Demon's Souls best starting class recommendation for beginners explained

How important is the starting class choice in Demon's Souls?

When you begin your foray into the unforgiving world of Boletaria in Demon's Souls, you'll be presented with a range of classes to pick from right at the outset.

There's quite a range, in terms of selection and skill sets, but we're here to get your head around them. The following classes are available in Demon's Souls:

• Knight
• Priest
• Thief
• Magician
• Temple Knight
• Soldier
• Wanderer
• Barbarian
• Royalty
• Hunter

Don't worry, no matter what class you pick at the start of Demon's Souls, you'll always be able to equip any weapons and accessories, with some fringe-cases where armour and gear is gated based on which gender you pick. Thankfully, those are few and far between.

Though all classes are all intended to get you to grips with the game, each come with a different skill distribution. This is also not a thing to put too much stock in, as you'll be able to spec your skills however you want after you begin the game.

So ultimately, you can't go wrong. That said, if you want a specific starting class recommendation, here's our pick...

Our best beginners starting class recommendation in Demon's Souls

Our top pick for the best starter class in Demon's Souls is 'Royalty'. While the Royalty class might not come equipped with the best armour right out of the gate, it does have access to skills and items that will come in handy as you get to grips with Boletaria, especially so since you won't be able to level up until after you complete the first level of the game.

The reason behind why we picked the 'Royalty' class is pretty simple; other characters might have pretty limited options when it comes to taking down enemies, but the Royalty comes packed to the gills with skills and items that'll make it easier.

Starting off with how this class is built, the Royalty begins with a Rapier, and a Wizard's set of armour, which are nothing in particular to write home about. However, the Royalty is also equipped with a Silver Catalyst, in addition to having Soul Arrow as an accessible skill right out of the gate.

Instead of having a limited number of casts, like in some other 'Souls' titles, you have an MP bar in Demon's Souls, and your cast of Soul Arrow is further bolstered through the 'Silver Coronet', which increases your amount of MP, in addition to the 'Fragrant Ring'.

This combo will net you a multitude of casts for Soul Arrow, in addition to some more passive casts as your MP regenerates slowly as you progress through a level.

One weakness of the Royalty class is that you'll be stuck with the fairly limited moveset of the Rapier for the first level of the game.

But, worry not, you'll be able to pick up a Bastard Sword fairly early on in the Boletarian Palace, or farm for a Claymore from the Blue Eyed Knights later in the level, which is one of our best weapons choices in the game.

Or, if you're feeling particularly brave, you can farm the Red Eyed Knight at the entrance to the mausoleum. This knight has the potential to drop a Winged Spear, but you will need to upgrade your stats in order to use them after beating Demon's Souls' first boss, the Phalanx.

Another benefit of playing as the 'Royalty' class in Demon's Souls is that you will also start at Soul Level 1, meaning that it works out to be slightly cheaper in terms of souls when it comes to starting to level your character and stats up after defeating the Phalanx.

We'd recommend that you build your character with Intelligence as one of the principal stats. This is because as you progress through the game, you'll be able to use magical skills and weapons that scale well with intelligence, using the 'Moonlight' upgrades for your weapon, or even imbue a normal weapon with magic later on down the line.

This will also net you some more MP, which you're already passively regenerating with the Fragrant Ring.

The Royalty is probably one of the most versatile classes in the game, and will also allow you to come out swinging when it comes to some of the tougher challenges in Demon's Souls, just because it has so much range for customisation, and gives you fantastic tools and items that will serve you well as you begin to progress through the game.

It's very much an analogue to how great the 'Pyromancer' class that came after it in Dark Souls, and provides similar benefits.

If you are able to get past the Phalanx and use those Soul Arrows in all the right moments, the Royalty class will undoubtedly give you the best possible start as you journey through Boletaria.