Death’s Gambit: The Definitive Class Guide

Because Death’s Gambit shares a lot of similarities with the Dark Souls franchise, the game starts with a seemingly straightforward choice, but one that can very much impact how you play the game. That question is: which basic class and starter item should you pick on your first playthrough?

Of course, not all classes are created equal in the world of Death’s Gambit. Some have major advantages over others and some cater to radically different play styles.

If you are just getting started, let’s dive into a breakdown of what each class offers and which one you should pick for the least difficult experience! 

Related Content: Death’s Gambit Guide: How to Kill Ghosts

Death’s Gambit Class List 

Unlike many fantasy games, weapon skills in Death’s Gambit are attached to specific weapons instead of to your class, so you can potentially play a wizard with a greatsword or a soldier slinging spells.

The talent tree is also open between classes, but each class has at least one extra talent that governs how you gain soul energy, while some also get one special unique ability.

These unique elements will be the deciding factors in how you pick a class based on your preferred play style in this Metroidvania Souls-like.

Class: Soldier

Unique Talent: Blocking enemy attacks awards soul energy

Starting Equipment:

• Aldwynn Greatsword
• Conscript’s Cape
• Vados Shield
• Lucent Plume

This is your basic, well-rounded class that doesn’t particularly excel at anything.

If you want to start with a sword that doesn’t have a crazy attack animation to learn, the Soldier is an acceptable basic class, but there are far better options. Nearly every other class has something better in terms of stats and unique abilities.

Class: Assassin

Unique Talent: Dodging enemy attacks awards soul energy

Starting Equipment:

• Thief’s Blades
• Conscript’s Cape
• Wooden Targe
• Lucent Plume

This close-ranged combat expert needs to get up close and personal to gain soul energy for activating special abilities.

For melee-focused adrenaline junkies, this can make for an acceptable starting class. However, keep in mind that the Acolyte Of Death has just as high a starting Finesse and a better unique ability.

Class: Wizard

Unique Talent: Healing awards soul energy

Starting Equipment:

• Casting Tome
• Conscript’s Cape
• Vados Shield
• Lucent Plume

Unlike many RPG-style games, the wizard won’t annihilate huge groups of enemies with giant blasts of energy straight off the bat.

Staying alive as the wizard is quite difficult here, so swap out to a bow as quick as you can to attack at range instead of using a sword.

Since the ability to open chests revolves entirely around avoiding healing, this is also one of the worst unique talents for gaining energy.

Class: Sentinel

Unique Talent: Parrying awards soul energy

Unique Ability: Equip weapons and shields at half the required stats

Starting Equipment:

• Vados Longsword
• Conscript’s Cape
• Vados Shield
• Lucent Plume

When you are good at parrying attacks, the Sentinel can be one of the best classes to choose because of the unique ability to equip anything at half the required stats.

You won’t need to invest any points into Finesse or Intelligence in order to use the best weapons and spells out there.

The soul talent isn’t quite as good as the Acolyte Of Death, but otherwise this is one of the strongest class options.

Class: Noble

Unique Talent: Using items awards soul energy

Unique Ability: Gain access to a unique merchant

Starting Equipment:

• Aldwynn Halberd
• Magister’s Hood
• Conscript’s Cape
• Vados Shield
• Lucent Plume
• Dragonberry
• Gaian Blood
• Crow Plume

While you start off with several extra items to make use of the Noble’s special soul ability, in all other respects, this one of the weakest classes. 

There’s just really nothing here to make this class more attractive than the others, unless you really like to use items and want to try out some unique item options.

Class: Blood Knight

Unique Talent: Taking damage awards soul energy

Unique Ability: Regain a portion of lost health when dealing damage with quick retaliations

Starting Equipment:

• Vados Axe
• Conscript’s Cape
• Vados Shield
• Lucent Plume

This class offers a very different way to play, as it’s all about highly reckless, highly aggressive combat. You want to both get hit and then immediately hit back as often as possible.

That’s pretty anathema to your typical Souls-like game, so if you want something outside the norm, give this class a shot. For new players though, you may want to go with something else.

Class: Acolyte of Death

Unique Talent: Killing enemies awards soul energy

Unique Ability: Restore broken save points

Starting Equipment:

• Acolyte Scythe
• Conscript’s Cape
• Vados Shield
• Lucent Plume

Here we go — the best Death’s Gambit class!

The starting scythe has a wide attack range and big forward movement animation, which can be very helpful in some situations but is difficult to master in normal combat.

If you don’t prefer the scythe’s attack style, switch to a different weapon, like daggers or intelligence-based book spells.

The ability to restore broken save statues is actually less useful than you’d imagine, as there are only a handful of points across the game where this means less backtracking to return to a difficult boss.

Gaining soul energy through straight kills is where the Acolyte Of Death class shines, and puts it a cut above the rest. You will be absolutely swimming in energy.

When used efficiently, this is easily the single best starting class as you can constantly trigger abilities.

What’s your favorite class, and do you have any Death’s Gambit combat tips on the best ways to utilize each class that we may have missed? Let us know in the comments below!

Be sure to check out our other Death’s Gambit guides while you’re here.