone Sorceries or Incantations, making it a fairly tough choice without knowing what everything does. Some of the classes have esoteric names too, making it difficult to determine what their function is supposed to be in Elden Ring’s vast open world. Approaches to combat are different for classes too, so it’s important to know how each of them functions.
Veteran players of FromSoftware’s previous games, particularly the Dark Souls series, may be familiar with some of the class archetypes in the game. It may not be a direct sequel, but it is certainly a spiritual successor in many important respects. From character designs, to approaches to combat and how items work, it may all look familiar. Elden Ring is like Dark Souls and its sequels in any number of ways.
Picking a class doesn’t limit the player. Even the best melee classes can still use magic if players so choose. Classes operate more as a guideline for the approach a player may take to the game. For example, if they find a cool Dexterity-based weapon but they have a Strength build, they can still put points into Dexterity to use it. It might take them a little while to become as powerful with it for a class that begins with high Dexterity, but it can still be done with a little bit of patience. Considering how long the game is and how much there is to explore, it might be worth it rather than creating a whole new character. It’s worth noting here that the classes that appear in the full game are different from the Elden Ring network test's characters that players became familiar with. Those looking forward to playing an Enchanted Knight will have to pick another class, as it doesn’t exist in this version, though it will likely still be possible to get the same gear later in the game.
Elden Ring's Class List Has Something For Everyone
- Warrior: An Elden Ring Warrior has strong stats all around, with its highest being Dexterity and its lowest being Intelligence, Faith, and Arcane. As its name implies, it doesn’t begin the game using magic, though players can opt to use it later if they so choose. The Warrior begins the game wielding two scimitars, so they can attack quickly but are less good at defense. Sometimes the best defense is a good offense, though, and they do have decent armor.
- Vagabond: Another good class for those new to Elden Ring. The Vagabond begins with the highest Vigor of any of the classes, meaning it has a lot of health - great for surviving Elden Ring's poison swamps, for instance. Combine it with good armor, and this class is one of the best tank classes in the game. Players can take a few hits and still be standing. They are great at defense, but they also have high Strength and Dexterity, meaning they can still dish out melee damage with the starter longsword, or another weapon of the player’s choice.
- Hero: Players who choose Hero as their starting class begin with high Strength, Endurance, and Vigor. The class begins the game with a shield and an axe. It also has the second-highest Arcane stat of all the classes, which helps in item discovery, meaning that players who choose this class will potentially stumble upon more and better items. It is similar in design to the Elden Ring network tests' Champion starting class.
- Bandit: This class has the highest Arcane stat of Elden Ring's classes, which means the Bandit should find the best loot. They don’t have any other stand-out stats, but players will likely favor Dexterity, so look for weapons that scale with the Dexterity stat.
- Samurai: Samurai have high dexterity, meaning they will make good use of the katana and bow they begin Elden Ring with. When players approach combat, they can try to pick off some enemies with the bow before closing in for the kill. They have powerful armor too, in addition to high Vigor and Endurance, meaning they will last in a fight. In many ways, they are like the Vagabond but start with higher Dexterity instead of Strength. Elden Ring's Samurai and Confessor classes were revealed as the final of the game's ten classes ahead of its launch.
- Astrologer: Fighting enemies with an assortment of melee weapons is not the only way to play Elden Ring. This is a powerful magic class. Intelligence is its highest stat and is in fact the highest out of all the classes, with only the Prisoner coming close. Their Mind stat is also very high, meaning they have plenty of FP to cast their Sorceries. That is how the class is designed to be played, with players taking enemies out at range with a dazzling array of magic. If they get into close combat they might be in trouble, however, as their other stats are lackluster, and their starting gear isn’t designed for close combat.
- Prophet: For those who have played Dark Souls, Pyromancies and Miracles are combined into Incantations for Elden Ring. The Prophet uses Incantations quite frequently. This class is similar to the Astrologer, except it uses a different magic system. Its strongest stat is in Faith. They also dislike getting into close combat unless specifically geared for it.
- Confessor: Like the Prophet, Confessors have high Faith. They are also equally good with Strength or Dexterity weapons, so players can easily choose whichever type of weapon is more exciting for them. This makes Confessors a magic/melee hybrid class in Elden Ring. It’s also worth noting that they start at level 10, the highest level of all the classes.
- Prisoner: The Prisoner starts with some very fashionable headgear, which can be seen in the featured image at the top of this article (they probably didn’t choose it themselves). If amazingly meme-worthy Elden Ring helmet is not a good enough reason to choose the class, its highest stats are Intelligence and Dexterity. The other stats are decently high too, excluding Faith. This class is another great hybrid of magic and melee like the Confessor. Players can cast Sorceries at range, then close in using melee attacks. However, they might have trouble judging distance because of the helmet.
- Wretch: This class is not for beginners. It starts out at level 1 with all stats even, no armor, and only a club for a weapon. This is the equivalent to the Deprived in Dark Souls or the Waste of Skin from Bloodborne. It is meant to be a challenge for veteran players, and also a blank slate for those that want to allot every single stat point manually. Since it has average stats and no equipment, it’s great for players who want a challenge, or to build a character the way they want. Otherwise, it’s better to pick another of Elden Ring's many classes.
What Is Elden Ring's Best Starting Class
Ultimately, the general consensus seems to be that Vagabond makes the best class for most players. This is especially true for newcomers or those unfamiliar with Soulslike games since it comes with so much health. While it may end up coming down to a player's preferences, there's a good chance the Vagabond class in Elden Ring will be the right choice for most people.