Alright, listen up, you Nightlords in Training! Forget everything you thought you knew about the Lands Between, because Elden Ring: Nightreign is a whole different kind of party! It’s a bold departure from the base game – think of it as a premium, standalone roguelike co-op adventure chilling in the same universe. Good news: it does not require owning Elden Ring, so you can just jump right in! It’s out as a premium release on PlayStation 5/4, Xbox, and PC via Steam.
Here’s the deal: You pick one of eight unique heroes and get dropped into this wild, constantly shifting world. Your goal? Survive, snag loot, smack down bosses, and get beefy over three distinct days so you’re ready for the big bad Night Lord on day three. Each day is a total sprint, maybe 10-15 minutes long, with this spooky safety circle shrinking and pushing you along. It’s got that intense battle royale pace, but ditch the backstabbing PvP – this is all about buddying up with two other players to survive online! You’re always in a 3-player squad by default, though solo play is possible with scaling – the game just fills you up with randoms if you don’t have a full team or disable matchmaking.
The ultimate objective? Take down that Night Lord! They’re tough cookies, and an unprepared team is toast. This isn’t your grandma’s quest to become Elden Lord by piecing together the Elden Ring’s shards – nope, this is about dodging danger and fighting new baddies in a land that’s still kinda reeling from a big war. But hey, win or lose, every single run hooks you up with persistent goodies: Relics and “Murk” (that’s the in-game cash). These stick around and boost your stats and abilities for your next adventure. It’s a cool new layer of progression! Nightreign just feels like a hopped-up, totally randomized Elden Ring experience. Places are smaller, bosses are zippier, you move way faster with awesome new moves (like vaulting over stuff, wall running, and even some sweet chained jumps players have found!). Leveling up is sped up too – it’s all about immediate, action-packed gameplay. Oh, and developers at Bandai Namco Entertainment promise this isn’t some endless live service grind. It’s a premium game with no weird microtransactions or battle passes (outside of deluxe editions, obviously). You earn everything cool just by playing. The game’s development really focused on making this unique, fast-paced loop work.
Understanding Your Character & Gear: Unpacking Your Awesomeness in Elden Ring: Nightreign
Before you dive into the Nightreign chaos, let’s figure out what makes your hero tick (and, more importantly, hit hard!).
Stat Scaling and Leveling: Good news, you don’t have to stress about picking stats! Official guides say your character’s rise in power is set by who you pick. Just spend the runes you snag on runs to level up, and your important stats automatically go up with you! Simple!
Gear Power (Even When Unequipped): Okay, this is a SUPER cool difference from regular Elden Ring and brand new players might totally miss it. Get this: Your character gets bonus stuff from every piece of gear you pick up, even if it’s just chilling in your inventory! It’s true! All equipment passives are always active if you’re carrying the item. Every weapon has this little passive perk (check the tooltip!) that’s always helping you out in the background. So scoop up everything!
Weapon Scaling Wisdom & Quick Checks: Wanna hit like a truck? The Visual Codex in the Round Table Hold has the lowdown on every weapon’s stat scaling. Match that up with your hero’s main stats to see what gear gives you the most bang for your buck. And don’t sweat equip restrictions – all Nightfarers can use any weapon type! Your stats just affect how much damage you do or if you can use special moves, not if you can hold it. For a super quick check on your current strongest weapon based on your stats, peek at the Status Screen. Keep a little cheat sheet or phone pic of your character’s scaling handy during a run!
Stat Boosting Relics: These are your little power-up buddies! Relics you get from runs (more on that in “Powering Up”) can be equipped in special slots in the Round Table Hold. They give you permanent boosts to stats and abilities for all future runs. Slap on a Relic that boosts Strength for your Wylder? Boom, more damage!
The Red Hand Exception: BUT WAIT! There’s one quirky exception. See a red hand symbol on an item? That means its special effect only works if you’re actually holding it in your main or off-hand. Like, a special seal that gives you a continuous bonus might need to be in your off-hand while you’re swinging your main weapon. It’s the only time a weapon’s passive needs you to hold it!
Your Home Away From Home: The Round Table Hold
Alright, between dodging danger out there, the Round Table Hold is your cozy hideout! Don’t be intimidated by this big old building; it’s just your central spot for getting ready and figuring things out.
