Elden Ring BEST Starting Classes: PVP & PVE

While starting classes really does not matter in the long run, they can be of tremendous help initially. A game like Elden Ring is bound to be daunting for newcomers and the use of starting classes helps manage that by giving the players an idea of what to stick with and what to upgrade. Elden Ring Staring classes also come equipped with decent weapons and items that can be upgraded and be of big help to the player.

This guide covers the best starting classes. We hope you find this guide useful, for more Elden Ring content, stay tuned!

Best Starting Classes Compared

No.	Class	Level	Vigor	Mind	Endurance	Strength	Dexterity	Intelligence	Faith	Arcane
1	Samrai	9	12	11	13	12	15	9	8	8
2	Vagabond	9	15	10	11	14	13	9	9	7
3	Confessor	10	10	13	10	12	12	9	14	9
4	Wretch	1	10	10	10	10	10	10	10	10
5	Prophet	7	10	14	8	11	10	7	16	11
6	Hero	7	14	9	12	16	9	7	8	11
7	Astrologer	6	9	15	9	8	12	16	7	9
8	Warrior	8	11	12	11	10	16	10	8	9
9	Prisoner	9	11	12	11	11	14	14	6	9
10	Bandit	5	10	11	10	9	13	9	8	14

Related: Best Elden Ring Starting Gifts

Samurai

Stats	Value
Level	9
Vigor	12
Mind	11
Endurance	13
Strength	12
Dexterity	15
Intelligence	9
Faith	8
Arcane	8

A no-brainer of die-hard fans of the previous entry by Miyazaki, the Samurai class is a dexterity-focused build, having the second-highest Dexterity among all Elden Ring classes. The Samurai class also comes equipped with a decently high strength level. With a dexterity level of 15 and a strong level of 13, the Samurai is an excellent quality build-focused class in Elden Ring.

The Samurai class starts off with the Uchigatana, a longbow and a roundshield. The addition of this long bay and the ability to have it from the very beginning is a major deal for it introduces a barrage of stealth and exploitation options into the Lands between.

The Uchigatana is a legend in the Dark Souls series. Due to its amazing skillset, high dps, and viability, the uchigatana is a fine weapon. If the lands beyond are anything like the world of Dark Souls, expect this to be just an excellent weapon, definitely top tier for early game encounters.

Among Elden Ring starting classes, the Samurai is one of the best Elden Ring starting classes for Quality build players. It is also one of the best Elden Ring PvP Starting classes.

Vagabond

Stats	Value
Level	9
Vigor	15
Mind	10
Endurance	11
Strength	14
Dexterity	13
Intelligence	9
Faith	9
Arcane	7

The Vagabond class is another contender for the Best class for Dex. The Vagabond is a Strength and Dex-focused Elden Ring starting class. Starting with a strength level of 14 and a dex level of 13, the Vagabond is another option for players considering a quality build in Elden Ring.

Due to its stats, the vagabond class is also one of the best Starting classes for beginners. Especially those choosing a melee-focused path for their journey through the lands beyond.

The Vagabond class comes equipped with a longsword and a halberd, both excellent options for a quality build, even better when dual-wielded. 

Confessor

Stats	Value
Level	10
Vigor	10
Mind	13
Endurance	10
Strength	12
Dexterity	12
Intelligence	9
Faith	14
Arcane	9

The Confessor starting class in Elden Ring is reminiscent of melee hybrid builds from Dark Souls 3. This class combines a melee weapon with decent/average strength and dexterity levels with a high faith level. All in all, a class like this is ideal for Dark Souls 3 players that relied on both melee and magic.

The confessor class starts with a couple of spells like heal that can be of tremendous help alongside the broadsword which can be a devastating weapon when upgraded.

All in all, the Confessor class is an exceptional class for veterans looking forward to trying casting for the first time and one of the best classes for those afraid of Fromsoft’s difficulty for the heal spell is bound to make things easier.

Wretch

Stats	Value
Level	1
Vigor	10
Mind	10
Endurance	10
Strength	10
Dexterity	10
Intelligence	10
Faith	10
Arcane	10

The Wretch class is the iconic naked class every souls borne vet loves to begin their playthrough with. Despite looking like a handicapped class, the Wretch is actually an excellent way to begin your journey of the lands between, even for beginners.

The Wretch class comes with no armor, a level 10 on every stat, and a club. Despite its looking, it is probably the best starting class overall due to its balanced scaling. Unlike other classes in Elden Ring, the wretch is the most balanced.

A 10 in every skill means that players unsure of what to put their points in can begin with the wretch class and decide their final build later on. With this class, you can choose to be anything from a melee tank build to a priest caster. The club is also a very respected powerful strength weapon so you are pretty set in the weapons department too.

