Elden Ring has a broad sandbox to play the game as you wish. You can create such a mixture of builds and playstyles that it gets overwhelming sometimes to figure out which path you want to set out on.
Do not worry when you acquire items not usable by your class choice, as this game provides a robust “Respec” mechanic though you get access to it later down the line. So the choice you make for the class will dictate the beginning part of your adventure.
Elden Ring is such a balanced game that each class has its strengths and weaknesses, so for this list, the higher the class is on the tier list, the better the strengths are in relation to their weakness. A summarized list of classes is presented below:
| Tiers | Elden Ring Classes |
| S-Tier | Vagabond, Astrologer, Samurai |
| A-Tier | Warrior, Prisoner, Hero, Confessor |
| B-Tier | Prophet, Bandit |
| C-Tier | Wretch |
S-Tier
These are the best classes Elden Ring offers, especially if you are a souls series beginner. They can deal enough damage for the start and have a rather welcoming playstyle than the rest of the classes. Choosing one will ease you into the brutal world of the Lands Between.
Vagabond
The Vagabond is a banished knight that was forced to leave his homeland. He now wanders the lands in a cloaked, armor-clad. A brute with an attitude that won’t quit. He can take as much punishment as you throw at him, and he will just dust off the sword and pick it up again with a bloody smile.
| Vagabond Stats | Stat Level |
| Level | 9 |
| Vigor | 15 |
| Mind | 10 |
| Endurance | 11 |
| Strength | 14 |
| Dexterity | 13 |
| Intelligence | 9 |
| Faith | 9 |
| Arcane | 7 |
Pros
This is the class most people end up using for its tanky nature. With heavy weaponry in one hand and a proper shield in the other along with the great armor for protection, you are not afraid to dive headfirst into any fight and be content that you will pummel the hell out of your opponent.
This class has the best Vigor / Health pool and overall protection that you can withstand some punishment from the starting large enemies. And the stats favor Strength so that you can equip yourself with the heaviest of weapons and armor sets the game has to offer.
Cons
The class is lacking in magic stats like Intelligence and Faith so you can’t use any initially. Also, the tackiness of this class gets to some players’ heads, and you might end up barging into bosses without a strategy in place. Surprisingly though, you may end up winning most of these fights which, in our opinion, takes some of the zeal away from the game.
Astrologer
As the moniker suggests, this guy reads the fate in stars and is also the heir to the school of glintstone sorcery. The magic flows through them and it’s not the entertaining kind so best leave them tending to their telescope.
| Astrologer Stats | Stat Level |
| Level | 6 |
| Vigor | 9 |
| Mind | 15 |
| Endurance | 9 |
| Strength | 8 |
| Dexterity | 12 |
| Intelligence | 16 |
| Faith | 7 |
| Arcane | 9 |
Pros
Magic and more specifically sorcery has never outclassed a pure melee build in most From Software games, this is not true in Elden Ring’s case as sorcery is by far one of the best ways you could play this RPG. This class masters sorcery with its amazing starting spells like Glintstone Pebble that you can easily use throughout the adventure. And you are primed to unleash magical hell later down the line when you get the juicy spells.
Picking enemies off from a distance and not being worried about uncomfortable face-to-face confrontations is the name of the game here.
Cons
This class is weak in HP and defensive capabilities so the chance of dying quickly is always present and put you on your toes in front of fast-moving enemies. The sword and shield combo does provide a good melee alternative but it best be left to the side and focus more on spells.
Samurai
A Japanese-inspired Class for a Japanese-made game. An honorable fighter from the far-off lands of Reeds. The samurai inspirations are further capitalized with the use of Katana and amazing longbow archery.
| Samurai Stats | Stat Level |
| Level | 9 |
| Vigor | 12 |
| Mind | 11 |
| Endurance | 13 |
| Strength | 12 |
| Dexterity | 15 |
| Intelligence | 9 |
| Faith | 8 |
| Arcane | 8 |
Pros
I am biased towards the starting weapon of this class, the Uchigatana; its weapon skill is so damaging and fast that no weapon can even come close to it at the start of the game that is, and on top of that, it inflicts bleed build-up, and bleed, is an OP mechanic in Elden Ring.
The move set of the weapon combined with a good shield is a great combination in our opinion.
The stat distribution here is very balanced on the purely physical side of the spectrum like Vigor, Dexterity, Strength, and Endurance. The class also provides ranged capabilities with the longbow and an assortment of arrows including Fire Arrows.
Cons
The class lacks magic stats so you won’t be able to experiment with them much until you start pumping levels in them. Not much wrong here I guess!
A-Tier
These classes are just a tad bit lacking than your S-Tier classes but don’t sideline them as they serve a good purpose for the exact type of playstyle they are aiming for.
