ELDEN RING Tarnished Edition New Classes Explained

The ELDEN RING Tarnished Edition new classes arrive exclusively on the Switch 2 release, and they change how you approach the opening hours of the Lands Between. The Tarnished Pack introduces two fresh starting options — the Heavy Knight and the Idus Knight — each with unique starter armor, weapons, and stat spreads that no other class can access at character creation. This matters because your starting class determines your early-game difficulty curve, which weapons you can wield immediately, and how much respec currency you burn before settling into a build. Get the full breakdown of both classes, their starting gear, and how they stack against the original ten options before you commit to your first Tarnished. For more detail, see the Tarnished Pack classes in detail, covered in our related guide.

ELDEN RING Tarnished Edition New Classes Overview

The Tarnished Pack content, confirmed on the official Bandai Namco ELDEN RING Tarnished Edition page, adds two new starting classes to the Switch 2 edition of the game. Both classes share a strength-leaning stat spread, but they diverge significantly in armor weight, weapon type, and playstyle identity. The Heavy Knight leans into tanky, high-poise combat with heavy armor and a strength-focused loadout, while the Idus Knight offers a more balanced melee start that suits players who want flexibility without committing to pure tank or pure damage.

Here is the quick breakdown of what each new class brings to the table:

• Heavy Knight: Starts with heavy armor, a strength-leaning stat spread, and a starter weapon designed for poise-breaking trades.

• Idus Knight: Offers a balanced melee start with medium armor and a versatile weapon that scales reasonably across multiple stats.

• Exclusive Gear: Both classes come with Tarnished Pack starter weapons and armor that are not available to other classes at creation, making them collector-worthy even if you prefer a different build.

• Switch 2 Exclusive: These classes are tied to the Tarnished Edition, so players on other platforms cannot access them through normal character creation.

Because these classes are locked to the Tarnished Edition, they effectively function as a second set of starting options alongside the original ten. That brings the total to twelve starting classes, which reshapes the elden ring starting class tier list conversation for Switch 2 players. The question is whether the new arrivals dethrone long-standing favorites like the Vagabond or the Astrologer, and the answer depends heavily on what you value in the first ten hours of a playthrough.

Heavy Knight Class Deep Dive

The Heavy Knight is the more specialized of the two new classes, and its identity is built around absorbing hits and trading blows. According to the official Tarnished Edition description, the Heavy Knight starts with heavy armor and a strength-leaning stat spread, which makes it the natural pick for players who want to walk into boss arenas without flinching. The class is essentially a tank-first approach to the early game, and it rewards players who understand poise mechanics and attack-window discipline.

Heavy Knight Starting Stats and Gear

The Heavy Knight's stat spread prioritizes Vigor and Endurance alongside Strength, which means you can take more hits and wear heavier equipment from the very first minute. This is a significant departure from classes like the Wretch, which starts at level 1 with no gear, or the Bandit, which favors Dexterity and arcane tools. The starting weapon is a strength-scaling option that pairs well with the heavy armor, and the shield included in the kit offers solid physical damage negation for learning boss patterns.

The table above shows how the Heavy Knight compares to two popular melee starters. The Vigor investment matches the Vagabond, but the Endurance and Strength advantages mean you can equip heavier armor and deal more physical damage immediately. The trade-off is a lower Dexterity score, which limits your weapon variety until you invest levels. If you want to pivot into quality builds later, you will need to spend points catching up, but for a pure strength playthrough, this class is arguably the strongest opener available.

Heavy Knight Build Paths

Because the Heavy Knight starts with such a focused stat spread, the natural build path is a pure Strength or Strength/Faith hybrid that leverages heavy weapons and incantations. The starting armor provides excellent poise, which lets you trade hits with early bosses like Margit or Godrick without getting staggered out of your attack animations. Community reports from Switch 2 players suggest that the Heavy Knight's poise advantage is most noticeable in the first three legacy dungeons, where enemy attack patterns are slower and more telegraphed.

• Pure Strength: Invest in Vigor, Endurance, and Strength, then grab the Greatsword or Giant-Crusher as soon as you can wield them.