The Training Grounds: Seriously, don’t skip this! The training area is perfect for messing around with your hero’s moves, trying out cool weapon skills, and getting a feel for things without getting instantly flattened. Time is precious on expeditions, so practice makes perfect here!
Teleportation Magic: Tired of walking everywhere in the hub? No need! There’s a super handy menu feature that lets you instantly teleport anywhere in the Hold. Sparring grounds? Zip! Relics? Zap! Saves tons of time for more important pre-run stuff.
Finding Your Crew: Matchmaking & Making Connections
This game is built for teaming up, so finding your squad is key! The matchmaking screen might look a bit much, but here’s the simple version:
- Cross-Region Connections: Decide if you wanna play with folks from other regions (check options!). Since the game uses peer-to-peer connections (online play quality depends on player internet), playing with someone super far away can make things laggy. High ping makes dodging a nightmare, so maybe turn this off unless you’re specifically trying to meet up with distant pals. Cross-region is there to help you find matches, but it’s off by default for smoother local connections.
- Password Protected Parties: Wanna play just with your friends? Slap a Matchmaking Password on your party! Set a secret code, share it, and only people with that code can join you. You can even set one for just two of you and let the game find a third random player (since sessions are always 3-player by default).
- Community Connections: Use a Group Password (like for a favorite community!) to see cool asynchronous stuff, like bloodstains showing where other people with the same password met their untimely end. It adds a fun sense of connection within the online community. Group passwords can even link up to five different lobbies! Quick reminder: No PvP in this game, it’s all co-op teamwork. Chat is just basic gestures and emotes. And hey, keep an eye on the game website or community page for any official events!
Navigating the Shifting Lands: Your Trusty Map is Your Compass
Once you’re out in the wild, the map is your new best friend! It helps you figure out where you are and where you need to go in this dangerous world.
Map Basics & Randomization: You can toggle map views, which is nice. While important spots (Runes, Forts, objectives) pop up randomly each run, the basic land shape (hills, coastlines, maybe even some grassy plains) stays the same. Learning the lay of the land helps you get around faster! The map layout itself gets mixed up too, with environmental effects like meteor strikes or poisonous forests keeping things fresh. Oh, and watch out – as night falls, a “Night’s Tide” starts closing in, just like a battle-royale circle! Don’t get caught!
Elemental Treasure Maps: Little icons on the map structures are a handy hint about what kind of loot the boss inside might drop. Fire icon? Probably a fire weapon! Bleed icon? You guessed it. Use these if you’re hunting for specific damage types for your build or party!
Pin Power: Your team doesn’t have voice chat in-game, so pins are your secret language! Use map pins to show your buddies where you think you should go. Each player gets a colored pin. Two pins on the same spot? It turns white! That’s your visual signal that you all agree! Dropping a pin on a spot that’s already marked is a great way to show you’re on board and boost that team coordination.
Powering Up: Getting Stronger, Faster!
Staying alive in Nightreign isn’t just about dodging fancy footwork; it’s about constantly boosting your character to keep up with the rising difficulty. This is your power rise, totally different from just hunting for Great Runes back in the original Elden Ring.
Relic Hunting: The Core of Progression: Remember those Relics? They’re your main way to get stronger between runs! You get ’em after every run (seriously, win or lose!) and from clearing objectives. Equip them in colored slots in the Round Table Hold (up to 3 per character once unlocked). They give you permanent boosts to your stats and abilities for all future runs. Drops are random, which is fun, but each Night Lord boss guarantees a strong, unique Relic. Building up your collection is key to getting truly powerful over time.
Customize Your Relic Slots: Beat that first boss (at the end of Day 1!) and you can spend some run currency to unlock different Relic slot setups. This gives you more flexibility to equip your favorite boosty buddies! Prioritize this if you feel limited by the default slots.
The Level 1 to 2 Power Up: Okay, this one is HUGE. Leveling up is always good, but going from Level 1 to 2 is a massive jump! It seriously boosts your health (like, 30-80% or nearly double!). That’s a game-changer for not getting instantly squashed early on. So, first thing when you drop in? Quickly clear some easy enemies, find a Site of Grace, and reach Level 2! Get that health boost!