Warrior
The blender class wielding two swords at a time and shredding enemies to bits. The Warrior belongs to a nomad tribe that loves their multiple blades. His technique is exceptional and he can whittle down his enemies with precision.
| Warrior Stats | Stat Level |
| Level | 8 |
| Vigor | 11 |
| Mind | 12 |
| Endurance | 11 |
| Strength | 10 |
| Dexterity | 16 |
| Intelligence | 10 |
| Faith | 8 |
| Arcane | 9 |
Pros
This is a fast-paced class that comes with the double swords to dual wield and take advantage of the unique power-stance mechanic in Elden Ring i.e. the L1 combo for dual-wielding similar types of weapons. Players who are willing to let go of defensive play and focus more on bobbing and weaving in fighting situations can make the most out of this class.
And with the highest Dexterity stat of any class you are a step in to wield the better Dex weapons you find out there.
Cons
There is a learning curve, especially for new souls players with the lower defensive capabilities of this class and the dual-wielding of swords comes with their own set of playstyle. The shield that comes with this class is there for parry purposes only and shouldn’t be relied upon taking much brunt of a heavy attack.
Prisoner
A not so subtle reference to Griffith from Berserk manga. This guy is a rich man who has fallen into bad luck. Before being incarcerated he was learning to master both the sword and magic side of the Lands Between.
| Prisoner Stats | Stat Level |
| Level | 9 |
| Vigor | 11 |
| Mind | 12 |
| Endurance | 11 |
| Strength | 11 |
| Dexterity | 14 |
| Intelligence | 14 |
| Faith | 6 |
| Arcane | 9 |
Pros
This is a hybrid class that supports both Dexterity-based melee weapons and Intelligence for sorcery. It comes with a nice sword that you can poke enemies with while maintaining some distance and has a staff as well to cast some magic.
The only spell it comes with has a bit of a delay between casting it and it actually hurling towards the enemy, this can be used to your advantage as enemy AI in the game dodge as soon as you cast and with the delay of this spell will surely going to hit the enemy.
Cons
This class greatly suffers from defensive stats and equipment. The mask is the only part of the set that provides any defense while the shirt and pants are there just to cover you essentially. The Vigor stat is low as well so can get one-shot easily. The shield it comes with is only for parrying and doesn’t block much damage.
This class has a very great stat spread but only the most advanced players will truly take advantage of its niche.
Hero
The Hero is a barbarian-esque figure that uses a fast battleax to smash! Badlands chieftain blood runs in their veins. A mix of fast moves and heavy attacks just like the Vikings it is clearly designed after.
| Hero Stats | Stat Level |
| Level | 7 |
| Vigor | 14 |
| Mind | 9 |
| Endurance | 12 |
| Strength | 16 |
| Dexterity | 9 |
| Intelligence | 7 |
| Faith | 8 |
| Arcane | 11 |
Pros
Just short of the Vagabond, this is a faster Strength-based class that wants the player to experiment with heavier weapons all the while staying nimble. The class comes with an excellent starting weapon that is both fast and hard-hitting.
This class’s stat spread encourages players to go in for sustained weapon strikes with a good level of Endurance / Stamina and Strength to back it up.
Cons
The starting shield this class comes with has a good mix of defense and weight, though you can not fully absorb damage. This class suffers from the same cave people approach where you end up swinging your weapon mindlessly and are hit back by the enemy but in this case, you are punished more because the armor is not that damage soaking.
Confessor
The confessor is the spy for the church used for covert operations. This class is good at swords and incantations both. Keep in mind that this is the only class that starts at level 10.
| Confessor Stats | Stat Level |
| Level | 10 |
| Vigor | 10 |
| Mind | 13 |
| Endurance | 10 |
| Strength | 12 |
| Dexterity | 12 |
| Intelligence | 9 |
| Faith | 14 |
| Arcane | 9 |
Pros
This class has the highest level at the start of any class. Just like the Prisoner, this class is also a hybrid one that supports Faith, and Strength and Dexterity are equally leveled so you can make your own decision on which side to opt for later builds.
It comes with some effective Incantations like Assassin’s Approach that make it harder for you to be detected for a better stealthy approach to situations. And Urgent Heal Incantation which restores your health and is great for lowering your reliance on HP Flask that you can allocate more to FP.
Within this mix of your equipment, you are given a versatile sword and a shield that can block 100 Physical damage.
Cons
The stat spread can become useless if you are for example specializing in a Faith and Strength build, then all that Dexterity stats already allotted will be of no use to you. This class suffers from some issues that only advanced players will understand which is the over-leveled beginning of this class.
B-Tier
The classes in this tier are only for veterans. They serve a very particular purpose and a type of playstyle that doesn’t bode well for the early adopters of this genre.
