Alright Tarnished, or should we say, Nightreign hopefuls! Elden Ring: Nightreign is bringing a whole squad of eight distinct heroes to the Lands Between, and figuring out your champion (or champions for your crew!) is half the fun. Picking the right one can totally change your party’s vibe and how you tackle those terrifying bosses. Forget scrolling through endless wikis – here’s your slightly unhinged guide to the eight revealed heroes, so you can figure out who fits your brand of chaos the best!
Elden Ring: Nightreign Classes Tier List
Elden Ring: Nightreign features eight playable characters, each known as a Night Farer:
Each comes loaded with their own unique starting weapons, signature abilities (that’s their Passive, Character Skill, and Ultimate Art), preferred stats, and preferred playstyle. Understanding their “kit” – everything they bring to the fight – is key, whether you’re teaming up for jolly cooperation or reportedly braving the dangers alone. While trying them all out is definitely part of the fun, let’s get a feel for who’s who in this lineup and what kind of mayhem they specialize in!
S Tier: Nightreign Royalty (Potential Best Classes for the Absolute Top Dogs)
These are the champions currently sitting on the throne! According to initial impressions, heroes in this tier are reportedly dominating the battlefield and bringing top-tier power and performance to any party. If you’re aiming to maximize your impact and play what’s potentially considered the “best” right now, look no further than the Nightreign Royalty.
Ironeye
Vibe: The precision archer, athletic, and mastering ranged combat. Leans heavily on reportedly reworked bow mechanics that make archery much more viable (faster firing, moving while aiming, unlimited ammo!). The go-to ranged fighter for providing consistent damage and support from a safer distance, basically sniping foes before they even know what hit ’em.
Reworked Bows: Unlike past Elden Ring titles (this is a FromSoftware game, after all!), bows in Nightreign reportedly have a new reticle targeting system, faster firing speed, and, thankfully, unlimited ammo! No more scrambling for fletching mid-fight! There’s also a new strong attack that can act like a shotgun blast and a dedicated critical hit/backstab animation for bows because, yes, you can now backstab things with an arrow, apparently. Chaos reigns!
Passive: Eagle Eye: A fantastic passive ability and a benefit for the entire team! This hero’s keen observation reportedly grants an additional opportunity to snag higher rarity loot from defeated enemies for all nearby allies. Who needs a four-leaf clover when you have an Ironeye on your team? Definitely makes them popular in any group hunting for that sweet, sweet gear!
Character Skill: Marking: Stab an enemy to create a temporary weak point on them. Attacking this marked weak point reportedly makes enemies take more damage from all sources and hitting it destroys the mark, staggering the target (hello, poise break!). The official scrolls also whisper that it can be used to quickly pass through enemies, basically letting you phase through baddies like a phantom on Red Bull. The mark’s duration can be extended for maximum damage stacking shenanigans. Activating typically involves holding Triangle and L2.
Ultimate Art: Single Shot: Fire a supersonic arrow that pierces through any defense, multiple opponents, and even terrain in a straight line! The official description keeps it simple, calling it a devastating attack that pierces enemies in a straight line. We prefer our description: a massive damage, souped-up multi-shot of pure “you were in the way” energy. The hero is reportedly invulnerable (invincibility frames) while charging this powerful shot, useful against incoming attacks. Requires a full Ultimate Art gauge (often holding Triangle and pressing R2).
Starting Gear: Comes with the Ironeye’s Bow, equipped with the Mighty Shot Ash of War. This is a heavy bow attack good for poise breaking, increasing damage output, and potentially applying status effects quicker from range. Basically, you get a fancy bow right out of the gate.
Stat Scoop: Official starting stats haven’t been fully detailed, but it’s speculated they might have low HP (given the safety of ranged combat) but potentially higher Stamina or FP. They reportedly appeared to have the lowest HP pool during testing – classic glass cannon archer vibes, stay away from the pointy things! The official vibe simply confirms their “Mastery of ranged combat,” which, let’s be honest, is just a fancy way of saying they’re really good with a bow.
Duchess
Vibe: The agile assassin or roguish noble. Officially, she’s all about Fast-paced combat, which pretty much sums up her vibe! A fast, nimble hero focused on quick strikes, evasion, and moving rapidly around the battlefield. She basically trades defensive blocking for a fluid, chainable quickstep dodge because blocking is for slowpokes. Offers a high-risk, high-reward playstyle focusing on Dexterity and getting right up in a foe’s face for some close-range action.
Passive: Magnificent Poise: The cornerstone of the Duchess‘s style! This passive ability, officially stating it allows for rapid dodging and chained attacks, means she can perform rapid, consecutive quickstep dodges and reportedly enables faster attack animations. This keeps the hero highly mobile, letting them maintain offensive pressure while constantly repositioning and evading attacks. She’s a dodging machine!
