For a first playthrough, choose Vagabond if you want armour and close combat, Samurai if a katana and bow appeal to you, or Astrologer if you want sorcery immediately. Pick Golden Seed as your keepsake for an early flask charge. Your class determines your starting equipment and stats, not a permanent restriction on your build.
For a first playthrough, choose Vagabond if you want armour and close combat, Samurai if a katana and bow appeal to you, or Astrologer if you want sorcery immediately. Pick Golden Seed as your keepsake for an early flask charge. Your class determines your starting equipment and stats, not a permanent restriction on your build.
Vagabond begins with a heavy equipment load. If you prefer the longsword, remove the equipped halberd and check that the equipment screen shows a lighter load, then test your roll; the weapon remains in your inventory. (source)
Which start fits you?
| Start | First-hour style | Watch for |
|---|---|---|
| Vagabond | Armoured melee with room to learn blocking and dodging | Check equipment load; remove equipment if your roll feels too heavy. |
| Samurai | Katana up close and bow at range | Arrows are a resource; don't depend on them alone. |
| Astrologer | Sorcery from a distance | Spells use FP; keep space and allocate some flask charges to FP if needed. |
On character creation, inspect each class's starting attributes and gear before confirming. A class with the attributes and equipment you want gives a smoother start, but later you can improve attributes and use other equipment when you meet its requirements. Starting attributes still matter for planning a specialised build.
Use the Golden Seed
At a Site of Grace, open Flasks and select the option to add a charge. The starting Golden Seed provides an early extra use; you can allocate available charges between health and FP flasks at a grace. Other keepsakes have uses too, and Golden Seeds can be found in the world, so a different choice does not ruin your character.
Play the tutorial, try your weapon and roll, then explore rather than forcing the first dangerous enemy. Class availability depends on edition: the 2026 Tarnished Pack adds Heavy Knight and Idus Knight, also included with Tarnished Edition on Nintendo Switch 2. Check what your version offers.
Sources: Bandai Namco class overview · Patch 1.17 and Tarnished Pack · Golden Seed flask guide.