FromSoftware’s upcoming game,Elden Ring Nightreign, is a spin-off of the studio’s current best-selling gameElden Ring. Built on the systems and assets of its predecessor,Elden Ring Nightreignprovides randomized adventures geared more towards groups thanElden Ring’s massive multiplayer-compatible quest was. Although it isn’t as large and impressive,Nightreignmakes up for that with efficiency and the willingness to experiment with a formula that has proven to be a success several times over. It won’t be for everyone, butElden Ring Nightreignwill scratch an itch that fans normally must turn to mods to get.
AtNightreign’s launch, there will be eight Nightfarers to play as and eight potential Night Lords to pursue in roguelike runs. More will come later in DLC, and fans who already believe in this game’s concept are hopeful that the first DLC pack will only be the beginning. Officially or not,all eight ofElden Ring Nightreign’s Nightfarershave been revealed, and even with the remaining details still trickling out, it’s hard not to look ahead to the future. For all the diversity found inNightreign’s existing classes, there’s always room for more, and plenty of directions remain for FromSoftware to take future characters.
Champion - The Warrior of Sunlight
Longtime FromSoftware fans are likely already thinking of one, and that is aDark Soulsplayer character. Thecrossover between theDark Soulstrilogy andElden Ringis one ofNightreign’s larger appeals for veteranSoulsfans, and although there are plenty of bosses lined up to meet that need, the game is noticeably short onDark Soulscharacters beyond a Fire Keeper lookalike. Of course, this idea goes hand in hand with Solaire of Astora’s potential return, either as a DLC Nightfarer or as a summon for one aping the Chosen Undead. Regardless of how it happens,Nightreignis the perfect stage for some jolly cooperation.
Perfumer - Blessings And Curses Abound
Nightreignhas many opportunities for team play already, but it hasn’t tapped theElden Ringfaction known for it yet. Adding a Perfumer toElden Ring Nightreign’s DLC could pave the way for several new play styles, the most basic of which would be an AoE-focused moveset usingShadow of the Erdtree’s new Perfume Bottle weapons. This class could specialize in conferring buffs and status effects, as well as start runs with several consumable bottles to do more of the same. Allegedly, a healer is already present inElden Ring Nightreign’s cast, but a Perfumer could also easily take that role with passive group Flask usage.
Monk - Dane’s Finest Pupil
Close range, medium range, and long range are all well covered inElden Ring Nightreign’s starting roster, but ultra-close range only has the Duchess, and she has other weapon options and a preference for stealth. Anyone who wants a more direct approach with an up-close combatant likely has the martial arts “weapons” fromShadow of the Erdtreein mind, and seeingFromSoftware expand on the high-flying movesetwould be welcome anyway. This character could specialize in aggressive repositioning during battle, and potentially have a momentum mechanic that improves their damage as they land more hits in succession.
Shadow - Slake Death With Life
Alternatively, a pair of claws could work just as well. In a game that already has the bird-man Guardian and the puppet Revenant, a playable Shadowbound Beast in the vein of Blaidd and Maliketh would fit right in. Potentially doubling as a Black Knife representative, this half-wolf could have limited access toElden Ring’s rare health-reducing Destined Death effect, and otherwise be themed around supporting allies by hindering enemies. Whether this character will actually use one ofElden Ring’s clawed weapons or something like the other Shadows’ greatswords is another matter, but both are possible throughNightreign’s random loot.
Artificer - Hunter of the Stars
Gravity magic is notably absent fromNightreign’s starting roster in spite of its prominence in the base game. DLC could fix that, but it could also take a fun route towardsgivingNightreignsomeBloodbornereferenceson top of itsDark Soulselements, and potentialSekirodeflection. The hypothetical Artificer class could incorporate a Hunter’s default gun-and-trick weapon setup, as well as coincide with some similar weapons being added to the game’s loot tables. Complete with either a character skill or ultimate art infused with Astel’s brand of cosmic gravity magic, this would be another fun fanservice class to have around.
Mimic - Nested Randomness
Like most FromSoftware DLC,Elden Ring Nightreign’s expansion should show less restraintthan the base game’s content, and there’s no better way of doing so than by implementing a character without an identity. A playable Mimic Tear could go in some wildly chaotic directions, potentially generating a patchwork of passive and active abilities taken from the rest of the Nightfarers, and capping things off with an Ultimate Art that duplicates another player’s inventory and boons. Short bursts of randomness are arguablyElden Ring Nightreign’s main appeal, and a character made of nothing but them would be perfect.
Patches - That Rogue-Like Charm
Speaking of which, Patches himself becoming playable would be the ideal bow onElden Ring Nightreign’s package. Patches can’t just be a joke character, especially sincecollaboration is so important inNightreign, so he could serve as a sort of Merchant class. He would start runs with an assortment of items, some of which could be unique to him, and one of his abilities would then create more items in his inventory. There’s a lot that FromSoftware has yet to do with a consumable-oriented class, andElden Ring Nightreignis the perfect time to start experimenting.