Character Skill: Restage: A potentially devastating ability! Officially, this bad boy inflicts stored damage and status effects onto enemies. What that means in plain English is this: “stages a reprisal” of recent occurrences – it can reapply damage and status effects that have recently happened to a target, including reportedly damage dealt by your allies! When timed just right after a burst of pain on a boss (or even bossES!), it can unleash massive additional damage or stagger the target much quicker. Basically, you hurt them, then Restage makes them hurt again from the same pain. It’s visually represented by a ghost or hologram effect – spooky and effective. Activating typically involves holding Triangle and pressing L2.
Ultimate Art: Finale: Obscure yourself and surrounding allies! Officially, this beauty grants temporary invisibility to you and nearby allies. Poof! You and your pals vanish from enemy sight for reportedly around 10 seconds. Enemies reportedly completely lose track of you, making it fantastic for sneaking past trouble, strategically repositioning, or even totally avoiding certain boss phases or nasty auto-tracking spells. It makes your entire team invisible relative to enemy detection for a duration. Great for party tricks or party survival! Requires a full Ultimate Art gauge (often holding Triangle and pressing R2).
Starting Gear: Wields the Duchess’s Dagger, which comes with the Magic Dagger Ash of War. This adds a magic armament effect, providing a useful tool for more damage. Her playstyle screams “use fast pointy things for close-range fun.”
Stat Scoop: Favors agility and skill usage over raw HP. Starts with reportedly low HP values but has good amounts of FP (Focus Points, for magic/skills) that increase, supporting a playstyle reliant on skill usage and mobility rather than survivability. She might be squishy, but you have to catch her first!
A Tier: Formidable Forces (Solid, reliable, get things done)
Solid, reliable, and definitely not to be underestimated! Heroes in the Formidable Forces tier are strong, dependable choices that consistently perform well and bring valuable assets to their team. While maybe not the absolute top dog, they are excellent, versatile options that can tackle the challenges of the Lands Between with confidence.
Wylder
Vibe: The balanced warrior, a solid jack-of-all-trades. Officially, they’re all about Balanced capabilities. Often seen as a versatile choice that can fit different roles but doesn’t strictly specialize. Considered a dependable starting hero for newcomers due to their adaptable nature, making them a fairly simple introduction to the Elden Ring Nightreign classes. Think “solid vanilla ice cream” – maybe not the flashiest flavor, but gets the job done reliably!
Passive: Sixth Sense: A handy “cheat death” passive ability. This automatically activates once per match or run (no button needed!) to save the hero from a blow that would otherwise be fatal, letting them immediately resurrect against dangerous attacks. This safety net reportedly resets when revived by an ally or resting at a Site of Grace. Gives you a little extra breathing room when you mess up, because who doesn’t do that?
Character Skill: Claw Shot: Launch a grappling claw! The official word says it lets you Grapple to or pull in enemies. This claw shot can either pull smaller enemies towards you for a closer encounter (get over here!) or pull you swiftly towards larger foes or terrain (zipline, activate!). It’s a useful tool for mobility and controlling combat distance, and can even help break an enemy’s guard (staggering them out of attacks) or potentially draw aggro towards the Wylder. Stick ’em with the pointy end… of the rope? Activating it typically involves holding Triangle and pressing L2.
Ultimate Art: Onslaught Stake: A powerful single attack. Officially, it lets you Charge forward and inflict devastating damage. Charges and launches an iron stake forward, causing a massive damage explosion. The hero is reportedly invulnerable (invincibility frames) during the animation and is reeled back in afterwards, helping avoid incoming attacks. Holding down the input longer can reportedly even preserve a portion of the Ultimate Art gauge for later. Poke ’em real hard! Requires a full Ultimate Art gauge (often activated by holding Triangle and pressing R2).
Starting Gear: Comes equipped with a Wylder’s Greatsword and Shield, suitable for various close-range situations. Relics in testing sometimes added effects to the claw shot when using Greatswords, suggesting potential synergy. Sword and board, the classic combo for classic folks.
Stat Scoop: Appears to be evenly split between Strength and Dexterity stats, leading to a balanced increase across attributes as they level up, reflecting their versatile nature and potential for diverse damage output. The intel whispers they have high Strength and Dexterity, making them pretty beefy and skilled.
Raider
Vibe: The unstoppable berserker or barbarian, focused on raw offensive strength. The official flavour text calls it Raw offensive power. Favors enormous two-handed weapons and is a hybrid DPS/tank who can use incoming damage from attacks to fuel their attacks and dish out significant physical punishment. Basically, the opposite of the defensive Guardian. Built for brutal close-range fighting, where hitting hard is the main plan.
Passive: Fighter’s Resolve: Taking damage isn’t just a setback – this passive ability reportedly boosts the potency of the Raider’s Retaliate skill and increases their damage output! Officially, it Increases the effectiveness of Retaliate. Crucially, this passive also ensures the Raider cannot be knocked down while using Retaliate, making them resistant to crowd control from many attacks. Get hit, get angrier, hit harder. It’s the simple life.
