Last updated: 4 July 2026

Elden Ring Best Starting Class for Beginners — All 10 Ranked

Elden Ring offers ten starting classes, and choosing between them before you even set foot in the Lands Between can feel paralysing. The good news: your starting class matters far less than it seems. You can respec your stats entirely later in the game using Larval Tears, and any class can eventually reach any build. The choice mostly determines your early-game experience — how tanky you are, what your starting weapon does, and which spells you can use before your first level-up. This guide breaks down all ten and tells you exactly which one fits your playstyle.

01Why the Starting Class Matters Less Than You Think

Every class starts at a different level (ranging from Level 1 for the Wretch to Level 10 for the Confessor), but what actually differs between them is the distribution of starting stat points. All classes can reach the same stats eventually by levelling up. The class you pick determines:

• Starting Vigor (HP): the difference between dying in two hits or five in the opening area.
• Starting weapon and gear: what you can effectively use from your very first minutes.
• Minimum stats required to use an early build: a class that starts with high Intelligence needs fewer levels to use powerful sorceries.

The biggest safety net: once you defeat Rennala, Queen of the Full Moon in Liurnia of the Lakes, you unlock Rebirth — a full stat reallocation using a Larval Tear. The base game has roughly 18 Larval Tears available, so you can meaningfully respec several times. Pick a class that makes the opening hours comfortable; the rest of the game is entirely flexible.

02Best for Beginners: Vagabond and Samurai

These two classes are the most recommended starting points for players new to Elden Ring or the Soulsborne genre, for different reasons.

Vagabond (Level 9) starts with the highest Vigor (15) of any class, giving you the most HP before your first level-up. It also has solid Strength (14) and Dexterity (13), making it flexible for most melee weapons. Starting gear includes a reliable sword and a shield that can block attacks, which is forgiving in the early game. If you want to wade in, block hits, and learn how fights work without dying constantly, Vagabond is the safest choice.

Samurai (Level 9) starts with the Uchigatana — one of the strongest starting weapons in the game, scaling with Dexterity and applying Blood Loss buildup that can chunk large amounts of health from tough enemies. It also includes a Longbow for ranged attacks, a useful option when you need to pull enemies one at a time or deal with threats at a distance. The tradeoff is slightly lower Vigor (12) than the Vagabond, but the Uchigatana's damage and versatility more than compensate. Excellent for players who want a more mobile, aggressive playstyle.

• Choose Vagabond if: you want maximum survivability, prefer tanking hits with a shield, or are brand new to action RPGs.
• Choose Samurai if: you want a mobile, offensive style, enjoy the Katana moveset, or want a built-in ranged option.

03Strength Builds: Hero and Vagabond

If you want to wield massive weapons with the highest raw damage — Greatswords, Colossal Swords, Greataxes — a Strength-focused start gets you there faster.

Hero (Level 7) starts with the highest base Strength (16) of any class, allowing it to equip heavy Strength weapons from the start. It also has solid Vigor (14) and Arcane (11), making it a natural fit for bleed builds on Strength weapons later. The downside is low Intelligence, Faith, and Mind — it is a pure physical fighter from the start.

Vagabond also works well for Strength since its balanced starting stats (STR 14, DEX 13) easily support most Strength weapons with minimal early investment. It is generally a safer all-round pick than Hero for players who are not yet committed to a pure Strength path.

Both classes benefit from the Ashes of War system: you can apply different weapon abilities (Ashes) and even change a weapon's scaling (affinity) at any Site of Grace, giving enormous flexibility as you find new weapons.

04Intelligence Builds: Astrologer and Prisoner

Magic-focused builds (called Intelligence or Sorcery builds) are extremely powerful in Elden Ring, dealing reliable ranged damage and scaling into some of the strongest spells in the game. Two classes start with meaningful Intelligence investment.

Astrologer (Level 6) starts with the highest Intelligence (16) of any class and comes with two Sorceries — Glintstone Pebble and Glintstone Arc — and a staff to cast them. This lets you deal ranged magical damage from the very first minutes of the game. Astrologer has low Vigor (9), so you need to invest in it early, but the powerful starting spells compensate. Best for players who explicitly want to play a magic build from the start.

Prisoner (Level 9) is a hybrid class with strong Intelligence (14) and Dexterity (14), starting with an INT-scaling melee weapon and a sorcery. It suits players who want a mix of melee and magic rather than pure casting. Slightly more versatile early on, but requires more planning to make a cohesive build compared to the Astrologer.

Key early spells to find: Rock Sling (Sellia Crystal Tunnel) is one of the best early sorceries, dealing Physical damage that bypasses magic resistance — devastating against the first few bosses.

05Faith Builds: Confessor and Prophet

Faith builds use Incantations — a category of spells that includes healing, fire, lightning, and holy damage. They rely on the Faith stat and scale into very powerful late-game options, but tend to start slower than sorceries.

Confessor (Level 10) is the stronger Faith starting point for most players. It has the highest starting level and a good balance of Strength (12), Dexterity (12), and Faith (14), with an Incantation that lets you restore health. It functions effectively as a sword-wielding cleric from the start: use a melee weapon for combat and occasionally cast a healing spell to recover between encounters. This style is highly effective and comfortable for beginners who do not want to rely entirely on magic.

Prophet (Level 7) starts with higher Faith (16) but lower physical stats and less Vigor (10). It begins with a Heal incantation that restores health over time — useful but less combat-efficient than Confessor's approach. Prophet suits experienced players who want to build around early Dragon Communion or Lightning incantations, which scale better with the raw Faith start.

Early Incantation tip: Flame, Grant Me Strength (Caelid, behind Fort Gael) and Golden Vow are powerful buffs available fairly early and synergise with any melee+Faith build.

06Other Classes: Warrior, Bandit, and the Wretch

Warrior (Level 8) starts with the highest Dexterity (16) and comes equipped with two scimitars for a dual-blade fighting style. It suits players who want to focus on fast, dual-wielding attacks. Slightly lower Vigor than Vagabond makes the opening tougher, but the offensive output is excellent once you learn the rhythm.

Bandit (Level 5) begins with high Arcane (14) — a stat that governs item discovery (better loot drops), bleed buildup, and scaling for certain unique weapons. The Bandit class is excellent for bleed-focused builds and players who want to farm rare drops. However, it has the lowest starting level of any non-Wretch class, making the opening area harder. Better suited to players with some Elden Ring experience.

Wretch (Level 1) starts with every stat at 10, wearing no armour and carrying only a Club. This is a challenge class for veteran players who want complete flexibility to build in any direction from the lowest possible base. Every level-up puts you exactly where you chose to be, with no inherited stat spread. Do not choose Wretch as your first character — the opening area at minimum stats is genuinely punishing, and a dedicated build is far more enjoyable when you understand the game's systems.