Elden Ring: Best Character Origins, Ranked

In Elden Ring, players have the freedom to build their character however they wish. This is because all weapons, spells, and armor require various stats to be achieved if the player wishes to use them efficiently. Even with this freedom throughout Elden Ring, players start their adventure by selecting one of several classes, better known as Character Origins.

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By Peter Morics

Players don't necessarily need to stick with these starting stat layouts for the rest of the game, but choosing one allows the player to start at a specific level, with varied stats, and a unique set of gear to protect themselves with. While some of these Character Origin options also allow players to start with an entirely clean slate, others can help build an early identity for when you're still coming to terms with the game.

All Character Origin gear items can be found in the game, though some are more difficult to acquire than others.

10 Bandit

Quite Weak But Interesting To Build From

Rune Level: 5

Vigor	10	Dexterity	13
Mind	11	Intelligence	9
Endurance	10	Faith	8
Strength	9	Arcane	14

While every Character Origin in Elden Ring has the potential to become something great, Bandit is arguably one of the weakest starts for players and is certainly not an option to be chosen by those with little experience with the RPG.

Bandit is a great option for players who want a high endurance and Dexterity start in Elden Ring, though arguably other Character Origins can do this much better. Players looking for an aggressive character to start with should look elsewhere, as the Bandit playstyle highlights dodging and keeping to a distance.

9 Confessor

Made For Hybrid Casters

Rune Level: 10

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

While the spell of Assassin's Approach suggests that the Confessor Character Origin in Elden Ring is made for players who are hoping to create some sort of stealth build, this playstyle isn't optimal when dealing with bosses.

Confessor makes for an interesting Paladin-like class, especially as they start with decent stats in Faith, Dexterity, and Strength. This also allows players to build the Confessor as a hybrid of casting spells while also having solid melee damage to rely on, though many of the other Origins available make the Confessor obsolete, as they can do the same job better.

8 Prophet

A Staple Faith Start

Rune Level: 7

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

While at first glance, players may be put off by the Prophet due to them looking rather defenseless, The Prophet Character Origin is a great start for any player who plans to focus purely on Incantations. Starting with the Incantations of Heal and Catch Flame, a player is able to support themselves against foes without worrying about their health getting too low.

While players may still run out of FP fast at the start of their adventure if they keep using Catch Flame, players are also given a decent amount of Strength to wield some of the heaviest weaponry to protect themselves.

7 Astrologer

Perfect Start For Purely Magic Builds

Rune Level: 6

Vigor	9	Dexterity	12
Mind	15	Intelligence	16
Endurance	9	Faith	7
Strength	8	Arcane	9

Although Astrologer is the class with the least amount of Vigor, this doesn't stop this Character Origin from being one of the best for players who are planning to focus on Intelligence-based spells and nothing else. Alongside this magical start through stats, the Astrologer also starts with the Glintstone Pebble and Glintstone Arc Sorceries.

Players are likely to still be using Glintstone Pebble even when they hit the end game, due to how useful of a spell it is, as well as the start overall being excellent for both long-time Elden Ring players and those that have only just begun their journey.

6 Hero

Perfect Strength Build Start

Rune Level: 7

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

Strength builds are some of the strongest builds in Elden Ring as they allow players to survive against lethal attacks while also being able to easily break the poise of their opponents. Players that want an early start into making a character that has some of the best Strength while avoiding other stats such as Dexterity should look no further than the Hero.

Wielding a Battleaxe makes the Hero an even more appealing choice with the impressive damage it will do to not only regular foes but also the numerous bosses players will face on the journey ahead. Hero's 14 Vigor is another appealing reason for choosing the Character Origin, as a new player is less likely to fall to their enemies.

5 Warrior

Made For Aggressive Tactics

Rune Level: 8

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

While some players may consider Strength builds to be quite aggressive, selecting a Character Origin that focuses heavily on Dexterity is arguably one of the most aggressive starts. Players can craft a character that focuses on being in the heart of combat while also having the agility to dodge out the way of attacks outside. They can find this play-style quickly when choosing to start as the Warrior.

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By Evan Arnoldi Sebayang

Besides the high Dexterity stat and impressive Vigor, Warriors also begin Elden Ring wielding a scimitar in each hand. This allows players to deal damage quicker than those who can only use one weapon. However, players can still equip the Riveted Wooden Shield if needed.

4 Samurai

Best Starting Weapon

Rune Level: 9

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

The bleed status effect is one of the strongest in Elden Ring, and players are able to quickly create an impressive Dexterity bleed build early into their Elden Ring adventure by playing as the Samurai.

Besides its impressive Dexterity stats that make the Samurai a brilliant option for any player hoping to focus on that play style, the Samurai also starts with one of the most powerful weapons available to the character origins. The Uchigatana katana is a great starting option for any player looking to focus on a powerful blood build while also being cheap to upgrade. The Land of Reeds Armor is also a good set with a sharp aesthetic.

3 Prisoner

Brilliant Base Stats Start

Rune Level: 9

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

Prisoner may not look like the most appealing option, appearance-wise, especially due to the ridiculous metal helmet. Armor aside, however, this is by far one of the greatest options for veteran soulslike players who are looking for a Character Origin that has a fair share of base stats while also leaning towards a Strength and Intelligence hybrid build throughout Elden Ring.

Like the Astrologer, players have both a melee weapon and a magical spell to cast. The Estoc is an incredible weapon to use, while Magic Glintblade will allow the player to attack from a distance.

2 Wretch

A Difficult But Rewarding Beginning

Rune Level: 1

Vigor	10	Dexterity	10
Mind	10	Intelligence	10
Endurance	10	Faith	10
Strength	10	Arcane	10

Wretch is a Character Origin that should only be used by veteran players of soulslike games or those who are truly looking for a challenge. Unlike the other Character Origins, the Wretch has no armor and only the basic Club as a weapon, making them appear pretty defenseless.

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By Gerardo Molina

Players must work to find various equipment while exploring Elden Ring if they hope to have a chance of surviving, though it is arguably easier to find these things in Elden Ring when compared to the Dark Souls titles. Besides being utterly naked, Wretch is the only Character Origin that starts at Rune level 1, meaning it's the ideal blank slate for any build players might envision.

1 Vagabond

Made For Beginners

Rune Level: 9

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

Out of all the Character Origins available in Elden Ring, the best that many players are likely to enjoy starting with is the Vagabond. This Character Origin is especially great for players who are new to soulslike games, as the Vagabond has the most Vigor out of the available Origins.

Alongside having the best Vigor, Vagabond is also made for Strength or Dexterity builds in Elden Ring, as players can easily level up these two stats to create a unit that can take a hit or two in the early game against bosses while also being able to return some of that damage too. The Vagabond armor set, additionally, offers strong early game protection and a classic knight aesthetic — while still being able to dodge roll with ease.

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