Prophet
An outcast of society for heretical beliefs. They have high Faith and heal their weak self back into a fight. But weak is the focal word here. And require a lot of faith from the player themselves to work.
| Prophet Stats | Stat Level |
| Level | 7 |
| Vigor | 10 |
| Mind | 14 |
| Endurance | 8 |
| Strength | 11 |
| Dexterity | 10 |
| Intelligence | 7 |
| Faith | 16 |
| Arcane | 10 |
Pros
A pure Faith focused class. This one is a sure pick if you are aiming for Incantations only. The fire incantation it comes with needs you to be close to the enemy to burn them. And the Heal incantation can alleviate HP flask usage along with healing your allies both multiplayer and AI summons, even the spirit summons can be healed with this.
The melee weapon is good as the range of the weapon can keep your fragile self from getting into harm’s way.
Cons
The starting spells of this class are very lackluster and it will take some time for you to get your hands on some effective ones. In the meanwhile get ready to die a lot as the class has no defensive capabilities in it stat spread and the armor and shield that it comes with.
This class is for advanced players only who are accustomed to dealing with the enemies in From Software games. Players who move swiftly towards getting the best Incantations this game has to offer then this class will prove very fruitful.
Bandit
The Bandit is a nifty guy that aims for weak points and critical hits and shines as an archer. The Bandit has high Dexterity and Arcane. The class is mainly designed for stealth and parrying.
| Bandit Stats | Stat Level |
| Level | 5 |
| Vigor | 10 |
| Mind | 11 |
| Endurance | 10 |
| Strength | 9 |
| Dexterity | 13 |
| Intelligence | 9 |
| Faith | 8 |
| Arcane | 14 |
Pros
This class is for players that have mastered the art of parrying and stealth. You must have come across videos on Youtube with low-level players besting any boss just by parrying and this will be the class that is most likely in that video. You can lure and chip the health of enemies with the quick-firing short bow.
This class also has a high Arcane level that can lead to the special kinds of Magic and status effects specialization, like bleed, which are scaled off of arcane.
Cons
The pros are its cons as well, due to the parry and stealth-based playstyle this class is honed for its not an easy task to master. And on top of all that you are very weak in defensive criteria so a missed window of parry will lead to demise.
C-Tier
A single class in this tier is very subjective to the player. From an overview, it might look like downright crap but there is whole another approach to it that most players won’t understand.
Wretch
The Wretch is a poor, directionless soul, walking in their birthday suit. Their sad weapon of choice is a club. This is the only class where you start off at level 1 and have equal points in each stat. They are not even bestowed by any clothes.
| Wretch Stats | Stat Level |
| Level | 1 |
| Vigor | 10 |
| Mind | 10 |
| Endurance | 10 |
| Strength | 10 |
| Dexterity | 10 |
| Intelligence | 10 |
| Faith | 10 |
| Arcane | 10 |
This Class starts out with no armor
This class in itself is a Pro or a Con and it all depends on the right set of hands that is controlling it.
With no specific stat that stands out and no defensive capabilities wielding just a meager weapon, players who are not familiar with this style will be annihilated instantly. Though flipping the coin over you can say that this class is a blank slate and one that can be custom made to the desires of the handler. No stat is holding you back or pushing you towards something its all equal.
A veteran can create wonders out of this essentially naked build but a beginner can only embarrass themselves. It is also for players who like the ultimate challenge and welcome punishment.
The fact that this class is about nothing, in particular, puts it down in this tier.
What is the Hardest Class in Elden Ring?
The hardest class to play with can easily be the Wretch. The fact that this class has no armor on and has no attribute to draw power from is enough to make it difficult to play with. Even the weapon it has quite is quite mediocre.
This class only attracts people who like to be punished. Though Wretch is a class devoid of anything the proper class that might be considered the hardest to master and even begin with is Bandit.
Which Class Has the Most HP In Elden Ring?
Vagabond has the highest stat level for Vigor hence the largest HP pool. On top of the HP, it has the best armor of all the classes so it can stand and trade blows with some of the hardest enemies in the game.
And, with so little FP requirement for the class, you can allocate more HP flasks to keep replenishing that health meter. If you learn how to block and manage stamina with that shield then you can further manage to lose as little HP as possible.
What Is The Best Class For A Beginner In Elden Ring?
Samurai or Vagabond. Samurai is beginner-friendly for its fast maneuverability and amazing weapons from the get-go. Not only the melee potential is there but the longbow provides a ranged solution to thin the herd before they trample you.
As for Vagabond it is mentioned in the previous answer that the sheer HP pool makes many of the early fights trivial, where you can stand straight and fight without flinching or needing to learn dodging or in some cases even enemy patterns.
What’s The Most OP Class In Elden Ring?
Well, it depends on the player in most cases but if I had to choose one then Astrologer. Though keep in mind it is quite squishy but the power comes from staying away from the fight and ending most confrontations in your favor.
The sorcery side of Elden Ring is much too strong and if you maintain a certain distance and/or dodge effectively and use the Glintstone Pebble spell this class comes with to pummel your foes then you own the battlefield. A glass canon through and through.