What are the Best Starting Classes

Explore Elden Ring's ten starting classes: Vagabond, Warrior, Hero, Bandit, Astrologer, Prophet, Samurai, Prisoner, Confessor, and Wretch. Find the best fit for your playstyle.

There are ten classes to choose from in Elden Ring: Vagabond, Warrior, Hero, Bandit, Astrologer, Prophet, Samurai, Prisoner, Confessor, and Wretch. Each class is better suited to a specific playstyle. For example, the Vagabond has the highest Vigor (VIG) among the other classes, along with decent Strength (STR) and Dexterity (DEX), at the cost of low Intelligence (INT) and Faith (FTH). The Vagabond would be ideal for someone who wants a class with more survivability that can still deal good damage due to its high STR/DEX. On the other hand, if magic is your preferred playstyle, an Astrologer would be a better fit.

Vagabond

The Vagabond is a durable class, well-suited to any melee setup mainly thanks to its high VIG and decent STR and DEX. While it is strong in the melee department, it lacks in the magical department, although a few points into INT or FTH will provide them with some basic magic and healing spells. It’s worth noting that it has access to a 100% physical damage reduction shield.

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Warrior

The Warrior has medium physical stats and high DEX, making it a more agile and aggressive class than the others. This class excels at dodging and melee-based gameplay.

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Hero

The Hero is your typical hard-hitting melee build with high STR and medium VIG, with every other stat on the lower side. It comes equipped with an Axe and a Shield to help it overpower its enemies. This playstyle is more of a slower, hard-hitting class.

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Bandit

The Bandit is a specialized melee/ranged hybrid that favors DEX weapons. The most notable thing about the Bandit is its high Arcane (ARC) stat, which makes it more like a Treasure Hunter type class, as ARC increases the Discovery stat, which increases the chance of enemies dropping loot on their corpse, amongst other things.

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Astrologer

The Astrologer is your typical Mage class. If you want a preset magic class, this is it. It has high INT and Mind (MND) with medium DEX, at the cost of almost all other physical stats. If you like classes that have a ‘glass cannon’ playstyle, Astrologer will be the perfect fit.

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Prophet

The Prophet has high FTH which lets them cast Incantation spells, which are, but not limited to, Healing, Curing status effects, and Pyromancy.