Upon beginning a new save in Elden Ring, players have the important task of selecting a starting class. With 10 wildly different options, this can seem daunting, especially for those who are new to FromSoftware's unique class formula!
Each class begins with distinct stats and equipment, meaning that the class you choose will significantly impact how your game plays — at least for the first dozen hours or so. But, which class is the best of them all? Here are all 10 of Elden Ring's classes, ranked.
10 Bandit
It is important to note that there are no inherently bad class choices in Elden Ring, as the viability of a class heavily relies on the play style of the individual using it. That being said, Bandit tends to be the least effective of the bunch.
With its primary attribute being stealth, it can certainly be immensely satisfying clearing hordes of enemies without taking a lick of damage. In fact, the Bandit would be a very solid option if it weren't for its rather serious shortcomings in boss fights. Unfortunately for us, it is not possible to stealth attack a boss, meaning that the biggest reason to pick the Bandit is now utterly worthless.
9 Prisoner
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The Prisoner seems to not know what it wants to be. It starts out with some odd gear, and its primary attributes are Intelligence and Dexterity. Don't misunderstand — the Prisoner is certainly capable in the right hands, especially if players utilize a build guide.
The real problem with the Prisoner is not even its lack of starting armor or its relatively low stats. The Prisoner just doesn't really excel at anything that another class doesn't do better. Players wishing to run Dexterity builds should just select the Samurai, and the Astrologer is superior in every way when it comes to spellcasting!
8 Wretch
The Wretch is a blank slate in Elden Ring. All starting stats are a balanced 10 across the board, and it begins with nothing but a massive club. Because of this, the Wretch is not very beginner-friendly, but it easily offers the most freedom of all the classes.
The club is a decent enough weapon, and truth be told, the Wretch would rank much higher if they started with any armor at all. Playing this class will be undoubtedly difficult, but the Wretch will reward skilled players will both cheap levels and massive flexibility.
7 Prophet
While also a bit difficult to properly utilize, the Prophet is easily one of the most fun classes is the game. The high base Faith means that players can use powerful Incantations right off the bat, so many of those tough early enemies just got a bit easier!
Unfortunately, the Prophet suffers from the same issue as the Wretch and Prisoner, starting with virtually no armor. On top of that, the Short Spear is about as mediocre as a weapon can possibly get. All in all though, the resident Pyromancer is a fairly solid choice.
6 Confessor
As the only other class that is capable of casting Faith Incantations in the early game, the Confessor is a nice alternative to the Prophet. However, the Confessor takes a slight edge over the Prophet as it has some decent physical attack stats as well.
The Confessor's Broadsword will carry the player comfortably throughout the first few hours of the game before something more hefty is necessary, and there is really no urgency to replace the finger seal, either. Overall, the Confessor is a solid choice for those wanting to play both caster and melee builds.
5 Warrior
The Warrior's starting equipment makes it a difficult sell for newer players, forcing users to utilize dual Scimitars to be truly effective. That being said, The Warrior is a very solid starting choice and is the best option for dealing rapid, successive damage.
Unfortunately, poor poise is going to make it difficult to recover from powerful hits as the Warrior, so players will need to be diligent to avoid over-extending themselves in combat. Learn how to overwhelm your enemies with quick attacks, and the Warrior will take you far. Just be sure to use the proper stance.
4 Hero
While the Hero is not a very flexible class, it is exceptionally dominant at what it was made for: Strength. The Hero has the single highest starting Strength of all classes in the game, and a decent Endurance. For those wanting to run the comically large "great" weapons, Hero is probably your best bet.
However, in the age-old Hero vs Vagabond debate, the Vagabond just barely takes the cake due to its overall versatility and fail-proof nature. That is certainly not to say that the Hero can't be a stellar option, because that is far from the truth.
3 Samurai
The Samurai wields what just might be the strongest starting weapon in the game — the Uchigatana. The weapon passively inflicts bleed damage, which is currently the strongest status effect in the game. Pair this with something like Lord Of Blood's Exaltation, and you are an early-game killer.
True, the Samurai is a bit less beginner-friendly than some of the others on this list, but those who learn its ins and outs will be heftily rewarded. As an added bonus, the Samurai comes equipped with a longbow and a rather potent Ash of War capable of one-shot kills.
2 Vagabond
The Vagabond is an utter powerhouse, boasting some insane damage, Vigor, and Endurance right from the start! As if that wasn't enough, the Vagabond also begins with an impressive array of equipment — solid armor and a horrifically deadly sword to accompany it.
This class will feel very familiar to Souls veterans, while simultaneously being easy for beginners to pick up. The only downside here is the lack of capability when it comes to spellcasting, but it shouldn't really matter. In terms of hand-to-hand combat, no class comes close to the physical prowess of the Vagabond.
1 Astrologer
The Astrologer is perhaps the most beginner-friendly class out there, starting off with an array of ridiculously powerful spells. These spells allow players to maintain their distance, providing vital protection (Astrologers are not great with armor), and making most of the early bosses an actual cakewalk.
Many over the "overpowered" builds in Elden Ring stem from the Astrologer class and its ability to craft disgustingly effective spell combinations. If you decide to run an astrologer, don't be afraid to take a look at some of the many Intelligence builds available online for maximum efficiency.