Elden Ring: The Best Starting Classes [500+ Hours Experience]

The best starting class is the core element of the gameplay experience in Elden Ring. Like most Soulsborne games, you can always change or reset the starting class’s level stats later in the game, but in the early hours, the base stats, the armor, weapons, and starting items matter the most. 

Elden Ring Starting Classes Comparison

Elden Ring offers players a total of 10 Starting classes to choose from during the character creation screen. The following table compares all starting classes in Elden Ring.

1. Vagabond

Vagabond starting class in Elden Ring is similar to how a knight class performs in Dark Souls. This class rocks a long sword, decent armor set pieces, and a shield. Vagabond is the best starting class in Elden Ring should you want a quality, strength-based or melee-based playstyle in the game.

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Starting Stats

Starting Items

I prefer picking the Crimson Amber Medallion as the starting item for the Vagabond starting class in Elden Ring.

Starting Equipment

Here is the list of armor and weapons that Vagabond gets at the start of Elden Ring.

Armor

• Vagabond Knight Helm
• Vagabond Knight Armor
• Vagabond Knight Gauntlets
• Vagabond Knight Greaves

Weapons

• Longsword
• Halberd
• Heater Shield

Build Playstyle

A quick look at Vagabond’s starting stats will reveal that this class of character is designed to rely on melee weapons. It is because this starting class has one of the highest Vigor, Dexterity, and Strength. You can pretty much make decent strength, dexterity build, or a hybrid build of these two attributes for Vagabond in Elden Ring.

2. Samurai

Samurai is another starting class that focuses heavily on fast movements and quick attacks. This starting class can be made into a great dexterity build in Elden Ring. Also, the Samurai starting class comes with an Uchigatana sword and a longbow with normal and fire arrows as starting weapons.

Samurai is our best starting class in Elden Ring because he is the perfect fit for equipping the best weapons, applying bleed stats effect, and more on enemies in the early game.

Starting Stats

Starting Items

Since most of the playstyle of this starting class will involve close to mid-range combat, I recommend picking the Crimson Amber Medallion as a starting item in Elden Ring.

Starting Equipment

Here is the list of starting armor and weapons you get if you pick Samurai as the starting class in Elden Ring.

Armor

• Land of Reeds Helm
• Land of Reeds Armor
• Land of Reeds Gauntlets
• Land of Reeds Greaves

Weapons

• Uchigatana
• Longbow
• Arrow
• Fire Arrow
• Red Thorn Roundshield

Build Playstyle

Samurai has the highest dexterity in the game, so you will need to rely on sharp or dex weapons that must have a bleed status effect. 

3. Astrologer

The Astrologer is the perfect mage-casting starting class in Elden Ring. You also get two decent spells, which are excellent for AoE and ranged attacks. This is the best starting class in Elden Ring for players who’d want to have a pure intelligence or magic playstyle build in the early or mid-game.

Starting Stats

Starting Items

The Memory of Grace and a starting Keepsake item of the player’s preference are the two items the Astrologer starting class gets in Elden Ring.

Starting Equipment

Here is the list of starting equipment you’d get if you begin your journey with the Astrologer class. 

Armor

• Astrologer Hood
• Astrologer Robe
• Astrologer Gloves
• Astrologer Trousers

Weapons

• Glintstone Pebble
• Glintstone Arc
• Short Sword
• Astrologer’s Staff
• Scripture Wooden Shield

Build Playstyle

Astrologer is fully capable of becoming a pure intelligence caster in Elden Ring. Other than that, you can also use this starting class for a strength intelligence hybrid, a dexterity intelligence hybrid, and a caster hybrid using multiple spell types.

4. Prophet

The Prophet starting class has one of the highest Mind and Faith attributes in Elden Ring. This also makes this character class a perfect fit for using an incantations playstyle. 

Starting Stats

Starting Items

Since the Prophet is a little low on dealing physical damage, I recommend picking up the Fanged Imp Ashes so that you can summon two spirits to fight beside you.

Starting Equipment

Here is the list of starting equipment you get while playing with Prophet starting class in Elden Ring.

Armor

• Prophet Blindfold
• Prophet Robe
• Prophet Trousers

Weapons

• Heal
• Catch Flame
• Short Spear
• Finger Seal
• Rickety Shield

Build Playstyle

The Prophet class can be leveled up to use as a dexterity and faith hybrid playstyle. Since the prophet already has a high Mind and Faith levels from the get-go, investing equally in intelligence attributes will surely give you a hybrid caster class that will be best in incantations and sorceries.

5. Hero

Due to the high Vigor, Hero has a better chance of staying alive in the early hours of Elden Ring as compared to other classes that do not have this much high Vigor from the start of the game.

Besides Vagabond, Hero is the second-best starting class in Elden Ring regarding having a strength-based playstyle.

Starting Stats

Starting Items

Boiled Prawn would be my recommended Keepsake as a starting item for the Hero class. Since this class already has higher strength and vigor, having this Keepsake will allow you to become more reckless.

