Like most modern RPGs, FromSoftware’s Elden Ring offers a handful of different classes for players to choose from. This choice has a significant impact on the early-game experience, and can mean the difference between a manageable playthrough and a frustrating one.
Elden Ring may have a robust character creator, but looks won’t matter much if your character can’t survive in the Lands Between. In this Elden Ring class guide, we’ll cover all you need to know about the game’s starting roles. Use this resource to kickstart your journey and find a play style that fits your needs.
There are 10 starting classes in Elden Ring. To jump to a specific class, click the link below:
Vagabond
Stats:
- Vigor: 15
- Mind: 10
- Endurance: 11
- Strength: 14
- Dexterity: 13
- Intelligence: 9
- Faith: 9
- Arcane: 7
- Total points: 88
The Vagabond is your stereotypical “balanced” RPG class. Vagabonds can do anything and everything, but don’t particularly excel at a specific thing. If it’s your first time playing Elden Ring, we recommend playing as a Vagabond; it allows for a (relatively) forgiving early-game experience, as the balanced stats can help you figure out things as you go.
Unfortunately, as Vagabond is more of a melee-oriented class, don’t expect attributes that lean toward magical spells like Intelligence, Faith, and Arcane.
Vagabonds start out with a shield, longsword, halberd, and subpar armor set.
Warrior
Stats:
- Vigor: 11
- Mind: 12
- Endurance: 11
- Strength: 10
- Dexterity: 16
- Intelligence: 10
- Faith: 8
- Arcane: 9
- Total points: 87
If you believe that “offense is the best defense,” then the Warrior class is the best for you. With stats allocated heavily in Dexterity, a Warrior can take down enemies fast and easily in the right hands. However, this comes at the cost of lower vigor (i.e., health).
In other words, you’ll have to build up your defense by leveling up, or by acquiring gear. But, hey, who are we kidding? It doesn’t matter if your opponents hit hard if you can take them down first, which you can do with a Warrior in Elden Ring.
Warriors start with a wooden shield and two scimitar swords.
Hero
Stats:
- Vigor: 14
- Mind: 9
- Endurance: 12
- Strength: 16
- Dexterity: 9
- Intelligence: 7
- Faith: 8
- Arcane: 11
- Total points: 86
If you’re looking to swing big swords and soak up a lot of damage, you can’t go wrong with the Hero class in Elden Ring.
Whereas the Warrior focuses on lighter, nimble weapons, the Hero prioritizes heavy ones. You begin the game with a whopping 16 in Strength, letting you equip axes, swords, and other powerful weapons with ease. With heavy points in Vigor and Endurance, you’ll also have some hefty health and stamina to boot.
If you crave a traditional sword and shield build, then the Hero class certainly lives up to its name.
The Hero class in Elden Ring starts with a large shield and a battle-axe.
Bandit
Stats:
- Vigor: 10
- Mind: 11
- Endurance: 10
- Strength: 9
- Dexterity: 13
- Intelligence: 9
- Faith: 8
- Arcane: 14
- Total points: 84
Of all the classes in Elden Ring, the Bandit is one of the most challenging to step into. It has the second-lowest starting stats in the game, just a bit above the Wretch class. While this gives players more room to shape their character, the first few hours of Elden Ring will be particularly brutal, as all the Bandit has going for it is high Dexterity and Arcane.
If you’re sneaky enough or you’re really great at parrying hits, the Bandit can be a fun choice.
The Bandit starts off with a short bow and arrows, as well as a knife and a small buckler shield.
Astrologer
Stats:
- Vigor: 9
- Mind: 15
- Endurance: 9
- Strength: 8
- Dexterity: 12
- Intelligence: 16
- Faith: 7
- Arcane: 9
- Total points: 85
The Astrologer is Elden Ring’s version of a wizard. This is the best starting class for spellcasters and summoners as they start with an absurdly high Mind stat. This grants a higher number of Focus Points (i.e., magic points), which you’ll need when summoning spirit allies using the Spirit Calling Bell.
Considering how summoning spirits is a feature unique to Elden Ring, the Astrologer should appeal even to hardcore Soulsborne veterans.
The Astrologer starts Elden Ring equipped with a staff, small shield, and a short sword, as well as two offensive spells: Glintstone Pebble and Glintstone Arc.
