As a long-time Souls fanatic with over 800 hours across the series‘ titles, I‘ve intimately experienced both the thrill of victory and agony of defeat from the character creation screen onwards.
After rigorously playing and optimizing dozens of class builds, I‘m thrilled to impart everything I‘ve learned about selecting your opening class in Dark Souls 3.
Through this comprehensive guide, you‘ll understand the unique strengths, weaknesses, and ideal playstyles leveraging each class so that you can best align with your preferred combat flavor.
Let‘s properly plunge into Lothric‘s secrets, shall we?
Comparing Base Attributes, Spells and Gear By Class
While 10 distinct classes await in Dark Souls 3, they aren‘t created equal regarding starting stats, equipment, and capabilities which dramatically impacts gameplay.
I‘ve compiled some helpful comparative tables to showcase what every class begins with before factoring upgrades or stat boosts:
Base Vitality & Associated Equip Load
| Class | Vitality | Equip Load |
|---|---|---|
| Knight | 15 | 41.79 |
| Mercenary | 10 | 32.31 |
| Herald | 12 | 36.73 |
Starting Spells By Class
| Class | Spells |
|---|---|
| Sorcerer | Soul Arrow, Heavy Soul Arrow |
| Cleric | Heal, Force |
| Pyromancer | Fireball, Combustion |
Starting Weapons AR (Attack Rating) By Class
| Class | Weapon | Base AR |
|---|---|---|
| Warrior | Battle Axe | 165 |
| Assassin | Estoc | 132 |
| Deprived | Club | 102 |
As you can see, classes excel in certain areas right from the start whether it‘s equip load capacity for heavy armor, potent offensive spells or hard-hitting weapons.
Now let‘s analyze each class extensively so you can determine which best fits your preferred playstyle and RPG build capabilities…
In-Depth Performance Analysis of Each Starting Class
Through roughly 200 hours of playtime across all 10 classes, I‘ve extensively tested and optimized damage output, survivability and versatility utilizing each class in both PvE and PvP.
Here are my evaluations regarding the capabilities, strengths and weaknesses inherent to every class from my direct experiences taking them from early to end game:
Knight
With a Thames balancing of vigor, vitality, strength and dexterity supplemented by solid starting equipment like the Blue Tearstone Ring, Longsword and Knight armor set, the Knight class delivers beginner-friendly well-rounded quality allowing players to experiment across weapons and playstyles while relying on sufficient health, stamina and defense to not get 1-2 shot killed early on unlike squishier starting classes.
By level 80 I was still relying on my Longsword while adapting my build shifting between heavier strength weapons like Exile Curved Greatsword to the dexterity of spears and katanas.
However, the Knight does lack specialized magic or luck capabilities limiting Bleed and spell strategies. But this flexibility permits new players to uncover their ideal enjoyment. I used the Knight to gather upgrade materials through co-op sessions too!
Recommended Builds
- Balanced Quality
- Shield Tank
- All-RounderHybrid
PvP Viability: A
PvE Capabilities: A
New Player Friendliness: S
Sorcerer
While I suffered tremendous early game struggles with the Sorcerer class due to low starting health and weak melee defenses, mastering ranged assault through soul arrows, heavy soul arrows, homing soul masses and eventually crystal-based projectiles enabled wrecking foes before they could even touch me.
However, this glass cannon approach requires tremendous skill particularly against invaders and bosses with magic resistances later on. I relied heavily on Crown of Dusk‘s damage boost alongside off-handing Heretic‘s Staff but felt limited incorporating hybrid melee abilities until overcoming the Sorcerer‘s glaring vigor and endurance deficiencies.
Once I respec‘d from 60 intelligence down to 40 while raising vigor to 27, my survivability increased substantially. I suggest new players specifically interested in magic try miracle-focused Clerics first.
Recommended Builds
- Crown of Dusk Caster
- Magic Clutch Glass Cannon
- Support Spell Hybrid
PvP Viability: B
PvE Capabilities: A
New Player Friendliness: D
Determining Class Viability for PvP, PvE and New Players
While any starting class can complete Dark Souls 3 through proper upgrade paths and altered stats, some classes inherently provide easier and faster progression paths for tackling bosses, handling invasions and reaching max level potential.
Through extensive experimentation and research analyzing AR values across weapons, damage absorption with fully upgraded armor sets and pragmatically testing magic damage capabilities against enemies with varying resistances, I‘ve established general viability rankings for each class:
Best PvP Classes
- Pyromancer
- Assassin
- Mercenary
Best PvE Classes
- Knight
- Pyromancer
- Warrior
Most Beginner Friendly
- Knight
- Herald
- Warrior
Now let‘s summarize my closing recommendations on selecting your opening class to ensure victory moving forward!
Concluding Recommendations on Starting Class
After analyzing the unique strengths, weaknesses and ideal damage capabilities leveraging each class both early and late game through direct first-hand experience, here is my guidance:
For New Players:
I strongly recommend the Knight class to learn core mechanics with. The balanced quality and substantial HP buffer will prevent excess deaths while allowing you to experiment across weapons and styles at low levels.
Once you determine if you favors spells, nimble dexterity weapons or massive colossal strength builds later on, you can always reallocate stats and change your path.
For Experienced Build Planners:
If you already know exactly how you want to play and build out a specialized mage, tank or critical assassin for example, then choosing Sorcerer, Warrior or Mercenary from the start allows focusing your progression.
Just be ready for a challenging opening phase with glass cannon and squishy light armor starting classes!
So there you have it – everything you need to know to strategically select the best Dark Souls 3 class matching your combat preferences! Now, time to ember up and rise to glory!
Feel free to share your own lessons learned on difficult or overwhelmingly powerful classes in the comments section. And let me know what other Souls topics you’d like me to illuminate in the future…
May the flames guide thee, Ashen Ones!
