Elden Ring Classes: Which One Should You Pick?

Elden Ring has 10 starting classes, and each offers its own unique pros and cons. But which one should you pick? In this guide, we break down every starting class in the new From Software title so you can choose the one that's right for you.

The first and most important decision you’re going to make at the beginning of Elden Ring is choosing your starting class. Though you can certainly build your character into whatever you want them to be, the 10 starting classes provide you with upfront boosts to specific stats that benefit particular playstyles. In addition, you’ll start off with gear and potentially spells that match said playstyle.

In this video guide, we walk through each of Elden Ring's starting classes and discuss the benefits of each in the early game. From the Hero class, which is a good melee-focused all-rounder, to the Confessor, a hybrid class that has a lot of points in strength, dexterity, and faith, meaning you can cast incantations without sacrificing melee capabilities. Or, if you truly love pain (and building your character from scratch), you could pick the Wretch, the Elden Ring equivalent of Dark Souls' Deprived class.

#EldenRing

[swingandamiss]

Dont care about the stats it’s all about the drip if I don’t look styling on these demons what’s the point?

[reed]

Although I love how bloodborne and sekiro encouraged faster playstyles... I might just carry the biggest sword humanly possible and pretend I'm guts from berserk.

[GreggyAck]

For anyone wondering what incantations are:

Incantations are a type of Magic in Elden Ring. Incantation Spells are often dependent on the Faith stat, and have a variety of effects from healing and curing status effects to conjuring fire or claws to deal damage in a wide area. Incantations are cast using a Sacred Seal or similar catalyst. Incantations in Elden Ring are a combination of what would be Miracles and Pyromancies from past Souls games. You will find familiar favorites, as well as new ones.

- copied from Elden Ring wiki

[shantyguy]

0:12 - Hero
0:50 - Bandit
1:32 - Vagabond
2:20 - Astrologer
3:06 - Warrior
3:44 - Prisoner
4:25 - Confessor
5:04 - Prophet
5:49 - Samurai
6:26 - Wretch
7:17 - General info on classes

[birdflox]

the magic looks fantastic, but I've never really liked using anything but melee in souls games. it's a pretty tough choice now.

[mansooralshamsi]

The wretch is basically the best starting class to tailor your character to how you wanna play. Earlier levels can be gained pretty fast and you get the freedom to put them where you want.

[HigkeyRegarded]

I'm really liking Confessor right now. Makes me feel like a Paladin.

[Moments-in-Frames]

Confessor seems super interesting. I've always run a knight melee build in from games, but the spells in Elden ring seem like a lot of fun so I want the option to run melee and spells at the same time

[megamoviez]

The Vagabond, Confessor, or Samurai sounds the way to go for me. I do like Hero too though.

[gerry]

Aside from the bow, the thing i like most about the bandit is the excellent shield for parrying, the dagger causes bleed, and the attacks are fast!

[plaguedoctorj.c]

The Samurai is probably the best class for taking down big damage sponges like bosses and giants considering it's starting weapon is the Uchigatana which builds up bleed on enemies.

[anoniemuss]

Correction: High Endurance, not Strength, is necessary for using heavier equipment while maintaining a fast/medium roll speed. Strength is only necessary for weapons that require or scale with it. Endurance increases stamina and equip load.

[MunkyDragn]

I would consider the vagabond the most straightforward and easy to pick up class for newcomers. It has the best armor, 2 very good early weapons, and a shield that can block 100% physical. If you unequip one weapon and/or the gauntlets you can still fast roll. A quality build is tried and true, and not so risky considering it doesn't appear easy to just hang back and fire off projectiles endlessly.

[Sidorio]

The Prisoner seems fun. I like the spooky mask too.

[zilliq]

Not a word about the confessor starting with the "Assassin's approach" incantation, basically making it a stealth class in the early game

[acrawforth]

This was very helpful for somebody who has never played a Darksouls game but was properly intrigued by this. Thanks!

[lTheBallsl]

Going to go Wretch, its the purest you can get on a first playthrough. You don't know where any items are and just got to survive and grow from nothing into the Elden Lord. I care more about the single player experience then PVP and can always make a dedicated PVP character later on when i've learned the nuisances of the game.

[spicymayo]

I went the safer route and went Vagabond. I didn't realize how good the starting armor was until I struggled to find things to replace it.

[lanaleilua]

I recommend the samurai, it’s weapon is very good for early game as I’ve beaten lots bosses with it and the long bow is solid if your out of heals and need to just dodge and shoot

[MrEllipsis]

Great choices! Vagabond and Astrologer looks good to me. Prisoner too