Elden Ring Best Class - What Should You Play?

Updated:

22 Nov 2022

Elden ring has ten different starting classes to choose from, if you wish to be a mage or a colossal sword user, you will have to level up your build towards that spell or weapon. With each starting class having its attributes fairly different this could make it easier to build toward what you want. With lower-level starting classes it’ll be easier to level up than in classes with higher levels. It is also important to note that your starting class doesn't really matter later on, as you can respec into a different build with a Larval Tear at Rennala, this detailed guide of each class will help new-comers and veterans who are struggling to choose their best fit. Elden Ring is also quite giving when it comes to level distribution so no matter what class you end up using, as long as it isn't wretch, you will be fine.

Vagabond

Vagabond is a solid choice as a starting class. (pictured)

Vagabond is perfect for new players as it has a decent set of weapons and the most levels in vigor out of all the classes, with a great-looking armor set, and starting weapons consisting of the Halbert, Longsword, and Heater shield, the only downside is you’ll have to remove some of the armor or your Halbert to be able to medium roll because there’s nothing worse than fat rolling your way through a souls game.

Vagabond excels in:

New player friendly.
Most vigor.
Good for dex strength users.
Great starting armor.

Pick Vagabond if:

You want a good starting class.
If you wish to use a strength or dex build.
Try to parry the starting soldiers with your shield.

Vagabond details: https://eldenring.wiki.fextralife.com/Vagabond

Warrior

Warrior (pictured) great looking class.

The warrior class is one of the best classes if you wish to be a dex build, with two fast Scimitars and a Riveted wooden shield to practice that parrying skills, you’ll be more than able to roll behind attacking enemies for that backstab. The warrior's armor set is sturdy yet light so rolling won’t be an issue for your high dex character, and with the added ten levels in mind, you’ll be using the Scimitars ash of war to its full potential.

What Warrior excels in:

Fast-paced combat.
Dexterity weapons.
Parrying with small shields.

Pick warrior if:

You want to play a dex character.
You want to use bows as your main ranged armament.
Roll through attacks rather than tanking damage.
Want to start as a decent dex character.

Warrior class details: https://eldenring.wiki.fextralife.com/Warrior

Hero

Hero class (pictured) is great for strength players.

With the hero class having the highest starting strength level and a high vigor with good endurance, this class is tanky and great for strength users. Starting with the big axe and a shield (and a torch which you’ll rarely use when you have the lamp.) this Nepheli Loux build is one great starting class for those who wish to pulverize their enemies.

What Warrior class excels in:

Strength weapons.
Dealing big damage with slow speed.
Being able to use colossal weapons.

Pick warrior if:

You want to be a strength character
You want to tank a few hits and also deal damage.

Hero class details: https://eldenring.wiki.fextralife.com/Hero

Bandit

Bandit (pictured) for those who want to rely on backstabs.

As a bandit you won’t just be a fast-paced, close-ranged, parrying poker, you’ll also be one of the best-looking classes in all of the lands. Great at stealth you’ll backstab enemies with ease as you embrace your inner shinobi. Starting with a great knife, a fast attacking weapon that causes bleed build-up (which is quite strong in Elden ring), a short bow, and a buckler shield that is perfect for parrying, the bandit is fast and versatile.

What bandit excels in:

Stealth.
Medium range and short range combat.
With the highest arcane stat, blood weapons will obliterate bosses.
With arcane as high as it is, finding new gear will be a breeze as discovery scales with arcane.

Pick bandit if:

You miss playing Sekiro.
You want fast-paced boss fights.
You want to use bleed to its full scaling abilities.
You want stealthier gameplay.

Bandit details: https://eldenring.wiki.fextralife.com/Bandit

Astrologer

Astrologer (pictured) for the star lovers.

The astrologer is the best class for anyone wanting to be a mage, and with magic being so strong in Elden ring, it’s a great choice. With high intelligence and mind, two strong starting spells; glintstone people and glintstone arc., a short sword with a Scripture wooden shield, and obviously the Astrologers staff, you will be set as a strong magic/ dex split.

