Elden Ring Classes Explained

Elden Ring, the sprawling action RPG created by FromSoftware, plunges players into the hauntingly beautiful and relentlessly challenging realm of the Lands Between. One of your first and most important decisions when starting the game is choosing your starting class. You can alter your character’s stats later, but the starting class influences your early-game experience and the efficiency of your chosen build. 

Your starting class may influence your initial strategy, stats, equipment, and early-game experience, but the Elden Ring character base allows for tremendous flexibility in character development later on. 

This comprehensive guide breaks down all 10 starting classes, providing detailed information on their stats, playstyles, and potential builds. We’ll also explore each class’s strengths and weaknesses and optimal progression paths to help you make the most of your character. This guide will help you find the perfect class to match your preferred playstyle as you venture through the Lands Between.

Elden Ring Starting Classes at a Glance

When starting your adventure in this popular game, your class selection allows you to allocate skill points and equipment. Here are the 10 starting classes and a brief overview of their playstyle: 

• Hero: A Strength-focused warrior with axe proficiency and high Vigor, ideal for those who favor raw power
• Bandit: A Dexterity and Arcane specialist with a knife and small shield, perfect for critical hits and stealthy approaches
• Astrologer: A high-Intelligence spellcaster armed with a Short Sword and Glintstone sorceries, excelling at ranged combat
• Warrior: A nimble fighter with twin Scimitars and high Dexterity, specializing in quick strikes and mobility
• Prisoner: A Dexterity/Intelligence hybrid character with a magic staff and Estoc, balancing swordplay and sorcery
• Confessor: A Faith-based character with incantations and a Broadsword, mixing melee combat with supportive magic
• Prophet: A Faith-focused caster with Healing and Fire incantations, specializing in support and range combat
• Samurai: A balanced fighter with a Katana and Longbow, excelling at both melee and ranged precision attacks
• Wretch: A more challenging character that starts with minimal equipment and stats, offering maximum customization
• Vagabond: A heavily armored knight with high Vigor and Strength, providing excellent survivability for beginners

It’s important to note that your starting class doesn’t restrict your progression or lock you into a specific playstyle. As you play, solo or co-op, you’re free to develop your character in any direction as you level up. Classes simply offer different starting attributes and gear that can make the early-game RPG elements more accessible.

Hero

The Hero is a powerhouse designed for players who prefer to meet challenges head-on. With high Strength and Vigor, this class excels in melee combat, wielding heavy weapons and the ability to absorb significant amounts of damage. It’s a great choice for those who enjoy a straightforward, tank-like playstyle focusing on raw physical power.

Builds for this class often revolve around heavy armor and colossal weapons, making it a formidable force in close-quarters combat.

Recommended Build: 

• Weapon: Lordsworn’s Greatsword and Claymore
• Shield: None
• Armor: Banished Knight Set
• Primary stats: Endurance and Strength
• Secondary stats: Vigor and Mind
• Skills: Golden Vow and Determination
• Spells: None

Bandit

The Bandit is a nimble and cunning class specializing in stealth and critical hits. With high Arcane and Dexterity, it’s ideal for players who prefer a more evasive and opportunistic approach. This class is great with daggers and bows, focusing on quick strikes and exploiting enemy weaknesses. 

Builds often emphasize critical damage and status effects, making it a deadly class for those who master its finesse.

Recommended Build: 

• Weapon: Horn Bow, Misbegotten Shortbow, and Lazuli Glintstone Sword (x2)
• Shield: None
• Armor: Heaviest while still letting you med roll
• Primary stats: Strength and Vigor
• Secondary stats: Endurance and Intelligence
• Skills: Rain of Arrows and Mighty Shot
• Spells: None

Astrologer

The Astrologer is a master of sorcery, wielding powerful spells to vanquish foes from a distance. With high Intelligence and Mind, this class is perfect for players who prefer a magic-focused build. They thrive in ranged combat, using Glintstone spells to deal significant damage and control the battlefield. 

Builds typically revolve around maximizing Intelligence and Mind, allowing for a wide range of offensive and defensive spells.