Character Skill: Retaliate: Assume an attack stance (reportedly reduces incoming damage and boosts poise against attacks). The official description is delightfully blunt: Assume an attack stance that deals massive damage when struck by enemies. Deliver a vigorous punch that can stagger even the largest enemies and even bosses! If the Raider takes a hit while using this skill, they reportedly perform a massive damage follow-up punch animation, making it live up to its name and dealing more damage. Punch first, ask questions later (or probably never). Activating typically involves holding Triangle and L2.
Ultimate Art: Totem Stela: Summons a giant tombstone right out of the ground! The official text confirms it Summon[s] a Totem that provides cover and buffs nearby allies. This tombstone reportedly deals damage upon summoning and provides cover/shelter for the team, useful against ranged attacks or AoE attacks. It can also be used as a strategic platform, allowing ranged characters like Ironeye or Recluse to get high ground or avoid ground-based attacks. The tombstone also reportedly provides a damage output buff to allies nearby. While offering some support utility, the main focus is still probably the offensive boost and trading blows in close-range combat. Drop a gravestone on their heads, then stand behind it for buffs. Multi-purpose! Requires a full Ultimate Art gauge (often holding Triangle and pressing R2).
Starting Gear: Wields the massive Raider’s Greataxe. This is a colossal weapon that deals both physical and fire damage. It comes with the Endure skill, which briefly protects the hero from incoming damage from attacks and boosts their poise, allowing them to tank hits and take less damage while attacking up close. The playstyle involves hunting for the biggest possible weapons with those satisfying, slower attack animations for massive damage. Monke flip with an axe, basically.
Stat Scoop: Starting stats haven’t been officially disclosed, but given the focus on trading blows and tanking damage, it’s speculated this class might have high HP values from the start, supporting their preferred playstyle. Reports suggest they’re a Strength-heavy bruiser.
Executor
Vibe: The seventh revealed class, reportedly heavily inspired by the combat mechanics of Sekiro. The official site labels Executor‘s vibe as Agile combat. Wields a katana and is an expert in close-quarters melee engagements, focusing on precise parries and deflections against attacks. Offers a powerful, skill-testing playstyle with high potential rewards, but likely involves a steep learning curve because, you know, hitting tiny deflection windows is hard. Considered a fan favorite after initial gameplay glimpses – everyone wants to be a samurai.
Known Mechanics: The core of this hero’s playstyle revolves around a parry/deflection mechanic, similar to those found in Sekiro or the Elden Ring DLC’s tougher parry system. Success in precisely deflecting incoming attacks seems crucial to their flow and offense. This playstyle is highly dependent on player timing and reaction. Git gud or get dead.
Passive: The official site vaguely says it enhances abilities. Based on what we’ve seen and heard, this is heavily speculated to tie into their parrying ability. It likely involves gaining power or benefits from successive deflections – the more stylish you are, the stronger you get?
Character Skill: Cursed Sword: The official description confirms the name and says it lets you assume a stance that deflects enemy attacks and allows for quicker attacks. Reports also mention it might allow swapping to a special sword, enabling attacking while deflecting incoming enemy attacks, performing quicker attacks for increased damage output, and a wide lunge, with the blade powering up from successive deflections to deal more damage. It’s your central tool for turning incoming pain into outgoing damage.
Ultimate Art: Aspect of the Crucible: Beast: The official confirms this epic name and states it lets you transform into a beast to unleash devastating attacks. Reportedly involves transforming into a giant beast with a completely new close-range moveset, including slashes and a ground stomp for massive damage. Because sometimes, parrying isn’t enough, you just gotta go full monster.
Starting Gear: Begins with a Katana, already one of the strongest weapon types in Elden Ring for getting up close and personal. This weapon choice perfectly complements their close-range, skill-based combat style. Slice and dice!
Speculation: There’s speculation about a potential Holy damage influence, based on how the weapon reportedly glows golden while parrying attacks. It’s also been wondered if this class might lean towards a Strength/Faith build, potentially filling a gap in damage output types compared to the other characters. Insider whispers suggest they’re a Dexterity/Arcane melee fighter, which leans into the skill and potential holy/magic weapon effects.
B Tier: Hidden Potential (Might take more effort, or are niche, but can shine)
Don’t let the letter fool you – this tier might hold some surprising power! Characters here could be more specialized, perhaps requiring a higher skill ceiling or specific team compositions to truly shine. While they might not be as universally dominant as the tiers above, mastering a hero in this category could unlock incredible, unique playstyles.
Revenant
Vibe: The eighth and reportedly final hero available at launch, though they’ve been kept quite a secret by the developers! The official site cryptically labels their vibe as Summoning abilities and support, which fits the bill. Seen less often in official materials, leading to speculation they might be unlocked later or are just being heavily hidden. Seems to fit the role of a summoner, with abilities focused on summoning spirits and ashes, similar to a mechanic from the original Elden Ring. Likely intended as a support-oriented class, bringing spectral buddies to the party.
Known Mechanics: The only truly “hard” information available is that this hero’s role involves summoning spirits. This is reportedly a core mechanic tied to their abilities. Summoned minions can engage multiple opponents, potentially providing CC or helping to draw aggro away from the party. Basically, you bring friends who don’t complain.
