best starting class

[lhalselliii]

im thinking of getting elden ring and i was wondering what class should i start with because i want a class that will allow me a good balance of magic and weapons not to mention this is my first time playing a souls like game ever any suggestions

[zmanbuilder]

Vagabond.

[LuckyCheshire]

Sounds like the Confessor is perfect for you. Have fun, and remember to level Vigor a ton at the start. It really helps.

[MidnightMist]

Strictly depends on what kind of magic you want.

[Lucifer_]

Prisoner

[BingusDingus]

Wretch.

[Troppauer]

Vagabond have good stats and vertisale weapons. And good armor.

Samurai have strong weapon and bow.

Confessor is also very good starting pick if you want some magic.

[vendel]

Originally posted by lhalselliii:

im thinking of getting elden ring and i was wondering what class should i start with because i want a class that will allow me a good balance of magic and weapons not to mention this is my first time playing a souls like game ever any suggestions

Vagabond starts with the highest Vigor stat (health), so it's the better choice for beginners. In fact, it's the better choice in general, because you can always put points into the magic stats of your choosing as you level. Many of the cool/nice spells aren't found until later in the game anyway, so you're not missing out.

[zero]

Originally posted by BingusDingus:

Wretch.

base 10 stats and lvl 1, a great choice both for freedom to build and easily fixable builds if you find something new to enjoy without having to make a new character cause your choice has 8 int or something.

[LuckyCheshire]

Originally posted by MidnightMist:

Strictly depends on what kind of magic you want.

Well, yes. So for the OP: there are two primary kinds of magic in the game, Sorceries and Incantations. Sorceries are pretty much 90% different elaborate variations on Magic Missile, while Incantations have a wide range of different buffing and healing options, while still having some good attacks later on. The Confessor is the best starting class if you want a mix of spells and weaponry IMO, they're Faith (Incantations) based. The Sorceries based class, the Astrologer, has a lot more trouble using even basic weapons near the start, and is honestly a little harder to use anyway if you're going in to the game blind.

[zmanbuilder]

Originally posted by gigapsycho:

Originally posted by lhalselliii:

im thinking of getting elden ring and i was wondering what class should i start with because i want a class that will allow me a good balance of magic and weapons not to mention this is my first time playing a souls like game ever any suggestions

Vagabond starts with the highest Vigor stat (health), so it's the better choice for beginners. In fact, it's the better choice in general, because you can always put points into the magic stats of your choosing as you level. Many of the cool/nice spells aren't found until later in the game anyway, so you're not missing out.

Plus it starts with a 100% physical damage block shield.

[Key]

The best starting class is the one you can use to min-max the build that you planned, regardless of the background. You can farm a godrick Soldier early on for equipment that's pretty much on par with the Vagabond anyway.

The class that has the lowest score in the attribute you won't be using at all is the best class for your character.

Vagabond is the best for most builds that don't use Arcane.

Astrologer is the best only if you want to min-max Intelligence to the point of not investing any point into endurance, strenght and dexterity. Pretty much a pure caster.

Prisoner is the best for any build that revolves around Intelligence but doesn't use Faith at all.

Hero is the best for Arcane builds that do not use Intelligence and Faith at all,

Prophet is the best for builds that combine Faith and Arcane.

Bandit, Confessor and Warrior would only be the best if you're going for something exceedingly specific.

Wretch is objectively the worst since it starts naked and cannot be min-maxed since all attributes start at 10. It's for RL1 runs or builds that use every stat, the second you stop using even a single attribute, any other class is better.

[BingusDingus]

Originally posted by Key:

The best starting class is the one you can use to min-max the build that you planned, regardless of the background. You can farm a godrick Soldier early on for equipment that's pretty much on par with the Vagabond anyway.

The class that has the lowest score in the attribute you won't be using at all is the best class for your character.

Vagabond is the best for most builds that don't use Arcane.

Astrologer is the best only if you want to min-max Intelligence to the point of not investing any point into endurance, strenght and dexterity. Pretty much a pure caster.

Prisoner is the best for any build that revolves around Intelligence but doesn't use Faith at all.