Sites of Grace: Your Little Chill Zones: Keep an eye out for Sites of Grace. Just running close refills your flasks and heals you up. Use them whenever you see them, super handy! They’re also where you level up with runes, just like in Elden Ring. You can quickly interact and confirm multiple levels without fully stopping, which is great when the clock is ticking.
Facing the Foe: Combat Smarts!
It’s a dangerous world out there, but you’ve got this! Smart combat and strategy make those fights manageable and really bump up your chances of winning.
Stay Together, If Possible: Seriously, team up! Things usually go way better in a group. Solo play is possible with reduced difficulty scaling, but it’s way tougher, especially for new players. This game is designed for co-op gameplay, so stick close to your buddies and help each other up if someone goes down.
Know Your Role (and Your Teammates’): Party composition actually matters here. Maybe don’t go in with three melee brawlers early on; big boss attacks can wipe you all out! Ranged characters can safely chip away at bosses and have a safer time reviving fallen allies. Learn what your teammates’ skills do (like Recluse’s neat heal/FP boost on marked targets) so you can coordinate!
Status Effects: Your Secret Weapon!: Bleed, Poison, and Scarlet Rot are incredibly powerful in Nightreign. Keep an eye out for weapons with these effects (check those map icons we talked about!). They constantly tick away at boss health during those short safe moments between attacks, letting you play safer. Bosses have high resistance (balanced for groups), so getting multiple players applying effects makes them trigger way faster, helping melt those tough scorers.
Avoiding Easy Bounties: Generally, don’t waste a ton of time fighting little groups of enemies for tiny rewards when bosses and objectives are waiting. Exceptions: Early run to snag enough runes to reach Level 2, or if you can instantly clear a big group with a powerful ultimate (Guardian’s or Iron Eye’s) for quick XP/drops.
Outer Rim First!: This is a pro tip! Try to tackle objectives that spawn on the edges of the map before heading inland. As the Night’s Tide collapses, those outer areas get cut off, and you can’t reach them anymore. If a close objective pops up near the edge, go for it early! It’s all about managing your time against that shrinking play space. Don’t fear operating outside the Ring temporarily if there are Sites of Grace or Churches nearby to heal up.
Time Awareness is Key: The more you play, the better you’ll feel how fast time passes compared to the Night’s Tide collapsing. Knowing where you are relative to the Ring’s path is super important for clearing objectives and getting out before you get caught. This really bumps up your chances of winning!
Survival Gear: Your Pocket Full of Tricks!
Don’t forget to manage your inventory and use all the cool stuff you find! Gear enhancement and stocking up are key for optimal gameplay!
Talismans: Little Lucky Charms: Talismans give you passive boosts. Scarabs and the chest in the central Keep (always gives one of three random options) are reliable places to find them. Merchants sometimes sell them too, though it’s unreliable. Good ones like Green Turtle (stamina!) or Warrior Jar Shard (skill damage!) make a real difference. Finding the Gold Scarab early gives you a passive rune bonus, which is great for late-game leveling.
Learning Boss Weaknesses: Know your enemy! Matchmaking or the map might give you hints about the Night Lord’s weaknesses. All bosses have resistances and weaknesses to different damage types. Using community wikis (they’ll be updated with all the new bosses!) is highly recommended – learning weaknesses makes fights way easier and boosts your chances of winning!
Check the Merchants: If there’s a merchant nearby (check your map!), pop over and see what they’ve got. They can sell Talismans (unreliably), rare purple upgrade materials (score!), or even better gear. They often sell items that counter the final boss’s weakness, which is super helpful! Don’t go way out of your way, but a quick peek is always worthwhile.
Reliable Purple Upgrades (Mines!): Mines on the map usually have a pretty easy boss inside that reliably drops purple upgrade materials. This is your go-to spot for enhancing your gear from blue to purple as you progress through the days.
Consumables Cheat Sheet: Stock up on useful consumables! Warming Stones (team healing!), Boiled Crabs or Bronze (damage resistance!), Flesh items (physical damage!), Starlight Shards (for magic users like Recluse!), and Stonesword Keys (for locked gates!) are all great. Avoid Boluses for clearing status effects; avoiding the damage in the first place or team healing is usually better. Fire pots are okay, middle of the road. Use item buffs early in fights; you’ll find plenty! The Wraith Calling Bell (found early) can be really strong on Day 1 with its reusable homing projectiles. Look for bushes near the central canal for an item that boosts rune acquisition. Silver/Gold Foul Feet consumables increase item chances (use Silver before chests!) or rune acquisition (use Gold before bosses!). After a run, consumables don’t stick around, but remember you get persistent Relics and Murk!