Passive: The official site states their passive is Summoning capabilities enhanced. How exactly this works is still a bit of a mystery – maybe your spirits hit harder, last longer, or just appear fancier?
Character Skill: Summon Spirit: The official name for their skill is simply Summon a spirit ally to fight alongside you. Straightforward enough! How the summoning works mechanically (e.g., how many spirits, their power, their behavior) is still largely unknown, leading to much speculation. The effectiveness of this preferred playstyle might be highly dependent on the summoned AI’s behavior, which could be an only downside if your spectral pals decide it’s tea time mid-boss fight.
Ultimate Art: Immortal March: Oh, this sounds dramatic! The official description for their ultimate is Revives all allies and summons powerful spirits. This is huge! Forget Guardian trying to poke people awake, the Revenant just brings everyone back from the brink and summons some heavy-hitting ghostly backup. Talk about a party saver!
Starting Gear: The official site lists their starting gear as Cursed Claws and Seal. Cursed claws? That sounds… less like a summoner and more like something spooky you scratch people with. The seal makes more sense for Faith incantations/summoning catalysts. Maybe they’re a spooky scratcher who also brings ghosts? Mysterious!
Speculation: Given the other characters, it’s highly speculated the Revenant might be the primary Faith incantation wielder, with their skills potentially focusing on summoning aspects, complementing the Recluse’s focus on the Magic Cocktail skill. Insider whispers suggest they have high Int and Faith, but low HP – squishy summoner! The potential for unique support or solo utility from minions who can distract enemies or engage multiple enemies is exciting. Bring on the ghost army!
Recluse
Vibe: The spellcaster or mage of the group. Officially described as Fragile, yet devastating magic. Possesses immense arcane power for ranged attacks but reportedly has low physical durability (“a glass cannon”). This means low survivability if caught close-range, making their low hp pool a notable factor. Offers a unique magic synergy playstyle focused on Intelligence. Mastering their unique system might involve a significant learning curve, because complex magic is complex.
Passive: Elemental Defense: This passive ability, officially titled Restores FP by collecting elemental residues, helps the Recluse restore their magic meter (FP or the “blue bar”) by collecting elemental residues (affinity residues) from enemies hit by elemental damage, which is crucial given limited ways to restore FP otherwise for sustained ranged attacks. Gotta collect those magic leftovers!
Character Skill: Magic Cocktail: The core of their unique magic system! Officially, this skill is all about letting you Combine elemental residues to unleash powerful spells. Unlike other characters, the Recluse reportedly doesn’t just have a list of spells. Instead, by applying elemental damage (like fire, lightning, frost, magic) to multiple opponents (using items like fire bombs, or abilities from self/allies) and then collecting the elemental residues (affinity residues) left behind (which appear as colored circles, absorbed via the passive), the Recluse can combine these. Once three residues (affinity residues) are collected (doesn’t matter the color!), they can use Magic Cocktail skill (often holding Triangle and pressing L2) to unleash a powerful spell effect, dealing massive damage depending on the combination and order they were collected! It’s a magical recipe system! This means hunting for staves that have good spells bound to their light/heavy attacks is key, as staves only have two spells each in Nightreign. Mix ‘n’ match for mayhem!
Ultimate Art: Soul Blood Song: More of a support Ultimate. The official name and description confirms it Marks enemies and restores HP and FP for allies when attacked. Marks nearby enemies with special blood sigils. When any ally attacks enemies marked with this sign, it reportedly restores HP (health) and FP (magic) for the entire team! This has been noted as a very solid support skill and a major lifesaver, especially against even bosses. Sang a song, heal the team. Simple! Requires a full Ultimate Art gauge (often holding Triangle and R2).
Starting Gear: Begins with the Recluse Staff (officially a Sorcery Staff), a catalyst for casting sorceries, enabling ranged attacks. Point stick, make magic.
Stat Scoop: Reportedly starts with the absolute lowest HP in the game (a mere 140 at level 1) and remains low even at higher levels, emphasizing the “glass cannon” aspect and highlighting their low survivability. However, they compensate by having some of the highest starting FP by default, which continues to increase, heavily favoring a spell-centric ranged fighter playstyle. Low HP, high magic power – standard mage stuff.
C Tier: Brave, But Struggling (Perhaps need a bit of a buff, or are a very difficult path)
Bless their hearts, these heroes are reportedly facing some challenges right out of the gate. While every Night Farer can technically take on the Nightreign, other characters in higher tiers might currently offer a more straightforward or higher damage output. Characters in this tier might require significant extra effort, specific builds, or might simply be outshined by others in the current state. They’re brave for stepping up, but might be hoping for some future adjustments.
Guardian
Vibe: The stalwart defender, a bird-like humanoid in heavy armor. Officially, their vibe is all about Stalwart defense. They’re the primary tank of the group, focusing on soaking up incoming enemy attacks and protecting allies. Basically, they stand between the squishy folks and the pointy bits the enemies are swinging.