What Astrologer excels in:

Low Hp high damage makes this the glass cannon build.
Magic.
Ranged combat.

Pick Astrologer if:

You want to be a strong mage character.
With a few levels of vigor and endurance, you’ll be less squishy, so you’ll be a rounded mage build.
You want a huge variety of spells and sorceries at your disposal.

Astrologers details: https://eldenring.wiki.fextralife.com/Astrologer

Prophet

Prophet (pictured) for the holy players.

If you wish to be the holiest of players, the prophet class is what you should invest in, with it being the highest starting faith class and having more evenly distributed stats than the astrologer it is a great starting class for those who want to use incantations. With a finger seal, short seal and a shield the prophet will be able to poke at his enemies while using the heal and catch flame incantations.

What prophet excels in:

Incantations.
Healing yourself and summons.

Pick prophet if:

You want to be a faith-based character.
Heal your team in a boss fight.
To use dragon incantations.
You want to use holy weapons.

Prophet details:https://eldenring.wiki.fextralife.com/Prophet

Samurai

Samurai (pictured) for the lovers of Sekiro.

The samurai is one of the best starting classes, with an amazing armor set, a shield, and a longbow with normal and fire arrows, you will be looking amazing and dealing great damage. The weapon you’ll use most is the Uchigatana, and if you’ve played Dark Souls you will recognize the amazing sword, with the sword dealing bleed damage, and having the ash of war unsheathe that’ll make you feel like a real samurai, you will be playing Ghost of Tsushima in the lands between.

What samurai excels in:

Doing far and close-range damage.
Dealing great bleed damage, with bleed being as strong as it is.
Dodging, with the most endurance out of all the classes.

Pick samurai if:

You want to be a dex build.
Be overpowered with bleed.
Want to parry, dodge and shoot all in one build.

Samurai details: https://eldenring.wiki.fextralife.com/Samurai

Prisoner

The prisoner (pictured) is also known as the saddest-looking character with a helmet like that.

The prisoner, the class with a great split between dex and int is a great starting class to deal great ranged damage and close range damage with a great starting thrusting sword the Estoc. The glintstone staff is great with the spell the prisoner gets magic glintblade, and the rift shield will also let you parry enemies to deal massive damage.

The prisoner excels in:

Using magic and dex weapons.
Using spells and fast weapons.
Dealing a lot of damage rapidly

Pick prisoner if:

You want to be a glass machine gun with rapid damage but low health.
Use spells and dex weapons

Prisoner details: https://eldenring.wiki.fextralife.com/Prisoner

Confessor

The confessor (pictured) is the best starting class if all you care about is fashion.

The confessor is one of the best-looking classes with an amazing broadsword, shield, and spells. This class is the faith version of the prisoner. With urgent heal, you will be able to pop a quick heal without having to use a flask, and with the assassin approach, you can sneak up onto unaware enemies to get that backstab if you so desire. The blue crest heater shield does 100% physical damage absorption so you can rely on blocking more than dodging if you wish.

Confessor excels in:

Freedom of weapon usage with dex and strength at 12.
Being a balanced build with incantations and close-ranged weaponry.
Having the best-looking outfit out of all the classes.

Pick confessor if:

You’re new and want to use incantations without being a full faith/mage build.
You want to switch between strength and dex weapons.
If you want a balanced starting character with high faith.

Confessor details: https://eldenring.wiki.fextralife.com/Confessor

Wretch

Wretch, (pictured) for the chads.

Wretch is for the GigaChads out there, with the lowest starting level you will have total freedom in making your character as you start with nothing but a club. If you want a real challenge at the start of the game, the wretch is the class you're looking for. With not even having clothes you will be at a great disadvantage, this is why this class is recommended for players with some experience with previous Fromsoftware titles.

Wretch excels in: