There are many classes from which players can pick and develop a character in the Rift game.
It is important to know what your options are before starting a character so you know what to work on once you start leveling up.
While the game allows you to switch between souls as you move on, there is greater satisfaction seeing a character grow from zero to hero so we strongly recommend to patronize a specific class and stick with it to the end.
This Rift Class Guide will offer a brief overview of the class system in rift.
For more detailed information on each class, check out the person Rift Class guides specifically written to guide players who are looking to master one Rift class.
A player starting out can select from four Rift main classes before venturing out into the Plains of Telara.
These classes are Warrior, Cleric, Rogue and Mage.
Each of these classes functions differently and is also equipped with various skills that make them excel at their preferred craft.
Further down, each of the classes contain eight more specific variations called souls.
The game allows the player to equip up to three souls at once and carefully choosing the soul combination is an art form that can make or break your game.
In a nutshell, the souls system has a soul tree akin to the talent tree in many other MMORPGs but Rift takes this to a higher level by also adding a root system.
Players spend skill points to equip their soul trees raising their specific abilities.
In turn, the root system is unlocked in a linear fashion which gives rise to the core abilities of each rift class.
We don't have time to cover the specifics for each class in this Rift Class Guide but you are more than guaranteed to find specific guides for each class that discuss everything from tank builds to PvP strategies, dungeon raids, quests and invasion events.
Here is a Rift Class guide summary for each soul under each class including the basic expectations associated with that class.
For Rogue characters, players can choose from Assassin, Bard, Blade Dancer, Marksman, Nightblade, Ranger, Riftstalker, and Saboteur.
Rogues, in general are damaged dealers but can also off-specs abilities.
They are typical good for melee attacks and can give excellent support for rifts and invasions.
The Warrior Class has Champion, Paladin, Paragon, Reaver, Riftblade, Vindicator, Void Knight and Warlord.
Warriors are close-combat fighters with one-handed weapons and thick armor plates to limit damage.
The Paladin is considered by many to be the toughest soul in Rift and can withstand significant attack compared to other souls.
The Cleric Class has the Cabalist, Druid, Inquisitor, Justicar, Purifier, Shaman, Sentinel and Warden and are considered healers perfect for dungeon raids.
It is also the most versatile class as it is able to become a tank, damage dealer or healing all in one combination.
Wrapping up the list is the Mage Class which has Archon, Chloromancer, Dominator, Elementalist, Necromancer, Pyromancer, Stormcaller and Warlock.
Mages are the strongest magic wielders in Telara and are also equipped with either one-handed or two-handed weapons for basic combat.
The trick to picking the right character type is to specialize in a chosen field.
That means that while there are no inherent limitations in gameplay, a warrior will most likely allow you to tank in invasion events to yield the most points while the healing from clerics make you invaluable in dungeon raids.
Refer to a more specific Rift Class Guide to find the function of each class and soul for a satisfying gaming experience on the Plains of Telara.