• Strength/Faith: Add Faith for buff incantations like Flame, Grant Me Strength and Golden Vow, which amplify your already-high physical damage.

• Strength/Arcane: A niche path that uses Occult infusions on strength-scaling weapons, though this requires significant stat investment before it pays off.

The Heavy Knight's main weakness is magic resistance — the heavy armor offers solid physical protection but leaves you vulnerable to sorceries and incantations. You will want to invest in Magic Fortification or carry Spellproof Dried Liver for fights against caster-heavy bosses. This class is not for players who want fast rolls or quick attacks; it is for those who enjoy the tank-and-spank playstyle that strength builds are known for.

Idus Knight Class Deep Dive

The Idus Knight takes the opposite approach to the Heavy Knight, offering a balanced melee start that prioritizes flexibility over raw defense. According to the Tarnished Edition official description, the Idus Knight offers a balanced melee start, which makes it an excellent choice for players who are still learning the game or who want to keep their options open for later build pivots. The class does not excel in any single stat, but it also does not have glaring weaknesses, which is a rare quality among starting classes.

Idus Knight Starting Stats and Gear

The Idus Knight's stat spread is designed to support multiple playstyles, with moderate investments in Vigor, Endurance, Strength, and Dexterity. This makes it a natural fit for quality builds that scale with both physical stats, and it also leaves room for dipping into Faith or Intelligence later without wasting too many early levels. The starting weapon is a versatile melee option that handles both single-target and crowd-control situations, and the medium armor offers a good balance between protection and roll speed.

The comparison above shows how the Idus Knight sits between the Vagabond and the Astrologer. It lacks the Vagabond's raw Vigor, but it makes up for that with higher Endurance and a more balanced Strength/Dexterity split. It also has higher Faith and Intelligence than the Vagabond, which means you can experiment with incantations or sorceries without feeling like you wasted levels. The Astrologer still wins for pure spellcasting, but the Idus Knight is a better hybrid option for players who want melee with a side of magic.

Idus Knight Build Paths

The Idus Knight's balanced stats open up several viable build paths, and the class is particularly strong for players who want to explore the Lands Between without committing to a single playstyle. Because the starting weapon scales with both Strength and Dexterity, you can pivot into almost any physical build in the mid-game without needing to respec. The medium armor also allows for medium rolls at base Endurance, which is a comfortable spot for most players.

• Quality Build: Invest evenly in Strength and Dexterity, then use weapons like the Claymore or Bloodhound's Fang that scale with both stats.

• Faith Hybrid: Add Faith for healing incantations and buffs, turning the Idus Knight into a paladin-style character with strong survivability.

• Intelligence Hybrid: Pivot into sorceries with weapons like the Moonveil or Dark Moon Greatsword, though this requires a significant investment in Intelligence.

The Idus Knight's main advantage is build flexibility, which is why many community tier lists rank it highly for new players. It does not have the raw power of the Heavy Knight or the spellcasting potential of the Astrologer, but it can do a little bit of everything, and that versatility is valuable when you are still figuring out which playstyle suits you. If you want to try multiple weapons and spells without restarting the game, the Idus Knight is the safest bet among the elden ring tarnished edition new classes.

ELDEN RING All Starting Classes Comparison

With the addition of the Heavy Knight and Idus Knight, the elden ring all starting classes list now includes twelve options, and the tier list has shifted accordingly. The original ten classes — Vagabond, Warrior, Hero, Bandit, Astrologer, Prophet, Samurai, Prisoner, Confessor, and Wretch — each serve a specific niche, and the new arrivals fill gaps that previously required careful stat planning to address. The table below ranks all twelve classes based on early-game viability, build flexibility, and overall power.

This elden ring starting class tier list reflects community consensus from Switch 2 players who have tested the Tarnished Edition content. The Heavy Knight ranks at the top because its exclusive armor and strength-leaning spread make the early game significantly easier, while the Vagabond remains a top pick for its all-around reliability. The Idus Knight sits comfortably in A-tier because it lacks the raw power of the top two but offers unmatched flexibility for players who want to experiment.