Recommended Build: 

• Weapon: Meteorite Staff
• Shield: Any shield with a 100% physical bock
• Armor: Queen’s Crescent Crown and the heaviest possible armor that allows you to med roll
• Primary stats: Intelligence and Mind
• Secondary stats: Vigor and Dexterity
• Skills: Determination
• Spells: Glintstone Pebble, Glintstone Arc, Great Glintstone Shard, Loretta’s Greatbow, and Rock Sling

Warrior

The Warrior is a swift and agile class specializing in dual-wielding and rapid attacks. With high Dexterity and Endurance, it’s ideal for players who prefer a fast-paced, offensive playstyle. Warriors are best with curved swords and other dual-wieldable weapons, allowing for relentless barrages of attacks. 

Their builds focus on maximizing Dexterity and Endurance, enabling quick strikes and sustained combat.

Recommended Build: 

• Weapon: Golem’s Halberd
• Shield: N/A
• Armor: Any armor with 51 Poise or higher
• Talismans: Curved Sword Talisman, Claw Talisman, Axe Talisman, and Dragoncrest Greatshield Talisman
• Primary stats: Strength and Vigor
• Secondary stats: Endurance
• Skills: Royal Knight’s Resolve
• Spells: N/A

Prisoner

The Prisoner offers a unique blend of magic and melee, with balanced Intelligence and Dexterity. This class is perfect for players who want a versatile approach, combining sorcery with swift melee attacks. They excel with Rapiers and Glintstone spells, allowing for both close-quarters combat and ranged magic. 

Builds focus on balancing Intelligence and Dexterity, creating a hybrid playstyle.

Recommended Build: 

• Weapon: Albinauric Staff, Dragon Communion Seal, Staff of the Guilty, and Rogier’s Rapier
• Shield: None
• Armor: Alberich’s Set (for extra Thorn Sorcery damage)
• Talismans: Graven-Mass Talisman, Magic Scorpion Charm, Lord of Blood’s Exultation, and Taker’s Cameo
• Primary stats: Arcane and Vigor
• Secondary stats: Intelligence and Faith
• Skills: Seppuku
• Spells: Golden Vow, Blessing of the Erdtree, Terra Magica, Unseen Form, Briars of Punishment, and Briars of Sin

Confessor

The Confessor is a versatile class, blending Faith-based incantations with melee combat. With balanced Faith and Strength, it’s ideal for players who want a mix of healing, buffs, and offensive capabilities. This class is ideal with swords and sacred seals, allowing for both direct combat and supportive magic. 

Good builds maximize Faith and Strength, creating a well-rounded combatant.

Recommended Build: 

• Weapon: Antspur rapier, Uchigatana, Black Knife, and Dragon Communion Seal
• Alternate weapons: Any weapon that applies Bleed, Poison, or Scarlet Rot
• Armor: White Mask combined with anything that allows med or fast rolls 
• Spirit ash: Mimic Tear or Black Knife Tiche
• Primary stats: Faith and Arcane 
• Secondary stats: Dexterity
• Skills: Bloodhound’s Step or skills that apply Bleed or Poison faster
• Incantations: Black Flame Ritual, Poison Mist, Rotten Breath, Swarm of Flies, Scarlet Aeonia, and Black Flame
• Talismans: Kindred of Rot’s Exultation, Lord of Blood’s Exultation, and Marika’s Soreseal

Prophet

The Prophet is a Faith-focused class specializing in incantations and healing. With high Mind and Faith, this class is ideal for players who prefer a blend of offensive and supportive magic. It uses sacred seals to cast incantations, providing healing, buffs, and offensive spells. This class is excellent for those who want to support themselves and potentially co-op partners. 

Builds often maximize Faith and Mind, allowing for a wide array of powerful incantations. They start with the Heal and Beast Claw incantations.

Recommended Build: 

• Weapon: Miquellan Knight’s Sword and Clawmark Seal
• Shield: Haligtree Crest Greatshield
• Armor: Haligtree Knight Set and Greathelm
• Primary stats: Strength and Faith
• Secondary stats: Vigor and Endurance
• Skills: Sacred Blade
• Spells: Golden Vow, Flame, Grant Me Strength, Blessing of the Erdtree
• Talismans: Bull-Goat’s Talisman, Shard of Alexander, Curved Sword Talisman, and Sacred Scorpion Charm

Samurai

The Samurai is a versatile melee class excelling in both close-quarters combat and ranged attacks. With high Dexterity and Endurance, it’s ideal for players who prefer a balanced approach, combining swift Katana strikes with powerful Longbow shots. Its weapons allow for adaptability in various combat situations.