Passive: Steel Guard: Enhances blocking capabilities. This passive ability, officially confirming it Enhances guarding capabilities, allows the Guardian to brace with their shield for a more powerful guard, blocking more effectively and taking less damage, preventing knockback from heavy attacks. This comes at the cost of movement speed while blocking, requiring the hero to plant their feet and stand still, but they reportedly consume less stamina while tanking hits this way in melee engagements. Hold that shield tight, block like a boss!
Character Skill: Whirlwind: Sprout wings from the back to whip up a wind-churning cyclone! The official site confirms it Create[s] a whirlwind that lifts enemies and sweeps projectiles. This attacks enemies near you, can lift smaller foes into the air (wee!), and knock them off their feet. It’s also noted for being able to sweep away lightweight projectiles (like annoying arrows!) and provides crowd control against multiple opponents. While less effective against even bosses (they usually don’t get swept away), holding the input can reportedly enlarge its range and damage. Spin to win (or at least knock them around)! Activating typically involves holding Triangle and pressing L2.
Ultimate Art: Wings of Salvation: Leap high into the air and crash down, raising a protective area upon impact! The official word states this ultimate lets you Leap and crash down to create a protective area and buff allies. This deals area damage (AoE) and staggers multiple enemies. It’s reportedly great for protecting teammates stuck near a boss or in AoE scenarios, especially when combined with its invincibility frames during the animation. Holding the input down can also reportedly provide a shield buff to nearby allies for extra protection against incoming enemy attacks. It’s a dive-bomb of defense! Requires a full Ultimate Art gauge (often holding Triangle and pressing R2).
Starting Gear: Begins with the Guardian’s Halberd and Greatshield. This setup leans heavily into defensive capabilities and allows for a shield-focused playstyle from the start, prioritizing safety over speed up close and allowing for a shield-poke strategy against attacks. Big shield, pokey stick. Simple and effective for staying alive.
Stat Scoop: Starts with some of the highest HP (Health Points) and solid Stamina levels, both of which reportedly increase consistently, reinforcing their tank role and making them a strong Strength-focused character with solid survivability, though perhaps lacking raw damage output compared to others. They’re built like a brick wall, ready to take a beating (and maybe dish a few back slowly).
| Character Name | Tier | Vibe/Playstyle | Passive Ability | Character Skill | Ultimate Art | Starting Gear | Stat Focus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ironeye | S Tier | Precision archer, ranged combat, consistent damage, support. | Eagle Eye: Increases quality and rarity of loot drops for nearby allies. | Marking: Stab enemy to create weak point (take more damage), hitting mark staggers, can be used as a movement skill (dodge through foes), duration can be extended. | Single Shot: Fire supersonic arrow piercing defenses, multiple opponents, terrain. Massive damage, invulnerable while charging. | Ironeye Bow (with Mighty Shot Ash of War). | Speculated low HP, potentially higher Stamina/FP. Lowest HP in testing. |
| Duchess | S Tier | Agile assassin/rogue, quick strikes, evasion, fast movement, high-risk high-reward, Dexterity close-range. | Magnificent Poise: Perform rapid, consecutive quickstep dodges, faster attack animations. | Restage: Reapply recent damage and status effects on a target (including ally damage). Can unleash massive additional damage or stagger. | Finale: Grants temporary invisibility to self and nearby allies (around 10 seconds). Enemies lose track of you. | Duchess’s Dagger (with Magic Dagger Ash of War). | Low HP, good amounts of FP that increase. Favors agility and skill usage. |
| Wylder | A Tier | Balanced warrior, jack-of-all-trades, versatile, dependable for newcomers. | Sixth Sense: Automatically activates once per match/run to save from fatal blow, letting hero resurrect. Resets when revived by ally or resting. | Claw Shot: Launch grappling claw. Pulls smaller enemies towards you, or pulls you towards larger foes/terrain. Mobility/distance control, can help break guard/draw aggro. | Onslaught Stake: Charges and launches iron stake forward, massive damage explosion. Invulnerable during animation, reeled back afterwards. Can preserve gauge by holding input. | Great Sword and Small Shield. | Evenly split Strength and Dexterity, balanced increase across attributes. |
| Raider | A Tier | Unstoppable berserker/barbarian, raw strength, two-handed weapons, hybrid DPS/tank, uses incoming damage from attacks to fuel their attacks, brutal close-range fighting. | Fighter’s Resolve: Taking damage boosts potency of Retaliate skill and increases damage output. Cannot be knocked down while using Retaliate. | Retaliate: Assume attack stance (reportedly reduces incoming damage and boosts poise against attacks). Deliver a vigorous punch that can stagger even the largest enemies and even bosses! If the Raider takes a hit while using this skill, they reportedly perform a massive damage follow-up punch animation. | Totem Stela: Summons giant tombstone. Deals damage on summoning, provides cover/shelter, strategic platform, provides damage buff to allies nearby. | Raider’s Great Axe (colossal, physical/fire damage, with Endure skill). | Speculated high HP values from start. Focus on trading blows and tanking. |
