Elden Ring Beginner’s Guide: Starting Classes, Early Progression, and Essential Tips

Elden Ring is one of the most rewarding games you’ll ever play, but it doesn’t hold your hand. This beginner’s guide will walk you through everything you need to know to get started — from choosing the right starting class to understanding how leveling works, how to survive your first hours in the Lands Between, and how to make the most of Roundtable Hold.

Choosing Your Starting Class

Elden Ring offers ten starting classes, but your choice matters less than you might think — any class can eventually be built into any playstyle. What matters is where you start and how comfortable you are with the early game. Here are the best options for newcomers:

Vagabond (Recommended for Beginners) — The Vagabond starts with solid Strength and Dexterity, medium armor, a shield, and a straight sword. This is the most forgiving starting point: the shield allows you to block attacks while you’re still learning enemy patterns, and the straight sword is a reliable, easy-to-use weapon throughout the early game. If you’ve never played a FromSoftware game before, start here.

Hero — For players who want to hit things very hard with an axe. The Hero starts with high Strength and can wield heavy weapons early. Less armor than the Vagabond but more raw damage output. Good choice if you want a blunt, aggressive playstyle.

Prisoner — A hybrid class that starts with both Intelligence and Dexterity, plus a staff and a sword. Great for players who want to mix sorcery into their melee combat, but the split stat investment can feel slow to develop at first.

Astrologer — The pure sorcerer starting class. High Intelligence, a staff, and starting sorceries make this the best entry point for magic builds, but early sorcery can feel underpowered until you find better spells and a higher-level staff.

Wretch — Every stat at level 10, no armor, a wooden club. This is the challenge run starting class. Avoid unless you specifically want a blank-slate experience.

Your First Boss: Margit, the Fell Omen

Margit is the game’s first major gatekeeper, and he will likely kill you several times. This is intentional — he teaches you to respect the game’s bosses. Here’s how to beat him:

Be patient. Margit has long attack strings. The biggest mistake is rolling too early or attacking during his animations. Wait for him to finish his combo before retaliating.

Watch for his delayed attacks. Margit holds his hammer in the air before bringing it down — the delay is longer than you expect. Don’t roll when you see him lift it; wait until the strike is actually coming down.