Hidden Tower Crests: See a tower with a sealed gate asking you to “find crest”? The crest is hidden nearby in a fake object (like a fake wall or item). Breaking it opens the door to a chest with “dormant power” drops. Secret goodies!
Advanced Tactics & Endgame Prep
Ready to get fancy? Mastering these specific mechanics will give you an edge in this chaotic world and really refine your gameplay strategy.
Dashing vs. Surge Sprint: Surge Sprint feels like a turbo mode for your legs – lightning fast, but man, it eats stamina! Don’t overuse it, especially near bosses. Use your regular dash for getting around and save Surge Sprint for tactical bursts or covering large distances quickly. Conserving stamina for attacks and dodges is key!
Quick Item Use/Pickup: Early footage shows quick item cycling using the face button + D-pad – check your platform’s input guide for the exact controls! It lets you quickly use items on the ground or cycle nearby ones without stopping. Saves time and keeps you mobile!
Party Synergy & Ultimate Abilities: Learn what your teammates’ ultimate abilities do! Guardian’s (the Bird Bro) ult creates a safe, invulnerable zone for everyone to pile on damage. Guardian’s and Revenant’s ultimates can instantly revive downed pals. Revenant’s ult even gives a buff that stops someone from dying for a bit! Raider’s totem boosts nearby allies’ attack. Knowing how to combo these is crucial for coordinated online gameplay.
Day 2 Strategy – Map Re-Expansion: Good news! The map gets bigger again on Day 2. This makes it easier to go back to churches you missed on Day 1 (for more flasks!) or field bosses (for more gear and runes!) now that you’re stronger. Prioritizing getting to Level 2/3 quickly on Day 1 is often better than trekking across the map for just one early flask, but Day 2 is your chance to clean up. Remember, Day 1 and Day 2 end with a minor boss before the big Nightlord fight on Day 3.
Upgrading Weapons: Early Day 2 is a great time to focus on upgrading your weapons (blue to purple!). Look for Tunnel entrances – they usually have Level 1/2 Smithing Stones. Mine bosses reliably drop Level 2 stones. Merchants in Townships might sell them too. Don’t forget weapon level requirements for higher rarity! You upgrade at anvils, often found near merchants.
Exploring the Central Keep and Special Vendors: Beat the Day 1 boss? Go check out the central Keep! There are paths underneath that can lead to unique chests with “dormant power.” Keep an eye out for special vendors on the map too. They might offer upgrade deals for your character. Accepting might even spawn an extra boss in the final circle – risky, but beating both means tons more runes! It’s a fun risk/reward for late-stage gameplay.
Late Game Rune Farming: Before you head into the final boss area on Day 3, this is your last chance to level up, upgrade weapons, or buy items. You can snag extra runes by sniping enemies outside the Night’s Tide circle or luring groups back to a nearby Site of Grace to heal up and farm them. Max out your power before the big fight!
The Remembrance Mechanic: See the Journal in the Round Table Hold? As you play, it expands and sometimes tells you a character can start a “Remembrance.” This is part of the persistent story for each hero! These optional side quests (marked with an orange flag on the map during runs) are triggered by finding rare Memory Fragments. Completing them (like hunting down a specific enemy) gives you big rune payouts and unlocks special unique Relics back at the Hold that boost one of your hero’s key abilities (like making Wilder’s grappling hook even cooler!). These are easy to miss, so check the Journal often – it’s an intentional story and progression track!
The Characters: Meet Your Awesome Nightfarers!
While the main Elden Ring story gave us the fellow Tarnished, Queen Marika, the world ruled by the Golden Order and influenced by the Greater Will and its Two Fingers… Nightreign is all about your awesome eight heroes! There are 8 preset “Nightfarer” classes waiting for you. Each one has their own vibe, stats, and unique passive ability, special skill, and ultimate art. They fit different playstyles – you got your shield guy, your magic user, an archer, the Revenant, the Samurai/Executor, etc. Their abilities are often pretty wild and would be totally overpowered in standard Elden Ring, but they’re exactly what you need for this faster pace! While they might have ties to the legend and lore of the Lands Between (maybe even hinting at family trees related to Queen Marika or someone like Morgott’s twin?), their individual journeys in the shadow of that old world are the focus here. And yes, the fundamental creative vision from creator Hidetaka Miyazaki and writer George R.R. Martin is the cool foundation this new version builds on.
