More information is starting to surface regardingElden Ring: Nightreignas the ambitious title grows closer to launch, with fans now having an excellent idea of what to expect from the latest FromSoftware project. While largely acting as a spin-off toElden Ringthrough a lot of its major assets, locations, and enemies, there is still plenty of fresh content thatNightreignhas in store, with its choice of playable characters being a great example of this.
Away from the usual character customization of FromSoftware titles,Elden Ring: Nightreignwill feature a small range of classes that players can choose from to match its faster pace of gameplay and unique multiplayer premise, with these classes needing to cover all the bases of usual FromSoftware player builds. FromSoftware has been slowly revealing the remaining characters forNightreignin the run-up to the game’s May 30 release date, and the recently announced Raider class brings a distinctively Viking-inspired brand of gameplay to the title.
Elden Ring: Nightreign’s Raider Character Brings a Distinct Flair to the Game
The classes forElden Ring: Nighreignare officially referred to as Nightfarers, with a player’s choice of character having a direct and deeply important impact on their combat presence and synergy with teammates. While the early gameplay tests forNightreignfeatured four unique classes, the game is set to feature eight playable Nightfarers at launch, with this number being likely to rise through post-launch additions to the upcoming game. Six of the eight launch classes forElden Ring: Nightreignthat have been revealed so far are:
With each Nightfarer being built towards different play styles, these classes offer things like unique stat progression and passive abilities, though every class is able to use any weapon that they can get their hands on.The recently revealed Raider classis shaping up to be the go-to Nightfarer for strength players, offering a large and tanky battlefield presence that is complemented by slow but heavy-hitting damage catered towards two-handed weaponry.
In terms of aesthetics, the design of the raider seems to be deeply rooted in classic Viking imagery, with the larger-than-life bearded figure being clad in fur and armor adorned with horns. The Raider is officially billed as a “powerful sea-farer” and is seen in his reveal trailer enjoying a feast as well as summoning pillars of stone to aid teammates in battle through shout abilities, with the Raider’s naval origins being another direct nod toViking iconography.
Elden Ring: Nightreign’s Raider Could Just Be the Start of Viking Inspiration
FromSoftware has never shied away from clear real-world inspiration behind its settings and characters, withElden Ringitself leaning into Celtic mythologyas well as its obvious links to the Medieval era. Even in terms of character design, the starter classes forElden Ringtake direct archetypes from real-world warriors, with the Samurai class being the most glaring example, andNightreignis offering a logical extension of this.
The many ways thatFromSoftware titles are inspired by real history, combat, and mythos play an integral part in how deep and layered their game worlds feel, and traditional themes surrounding Vikings feel like a relatively untapped well of potential content for the studio. The launch Nightfarers ofElden Ring: Nightreignare shaping up to be a dynamic set of playable characters with clear use cases, and the Raider’s Viking design and focus on damage-dealing could be the perfect combination in terms of making the character one of the most defining and popular classes the game has to offer.
