Elden Ring is a class-based open-world RPG that allows players to choose a starting class that best suits their playstyle. You can choose to be a brave dual sword-wielding Warrior, a divine miracle performing Prophet, a sly but stealthy Bandit, or anything else you prefer.
All these classes have different appearances and stats that can tremendously affect the gameplay, so selecting the perfect starting class is crucial in Elden Ring. Considering that you already know the details of each attribute/stat, let’s take a look at all the classes.
There are ten (10) starting classes in Elden Ring:
S. No. | Class | Level | Starting Weapon/Spells | Starting Armor |
1 | Warrior | 8 | Scimitar x2, Small Leather Shield | Medium |
2 | Vagabond | 9 | Longsword, Halberd, Heater Shield | Heavy |
3 | Hero | 7 | Battle Axe, Leather Shield | Light |
4 | Bandit | 5 | Knife, Shortbow, Buckler | Light |
5 | Samurai | 9 | Uchigatana, Long Bow, Red Thorn Roundshield | Medium |
6 | Astrologer | 6 | Astrologer’s Staff, Short Sword, Small Shield, Glintstone Pebble, Glintstone Arc | Light |
7 | Prophet | 7 | Finger Seal, Spear, Heal, Oh, Flame! | Light |
8 | Confessor | 10 | Finger Seal, Broadsword, Kite Shield, Urgent Heal, Assassin’s Approach | Light |
9 | Prisoner | 9 | Estoc, Catalyst Staff, Iron Roundshield, Magic Glintblade | Light |
10 | Wretch | 1 | Club | None |
1 Warrior
Warrior is the best starting class for fast-paced melee combat in Elden Ring.
A warrior wields two swords simultaneously. It has high dexterity that allows him to use advanced dexterity weapons. The decent amount of mind makes him suitable for lesser focus point-based attacks as well. Unfortunately, its vigor stat is on the lower side, which means a warrior is ideal for doing heavy damage at a fast speed, but it cannot take much damage in return.
Vigor | Mind | Endurance | Strength | Dexterity | Intelligence | Faith | Arcane |
11 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 16 | 10 | 8 | 9 |
2 Vagabond
Vagabond is the best tank class in Elden Ring.
It has the highest vigor out of any class in the game, and it starts off with heavy armor, so the players can still manage to stand after taking a few heavy hits, which is incredibly impressive in a challenging game like Elden Ring.
With its decent dexterity and strength stats, players can master almost all the melee-type weapons in the game and do considerable damage to all the mobs. Unfortunately, a Vagabond lacks good mind and faith skills, so it is not a reliable class if you want to use magic constantly.
Vigor | Mind | Endurance | Strength | Dexterity | Intelligence | Faith | Arcane |
15 | 10 | 11 | 14 | 13 | 9 | 9 | 7 |
3 Hero
Hero is the best strength-based starting class in Elden Ring.
It has high strength, vigor, and endurance, just like the Vagabond, but it is less tanky because of its light armor. On a positive note, it can do way more damage than the Vagabond using its battle-ax.
Still, the Hero does not start with a ranged weapon, so initially, you have to take all the fight head-on. It is also not suitable for using magic efficiently.
Vigor | Mind | Endurance | Strength | Dexterity | Intelligence | Faith | Arcane |
14 | 9 | 12 | 16 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 11 |
4 Bandit
Bandit is the best stealth-based starting class in Elden Ring.
Overall, the Bandit class is weak physically, but it can easily parry against enemies using the Buckler shield. It has decent arcane and dexterity stat that can help you find better loot than any other class in the game, and it also favors the weapons that scale with dexterity. This class comes with a Shortbow for ranged attacks, so it is an ideal class to farm loots from distant enemies.
Vigor | Mind | Endurance | Strength | Dexterity | Intelligence | Faith | Arcane |
10 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 13 | 9 | 8 | 14 |
5 Samurai
Samurai is the best dexterity-focused starting class in Elden Ring.
If you do not prefer a slow and sneaky playstyle of the dexterity-based Bandit class, then you can go for the Samurai, as it has higher dexterity, vigor, and stamina than the Bandit. Samurai’s Uchigatana and Long Bow are effective Dexterity weapons, but this class is not adequate for magic attacks at an early stage.
Vigor | Mind | Endurance | Strength | Dexterity | Intelligence | Faith | Arcane |
12 | 11 | 13 | 12 | 15 | 9 | 8 | 8 |
6 Astrologer
The Astrologer is the best starting class for decent magic and light melee attacks in Elden Ring.
It has high intelligence, mind, and dexterity that allows players to do severe magical damage while striking the enemy with a short sword at a closer range simultaneously. Unfortunately, it has the least health among all the other classes, so it can’t take much damage, making any close-range combat seriously challenging.
Vigor | Mind | Endurance | Strength | Dexterity | Intelligence | Faith | Arcane |
9 | 15 | 9 | 8 | 12 | 16 | 7 | 9 |
7 Prophet
The Prophet is the best magic casting faith-based starting class in Elden Ring.
Just like the Astrologer, it has a high mind stat and light armor, but it has more faith rather than intelligence. As a Prophet, you can cast devastating fire spells and heal yourself using healing spells. A Prophet can also use various incantation spells found or bought throughout the game’s map. If you love to play as a mage, then Prophet is the best class for you but remember to stay away from any close combat as it has low vigor/HP.
Vigor | Mind | Endurance | Strength | Dexterity | Intelligence | Faith | Arcane |
10 | 14 | 8 | 11 | 10 | 7 | 16 | 10 |
8 Confessor
The Confessor is the best hybrid magic and melee class in Elden Ring.
This class is extremely similar to the Prophet, but it has more strength and dexterity that can prove helpful even in close-ranged combats. The only negative aspect of it is that it does not come with a starting loadout as good as the Prophet.
Vigor | Mind | Endurance | Strength | Dexterity | Intelligence | Faith | Arcane |
10 | 13 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 9 | 14 | 9 |
9 Prisoner
The Prisoner is a decent hybrid class with equal dexterity and intelligence for fast-paced magic and melee attacks in Elden Ring.
As a prisoner, you can do quick melee and magic attacks simultaneously. So, if you are looking for a perfect balance between these two playstyles, then the Prisoner is the best choice for you.
Vigor | Mind | Endurance | Strength | Dexterity | Intelligence | Faith | Arcane |
11 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 14 | 14 | 6 | 9 |
10 Wretch
The Wretch is the most versatile and challenging starting class in Elden Ring.
It starts at level 1 with no armor or weapon and a flat 10 for all the stats. This class is created as a challenge for the veteran players of the Elden Ring, and so you should definitely not play as the Wretch if you do not plan on going through hell on earth.
Vigor | Mind | Endurance | Strength | Dexterity | Intelligence | Faith | Arcane |
10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 |
About Elden Ring
Elden Ring is the next major title to be released by FromSoftware, the developers of Demon’s Souls, Bloodborne and the Dark Souls franchise. Elden Ring is set to release on the February 25th, 2022.
The game is set in a world known as The Lands Between. Players will take control of a Tarnished to explore these lands and uncover the secrets it holds. The game is an open-world style title with emphasis on combat and traversal. There is also a multiplayer component, along players to summon others for co-operative play, or to be invaded for PvP encounters.
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