| Executor | A Tier | Sekiro-inspired, katana, close-quarters melee engagements, precise parries/deflections, skill-testing. | Enhances abilities. | Cursed Sword: Allows attacking while deflecting incoming enemy attacks, performing quicker attacks, and a wide lunge. Blade powers up from successive deflections for more damage. | Aspect of the Crucible: Beast: Transform into a giant beast with a completely new melee combat moveset including slashes and a ground stomp for massive damage. | Katana. | Speculation about Strength/Faith influence. |
| Revenant | B Tier | Summoner, spirits/ashes, support-oriented, less seen, possibly unlocked later or hidden. | Summoning capabilities enhanced. | Summon Spirit: Summon a spirit ally to fight alongside you. | Immortal March: Revives all allies and summons powerful spirits. | Cursed Claws and Seal. | Speculated primary Faith incantation wielder (high Int/Faith, low HP). |
| Recluse | B Tier | Spellcaster/mage, immense arcane power (ranged), low physical durability (glass cannon), unique magic synergy (Intelligence). | Elemental Defense: Restores magic meter (FP) by collecting elemental residues from enemies hit by elemental damage. | Magic Cocktail: Combine 3 collected elemental residues (from elemental damage) to unleash powerful spell effect. Spell depends on combination and order. | Soul Blood Song: Marks nearby enemies. Attacking marked enemies restores HP and FP for the entire team. Solid support/lifesaver. | Recluse Staff. | Absolute lowest HP in game (140 at Lvl 1), remains low. High/increasing FP. Heavily favors spell-centric ranged style. |
| Guardian | C Tier | Stalwart defender, tank, heavy armor, soaking damage, protecting allies. | Steel Guard: Enhances blocking with shield. More effective guard, less damage, prevents knockback. Costs movement speed while blocking, consumes less stamina while tanking hits this way in melee engagements. | Whirlwind: Sprout wings, whip up wind cyclone. Attacks enemies near you, can lift smaller foes into the air, and knock them off their feet. It’s also noted for being able to sweep away lightweight projectiles and provides crowd control against multiple opponents. | Wings of Salvation: Leap high and crash down, raising a protective area upon impact! Deals AoE damage/stagger. Great for protecting teammates, especially with invincibility frames. Can provide shield buff by holding. | Guardian’s Halberd and Great Shield. (Official: Halberd and Greatshield) | High HP, solid Stamina, consistent increase. Strong Strength-focused. |
Beyond the Solo Run: Teamwork & Online Play in Elden Ring Nightreign
Elden Ring Nightreign is built with online multiplayer in mind, often highlighted as a great experience playing with a couple of friends (perhaps three players for maximum chaos and synergy!). Working together to combine skills, manage aggro (perhaps the Wylder can help draw aggro!), provide support (like the Racus or Revenant), and revive fallen allies is key to success. However, rumors circulating (though not officially confirmed yet) suggest a solo mode might also be available for those who prefer to brave the dangers of the Lands Between on their own terms, facing multiple opponents and difficult attacks alone.
Which One Will Be Your Character in Elden Ring? Nightreign Tier List Thoughts
There you have it – the lowdown on the eight Night Farers preparing to dive into Elden Ring Nightreign! From versatile fighters and unyielding protectors to speedy assassins, elemental spellcasters, sharp archers, brutal berserkers, precise duelists, and mysterious summoners, there appears to be a preferred playstyle to suit many different tastes and contribute to the party’s overall damage output. While a definitive Nightreign tier list won’t be clear until players get their hands on the full FromSoftware game and explore every build possibility, each hero brings a unique angle to the NPC and boss fights. The learning curve and complexity varies greatly between other characters. Now, the only question left is… which champion will you choose for your first raid into the Nightreign, perhaps leading the charge in the immortal march?
Epiccarry: best wow boost and coaching services
What exactly is “Elden Ring Nightreign” and what’s its main focus?
Elden Ring Nightreign is presented as a new significant mode or expansion for the popular game Elden Ring. Its main focus seems to be on cooperative online play, as it’s described as bringing together a “squad” of eight distinct playable heroes called Night Farers. The guide emphasizes that teaming up with friends (perhaps three players) and combining your different characters’ abilities for synergy is a core part of the experience, though it also mentions rumors of a possible solo mode. It seems to put a new spin on facing the dangers and bosses of the Lands Between.
How many distinct playable heroes are there in Elden Ring Nightreign at launch, and what are they called?
At the launch of Elden Ring Nightreign, there are eight unique playable characters available. These special heroes are referred to as “Night Farers” in the guide. Each of these eight characters is completely pre-designed with their own specific starting weapons, signature abilities (which include a Passive, a Character Skill, and an Ultimate Art), preferred character stats, and a suggested way they should be played (their “playstyle”).
Can you list all eight Night Farers revealed in the guide by name and give a very brief description of their role?
