The Dark Souls games have garnered a reputation of being some of the most unforgiving modern games, both in terms of gameplay and narrative. Single-handedly creating a "Soulslike" subgenre of video games, these games have grown from being a niche to one of the most popular franchises in all of gaming.
There is still some time until Elden Ring comes out, so many gamers have been jumping on the hype train by playing (or replaying) the Dark Souls trilogy. While a lot of what makes Dark Souls so endearing is its mystery, perhaps it's best that players pick the best starting classes to make the journey a bit easier.
Dark Souls
Classes in Dark Souls don't work like traditional RPG classes and are just a matter of starting stats. There are no restrictions as to what gear a specific class might equip (provided players meet the required stats). These stats can be freely upgraded using Souls. However, some starting classes outshine others, and the Pyromancer is considered by many to be the best starting class of the game.
The Pyromancer has a hand axe and a cracked round shield for weapons. While not the most exquisite weaponry, the Pyromancer makes up for it with access to casting fireballs early on. These fireballs can deal a great amount of damage for the early game, and players can free a Pyromancer in the Undead Burg which opens up a bunch of avenues for upgrading the Pyromancy flame and more spells.
Dark Souls 2
Dark Souls 2 continues the series tradition of a flexible class system, but the Warrior class outshines the rest when it comes to newer players. The Warrior class has a broken straight sword for a melee weapon and uses the Iron Parma for a shield. Players choosing the class should remember to equip the Morning Star mace in Majula (Dark Souls 2's version of the Firelink Shrine). The Warrior's Intelligence and Faith stats are a touch above the rest, which makes this class highly flexible. Most beginners should invest some points in these stats, as the use of spells and miracles might be a life-saver from the swarms of enemies that players will face during their journey.
Dark Souls 3
Dark Souls 3 is presumably the end of the series, and it doesn't disappoint. The return of mastermind Hidetaka Miyazaki brought a lot of influence from his previous work on Bloodborne, and the game's increased combat pace definitely reflects that. The Knight class in Dark Souls 3 is the most popular, as it has the best gear for the game's challenges. The Knight's armor set is probably the best for quite a long time, and the Longsword and Knight Shield combo is easy but effective, which is important for beginners. Bosses such as Iudex Gundyr and Vordt of the Boreal Valley won't die unless the player gets in their face, and the Warrior class is simply the best at that.