You can spend hours creating your character, but in the end, it’s the character class that matters the most. It is essential to know which character class is best suited for you. In this guide, we’ve listed everything you need to know about each class that may help you select your class.
Attributes
Before we get into the classes, it is best to understand what each stat refers to. It can be a bit daunting for newer players to understand what the ‘Faith’ stat or the ‘Arcane’ stats stand for. There are eight attributes, and each of these eight attributes governs your secondary stats, including HP, FP, Equipment Load, Discovery, Poise, and Stamina.
Vigor: Vigor governs your overall HP. HP refers to ‘Health Points.’ Vigor also provides a bit of fire resistance and a bit of immunity stats which is a defensive stat. Mind: Mind governs your FP. FP stands for ‘Focus Points.’ Focus points can also be referred to as your mana points or magic points. This is what is utilized to use your magic. Endurance: Endurance primarily governs your Stamina and affects the Robustness stat, a defensive stat. Strength: Strength affects the attack power of heavy armaments and boosts the damage of strength-scaling armaments. It also increases your physical defense stat. Dexterity: Dexterity affects the attack power of advanced armaments. It also helps increase the damage of dexterity-scaling armaments, helps reduce spell casting time, reduced fall damage, and makes it difficult for enemies to knock you off of your horse. Intelligence: Intelligence governs intelligence-scaling Sorceries and improves your resistance to magic attacks. It allows you to use glinstone sorceries. Faith: Faith allows you to perform sacred Incantations. Incantations are a type of Magic that includes a variety of spells such as healing. Faith also increases the power of faith-scaling Incantations. Arcane: Arcane governs the Discovery stat. Discovery stats governs how likely it is for you to find items on the corpses of the defeated enemies. Arcane is sort of an all-rounder as it also affects your Vitality, Holy Defense, and even some Incantations and Sorceries. Classes Elden Ring is the first souls-like game to have ten classes to choose from. It is the most out of any souls game we’ve seen so far. The classes and their respective stats are as follows: Vagabond Vagabond is your classic “balanced” class. All the stats in this class are balanced and do not favor any particular stat. This is your base character if you wish to explore and upgrade stats during your play after figuring it out for yourself. It is the classic Knight setup. If you pick the Vagabond, you are given a shield, a longsword, halberd, and a mediocre set of armor. This whole setup is something the Dark Souls fans would be familiar with. As suspected, the class lacks attributes favoring magic (such as Intelligence, Faith, and Arcane) as this one is more of a “warrior” class. Vagabond Stats: Vigor: 15 Mind: 10 Endurance: 11 Strength: 14 Dexterity: 13 Intelligence: 9 Faith: 9 Arcane: 7 Warrior The Warrior class is nothing short of an aggressive “berserker-like” class. The warrior class focuses mostly on Dexterity, Intelligence, Endurance, and Mind. If we talk about being offensive and fast, this class has it all. But, in terms of defense, this is not the class you want to go for. You can always build up your defensive stats throughout your playthrough, but are you willing to sit through constant torture? If so, then any class is good for you. As a Warrior, you start with a wooden shield and two scimitar swords. Once again, the Warrior class has low magic-governing stats. Warrior Stats: Vigor: 11 Mind: 12 Endurance: 11 Strength: 10 Dexterity: 16 Intelligence: 10 Faith: 8 Arcane: 9 Hero The Hero class focuses on the Strength stat. It has very little armor but decent HP to start off with. You get a leather shield and a gigantic Viking-like hammer. The magic-governing stats are not a lot. Hero Stats: Vigor: 14 Mind: 9 Endurance: 12 Strength: 16 Dexterity: 9 Intelligence: 7 Faith: 8 Arcane:11 Bandit If you want to be a bit more strategic and tactical with your fights, Bandit is a great choice for you. While this class may be a bit more versatile than the former, it is tough to master early on. The class focuses on pretty much all the stats, but overall stats are low, with dexterity being the highlight of the class at 13 alongside Arcane standing at 14. Bandit is a challenging but versatile class to master. As a Bandit, you get a short bow which is an excellent option for ranged attacks. You also get a knife and buckler, which is great for dodging incoming attacks and critical backstabs. Bandit Class: Vigor: 10 Mind: 11 Endurance: 10 Strength: 9 Dexterity: 13 Intelligence: 9 Faith: 8 Arcane: 14 Astrologer The Astrologer is another name given to a mage or a wizard in Elden Ring. This class is all about magic focusing on high Intelligence stats. The strength stat is relatively low, but it does have decent dexterity. If you plan on playing as an astrologer, you better be mentally prepared to die a lot! You start off with two spells called the Glintstone Pebble and the Glinstone Arc. You also get a sword and a shield to protect yourself should you lose all your FP. The class also has excellent Mind stats, which is understandable as it is a mage class focused on magic. Mind deals with your FP. The major downside of this class is low HP, given it only has 9 Vigor stat. Astrologer Stats: Vigor: 9 Mind: 15 Endurance: 9 Strength: 8 Dexterity: 12 Intelligence: 16 Faith: 7 Arcane: 9 Prophet As the name suggests, the Prophet class focuses on the Faith stat. Faith deals with the spells but the incantations. Faith usually works by providing buffs and different magical effects aiding you in your journey through the vast land of Elden Ring. The overall stats