Sure! The eight revealed Night Farers are:
- Ironeye:Â The precision archer, focusing on ranged damage and support.
- Duchess:Â The agile assassin, specializing in fast close combat and evasion.
- Wylder:Â The balanced warrior, a versatile and dependable character.
- Raider:Â The unstoppable berserker, built for raw strength and close-range brutality.
- Executor:Â The skill-based duelist, focused on precise parrying with a katana.
- Revenant:Â The mysterious summoner, who brings spirit allies to the fight.
- Recluse:Â The powerful spellcaster, dealing immense magic damage but fragile.
- Guardian:Â The stalwart defender, acting as the main tank to protect allies.
Why is understanding and choosing your character so important in Nightreign gameplay?
Picking your character is crucial because each Night Farer has a completely unique “kit” – their full set of abilities, weapons, and strengths. This means your choice dramatically changes how you will interact with the game world, how you fight enemies, and how you contribute to a team. For example, picking a Guardian means you’ll likely be the one blocking hits, while picking a Recluse means you’ll be trying to stay far away and blast enemies with magic. Understanding their skills and playstyle is key to being effective and having fun, whether playing alone (if a solo mode exists) or with friends.
The guide mentions a “Tier List” (S, A, B, C). What does this ranking represent in the context of Nightreign?
The Tier List is a way of classifying the eight Night Farers based on early impressions of their power and performance in the game.
- S Tier (“Nightreign Royalty”):Â These characters are currently considered the absolute strongest and most dominant, offering top-tier power and performance right away.
- A Tier (“Formidable Forces”):Â These are solid, reliable, and effective characters who consistently perform well and bring valuable strengths to a team, even if they aren’t the absolute top-ranked.
- B Tier (“Hidden Potential”):Â These characters might be more specialized, perhaps requiring a higher skill level or specific team setups to really excel. They have the potential to be very powerful when mastered.
- C Tier (“Brave, But Struggling”):Â These characters might be facing some challenges or are currently less effective compared to others in the higher tiers. They might need more effort or specific strategies to succeed and could potentially benefit from future game updates.
Which characters are placed in the highest tier (S Tier) according to this guide, and what does that imply about them?
Based on the initial impressions shared in the guide, the Ironeye and the Duchess are currently placed in the S Tier, making them the “Nightreign Royalty.” This placement suggests that these two characters are seen as potentially the best right now, reportedly dominating the battlefield and bringing top-tier power and efficiency to any party. Players looking to maximize their impact and play potentially the “best” characters would look to these two.
Can you describe the Ironeye’s core fighting style and strategic role?
The Ironeye is the quintessential precision archer, mastering ranged combat from a distance. Their primary role is to provide consistent damage and support from a safe position, effectively “sniping” enemies. They are athletic and lean heavily on the reportedly reworked bow mechanics. Their playstyle focuses on staying out of direct danger while dealing significant damage with precise shots, making them valuable for initiating fights or finishing off weakened enemies from afar.
What significant improvements have been made to bows specifically for Ironeye in Elden Ring Nightreign?
The guide highlights several major improvements to bows for Ironeye in Nightreign, distinguishing them from bows in previous games by the same developers. These include a new, reportedly easier reticle aiming system, much faster firing speed, and (a big relief for players!) unlimited ammo, eliminating the need to manage arrows. Additionally, there’s a new strong attack that acts like a close-range “shotgun blast” and even a dedicated animation for critical hits or “backstabs” with arrows, allowing for surprising damage from range or close up.
How does Ironeye’s signature ability, the “Marking” Character Skill, function?
Ironeye’s “Marking” Character Skill is a versatile ability activated typically by holding Triangle and L2. They can “stab” an enemy to apply a temporary mark, which creates a weak point. Any attacks hitting this marked enemy, from Ironeye or allies, reportedly deal more damage. Successfully hitting the mark removes it but staggers the target, leaving them open. The guide also mentions this skill can be used as a quick dash to pass through enemies, aiding in movement and repositioning. Its duration can also be extended for longer periods of increased damage vulnerability on targets.
What is the core combat style and feel of the Duchess character?
The Duchess is presented as an agile assassin or a quick, roguish noble. Her combat style is officially described as “Fast-paced combat,” focusing on quick strikes, rapid movement, and evasion. She is nimble and trades the ability to block for a very fluid, chainable quickstep dodge. Her playstyle is high-risk and high-reward, requiring players to get right into an enemy’s face for close-range action using fast weapons like daggers, relying heavily on Dexterity and quick reflexes.
Explain the functionality of the Duchess’s “Finale” Ultimate Art and its strategic uses.
The Duchess’s “Finale” Ultimate Art is a powerful team utility ability, activated by holding Triangle and R2. Officially, it grants temporary invisibility to the Duchess and all nearby allies for around 10 seconds. The guide notes that enemies reportedly completely lose track of the invisible party members. This makes it incredibly useful for strategic repositioning during boss fights, safely escaping dangerous situations, sneaking past challenging enemy groups, or even avoiding specific powerful enemy attacks or phases where being targeted is undesirable.
