Elden Ring offers its players a total of 10 classes, each of which has its own set of specialties. Some are more adept at magic while others work better for strength or stealth builds.
In this guide, we’ll be going over all ten classes found within Elden Ring, highlighting their strengths and weaknesses Additionally, we’ll also be pointing out the best classes for each major build type.
Elden Ring Best Class For Beginners
The Vagabond emerges as the obvious frontrunner as the best class for beginners.
Vagabond is the best beginner class because it includes a little bit of everything, making it very dynamic and highly adaptable. The Longsword is quick and effective in close combat, whereas the Halberd can dispatch enemies from further away.
Additionally, the shield is capable of blocking 100% of attacks. This ability will aid you in learning the fundamentals of the game and its combats including stamina management and attack patterns.
The damage output of this class can be increased by levelling both Dexterity and Strength in equal measures. As a result, you’ll be less concerned with the other attributes, making the gameplay simpler and more enjoyable.
Elden Ring Best Starting Classes
Below we’ve listed all 10 classes in Elden Ring in ascending order according to their effectiveness as a starting class. While you will be able to customize and build your class to better suit you, some classes are generally better when it comes to overall gameplay in Elden Ring.
10. Wretch
With the questionable stats and point allocation, it’s safe to say that is not a very good starting class. This class comes equipped with a basic club and no armor, any mistakes on your part will not be overlooked, and the consequences will be ugly.
However, if you’re all about having a blank slate and having the authority to build the character you like, this is the class for you. Still, beware that it’s a class with low physical defences and a minimal starting health pool, and a slight mistake could send you back to the nearest sight of grace.
9. Bandit
Playing this class can be a little tricky if you’re just starting the game. It does not have a lot to offer; however, it comes packed with Arcane and Dexterity.
These points will help you land some good hits with your bow and will let you backstab the enemies, making this a perfect class if you’re going for a stealth build.
You can also benefit from the shield to dodge any attacks made by the enemies. Arcane can also be beneficial for collecting items from dead enemies. In addition, the Bandit class comes with a small shield and a knife.
All in all, it is an assassin-like class with medium to low physical stats to begin with.
8. Prisoner
The Prisoner class is a hybrid with a good spread of starting stats. This is a great class if you’re a fan of starting slow and figuring out your combat playstyle as you go. This class comes with a shield, sword, and staff.
In addition, it has high Dexterity and Intelligence stats and lets you equally play with magic and swords.
However, to make this class more melee-centric, you’ll have to allocate some points to Vigor and Endurance as it starts with little stamina. Having low stamina can be dangerous, especially during encounters with multiple enemies.
7. Warrior
If you prefer a class with fast-paced melee combat, the warrior build is an excellent choice for you. This class has the highest dexterity of any class, making it perfect for players who want to specialize in Dexterity weaponry and make a Dexterity build in Elden Ring.
Furthermore, it is the only class that comes equipped with a dual-wielding weapon from the get-go.
However, it does lack a considerable amount in both Vigor and Strength. Invest some points into these to improve your defense and to be able to equip heavy armor.
6. Prophet
The Prophet class has low physical defenses but is nifty on the ground and horseback. Like the Astrologer class, it has high Mind stats for summoning spirits. In addition, it has an excellent Faith stat making it a Faith-based starting class.
This class can cast spells for damage and use them for healing too. It comes with a finger seal for casting incantations and a spear. This class is great if you want melee options to complement your damage spells.
5. Confessor
The Confessor is an excellent assassin-type class if you enjoy liberty in using spells while also having substantial use with weapons. The Confessor comes with a shield that can block all sorts of physical damage.
It has points in Faith and offers a good deal in Strength and Dexterity stats too. This class also comes with a sword and a finger seal for casting spells which makes it a solid choice for mage builds in Elden Ring.
If you don’t want to compromise on your melee capabilities and cast spells, this class might be the one for you.
4. Hero
Hero is a melee-focused class that grants players the highest Strength and even some decent Endurance and Vigor. A great choice if you’re all about some exceptional combat skills and enjoy the freedom of allotting points to stats according to your taste.
High Vigor stats offer an outstanding health pool which is great for close encounters with foes. At the same time, high strength is excellent if you want to wield large weapons. In addition, this class offers a medium-sized shield and a one-handed axe. This class also works well if you want to make a Faith build in Elden Ring.
3. Samurai
Samurai is an extremely versatile class. If you love having a class with some good starting gear, this might be the one for you. It comes with an offhand shield, fire arrows, a powerful katana, and a longbow—great tools to test and form strategies and craft a bleed build.
It offers great stats with Dexterity and also keeps Vigor and Endurance close.
In addition, the point allocation offers survivability, which can allow you to mess around and explore the open world when starting the game.
If you want to make this class magic-based, you’ll have to invest in some points into intelligence and faith stats. Regardless, it’s a great option if you’re just starting.
2. Astrologer
This is the frailest starting class with the lowest physical stats but it offers melee and witchcraft options in battle.
This magic-based class is an excellent option for players who want to focus on spellcasting and summoning and is the best option for magic builds in Elden Ring. It has some great offensive spells alongside a small shield, sword, and staff, which acts as a great backup in need of time.
If you’re going to opt for this class, you’ll be spending most of your points on Intelligence and Mind. This will let you keep your magic damage high, and you can cast as many spells as you like.
1. Vagabond
Vagabond is one of the most optimal classes for melee players. The Vagabond class comes with impressive equipment consisting of heavy armor, a longsword, a halberd, and a solid shield. Great armaments for close encounters with enemies and lets you get straight into combat. Not only is this class great for beginners but it is also equally as good for pure strength builds in Elden Ring
A whopping 15 points to Vigor gives you an incredible health pool meaning you can take substantial hits, and you’ll still be good to go. Strength and Dexterity also have decent points allocation that enables the players to choose from a wide pool of weapons.
Putting a few points into Intelligence, Faith, and Mind allows this class to use spells, making for a good backup should you need it.
Elden Ring Class Tier List
If you’ve just started your journey in Elden Ring, choosing a class is one of the first and most crucial decisions you have to make.
As we’ve mentioned before, there are ten different classes in Elden Ring, each offering different play styles. With such variety, having to make a decision can be tricky.
Whatever your pick will be, it will define your playstyle and directly influence the first few hours of your adventure in the game.
However, it’s not going to stay the same until the end of the game as Elden Ring gives players the liberty to build their character; however, they like by distributing points into stats they feel fit the most.
A starting class will provide the players with a little direction and give players some gear alongside stats boosts to help with the class’s play style.
Below we’ve created a Tier List that lists all 10 classes in the game, based on our experience and knowledge.
Going through this tier list will help you understand what type of playstyle you want to go for and what you’re comfortable handling.
| Tier | Classes |
| S | Vagabond, Samurai, Astrologer, Hero |
| A | Warrior, Prophet, Confessor |
| B | Bandit, Prisoner |
| C | Wretch |
It is important to note that you can not change your class in Elden Ring once you’ve started a playthrough. Pick wisely.