of this class aren’t as bad as you might think except Endurance. If you choose the Prophet class, you spawn in with a spear and a shield. Incantations can be used either use for defensive purposes or offensive. This class is also a bit challenging to master, but you will get ahead of many bosses if manage to do so. The mage classes have always been on the lower spectrum of any souls game, but it could change in Elden Ring. Prophet Stats: Vigor: 10 Mind: 14 Endurance: 8 Strength: 11 Dexterity: 10 Intelligence: 7 Faith: 16 Arcane: 10 Samurai The Samurai class is one of the strongest classes in the game and very beginner-friendly as well. You get a classic set of Samurai armor, a katana, a longbow, and two different arrow types. You can also inflict damage and cause a bleeding effect on your enemies using the katana. Unfortunately, you don’t get a shield, but that’s a fair trade-off given you get a katana and a longbow with two different arrow types. The overall Samurai class stats are pretty decent. They’re certainly not the best in terms of magic. Samurai Stats: Vigor: 12 Mind: 11 Endurance: 13 Strength: 12 Dexterity: 15 Intelligence: 9 Faith: 8 Arcane: 8 Prisoner Prisoner class is a great balance between magic and weapon-wielding. Prisoner class is essentially an upgraded version of the Astrologer class with better HP. Prisoner class allows you to wear better armor and also cast spells. As a prisoner, you can always cast a spell or two with an exception of Incantations, given your lowest stat is the Faith stat. As a Prisoner, you start the game with a rift shield, a Glintstone Staff, a sword, and a Glintblade spell. You also have a set of mediocre armor. Prisoner Stats: Vigor: 11 Mind: 12 Endurance: 11 Strength: 8 Dexterity: 14 Intelligence: 14 Faith: 6 Arcane: 9 Confessor The Confessor class is a great balance between a Warrior and an Astrologer. With the Confessor class, you get better Faith, Dexterity, and even Strength. Strength is something not found in the Prisoner class despite having a high Intelligence stat. However, in the Cnfessor class, you get all of it except the Intelligence stat. You start off with a broadsword, a shield, two incantations, and a sacred seal. Everything in this class is decent with Faith stat being the best of them all. Confessor Stats: Vigor: 10 Mind: 13 Endurance: 10 Strength: 12 Dexterity: 12 Intelligence: 9 Faith: 14 Arcane: 9 Wretch Just like any other souls game, Elden Ring also has an almost-naked low-level class. This time it is called the Wretch. This class has the lowest stats evenly distributed. You only get a club to start off with. We can all talk about the many disadvantages of this class, but it allows you to level up faster given you are at the lowest level. Since all the stats are evenly distributed, you get to alter and build your character however you want it to be. We do believe that this class is for someone more experienced with the souls-like game, and not for beginners. Wretch Stats: Vigor: 10 Mind: 10 Endurance: 10 Strength: 10 Dexterity: 10 Intelligence: 10 Faith: 10 Arcane: 10 Best Beginner Class The best beginner class would have to be the Samurai class. It has everything a beginner will need, from armor to the best starting armaments. You also get a katana that inflicts a bleeding effect on your enemies, constantly damaging them. If you’re a new player, you should start Elden Ring with a Samurai class and build from there. The class also has excellent dexterity stats, which is a perfect option for newer players as it allows you to perform specific actions such as rolling much faster. Souls games are all about timing, and it is challenging for a new player to master that. You also start off with decent strength and endurance points. You can always build up from the current stat points and get even stronger. Vigor, or HP, is also decent, standing at a solid 12.
Vagabond
Vagabond is your classic “balanced” class. All the stats in this class are balanced and do not favor any particular stat. This is your base character if you wish to explore and upgrade stats during your play after figuring it out for yourself. If you pick the Vagabond, you are given a shield, a longsword, halberd, and a mediocre set of armor. This whole setup is something the Dark Souls fans would be familiar with. As suspected, the class lacks attributes favoring magic (such as Intelligence, Faith, and Arcane) as this one is more of a “warrior” class. Vagabond Stats:
Vigor: 15 Mind: 10 Endurance: 11 Strength: 14 Dexterity: 13 Intelligence: 9 Faith: 9 Arcane: 7
Warrior
The Warrior class is nothing short of an aggressive “berserker-like” class. The warrior class focuses mostly on Dexterity, Intelligence, Endurance, and Mind. If we talk about being offensive and fast, this class has it all. But, in terms of defense, this is not the class you want to go for. You can always build up your defensive stats throughout your playthrough, but are you willing to sit through constant torture? If so, then any class is good for you. As a Warrior, you start with a wooden shield and two scimitar swords. Warrior Stats:
Vigor: 11 Mind: 12 Endurance: 11 Strength: 10 Dexterity: 16 Intelligence: 10 Faith: 8 Arcane: 9
Hero
The Hero class focuses on the Strength stat. It has very little armor but decent HP to start off with. You get a leather shield and a gigantic Viking-like hammer. Hero Stats:
Vigor: 14 Mind: 9 Endurance: 12 Strength: 16 Dexterity: 9 Intelligence: 7 Faith: 8 Arcane:11
Bandit
If you want to be a bit more strategic and tactical with your fights, Bandit is a great choice for you. While this class may be a bit more versatile than the former, it is tough to master early on. The class focuses on pretty much all the stats, but overall stats are low, with dexterity being the highlight of the class at 13 alongside Arcane standing at 14.