Starting Equipment

Here is the list of starting equipment you’d get if you play Elden Ring with Hero as a starting class.

Armor

• Champion Headband
• Champion Pauldron
• Champion Bracers
• Champion Gaiters

Weapons

• Battle Axe
• Large Leather Shield

Build Playstyle

For starters, you can create a pure strength build using the Hero class. Players can also go with the pure Arcane caste or a hybrid of strength and dexterity.

Other than that, if you want the best hybrid build from the Hero class, then you can also make a strength and faith hybrid during mid-game. Overall, Hero scales well with strength, arcane, and dexterity.

6. Bandit

Stealth is now another feature of Elden Ring; thanks to Sekiro and Bandit, starting class is the perfect fit if you want an assassin or stealthy approach playstyle. A quick look at this starting class’s stats will give you an idea that you can level up and create the best dexterity build in Elden Ring.

Starting Stats

Starting Items

I recommend picking up the Crimson Amber Medallion keepsake since Bandit has average vigor and endurance at the start.

Starting Equipment

Here is the list of starting equipment you get while playing as Bandit in Elden Ring.

Armor

• Bandit Mask
• Bandit Garb
• Bandit Manchettes
• Bandit Boots

Weapons

• Great Knife
• Short bow
• Bone Arrow
• Buckler

Build Playstyle

This class has one of the highest arcane attributes from the start, and this is something you can utilize if you fancy dragon-based attacks. Other than that, you can always level up and create a hybrid strength arcane or arcane dexterity build.

7. Warrior

Warrior is the perfect choice for the best dexterity build or playstyle in Elden Ring. That is because this starting class comes with the highest dexterity in the game and has two starting weapons as well.

Starting Stats

Starting Items

In my opinion, players should pick up Shabriri’s Woe as Keepsake for this class.

Starting Equipment

Here is the list of equipment you get if you pick Warrior as a starting class in Elden Ring.

Armor

• Blue Cloth Cowl
• Blue Cloth Vest
• Warrior Gauntlets
• Warrior Greaves

Weapons

• 2x Scimitar Riveted
• Wooden Shield

Build Playstyle

A quick look at the stats will reveal that the Warrior class can be used to create the best dexterity build or dex and str build in Elden Ring. It is because the class has one of the highest dex attributes from the get-go. 

8. Prisoner

Besides the Astrologer, the Prisoner should be the second choice to create the best intelligence build or playstyle in Elden Ring. 

Starting Stats

Starting Items

I recommend picking up the Fanged Imp Ashes as a Keepsake for Prisoner.

Starting Equipment

Here is the list of armor and weapons that you’d get if you picked Prisoner as the starting class in Elden Ring.

Armor

• Prisoner Iron Mask
• Prisoner Clothing
• Prisoner Trousers

Weapons

• Magic Glintblade
• Estoc
• Glintstone Staff
• Rift Shield

Build Playstyle

Prisoner has decent armor set pieces and early weapons that should gear up for a proper intelligence build in mid to late game. You can create a strength intelligence build or dexterity intelligence build because the Prisoner’s starting stats will scale well with the play style.

9. Confessor

Confessor can create the best hybrid build in Elden Ring using its high starting faith and strength attributes. This class is also best for stealth and direct confrontations. It is because you get Assassin’s Approach incantation as a starting spell if you pick Confessor.

Starting Stats

Starting Items

I recommend you pick Golden Seed since Confessor has average health.

Starting Equipment

Here is the list of starting equipment you’d get if you picked Confessor as the starting class in Elden Ring.

Armor

• Confessor Hood
• Confessor Armor
• Confessor Gloves
• Confessor Boots

Weapons

• Urgent Heal
• Assassin’s Approach
• Broadsword
• Finger Seal
• Blue Crest Heater Shield

Build Playstyle

As mentioned earlier, if you want the best starting class in Elden Ring which is a mix of stealth and combat, then there is no parallel of Confessor.

10. Wretch

Wretch starting class is equivalent to Deprived from Dark Souls 3. You get just one melee weapon and no armor whatsoever. This class is for the pro-soulsborne players who are aware of the game’s mechanics or at least what to expect in the game.

Starting Stats

Starting Items

I recommend picking up the Golden Seed keepsake since you have no armor whatsoever in the early hours, and this Keepsake can be used to upgrade your Flask.

Starting Equipment

If you pick Wretch as a starting class in Elden Ring, then you’d only get a club melee blunt weapon.

Build Playstyle

You can make any build or playstyle if you pick the Wretch starting class. 

My Take On The Best Starting Class

There are ten classes in Elden Ring, and a class can impact your experience, so you should choose it wisely. On your first playthrough, I would recommend you select the Samurai Build, as I think it is the best one in-game. 

Moreover, you also get Uchigatana, one of the best weapons in the Elden Ring. Warrior and Vagabond are pretty good too, but Samurai Class takes the throne for being the best starting class in Elden Ring.

That is pretty much everything you need to know about the best starting class in Elden Ring. Which class is your favorite in the game? Let us know more of your thoughts in the comments section below.