Prophet
Stats:
- Vigor: 10
- Mind: 14
- Endurance: 8
- Strength: 11
- Dexterity: 10
- Intelligence: 7
- Faith: 16
- Arcane: 10
- Total points: 86
The Prophet class in Elden Ring also starts with a relatively high Mind stat, but the class is more geared toward Incantations than spells and spirits. While the Prophet can’t summon as well as the Astrologer, they have higher Vigor and Strength to compensate.
The main advantage of playing as a Prophet in Elden Ring is that a lot of the Incantations in the game are great for healing allies and setting things on fire, which is perfect for co-op gameplay. If you’re playing Elden Ring on Xbox One or Series X/S, you can get Xbox Live Gold for co-op access at OffGamers right here.
At the start, the Prophet has a spear and a shield as well as two spells: Catch Flame and Heal.
Samurai
Stats:
- Vigor: 12
- Mind: 11
- Endurance: 13
- Strength: 12
- Dexterity: 15
- Intelligence: 9
- Faith: 8
- Arcane: 8
- Total points: 88
The Samurai is easily the most popular pick in Elden Ring among beginners. The Samurai is pretty versatile, capable of fighting in close range with the option to fight from afar as well. Plus, they look cool.
If you pick the Samurai, you’ll start Elden Ring with a katana, longbow, offhand shield, and some fire arrows.
Prisoner
Stats
- Vigor: 11
- Mind: 12
- Endurance: 11
- Strength: 8
- Dexterity: 14
- Intelligence: 14
- Faith: 6
- Arcane: 9
- Total points: 85
If you can’t decide between playing as an Astrologer or as a Warrior in Elden Ring, you might want to give the Prisoner a look. The Prisoner can do a little bit of both spellcasting and stealth, as well as melee combat. Not to mention, the Prisoner can wear better armor compared to the Astrologer class.
If you’re confident enough, you can start playing as a Prisoner with a sword, staff, shield, and a single spell: Magic Glintblade.
Confessor
Stats:
- Vigor: 10
- Mind: 13
- Endurance: 10
- Strength: 12
- Dexterity: 12
- Intelligence: 9
- Faith: 14
- Arcane: 9
- Total points: 89
If the Prisoner is the more defense-oriented Astrologer-Warrior hybrid, the Confessor is the more offense-based version. This class has relatively high Faith, Dexterity, and Strength stats, making them decent battlemages that can literally sneak up on enemies and take them down in one hit.
The Confessor starts Elden Ring with a broadsword and a shield, the Urgent Heal and Assassin’s Approach Incantations, and the Finger Seal.
Wretch
Stats:
- Vigor: 10
- Mind: 10
- Endurance: 10
- Strength: 10
- Dexterity: 10
- Intelligence: 10
- Faith: 10
- Arcane: 10
- Total points: 80
The Wretch is the absolute worst class in Elden Ring for beginners. It has no specialties, and starts the game with no more than a simple club. The only advantage is that you can build the Wretch however you’d like, which is perfect if you know exactly what you’re looking for. (Most people don’t.)
Due to the unforgiving nature of the Wretch class, we recommend it only for Soulsborne veterans who A) want some versatility, or B) are looking for a challenge.
What Do the Stats in Elden Ring Mean?
Your starting class’ stats will determine the kind of gear and spells you can use at the beginning of Elden Ring. Eventually, you can start to specialize in one particular area, or spread out your stats to be a jack of all trades, depending on your preference.
Regardless of your choice, it’s important to know what each of the stats in Elden Ring do. Here’s a quick breakdown:
- Vigor: Increases your health
- Mind: Increases your Focus Points, which are used to cast spells
- Endurance: Increases your stamina and equipment load
- Strength: Used to equip heavy weapons, such as axes and swords; the higher your strength, the more damage you deal
- Dexterity: Used to equip light weapons, such as daggers and rapiers; as with strength, it scales the damage of these weapons
- Intelligence: Grants access to Glintstone sorcery spells; requires a staff
- Faith: Grants access to elemental-based spells; requires a seal
- Arcane: Required for certain spells; also increases the odds of looting items from enemies you defeat
What Is the Best Elden Ring Class for Beginners?
The great thing about Elden Ring is that you can make any class work for your play style; it just depends on how long you’re willing to keep at it.
For seasoned veterans, we recommend the Wretch class, as you can mold the class however you want. On the other hand, if you’re new to Soulsborne games, we recommend either the Vagabond, Astrologer, Hero, or Samurai class. These classes are relatively forgiving at the start of Elden Ring, and scale well as you progress through the Lands Between.
No matter which class you choose, however, you’re in for a treat. Go forth with confidence, tarnished.
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