As a Bandit, you get a short bow which is an excellent option for ranged attacks. You also get a knife and buckler, which is great for dodging incoming attacks and critical backstabs.
Bandit Class:
Vigor: 10 Mind: 11 Endurance: 10 Strength: 9 Dexterity: 13 Intelligence: 9 Faith: 8 Arcane: 14
Astrologer
The Astrologer is another name given to a mage or a wizard in Elden Ring. This class is all about magic focusing on high Intelligence stats. The strength stat is relatively low, but it does have decent dexterity. You start off with two spells called the Glintstone Pebble and the Glinstone Arc. You also get a sword and a shield to protect yourself should you lose all your FP. The class also has excellent Mind stats, which is understandable as it is a mage class focused on magic. Mind deals with your FP. The major downside of this class is low HP, given it only has 9 Vigor stat. Astrologer Stats:
Vigor: 9 Mind: 15 Endurance: 9 Strength: 8 Dexterity: 12 Intelligence: 16 Faith: 7 Arcane: 9
Prophet
As the name suggests, the Prophet class focuses on the Faith stat. Faith deals with the spells but the incantations. Faith usually works by providing buffs and different magical effects aiding you in your journey through the vast land of Elden Ring. If you choose the Prophet class, you spawn in with a spear and a shield. Incantations can be used either use for defensive purposes or offensive. This class is also a bit challenging to master, but you will get ahead of many bosses if manage to do so. The mage classes have always been on the lower spectrum of any souls game, but it could change in Elden Ring. Prophet Stats:
Vigor: 10 Mind: 14 Endurance: 8 Strength: 11 Dexterity: 10 Intelligence: 7 Faith: 16 Arcane: 10
Samurai
The Samurai class is one of the strongest classes in the game and very beginner-friendly as well. You get a classic set of Samurai armor, a katana, a longbow, and two different arrow types. You can also inflict damage and cause a bleeding effect on your enemies using the katana. Unfortunately, you don’t get a shield, but that’s a fair trade-off given you get a katana and a longbow with two different arrow types. Samurai Stats:
Vigor: 12 Mind: 11 Endurance: 13 Strength: 12 Dexterity: 15 Intelligence: 9 Faith: 8 Arcane: 8
Prisoner
Prisoner class is a great balance between magic and weapon-wielding. Prisoner class is essentially an upgraded version of the Astrologer class with better HP. Prisoner class allows you to wear better armor and also cast spells. As a Prisoner, you start the game with a rift shield, a Glintstone Staff, a sword, and a Glintblade spell. You also have a set of mediocre armor. Prisoner Stats:
Vigor: 11 Mind: 12 Endurance: 11 Strength: 8 Dexterity: 14 Intelligence: 14 Faith: 6 Arcane: 9
Confessor
The Confessor class is a great balance between a Warrior and an Astrologer. With the Confessor class, you get better Faith, Dexterity, and even Strength. Strength is something not found in the Prisoner class despite having a high Intelligence stat. However, in the Cnfessor class, you get all of it except the Intelligence stat. You start off with a broadsword, a shield, two incantations, and a sacred seal. Confessor Stats:
Vigor: 10 Mind: 13 Endurance: 10 Strength: 12 Dexterity: 12 Intelligence: 9 Faith: 14 Arcane: 9
Wretch
Just like any other souls game, Elden Ring also has an almost-naked low-level class. This time it is called the Wretch. This class has the lowest stats evenly distributed. You only get a club to start off with. We can all talk about the many disadvantages of this class, but it allows you to level up faster given you are at the lowest level. We do believe that this class is for someone more experienced with the souls-like game, and not for beginners. Wretch Stats:
Vigor: 10 Mind: 10 Endurance: 10 Strength: 10 Dexterity: 10 Intelligence: 10 Faith: 10 Arcane: 10
Best Beginner Class
The best beginner class would have to be the Samurai class. It has everything a beginner will need, from armor to the best starting armaments. You also get a katana that inflicts a bleeding effect on your enemies, constantly damaging them. The class also has excellent dexterity stats, which is a perfect option for newer players as it allows you to perform specific actions such as rolling much faster. Souls games are all about timing, and it is challenging for a new player to master that. You also start off with decent strength and endurance points. You can always build up from the current stat points and get even stronger. Vigor, or HP, is also decent, standing at a solid 12.