The Astrologer remains the best choice for pure spellcasters, and its high Mind stat lets you spam sorceries from a safe distance, which is a valid strategy for most early bosses. The Wretch stays at the bottom because starting at level 1 with no gear is a brutal experience, even for veterans. If you want the easiest possible start, the Heavy Knight is the clear winner; if you want to keep your options open, the Idus Knight is the smarter pick.

Best Starting Class Recommendations by Playstyle

Choosing the elden ring best starting class depends entirely on your preferred playstyle, and the new Tarnished Edition classes change the calculus for several archetypes. The Heavy Knight is the obvious pick for tank players, but it also works well for veterans who want to rush through the early game with minimal risk. The Idus Knight is the better choice for newcomers who are still learning the game's mechanics, because its balanced stats forgive mistakes and allow for experimentation. Its defensive slant also pairs well with the weapon variety introduced in the Elden Ring Tarnished Edition New Weapons update, letting you test aggressive new armaments without sacrificing the safety net that makes this class so forgiving.

For New Players

If this is your first time playing ELDEN RING, the Idus Knight is the safest recommendation. Its balanced stat spread means you can try different weapons and spells without feeling locked into a single build, and the medium armor provides enough protection to survive early mistakes. The Vagabond is a close second, offering slightly higher Vigor but less flexibility in the mid-game. Avoid the Wretch and Bandit until you understand the game's core systems, because both classes require advanced knowledge to play effectively.

For Veterans

Experienced players who want to optimize their early-game efficiency should pick the Heavy Knight. The exclusive armor and strength-leaning spread let you rush through the first few legacy dungeons with minimal downtime, and the high Endurance means you can equip heavier weapons earlier than other classes. If you want to speedrun or challenge-run the game, the Heavy Knight's poise advantage is a significant quality-of-life improvement. The Samurai remains a strong alternative for veterans who prefer Dexterity builds, but the Heavy Knight's exclusive gear gives it an edge in the opening hours.

For Hybrid Builds

Players who want to combine melee with magic should consider the Idus Knight or the Confessor. The Idus Knight offers better physical stats and more flexibility, while the Confessor provides a stronger Faith foundation for incantation-heavy builds. The Prisoner is another option for Intelligence/Dexterity hybrids, but its low Vigor makes it riskier in the early game. If you want to use the Moonveil or Dark Moon Greatsword later, the Idus Knight is the best starting point because its balanced stats let you build toward those weapons without wasting levels.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the elden ring tarnished edition new classes?

The Tarnished Edition adds two new starting classes to the Switch 2 version: the Heavy Knight, which starts with heavy armor and a strength-leaning stat spread, and the Idus Knight, which offers a balanced melee start. Both classes come with exclusive Tarnished Pack starter weapons and armor not available to other classes at creation.

Is the Heavy Knight the best starting class in ELDEN RING?

The Heavy Knight ranks at the top of most tier lists because its exclusive armor and high Vigor make the early game significantly easier. However, the best class depends on your playstyle — the Vagabond remains a strong all-rounder, and the Astrologer is better for pure spellcasters. For tank players, the Heavy Knight is unmatched.

Can I get the Tarnished Pack classes on other platforms?

No, the Heavy Knight and Idus Knight are exclusive to the ELDEN RING Tarnished Edition on Switch 2. Players on PC, PlayStation, and Xbox cannot access these classes through normal character creation, though the original ten starting classes remain available on all platforms.

Which new class is better for beginners?

The Idus Knight is the better choice for beginners because its balanced stats allow for experimentation with different weapons and spells. The Heavy Knight is more specialized and requires understanding poise mechanics to use effectively. If you are new to the game, the Idus Knight's flexibility will serve you better.

Do the new classes change the starting class tier list?

Yes, the Heavy Knight now sits at the top of most tier lists alongside the Vagabond, while the Idus Knight ranks in A-tier for its versatility. The original classes remain viable, but the new arrivals offer exclusive gear and stat spreads that give them an edge in the early game.