If you’ve never tried a particular Elden Ring playstyle, start with the kind of combat you want to experience—not a supposedly perfect stat spread. Bandai Namco says starting classes shape the early journey rather than lock you into a permanent build, and that there is “no one character build.” Here are four approachable directions drawn from the publisher’s class archetypes, with the trade-offs to consider as you experiment.
How to choose a build to experiment with
Think about what you want to do from moment to moment. Do you want to stay close and land quick attacks, create distance and cast spells, or meet enemies behind a shield? The options below are playstyle starting points, not a ranked list. Your class affects your start; it does not dictate every choice you make afterward.
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ELDEN RING: Tarnished Edition - Nintendo Switch 2 | $79.00 | Buy on Amazon |
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Elden Ring (PS5) (European Version) | $34.00 | Buy on Amazon |
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ELDEN RING Tarnished Edition | Digital | Nintendo Switch 2 Digital Code | $79.99 | Buy on Amazon |
- Range: Decide whether you want close combat, weapon reach, or ranged spellcasting.
- Timing: Quick repeated attacks and slower, committed swings reward different rhythms.
- Setup: Weapons, skills, spells, and their upgrades can shape how much preparation your approach asks of you.
- Defense: A shield, evasion, summons, or a willingness to disengage can each give you room to respond when a fight gets difficult.
These are practical comparison points, not publisher-scored rankings. Bandai Namco’s class guide presents the archetypes below as starting points, while its starter guide describes tools you can use to shape your approach.
Four Elden Ring builds worth trying
Samurai: pair a katana with a bow
Choose Samurai if you want to alternate between close-range weapon combat and attacks from farther away. The publisher’s Samurai archetype starts with a katana and bow, giving you two ways to engage rather than asking you to commit to spellcasting or shield-led defense.
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The trade-off is that switching between those roles takes judgment: you still need to decide when to close in and when distance is useful. Try this if you enjoy adapting your range as a fight changes. The archetype is listed as a starting class, not an exclusive route; the official class guide says your class does not permanently restrict your build.
Prophet: make incantations your focus
Prophet is the publisher’s clear starting point if you want to build around incantations. It suits players curious about using magic in combat rather than relying only on weapon attacks.
Its appeal is variety in how you approach encounters, but spell use means learning when to cast and when another response makes more sense. If you want to explore incantations without assuming they solve every situation, Prophet gives you a natural place to begin. The recommendation uses the base-game class archetype described by Bandai Namco.
Rank #2
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Hero: try an axe with a shield
Hero is the publisher’s example for players drawn to an axe-and-shield approach. It puts weapon combat and a defensive option together, making it a fitting experiment if you want to face enemies directly while retaining the ability to use a shield.
This is not a promise that every attack can be safely blocked or that a shield removes the need to learn enemy timing. The choice is about the feel of combat: use the weapon when you see an opening, and treat defense as another tool rather than a substitute for paying attention.
Astrologer: explore ranged sorceries
Choose Astrologer if casting sorceries from range sounds more appealing than leading with a melee weapon. The publisher identifies Astrologer with sorceries, so it is a straightforward class archetype for a first experiment with that style.
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Ranged casting changes how you approach space and timing; it does not make every encounter effortless. Expect to learn when you have room to cast and when you need to reposition or use another option. This recommendation is based on the base-game class archetype, not expansion-only equipment.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What to do when the build feels difficult
A difficult encounter does not prove that you chose the wrong build. Elden Ring gives you ways to change how you approach a challenge, and progress does not depend on a build alone.
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- Try a different skill: Bandai Namco describes Ashes of War as weapon skills that can deliver attacks or temporary effects. Experimenting with a weapon skill can change how your weapon behaves.
- Explore elsewhere: The publisher’s starter guidance recommends exploring around strong enemies. You can look for another route or return after gaining experience and improving your equipment.
- Use Spirit Ashes: Summons are another tool the publisher identifies for tackling encounters.
- Upgrade your equipment: Upgrade materials can help you improve your gear; consider this alongside changes to your tactics.
- Play with others: The publisher describes co-op with two other players as an available option.
These are options, not requirements. Use the one that makes a difficult fight more manageable for you.
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How Patch 1.17 affects these recommendations
Bandai Namco Europe published Patch 1.17 on August 27, 2026. It adds Heavy Knight and Idus Knight as starting classes with Tarnished Pack content and includes balance changes for listed weapons, shields, skills, sorceries, and incantations. Online play requires the update. The four archetypes above remain grounded in the publisher’s class descriptions; this article does not assign exact stats or claim a universal damage advantage.
The patch notes separate general balance adjustments from a PvP-only section. A change identified as PvP-only should not be read as a change to single-player or co-op balance. Check the official Patch 1.17 notes for the full list and mode-specific details.
When you need Shadow of the Erdtree
The four starting-class experiments above do not require expansion-specific gear. If you want to use weapons, equipment, skills, or magic added by Shadow of the Erdtree, you need the expansion; Bandai Namco states that the standalone expansion requires the base game. Its published physical retail versions are for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. Confirm the platform and edition you intend to play before buying, using the publisher’s Shadow of the Erdtree product information.
Pick the combat feel you want
For a mix of close and ranged weapon options, try Samurai. For incantations, start with Prophet; for sorceries, try Astrologer. If you want an axe and shield, choose Hero. You can change direction as you play: Bandai Namco’s advice is to make your character what you want, not to treat a starting class as a permanent commitment. Its official June 5, 2026 article attributes “Make of thyselves that which ye desire” to Queen Marika and says, “There is no one path through ELDEN RING. No one character build, either.”
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