The original Dark Souls offers 10 starting classes for character creation.
These classes determine a new character’s initial attributes, equipment, and spell access. The available choices are Warrior, Knight, Wanderer, Thief, Bandit, Hunter, Sorcerer, Pyromancer, Cleric, and Deprived. Each class can eventually develop in almost any direction, so the selection affects the opening hours more than the character’s final build.
The classes are not the same as permanent character roles. For example, a player who starts as a Sorcerer can later specialize in melee weapons, while a Warrior can learn magic. The Deprived is the unusual option, beginning with evenly distributed statistics and minimal equipment, making it a popular challenge choice rather than a conventional beginner class.