Hero is the best for Arcane builds that do not use Intelligence and Faith at all,

Prophet is the best for builds that combine Faith and Arcane.

Bandit, Confessor and Warrior would only be the best if you're going for something exceedingly specific.

Wretch is objectively the worst since it starts naked and cannot be min-maxed since all attributes start at 10. It's for RL1 runs or builds that use every stat, the second you stop using even a single attribute, any other class is better.

Wretch is objectively the best simply based upon the fact that you can be whatever you want, picking any other class railroads you into a specific build or else you're wasting stats. The difference the higher starting stats give you becomes less and less relevant the further you go into the game.
EDIT: Also wretch just feels more rewarding to play because everything you find is an upgrade which is just a massive dopamine rush.

[zmanbuilder]

Originally posted by BingusDingus:

Originally posted by Key:

The best starting class is the one you can use to min-max the build that you planned, regardless of the background. You can farm a godrick Soldier early on for equipment that's pretty much on par with the Vagabond anyway.

The class that has the lowest score in the attribute you won't be using at all is the best class for your character.

Vagabond is the best for most builds that don't use Arcane.

Astrologer is the best only if you want to min-max Intelligence to the point of not investing any point into endurance, strenght and dexterity. Pretty much a pure caster.

Prisoner is the best for any build that revolves around Intelligence but doesn't use Faith at all.

Hero is the best for Arcane builds that do not use Intelligence and Faith at all,

Prophet is the best for builds that combine Faith and Arcane.

Bandit, Confessor and Warrior would only be the best if you're going for something exceedingly specific.

Wretch is objectively the worst since it starts naked and cannot be min-maxed since all attributes start at 10. It's for RL1 runs or builds that use every stat, the second you stop using even a single attribute, any other class is better.

Wretch is objectively the best simply based upon the fact that you can be whatever you want, picking any other class railroads you into a specific build or else you're wasting stats. The difference the higher starting stats give you becomes less and less relevant the further you go into the game.
EDIT: Also wretch just feels more rewarding to play because everything you find is an upgrade which is just a massive dopamine rush.

every class other than wretch gives you a taste of a different playstyle, i'd say try them all and keep the save you find most fun.

[TropicalLad]

Originally posted by Key:

The class that has the lowest score in the attribute you won't be using at all is the best class for your character.

Aka below 10 on the stat as that's what Wretch starts out with and is the baseline. But also, if that stat is already below 10 that you would use, but another is as well that you wouldn't. Then, it's basic arithmetic on the maximum value of your level.

Example: Vagabond. All I want is Intelligence
Intelligence: 9
Faith: 9
Arcane: 7

Add 1 level to match it with the baseline of 10. Vagabond has 4 extra levels to work with for your build if you choose it over Wretch.

[Key]

Originally posted by BingusDingus:

Originally posted by Key:

The best starting class is the one you can use to min-max the build that you planned, regardless of the background. You can farm a godrick Soldier early on for equipment that's pretty much on par with the Vagabond anyway.

The class that has the lowest score in the attribute you won't be using at all is the best class for your character.

Vagabond is the best for most builds that don't use Arcane.

Astrologer is the best only if you want to min-max Intelligence to the point of not investing any point into endurance, strenght and dexterity. Pretty much a pure caster.

Prisoner is the best for any build that revolves around Intelligence but doesn't use Faith at all.

Hero is the best for Arcane builds that do not use Intelligence and Faith at all,

Prophet is the best for builds that combine Faith and Arcane.

Bandit, Confessor and Warrior would only be the best if you're going for something exceedingly specific.

Wretch is objectively the worst since it starts naked and cannot be min-maxed since all attributes start at 10. It's for RL1 runs or builds that use every stat, the second you stop using even a single attribute, any other class is better.

Wretch is objectively the best simply based upon the fact that you can be whatever you want, picking any other class railroads you into a specific build or else you're wasting stats. The difference the higher starting stats give you becomes less and less relevant the further you go into the game.
EDIT: Also wretch just feels more rewarding to play because everything you find is an upgrade which is just a massive dopamine rush.

Did you seriously give me a Jester because you like playing as a wretch? What are you, 12?