Nightreign’s Identity: A Standalone Bandai Namco Entertainment Adventure!
Just to be clear, Nightreign is a completely distinct thing from the original Elden Ring, brought to you by Bandai Namco Entertainment. It’s not one of those endless live service games; it’s a premium standalone title you buy. You get full priced editions, no battle passes (unless you count deluxe stuff), and any persistent currency (“Murk”) for cosmetics and Relics is earned just by playing – no microtransactions! Bandai Namco Entertainment and the devs have said they have planned content updates (like new heroes and bosses!), but it’s not meant for never-ending support like some other online games. This approach sets Nightreign apart! The game’s art style and feel definitely come from the original, and you can see that unique gameplay mix in the trailers! Check the official website or store page for more info or future events!
Nightreign Specifics: What’s REALLY Different?!
| Feature | Elden Ring (The Original) | Elden Ring: Nightreign (This Adventure) |
| Game Model | Premium Standalone, Large Open World RPG | Premium Standalone Co-op Roguelike: No Live Service, No Required Base Game Ownership |
| Goal | Become Elden Lord, Mend the Elden Ring | Survive and Defeat Night Lords across 3-day runs |
| Structure | Vast Open World, Exploration, Linear Story | Short 3-Day Expeditions: Timed runs in randomized, shrinking areas |
| Persistent Progression | Character levels/gear per save, Remembrances | Relics and Murk: Earned per run (win or lose), boost stats/abilities for all future runs |
| Movement | Walking, Sprinting, Rolling, Horse (Torrent), Spirit Springs, Watch Out for Fall Damage | Much Faster: Surge Sprint, Wall Run, Vault, Chained Jumps, Spectral Hawk Glider, No Fall Damage |
| Characters | Customizable Tarnished, Flexible Builds | 8 Preset Nightfarer Classes: Unique skills, passives, ultimates |
| Gear/Inventory | Weight/Equip Load, Stat/Class Requirements | Simplified: No Weight, No Stat/Class Equip Requirements (mostly). Passives active from Inventory (usually). |
| Bosses | Unique Bosses (like those with Great Runes) | New and Reworked: Brand new Nightlords + Remixed bosses from Elden Ring and other FromSoft games. Day 1/2 end with minor bosses. |
| Multiplayer | Co-op (Up to 4), Some PvP, Cross-Region Off Default | 3-Player Co-op ONLY: No PvP planned. P2P matchmaking, Cross-Region available (off default). No Cross-Platform Play. |
| Hub | The iconic Roundtable Hold | The Roundtable Hold Returns! Your base for prep, relics, and learning. |
The Final Word: Diving into Nightreign!
Elden Ring: Nightreign is a bold twist on FromSoftware’s formula – strange, fast, and filled with chaos and creativity. Stepping into this chaotic world is an adventure filled with mystery, challenge, and hopefully, some sweet loot and successful runs! These tips – from understanding your character and gear (including its distinct passive gear system!), mastering your hub and finding buddies for cooperative play online (via peer-to-peer matchmaking, with no cross-platform support), using your map and time smartly (and dodging that collapsing Night’s Tide!), getting clever with status effects and team synergy in combat, and powering up through Relics and the Remembrance system – should give you a great start and maybe a nice refresher for veterans diving into this unique gameplay. While the creators designed things you won’t figure out immediately, applying these strategies is guaranteed to improve your chances of not getting squashed and potentially snagging those wins!
Seriously, don’t be afraid to peek at community wikis between runs if you need deets on a boss weakness or a specific skill for effective gameplay. The main thing is to learn as you go, adapt to the chaos, communicate with your pins (even if it’s just pins!), and hopefully lead your team (or yourself!) to victory against the Nightlords in this wild, exciting world! Every walk through the Nightreign is a new story waiting to happen.
Good luck out there! Go get ’em!