As a Samurai, you’ll likely focus on Vigor and Dexterity, creating a resilient and agile warrior. 

Recommended Build: 

• Weapon: Moonveil
• Shield: N/A
• Armor: Land of Reeds Set
• Primary stats: Intelligence and Vigor
• Secondary stats: Dexterity
• Skills: Transient Moonlight
• Spells: Loretta’s Greatbow, Glintstone Pebble, and Carian Greatsword

Wretch

The Wretch is a blank slate, starting with minimal equipment and balanced stats. This class is designed for experienced players who want a challenging start and complete freedom in their build. It requires a deep understanding of the game’s mechanics and a willingness to adapt. 

Builds can go in any direction, making it the most versatile but also the most difficult starting class.

Recommended Build: The Wretch class allows you to get creative with your builds, so experiment to see what works best for you.

Vagabond

The Vagabond is a resilient and reliable melee class with high Vigor and Strength. It’s ideal for players who prefer a sturdy and straightforward approach, focusing on absorbing damage and dealing heavy blows. This class is optimal with swords and shields, allowing for both offensive and defensive tactics. 

Builds should emphasize maximizing Vigor and Strength, creating a durable and powerful warrior.

Recommended Build: 

• Weapon: Claymore and Lordsworn’s Greatsword
• Shield: N/A
• Armor: Heaviest possible that allows you to med roll
• Primary stats: Endurance and Vigor
• Secondary stats: Strength and Dexterity
• Skills: Ash of War: Quickstep
• Spells: N/A

Things To Keep In Mind When Playing Elden Ring

Elden Ring is a game of open-world exploration and adaptation. Your starting class provides a foundation, but the true strength of your character comes from your choices throughout the rest of the game. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different weapons, spells, and armor as you continue to play and discover new adventures.

Your class choice influences your early game, but your long-term build is entirely in your hands. Remember, you can reallocate stats later in the game, so you’re never truly locked into a single build.

Consider the following as you progress through the game:

• Look up builds for your class: Utilizing online resources to research popular builds can provide valuable insights into optimal stat distributions and equipment choices, allowing you to maximize your class’s potential.
• Chase down unique weapons and armor: Elden Ring is filled with hidden treasures and powerful gear. Exploring every nook and cranny can yield exceptional items that drastically enhance your combat capabilities.
• Look for side quests: Many side quests offer valuable rewards, including rare items, powerful spells, and significant Rune gains, contributing to your character’s overall progression.
• Get familiar with how dungeon entrances look: Recognizing the visual cues for various dungeon types helps you efficiently navigate the Lands Between, ensuring you don’t miss out on valuable loot and encounters.

Immerse Yourself in Compelling Dark Fantasy Worlds

Elden Ring’s captivating dark fantasy world delivers an unforgettable adventure, emphasizing the importance of strategic character-building from the very beginning. Understanding the intricacies of each starting class empowers you to forge your path through the Lands Between. 

If you’re drawn to the depth and strategic gameplay of Elden Ring, consider exploring the rich worlds of even more RPGs. Dive into immersive experiences in various RPG games, where you can continue your journey into dark fantasy realms. Similar to Elden Ring, mastering your chosen class and build is key to success.

Elden Ring Classes FAQ

Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about Elden Ring classes:

What Is the Best Elden Ring Class for Beginners?

The Vagabond or Samurai are generally recommended for beginners due to their high Vigor and Strength/Dexterity, providing a sturdy foundation for learning the game’s mechanics. They also allow for more errors than classes with lower health.

Can I Change My Class Later in the Game?

No, you cannot change your starting class. However, you can respec your stats later in the game by using a Larval Tear, allowing you to completely change your build.

What’s the Best Class for a Magic User?

The Astrologer is the best starting class for a pure magic user, providing a strong foundation in Intelligence and Mind, the key attributes for casting potent sorceries. For those interested in a more faith-based approach, the Prophet offers a head start with high Faith and Mind, enabling the use of incantations that draw power from divine sources.