Prophet

Stats	Value
Level	7
Vigor	10
Mind	14
Endurance	8
Strength	11
Dexterity	10
Intelligence	7
Faith	16
Arcane	11

The Prophet class is the faith starting class in Elden Ring. This is the best Elden ring starting class for mage builds/aspiring mage builds. Given how powerful faith was in the Dark Souls series, it is safe to assume that you can not go wrong with the Prophet class.

Similar: Elden Ring Faith Weapons

Starting with a faith level of 16, the Prophet class comes set for faith spells. It also comes with catch fire, heal, and a spear. All this makes the prophet class the perfect Elden Ring starting class for mage builds and mage melee builds. The spear should be more than enough as a handy melee weapon and heal will mean that you will not be dying often. 

Hero

Stats	Value
Level	7
Vigor	14
Mind	9
Endurance	12
Strength	16
Dexterity	9
Intelligence	7
Faith	8
Arcane	11

This is the go-to class for Strength builds. Strength builds are one of the most fun ways to play a Miyazaki title. Plowing through enemies with a massive, high damage greatsword is one of the best feelings in the world. Strength builds have and always will be some of the most fun and viable builds in Fromsoft games, largely due to how fun confrontations with strength weapons are.

Starting with a strength level of 16, this class has the highest beginning strength level among all classes. This class also comes with an axe and a good shield. Axes are very reliable and even the most basic axe can get you through the game.

A starting strength level of 16 means you will be fit for most strength weapons from the get-go, which is a plus. Strength builds are also extremely viable in all kinds of situations, from bosses to PvP. All in all, the Hero class is one of the best Elden Ring PvE starting classes and a great Elden Ring PvP starting class.

Astrologer

Stats	Value
Level	6
Vigor	9
Mind	15
Endurance	9
Strength	8
Dexterity	12
Intelligence	16
Faith	7
Arcane	9

The Astrologer class is a melee-sorcerer hybrid starting class. It starts with high intelligence and decent dexterity with a lot of mind. This class will be exceptional for people looking to go for a sorcerer build with some melee in between. From Bloodborne to Dark Souls, magic has always been a crucial element in the Soulsborne universe and we have seen time and again how powerful sorcery can be. Even the basic Soul Darts can be crushing with a high intelligence level.

This class starts with an intelligence of 16, a dexterity of 12, and a mind of 15. It comes equipped with sorceries like glinstone pebble and glintstone arc, reminiscent of soul darks and soul sword. It also comes with a shirt sword and an astrologer’s staff.

The sword can be of tremendous help for it is a very viable, fast-hitting weapon despite its basic nature. The sorceries are also very viable and can help avoid confrontation in the early levels of the game. All in all, the Astrologer class is one of the best starting classes due to its versatility and one of the best PvE starting classes.

Warrior

Stats	Value
Level	8
Vigor	11
Mind	12
Endurance	11
Strength	10
Dexterity	16
Intelligence	10
Faith	8
Arcane	9

The Warrior class is the starting class for dexterity builds in Elden Ring. This class comes with high dexterity. Dexterity builds are some of the most fun ways to play Fromsoft games, largely due to how versatile their movesets are and how quickly they deal damage.

This class comes with a dexterity level of 16 and has 2 Scimitars. Scimitars have also been an iconic dexterity weapon in the Dark Souls series and the ability to dual wield them will open a world of combos and damage for new players.

All in all, there is not much to say except that this class will be a great pick for Dex players and is certain to be tons of fun. It is also one of the best starting classes for beginners and an excellent Elden Ring PvE starting class.

Prisoner

Stats	Value
Level	9
Vigor	11
Mind	12
Endurance	11
Strength	11
Dexterity	14
Intelligence	14
Faith	6
Arcane	9

Akin to the Astrologer class, the Prisoner class is also a Sorcery Dex hybrid class, but with a little higher dex. The higher dex means a class like this will have the Spells take a backseat while being a little more confrontational.

The Prisoner class comes equipped with the glintstone staff and an Estoc. All in all, this class will be tons of fun due to the ability to use Dex weapons while doing massive amounts of damage with spells. One of the best Starting class for PvE and Hybrid builds.

Bandit

Stats	Value
Level	5
Vigor	10
Mind	11
Endurance	10
Strength	9
Dexterity	13
Intelligence	9
Faith	8
Arcane	14

The bandit class is reminiscent of Luck builds of the past. Coming with high arcane and mid dex, this class is ideal for those who preferred luck builds. While there is not much info on luck yet, we have had infusions that scaled with luck in the past which were very powerful. On top of that, luck also boosed item discovery.

Coming with an Arcane rating of 15 and a dex rating f 13 with the Great knife, short bow and parrying shield, expect fun playthroughs and high item discovery. This class will certainly test your patience initially but will be rewarding later on. It will also force you to become a good parry player for the knife will be the most viable when parring. Overall, the Bandit class will be a great Elden Ring Starting class for luck builds.

Good Luck in the Lands between, tarnished!