Elden Ring Nightreign may look familiar in many ways, but FromSoftware’s stand-alone multiplayer spinoff of Elden Ring will play differently thanks to its battle-royale-inspired map and a roster of playable characters. Unlike the blank-slate, highly customizable characters of the original Elden Ring, the playable heroes of Nightreign — known as Nightfarers — are predefined characters with class roles — think rogues, sorcerers, barbarians, archers, and mages.
There will be eight confirmed Nightfarers in Elden Ring Nightreign. Here’s a guide to everything we know about all Nightreign’s character classes announced so far plus gameplay video of them in action. We’ll update this guide as more information becomes available.
The Duchess is “a nimble fighter who specializes in stealth and prefers daggers,” according to her official description. She’s essentially the rogue of the group, a speedy glass cannon who fights with quick, up-close slashes, and can provide crucial combat support to her team. If you’re a dexterity-focused Elden Ring player, she’s your Nightfarer.
Magnificent Poise: Dodge and attack swiftly with reduced stamina cost. Allows up to two consecutive evasive actions.
Restage: Reapply the last few seconds of team damage to enemies.
Finale: Obscure nearby allies to hide from foes. Enemies lose track of the caster (and her allies), wandering aimlessly or becoming prone to leaving themselves vulnerable. Basically, it’s an invisibility spell.
The Guardian is a “pinionfolk captain” — a flying birdman, in other words — who is skilled in offense and defense, and who prefers halberds, poking enemies from behind the cover of a heavy shield.
Steel Guard: Plants his feet and braces with his shield raised for a more powerful guard. Greatly improves guard boost, but prevents running while holding up shield.
Whirlwind: Guardian beats his wings to summon a cyclone that draws in enemies, knocking them off their feet. Whirlwind can be charged to enlarge its range and can repel light projectiles
Wings of Salvation: Dive from above to attack a large area and protect allies from damage. While in the air, Guardian can move briefly.
Iron Eye is an archer class with “split-second judgment and pinpoint accuracy.” If you like bows (and giant bows), Iron Eye’s your guy.
Eagle Eye: His keen observation increases drops from downed enemies — allies get the same boost.
Marking: Marks enemies to create a temporary weak point. Iron Eye cuts his foe with a dagger, creating a temporary weak point. Inflicting damage on that weak point to damage and stagger foes. Damaging the weak point extends its duration.
Single Shot: Shoots a supersonic arrow that pierces any defense. Single Shot pierces all types of enemies, terrain, and structures.
Raider is a “powerful sea-farer who favors enormous weapons.” If you like walking around with a giant sword, axe, or hammer, and playing offense, you’re a Raider.
Fighter’s Resolve: Taking damage boosts the potency of Raider’s character skill, Retaliate. He cannot be knocked down while using it, and will stay in the fight with a sliver of HP even after taking heavy damage.
Retaliate: Assume a defensive posture that reduces incoming damage and unleash a vigorous punch that can stagger large enemies.
Totem Stela: Summons a giant tombstone that deals damage, boosts nearby allies, and can be climbed and used as a platform. The tombstone radiates a protective aura, boosting strength of nearby allies, and blocking arrows.
Keep your distance as the Recluse, a witch of the deep forest who deftly wields ancient sorceries. Elden Ring players who focus on intelligence builds will gravitate toward the Recluse.
Elemental Defense: Collect elemental residues to replenish FP, and grant allies residues of specific elemental affinities.
Magic Cocktail: Combine elemental resides into different powerful spells. Collect the affinity residues of targets to unleash an affinity-exploiting magic cocktail. Complex affinity combinations create more powerful spells.
Soulblood Song: Brand foes with temporary blood sigils that increase damage taken by enemies. Those sigils also restore the HP and FP of caster.
Image: FromSoftware/Bandai Namco
The Wylder is your classic all-rounder, with well-balanced abilities and easy-to-handle skills. Probably a good starting point in Nightreign before specializing.
Sixth Sense: Cheat death a single time. Can be restored by dying or passing through a Site of Grace.
Claw Shot: Launch a grappling claw to rope in foes or move swiftly. Only certain enemies can be pulled in with Claw Shot, but it’s effective at breaking guard.
Onslaught Stake: A powerful single attack that launches an iron stake with a great explosion.
Official details on the Executor Nightfarer are forthcoming, but the class appears to borrow from FromSoftware’s Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, with a focus on deflection and Faith-based skills.
We also don’t know much about the Revenant, but it appears to fill the role of healer.