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Is Elden Ring: Nightreign downloadable content (DLC) for the original Elden Ring?
Absolutely not! This is a really important point to understand right away. Elden Ring: Nightreign is not an expansion or add-on for the first game. The guide clearly states it’s a premium, standalone roguelike co-op action game. Think of it as a brand new adventure set within the existing Elden Ring universe, but you don’t need to own the original game at all to jump into Nightreign. It’s a separate purchase, available digitally and even in physical Deluxe/Collector Editions, which reinforces its status as a full, distinct title rather than just downloadable content.
What is the main objective and structure of a typical run (expedition) in Nightreign?
A typical expedition in Nightreign is structured as a high-stakes, timed event spanning three in-game days. Your overarching goal is to survive these three days and successfully defeat the powerful Night Lord boss waiting for you at the end of Day 3. Days 1 and 2 act as crucial preparatory phases; during these days, you explore, gather resources, level up, and each day concludes with a fight against a minor boss. The time limit for each day is roughly 10-15 minutes, and there’s a constantly shrinking safe zone on the map, the “Night’s Tide,” that forces you and your team to keep moving forward, adding intense pressure and battle royale-like pacing, but strictly for co-op survival against the environment and enemies.
How does character progression work, and what carries over between runs?
Character progression happens on two levels. Within a single expedition, you collect runes from defeating enemies and objectives, which you then spend at Sites of Grace to level up your character and automatically increase their stats based on their class (as stat distribution is preset per character). However, the unique persistent progression between runs comes primarily from Relics and Murk. Relics are powerful items you earn from completing runs (whether you win or lose) and specific objectives. These relics can be equipped in special slots back at the Round Table Hold and provide permanent boosts to your character’s stats and abilities that apply to all subsequent expeditions. Murk is a persistent in-game currency, also earned simply by playing, which can be used to purchase cosmetics and additional relics from merchants in the Round Table Hold, ensuring that every run contributes to your overall power and customization options.
Do I need to actively equip a piece of gear to gain its benefits?
This is one of Nightreign’s most significant differences from the base Elden Ring and a key element of its streamlined gameplay. For most pieces of gear you collect during a run, the answer is no! You gain the bonus properties or passive effects of a piece of gear simply by picking it up and having it in your inventory. All equipment passives are active as long as the item is carried, working in the background to boost your performance. This encourages you to grab as much loot as possible. The only exception to this rule is items marked with a “red hand” symbol. These specific, often powerful legendary items require you to have them actively equipped in your main or off-hand for their unique effect to be applied.
How many playable characters are there, and can I customize their appearance or stats freely?
Nightreign offers a roster of eight distinct, preset “Nightfarer” classes for you to choose from. Each of these heroes is unique, featuring their own starting gear, base stats, passive ability, special skill, and ultimate art, designed to fit different playstyles like a tank, spellcaster, or archer. While you do level up your character by spending runes gained during expeditions, increasing their overall power, you don’t manually distribute stat points. As the guide notes from official sources, “Stat progression is determined by your Nightfarer,” meaning your chosen class dictates how your stats automatically grow upon leveling up. Appearance customization is separate and primarily handled through cosmetics purchased with Murk in the Round Table Hold.
What is the Round Table Hold used for in Nightreign?
The Round Table Hold serves as your essential central hub and safe haven between every expedition. It’s where you handle all your preparations and persistent progression. From here, you can select which of the eight Nightfarers you want to play as for your next run, equip the Relics you’ve collected to boost your stats permanently, and read the Visual Codex for details on game mechanics and items. The Hold also features a dedicated Training Grounds area, which is highly recommended for practicing your character’s moves and experimenting with weapons risk-free before a timed expedition. There’s also a handy menu-based teleport feature allowing you to quickly move between different areas within the Hold itself.
How does multiplayer matchmaking work, and can I play with friends?
Nightreign is designed fundamentally as a 3-player co-op experience. When you start an expedition, you’ll always be part of a three-person team. If you initiate matchmaking without two other friends in your party, the game will automatically attempt to fill those slots with random players by default to ensure you always play in a trio. Playing with specific friends is easy using the Matchmaking Password system; setting a unique code allows only friends with that code to join your party. There’s also a separate Group Password system that links multiple lobbies together, allowing players within a community to see asynchronous features like bloodstains from others using the same password, adding a sense of shared presence.
