Starter Archetypes

The playable classes and their Ascendancies, plus durable beginner-friendly archetypes by damage type. Meta picks are labeled version-sensitive.

At a glance


Plan at 1.0	12 base classes with 3 Ascendancies each, 36 total.
Playable now	8 base classes in the current 0.5 Early Access build.
Pick by	Attribute focus and signature weapon first, then a damage type or mechanic you enjoy.
Meta warning	Specific “best build” names shift every patch. Verify against a live tier list before committing.

Ascendancy spellings vary across sources and some sources list only two Ascendancies for Ranger and Druid. Treat the roster as version-sensitive and cross check against the official site.

Classes and Ascendancies (0.5)

Base class	Attribute focus	Signature weapon	Ascendancies
Warrior	Strength	Maces	Warbringer, Titan, Smith of Kitava
Sorceress	Intelligence	Staves	Stormweaver, Chronomancer, Disciple of Varashta
Witch	Intelligence	Wands	Infernalist, Blood Mage, Lich
Ranger	Dexterity	Bows	Deadeye, Pathfinder (third not listed on source)
Monk	Dexterity and Intelligence	Quarterstaves	Invoker, Acolyte of Chayula, Martial Artist
Mercenary	Strength and Dexterity	Crossbows	Witchhunter, Gemling Legionnaire, Tactician
Huntress	Dexterity	Spears	Ritualist, Amazon, Spirit Walker
Druid	Strength and Intelligence	Talisman	Oracle, Shaman (third not listed on source)

New in 0.5: Martial Artist (Monk, unarmed and bell or clone focused) and Spirit Walker (Huntress, companion and animal spirit focused).

Planned but not yet playable: Duelist (Swords), Marauder (Axes), Shadow (Daggers), Templar (Flails). Their 1.0 Ascendancy names are unconfirmed.

Durable ways to think about a starter

Rather than chasing a named build, pick a mechanic that stays beginner-friendly across patches:

Attack projectile: bow or spear skills that clear packs from range. Forgiving because you fight at distance.
Totem or ballista: your totems do the damage while you reposition. One of the safest styles for a first character.
Minion: permanent minions (reserved with Spirit) hold the front while you support. Survivable, gear-light early.
Melee strike: high single-target damage up close, with more risk. Rewarding once you learn spacing and defenses.
Spell: staff or wand casters scaling one element. Strong clear, but manage mana and positioning.

Any of these works as a first build if you cap resistances and keep a solid Life or Energy Shield pool.

Currently cited strong picks (0.5.x, version-sensitive)

Community tier lists cite these in 0.5. Meta shifts every patch, so verify against a live tier list before relying on them.

Huntress: Twister, a spear projectile combo, widely called the best 0.5 starter.
Monk: Storm Spear and lightning Monk variants for clear and mobility; Ice Strike Invoker for smooth all-round progression.
Ranger: Ice Shot Deadeye for low investment clear and boss damage; Toxic Growth Pathfinder still strong after nerfs.
Mercenary: Tactician Ballista as a safe totem starter.
Warrior: Whirling Assault Titan, cited as strong and largely untouched by 0.5 nerfs.

Do this in order

Pick a class by attribute focus and weapon you like the feel of.
Choose a beginner-friendly mechanic: projectile, totem, or minion is safest.
Follow a current build guide for the exact skill, supports, passives, and gear.
Cap resistances and build a Life or Energy Shield pool as you level.
Run your Act 2 and Act 3 Trials to claim your Ascendancy points.

Watch out for

Do not treat the meta names above as permanent. They are specific to 0.5.x.
Do not skip a build guide for your first character. Dead-end passive and gem choices are easy to make.
Cross check Ascendancy spellings and the roster against the official site before trusting a source.