Elden Ring offers a vast open world full of danger, mystery, and powerful enemies. Before you even step into the Lands Between, one of your most important choices is picking your starting class. Your class sets your initial stats, gear, and playstyle, shaping how your early game experience unfolds.
Whether you prefer melee combat, magic casting, or a mix of both, understanding the available classes will help you choose the one that matches your style.
In this guide, we’ll break down all Elden Ring classes, their strengths, and who they’re best for—so you can start your adventure on the right foot. And for challenges with the bosses of this Elden Ring game, read this guide, Elden Ring DLC Bosses: Shadow of the Erdtree, and challenge the bosses.
How Classes Work in Elden Ring
Unlike many traditional RPGs, Elden Ring’s class choice doesn’t lock you into one role forever. Your starting class determines:
- Initial stats – Strength, Dexterity, Intelligence, Faith, etc.
- Starting gear – Weapons, armor, and spells.
- Early playstyle – The type of combat you’ll find easiest in the beginning.
As you progress, you can freely level up any stat and use any weapon or spell you find. This means your early choice is more about comfort and head start rather than permanent limitations.
List of Elden Ring Classes and Their Playstyles
Here’s a closer look at each class, starting equipment, and who might enjoy playing them.
1. Vagabond – The Balanced Knight
- Best for: Beginners who want strong melee combat and good defense.
- Starting gear: Longsword, Halberd, full armor set.
- Playstyle: Heavy armor and a shield make the Vagabond a tanky class, able to take hits while dishing out damage. Ideal for players who like straightforward sword-and-shield combat.
2. Warrior – Fast and Agile Fighter
- Best for: Players who enjoy quick attacks and dodging over blocking.
- Starting gear: Dual scimitars.
- Playstyle: Focuses on Dexterity for speed and precision. The Warrior is excellent at dealing rapid damage but relies on dodging instead of heavy armor.
3. Hero – Strength-Based Powerhouse
- Best for: Players who want to wield massive weapons and crush enemies in a few hits.
- Starting gear: Battle axe, large shield.
- Playstyle: With high Strength, the Hero is perfect for two-handed weapons and big swings. Slightly slower but very powerful.
4. Bandit – The Stealthy Archer
- Best for: Ranged combat and sneaky backstabs.
- Starting gear: Shortbow, curved sword, buckler shield.
- Playstyle: Excels at ranged attacks and stealthy melee strikes. A great choice for players who like to plan attacks from the shadows.
5. Astrologer – Master of Sorcery
- Best for: Players who prefer magic and ranged spell combat.
- Starting gear: Staff, short sword, shield.
- Playstyle: High Intelligence makes the Astrologer powerful with sorceries. Fragile in melee, but devastating from a distance with magic projectiles.
- Prophet – Faith-Based Miracle User
- Best for: Healing, buffs, and holy magic damage.
- Starting gear: Spear, shield, sacred seal.
- Playstyle: Combines Faith-based offensive spells with healing abilities. Good for players who like support magic and melee.
7. Samurai – Precision and Power
- Best for: Balanced melee and ranged combat.
- Starting gear: Uchigatana, longbow, decent armor.
- Playstyle: Great for players who enjoy fast, high-damage attacks with bleeding effects, plus the ability to snipe enemies from afar.
8. Prisoner – Hybrid Magic Swordsman
- Best for: Players who want both melee and magic early on.
- Starting gear: Estoc (rapier), staff, shield.
- Playstyle: High Dexterity and Intelligence make the Prisoner effective with both fast melee strikes and strong magic.
9. Confessor – Holy Knight
- Best for: A mix of swordplay and Faith magic.
- Starting gear: Broadsword, shield, sacred seal.
- Playstyle: Well-rounded, able to heal, buff, and fight in close combat. A great choice for beginners who want versatility.
10. Wretch – The Ultimate Blank Slate
- Best for: Experienced players who want total freedom in character building.
- Starting gear: Club, no armor.
- Playstyle: Starts at level 1 with all stats at 10. Weak at first, but can be built in any direction without stat waste.
Which Class Should You Choose?
Here’s a quick suggestion based on your preferred style:
- New players: Vagabond or Confessor.
- Heavy melee damage: Hero or Samurai.
- Fast and agile combat: Warrior or Bandit.
- Pure magic: Astrologer.
- Faith-based magic: Prophet or Confessor.
- Hybrid build: Prisoner.
- Full customization: Wretch.
Remember, no matter what class you start with, Elden Ring allows you to shape your build over time.
Tips for Building Your Class
- Level the right stats: Focus on the main attributes for your class early on (Strength for heavy melee, Dexterity for speed, Intelligence for sorcery, Faith for holy magic).
- Upgrade your weapons: Even a beginner weapon can be powerful if upgraded.
- Adapt to your enemies: Some bosses are easier with ranged magic, others with melee. Don’t be afraid to switch tactics.
- Use armor wisely: Heavier armor gives more defense but slows your movement. Find your comfort balance.
Final Thoughts
Elden Ring is a popular game, and many more guides like this can be found at BraceGamingCom, including game reviews, hardware reviews, news updates, tips and tricks, and much more. Choosing one of the Elden Ring classes is just the beginning of your journey. Your class sets your opening playstyle, but your adventure will shape your character in countless ways. Whether you’re a sword-wielding knight, a cunning archer, or a powerful mage, Elden Ring gives you the freedom to grow and adapt.
Pick the class that feels right, embrace the challenge, and step boldly into the Lands Between.
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