Is there cross-platform play between PlayStation, Xbox, and PC?
No, the guide explicitly states that there is no cross-platform play support in Elden Ring: Nightreign. This means players on PlayStation consoles can only matchmake and play with other PlayStation players, Xbox players with other Xbox players, and PC players (via Steam) with other PC players on Steam. The guide does mention that Cross-Region matchmaking is supported (though often off by default due to potential ping issues with P2P connections), which helps widen the pool of players you can potentially match with within your platform ecosystem.
How is movement different in Nightreign compared to the original Elden Ring?
Movement in Nightreign is significantly faster and more dynamic than in the original Elden Ring, tailored for the game’s faster pace and objective-focused gameplay. You have access to a high-speed “Surge Sprint” that feels like a turbo boost, wall running, vaulting over smaller environmental obstacles, and using “Spiritstream jumps” which launch you into the air similar to Spirit Springs but integrated into the character’s moveset rather than requiring a horse. Additionally, you can summon a Spectral Hawk glider from special trees for covering large distances quickly. A major, welcome difference is the complete removal of fall damage, allowing you to jump down from cliffs and high ledges without consequence. The standard walk speed is also slightly quicker, and overall movement feels more responsive.
Does Nightreign contain microtransactions or a battle pass?
No, and the guide is very clear on this point, positioning it as a key identity feature of the game. Elden Ring: Nightreign is confirmed to be a premium standalone title, not a live service game. It does not feature in-game microtransactions for gameplay advantages, nor does it have a battle pass system (beyond potential cosmetic or other perks offered in Deluxe/Collector Editions at launch). The game does have a persistent currency called “Murk” for acquiring cosmetics and relics, but this currency is earned solely through playing the game itself.
How does the map work, and how does it change during an expedition?
The map in Nightreign serves as your vital navigation tool during expeditions. While the overall geographical features like hills and coastlines remain consistent, the specific locations of objectives (like Rune sites or Forts) are randomized each run, as are the environmental effects present (e.g., poisonous forests, meteor strikes) that alter the map layout. A key dynamic is the constantly shrinking playable area caused by the “Night’s Tide” as each day progresses; this acts like a battle royale zone collapse, forcing players inward towards central objectives and eventually the final boss arena. The map also displays icons hinting at the types of loot (like elemental weapons) a boss might drop. Players can use colored pins on the map to coordinate movement and objectives with their teammates, which is essential given the lack of voice chat.
What are Relics, and how are they important for my power?
Relics are a central element of the persistent progression system in Nightreign and are crucial for increasing your overall power level across multiple runs. These are special items earned at the end of every expedition, regardless of victory or defeat, and also from completing specific objectives within a run. Back in the Round Table Hold, you can equip these relics in colored slots (initially limited, but more can be unlocked). When equipped, Relics provide permanent statistical boosts (like increased damage, FP, or stamina) or enhance specific abilities for all subsequent expeditions with that character. While relic drops are randomized, defeating the Night Lord boss at the end of Day 3 guarantees a powerful, unique relic, making it a key goal for long-term character growth.
Are there bosses in Nightreign from other FromSoftware games besides Elden Ring?
Yes, surprisingly! While Elden Ring: Nightreign features all-new Night Lord bosses and includes reworked foes from the original Elden Ring, preview coverage has reported the appearance of bosses from other FromSoftware titles as well, specifically mentioning examples from Demon’s Souls and Dark Souls III. These bosses are noted as seemingly included “for fun” in this roguelike context, and their specific lore implications within Nightreign’s narrative are described as unclear. Their inclusion adds variety and a nod to FromSoft’s legacy within this new adventure.
What is the Remembrance system, and what does it do?
The Remembrance system in Nightreign is tied directly to the persistent story progression for each of the eight playable Nightfarer characters. Located in the Journal within the Round Table Hold, the system expands as you play. By finding rare “fragments of memories” during expeditions, you can unlock new chapters in a character’s story journal. Viewing these entries can then trigger optional “Remembrance” side quests during subsequent runs, marked by an orange flag on the map. Completing these specific missions (often involving defeating a particular enemy or reaching a certain location) grants significant rune payouts for leveling up and, importantly, unlocks special unique relics back at the Round Table Hold that provide powerful boosts to one of that specific character’s core abilities. It acts as an intentional narrative and progression track separate from the main expedition loop.
