Frosthaven Classes can be intimidating before a first campaign because the six starting mercenaries are not simple variations of fighter, mage and healer. Each uses its own mechanical hook, and some ask the player to manage positioning, summons, form changes or tempo from the opening scenarios. Choosing well is less about finding a universally strongest class and more about matching the amount of complexity and tactical responsibility you actually want to handle.
The digital version preserves those distinct identities while automating much of the tabletop bookkeeping. That helps, but it does not make every starting option equally easy. Frosthaven Classes also expand far beyond the opening roster, with all 17 playable heroes confirmed for version 1.0. The six starters are still the important first decision because they shape how you learn initiative, card stamina, movement and party coordination before later unlocks broaden the roster.
Frosthaven Classes: all six starting choices
Image credit: Snapshot Games / Arc Games
The six starting Frosthaven Classes are Banner Spear, Boneshaper, Drifter, Geminate, Blinkblade and Deathwalker. Snapshot Games lists all six on the official digital game site, and Cephalofair has detailed the tabletop mechanics that the digital adaptation is based on. Version 1.0 expands the complete roster to 17 playable heroes, but these six are available from the start.
| Starting class | Core playstyle |
|---|---|
| Banner Spear | Formation attacks, banners and party positioning |
| Boneshaper | Summons, undead management and support |
| Drifter | Flexible persistent bonuses for damage, tanking or support |
| Geminate | Switches between melee and ranged forms |
| Blinkblade | High-speed melee assassin using Fast and Slow turns |
| Deathwalker | Damage dealer using movable Shadow tokens |
Banner Spear and Boneshaper
Among the Frosthaven Classes, Banner Spear rewards deliberate positioning more than raw individual damage. Many formation attacks need an ally to occupy a particular hex relative to the Banner Spear, so the class becomes stronger when the party communicates movement plans. Banners can also support nearby allies, giving the class a second path that leans more toward ranged support and battlefield leadership.
Boneshaper is the summoner of the starting Frosthaven Classes. Its core loop revolves around creating and managing undead allies, especially reusable Shambling Skeleton summons. The class can contribute damage, healing, buffs and board control, but it also spends its own health to bring some summons into play. That makes Boneshaper powerful when its engine is established and risky when health, positioning or summon movement is handled carelessly.
Drifter and Geminate
Drifter is the most flexible of the starting Frosthaven Classes and Cephalofair describes it as the lowest-complexity starter. Persistent abilities with use slots let the Drifter specialise as a melee attacker, ranged attacker, support character or tank. Once you decide what the party needs, the turn-to-turn decision load is more straightforward than the highly technical classes.
Geminate sits at the opposite end of the complexity scale. This Harrower shifts between two forms, one oriented toward melee damage and tanking and the other toward ranged damage and support. The two forms use separate card hands, so Geminate players have to plan when to change configuration and avoid becoming trapped in the wrong form. Frosthaven Classes do not all demand the same mental load, and Geminate is the clearest example of that difference.
Blinkblade and Deathwalker
Blinkblade is a melee assassin built around Fast and Slow turns. Going Fast spends a Time Token and generally empowers the class’s stronger actions, while going Slow helps recover that resource. This makes Blinkblade one of the Frosthaven Classes that can produce explosive turns, but poor timing can leave the character exposed with no tokens available when the party needs another burst.
Deathwalker uses Shadows as movable points of influence on the battlefield. Cephalofair describes the class primarily as a damage dealer, with many turns using Shadows to change how and where attacks happen. Shadow tokens can move through the battlefield without being blocked in the same way as normal figures, so the class encourages players to read the map through a different lens rather than simply standing next to the target they want to hit.
Which Frosthaven class is best for beginners?
Drifter is the easiest recommendation for a first campaign because its basic game plan is flexible and Cephalofair explicitly rates it as the lowest-complexity starter. Banner Spear can also be approachable in a coordinated group, particularly with a support-focused setup, but its strongest formation attacks depend on ally positioning. Boneshaper introduces summon AI, while Deathwalker adds Shadow management.
Geminate and Blinkblade are the two Frosthaven Classes most likely to overwhelm a new player who dislikes planning several turns ahead. Geminate has two forms and two card hands to manage, while Blinkblade doubles many decisions through Fast and Slow versions of actions. Neither is a bad first choice for someone who enjoys complexity, but choosing them because they look powerful can make the early scenarios harder to read.
What changes for Frosthaven Classes at version 1.0?
Version 1.0 confirms all 17 playable heroes, including the final class that was not part of the earlier incomplete roster. The launch also adds hero unlock videos and a fully implemented Codex, giving Frosthaven Classes more digital presentation around discovery and lore. Unlock conditions for later heroes are part of campaign progression, so a starter guide should not spoil those paths unnecessarily.
Class tooltips, interface wording and individual balance values can still change with the final 1.0 build. The six Frosthaven Classes above are the established starting roster, and their core mechanics are well documented, but exact card values and the strongest beginner choice can move with a launch patch. That makes the class identities reliable now without pretending every numerical detail is frozen before October 15.
Related Guides
Official source: Official Frosthaven site: starting classes
