FromSoftware has now revealed a wealth of information regarding the upcomingElden Ring: Nightreign, with the game’s unique gameplay premise seeming like a revolutionary new step in terms of what can be expected from the studio. With a large focus on multiplayer gameplay with a mix of traditional FromSoftware elements alongside battle royale and roguelike mechanics, it is clear to see why so much attention is surrounding theElden Ringspin-off as it gears up for its release on May 30.
The fast-paced gameplay formula ofElden Ring: Nightreignhas done away with the studio’s traditional character customization, with players instead having a choice of eight distinct playable characters to tackle the game’s challenges. This number of characters is only likely to rise through post-launch content, with FromSoftware now having revealed comprehensive overviews of several launch characters, who are officially known as Nightfarers. Two of the revealed classes are the Ironeye and Raider Nightfarers, with both characters offering their own unique combat roles that benefit any given team dynamic.
Elden Ring: Nightreign’s Ironeye and Raider Classes Offer Their Own Unique Purposes
The successful gameplay tests forElden Ring: Nightreignonly featured four playable characters, meaning a world of fresh opportunities will be available to players with the eight Nightfarers that are reported for the game’s full launch. As things stand, the confirmed launch classes forElden Ring: Nightreignare the Wylder, Guardian, Duchess, Recluse, Ironeye, and Raider, with each Nightfarer offering something for fans ofElden Ring’s many different approaches to combat.
WhileNightreigncan be played solo, it seems clear that the title is largely designed for its other option of three-player PvE co-op, meaning players only have a small selection of character choices to make the most ideal team synergy. Thankfully, all Nightfarers can use any weapon available throughoutNightreign, offering a bit more freedom to players, though each class comes with its own unique set of starting stats, skills, and passive abilities.
The Raider classwas the most recently revealed class forElden Ring: Nightreign, being a Viking-inspired figure clearly designed for strength builds, two-handed weapons, and high DPS. Raider’s unique character skill is Retaliate, a powerful punch that staggers most enemies, with his passive ability meaning that he cannot be knocked down while Retaliate is being used. The ultimate ability for Raider also has massive potential, with Totem Stela summoning a massive rock platform that damages enemies and can crucially be used as safer high ground for ranged teammates.
Ironeye’s Ranged Approach Can Be a Huge Benefit to a Nightreign Team
Nightreign’s Ironeye Nightfareris another class that was only recently revealed, being billed as a dedicated sniper archer with a focus on dexterity. Ironeye can be played largely as a DPS or support character, with his unique passive ability increasing the likelihood of enemy loot drops, being a big potential boost for teams trying to optimize their gear beforeNightreign’s intimidating boss battles. Ironeye’s skill marks enemies to create a temporary weak point, with his ultimate ability firing a charged arrow that deals huge damage while ignoring enemy defense.
Elden Ring: Nightreign’s boss battles are taken from a wide range of past FromSoftware titles, particularly theDark Soulsseries, making the upcoming game a kind of love letter to the best boss experiences of the studio’s past.
WithIroneye largely catering to ranged combat, the elevated platforms created by Raider’s ultimate offer a fantastic team composition between the two Nightfarers, despite their massively different builds. This is just one example of the many different combinations thatNightreign’s character classes can offer for co-operative gameplay, with players having an excellent choice between a traditional high-damage tank and a ranged support class with the recent reveals of both Raider and Ironeye.