How can I upgrade my gear during a run?
During an expedition, you can enhance the power of your weapons by increasing their rarity (e.g., from blue to purple). This is done by collecting Smithing Stones and finding an anvil, which are typically located near merchants at fixed camp locations on the map. You can find Smithing Stones from various sources; Tunnel entrances on the map are reliable spots to find Level 1/2 stones, and the boss found within Mines is specifically noted as reliably dropping Level 2 stones. Once you have the necessary stones, interacting with an anvil allows you to upgrade the rarity of your weapons, making them more powerful, keeping in mind that higher rarity weapons often have level requirements (e.g., Level 3 for blue, 7 for purple, 10 for orange/Legendary).
What are some recommended combat strategies for Nightreign?
Given the game’s design, effective combat in Nightreign relies heavily on teamwork and strategic play. Staying together as a group is highly recommended, as the game scales for three players and staying close makes reviving downed allies much safer. Knowing your character’s role and how your teammates’ unique skills and ultimates (like Guardian’s invulnerable zone or Revenant’s revive) synergize is crucial for coordinated fights. Utilizing status effects like Bleed, Poison, and Scarlet Rot is very powerful; these effects bypass limited attack windows on bosses by applying damage over time, allowing for safer play. Since bosses have higher resistance balanced for groups, multiple players applying status effects can trigger them much faster. The guide also advises avoiding getting bogged down fighting large groups of minor enemies for minimal rewards unless it’s necessary for early leveling or can be quickly cleared with a powerful ultimate ability.
What are Sites of Grace used for in Nightreign expeditions?
Sites of Grace in Nightreign function as vital checkpoints and progression points during your expeditions, much like in the base game but adapted for the roguelike structure. Simply running near a Site of Grace will immediately replenish your Flasks and heal your character, which is incredibly useful for maintaining health and resources while exploring or after combat. Crucially, Sites of Grace are also where you spend the runes you’ve collected from defeating enemies and completing objectives to level up your character within that specific run. Gaining levels, particularly from Level 1 to Level 2, provides significant health boosts and other stat increases, making stopping at Sites of Grace essential for increasing your survivability and combat effectiveness during your limited time in the expedition zone.
What technical considerations should PC players be aware of?
PC players accessing Nightreign via Steam should be mindful of the game’s technical requirements and performance. While it’s available on a range of systems, ensuring optimal performance is key for the fast-paced gameplay. Official system requirements provide minimum and recommended specs (e.g., minimum GTX 1060, 12GB RAM, 30GB storage). The guide notes that having a compatible audio device enhances immersion, and optimizing settings for hardware like an Nvidia GeForce GTX card can help maintain smooth frame rates. However, publisher notes indicate that 120fps modes are not currently supported (capped at 60fps), and some PC configurations might experience frame drops or struggle to run the game smoothly on Ultra settings. While less crucial for standard play, enthusiasts might consider a specialized space sound card for enhanced audio.
How important are consumable items like Flasks or buffs?
Consumable items play a significant role in survival and tactical advantage during Nightreign expeditions. Increasing your maximum flask count by finding Churches is vital for maintaining health during boss fights and challenging encounters across the three days. Other consumables provide temporary but powerful buffs or utility; examples include Warming Stones for team healing, Boiled Crabs or Bronze items for damage resistance, Flesh items for physical damage buffs, and Starlight Shards for classes with high FP needs. The guide recommends prioritizing useful consumables and using temporary item buffs in early fights as they are generally plentiful. While consumables don’t persist between runs, managing and utilizing them effectively within an expedition can significantly increase your chances of success against tough enemies and bosses.
Can I play Nightreign offline or solo?
Yes, despite being designed primarily as a 3-player co-op experience, Nightreign does allow for solo play. By default, if you don’t have a full party of three, the game will automatically attempt to fill the remaining slots via online matchmaking. However, you have the option to disable matchmaking (often found in the game’s options menu) or play in offline mode. When playing solo, the game’s difficulty scaling is adjusted to be more manageable for a single player, though the guide still suggests it can be tougher compared to playing with a coordinated team, especially for newcomers.