What type of player is the Wylder character best suited for, and what is their general approach to combat?
The Wylder is designed as a balanced warrior, serving as a solid “jack-of-all-trades.” They are officially described as having “Balanced capabilities,” meaning they don’t specialize in one area but can adapt to various combat situations. This versatility makes them a dependable and straightforward choice, often considered a good starting hero for newcomers to Elden Ring Nightreign, as they provide a simpler introduction to the game’s mechanics without being overly complex or specialized.
How does the Wylder’s unique “Sixth Sense” passive ability benefit the player?
The Wylder’s “Sixth Sense” is a valuable passive ability that acts as a built-in safety mechanism. It automatically activates once per match or “run” without requiring any player input. If the Wylder takes a blow that would normally kill them, this ability triggers, allowing them to immediately resurrect or survive the otherwise fatal damage. This provides a crucial safety net, giving players an extra chance when facing dangerous attacks. The guide notes this ability resets (becomes available again) if the Wylder is revived by an ally or rests at a Site of Grace.
Describe the Raider’s philosophy and playstyle, including how they use incoming damage.
The Raider embodies raw offensive power, much like an unstoppable berserker or barbarian. Their playstyle is centered around brutal close-range fighting using enormous two-handed weapons. They are built as a hybrid DPS (damage-dealer) and tank who thrives on trading blows with enemies. A key part of their design is the ability to use incoming damage from enemy attacks to fuel their own attacks and increase their damage output, making them stronger as they take hits – a simple, aggressive philosophy of “get hit, get mad, hit harder.”
How does the Raider’s “Retaliate” Character Skill enhance their aggressive playstyle?
The Raider’s “Retaliate” skill, activated typically by holding Triangle and L2, is a core part of their aggressive design. It allows them to assume an attack stance that reportedly reduces the damage they take and significantly boosts their poise (resistance to being interrupted), letting them tank hits more effectively. The key feature is that if an enemy strikes the Raider while they are in this stance, they automatically unleash a vigorous follow-up punch animation that deals massive damage and can stagger even large enemies or bosses. It’s a direct counter-attack mechanic that rewards being hit while in the stance.
What is the Executor’s defining combat mechanic and what kind of player would enjoy them?
The Executor’s defining mechanic, heavily inspired by the game Sekiro, is precise parrying and deflection. They use a katana in close-quarters melee combat and their playstyle revolves around timing their actions perfectly to deflect incoming enemy attacks instead of just blocking them. This makes them a skill-testing character with high potential rewards for players who enjoy reactive gameplay and have good reflexes and timing. It requires mastering tiny deflection windows but allows them to turn enemy aggression into their own advantage.
What is the Recluse character’s primary strength and significant weakness?
The Recluse is the classic spellcaster or mage, specializing in immense arcane power for ranged attacks using their Intelligence stat. Their primary strength is dealing devastating damage from a distance with powerful spells. However, their significant weakness is very low physical durability and health (they reportedly start with the lowest HP in the game). This makes them a “glass cannon” – capable of huge damage but extremely fragile and susceptible to being quickly defeated if enemies manage to get close to them. Staying far away and avoiding hits is crucial for their survival.
Can you describe the unique “Magic Cocktail” system used by the Recluse for casting spells?
The Recluse uses a unique magic system centered around their “Magic Cocktail” Character Skill, activated by holding Triangle and L2. Instead of a traditional spell list, they collect “elemental residues” (which appear as colored circles) left behind by enemies who have been hit by elemental damage (like fire, magic, etc., from themselves or allies). Once they have collected three of these residues (regardless of the color or order), they can use the Magic Cocktail skill to combine them. This combination unleashes a powerful spell effect, with the type and strength of the spell depending on the specific mix and sequence of the three residues collected. It’s like mixing ingredients for a potent magical brew.
What is the main focus of the Revenant character, and why might they be less commonly seen?
The Revenant is the eighth and reportedly final hero available at launch, but they have been kept quite secretive by the developers. Their main focus, according to the guide, is on “Summoning abilities and support.” This means their playstyle revolves around summoning spirit allies or ashes to fight alongside them. They are likely intended as a support-oriented class, bringing spectral companions to the party to help distract enemies, deal damage, or provide crowd control. Their limited appearance in official materials has led to speculation that they might be unlocked later or are just being heavily hidden.
What is the primary role and defensive capabilities of the Guardian character?
The Guardian is the designated “tank” and main defender of the group, characterized by being a bird-like humanoid in heavy armor with a large shield. Their official vibe is “Stalwart defense.” Their primary role is to stand in front of allies, drawing enemy attention (aggro) and soaking up incoming damage with their shield and high health pool. Their passive ability, “Steel Guard,” enhances their blocking capabilities, allowing them to brace for a more effective guard that takes less damage and prevents knockback from heavy attacks, although it makes them stand still. They are built like a brick wall, focusing on survivability and protection rather than high damage output.
