Elden Ring Nightreign Basics

Every Night Warrior must know what they will face, so in this guide, I will provide all the advice you need to start playing Nightreign.

Gameplay

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Upon arriving in Limveil, you should immediately check the map to locate churches, castles, mines, and other landmarks. Near the landing site, there is always a grace point and a small group of enemies with loot chests. Defeating them will grant you your first level. Based on the elemental themes of camps and castles, choose where you need to go most and where you prefer to avoid entirely. Churches are an essential part of the game—their locations are random, but aside from four item chests, each contains a single charge for your flask. Picking it up restores your flasks to their maximum amount and increases their total count by +1. Mines are another crucial aspect of the game. They are not randomly placed, but they always contain a troll boss and chests with valuable equipment. Only in mines can you find stones to upgrade weapons from blue to purple level, which is quite important. To succeed in the game, you need to quickly defeat bosses, collect flasks, and avoid dying too often to preserve your level.

Each expedition is divided into three days. The first day begins with landing, followed by marking the first circle. Then, the zone expands to this first circle, after which a tree-shaped marker appears on the map, indicating the location of the boss battle. After some time, the flames narrow toward this zone. Once you enter the final zone, regular enemies will appear first, followed by the boss. It is important to note that enemies and bosses are linked—by remembering which enemies preceded the boss, you can better prepare for the encounter. After defeating the boss, the cycle repeats. If you fail to defeat the boss on the first day, you can do so on the second, as they do not regenerate their health. After the second night, you enter a room containing smithing tools for weapon upgrades and a merchant with grace, allowing you to level up or purchase items.

During the first two days, you will encounter both prisons and the stone sword-like keys that unlock them. The unique aspect of prison bosses is that they provide only two rewards—10,000 runes or a passive effect that enhances your abilities. Defeating them is not mandatory, but given their relatively low difficulty and the quality of their rewards, I consider their elimination highly beneficial.

The most crucial elements for a successful expedition are communication and planning. You have limited time, so while flying toward the landing site, it is wise to check the map and mark the locations you will explore first. Unfortunately, coordinating with random allies can be challenging, but if you are playing with a friend, try to formulate a clear plan for your movements. This will provide a solid foundation for optimal progression. The game does not forgive hesitation or delays—everything you do must be calculated. Therefore, I recommend starting each expedition by carefully planning your route.

Map

Weapons

Weapons come in four qualities: Common, Uncommon, Rare, and Legendary. This classification primarily affects damage and weapon type. Most standard swords, axes, and staves have common rarity but can be upgraded with stones to reach the rare stage. At that point, they can remain viable even in battles against the Night Lord, provided the weapon suits your playstyle or preference. Legendary weapons, on the other hand, are mostly unique items from the main game (such as Radahn’s Swords or Marika’s Hammer) and exist only in legendary rarity.

Initially, you cannot effectively wield weapons of any rarity. To use an Uncommon weapon, you need level 3; for Rare, level 7; and for Legendary, level 10. Because of this, you must be particularly mindful of your deaths, as losing levels may prevent you from using powerful weapons you have acquired.

Smithing Stone 1

• For upgrading weapons from common to uncommon rarity.

Smithing Stone 2

• For upgrading weapons from uncommon to rare rarity

But rarity is just the beginning—Nightreign’s weapons have far more unique mechanics than you might expect! Let’s start with damage types and status effects. Unlike in Elden Ring, weapons in Nightreign have only one elemental damage type. In the base game, for example, the Sword of St. Trina deals both physical and magic damage, meaning the final damage calculation considers both types separately based on the enemy’s defenses. In Nightreign, weapons have only one damage type, which increases their overall effectiveness against most enemies.

Status effects are even more intriguing, as they can now be enhanced further. This is because greases can be applied to weapons that are already imbued with a specific damage type or status effect. For example, if you have an axe with poison and blood rot, you can add frost and bleed to it—something impossible in the base game. As a result, using magical weapons with magic oil or other oils becomes much more strategic and beneficial.

Weapon preferences:

• Wylder – Greatswords
  
• Guardian – Halberds
  
• Ironeye – Bows
  
• Rider – Greataxes, Great Hammers, and Colossal weapons
  
• Resclure – none
  
• Executor – Katanas
  
• Duchess – Daggers
  
• Revenant – none

Characters

Attribute	Vigor	Mind	Endurance	Strength	Dexterity	Intelligence	Faith	Arcane
Scale	A	C	B	A	B	C	C	C

A well-rounded character with evenly distributed stats and beginner-friendly abilities. The hook allows for quick movement toward or away from enemies, as part of the animation grants invulnerability while pulling in. It is also convenient to exit the pull with a charged attack, which triggers slightly faster. The ultimate ability is an explosion in the chosen direction. Overall, a comfortable character whose passive skill will often be a lifesaver.

Attribute	Vigor	Mind	Endurance	Strength	Dexterity	Intelligence	Faith	Arcane
Scale	S	C	A	B	C	D	C	C

The most durable character, best played in combination with a shield due to their preferred weaponry. This makes you a living shield for your allies, which is especially beneficial for less resilient heroes like the Duchess or the Revenant. Those whose eyes still reflected pain last summer may fully embrace the weapon used to defeat Consort Radahn.

Attribute	Vigor	Mind	Endurance	Strength	Dexterity	Intelligence	Faith	Arcane
Scale	C	C	B	C	A	D	D	B

With unlimited arrows, you can safely shoot enemies from a distance. Since all bow types from the original Elden Ring have been carried over, you can collect several for different ranges or with different Ashes of War. This allows you to have a bow suited for rapid shots against agile or weak enemies, as well as one for slow, tanky foes. However, bows are not the only option—you can also equip melee weapons, prioritizing speed (such as daggers, bastard swords, or rapiers). Strength-based weapons are not recommended, as none of the abilities enhance them, providing no advantage.

Attribute	Vigor	Mind	Endurance	Strength	Dexterity	Intelligence	Faith	Arcane
Scale	A	D	A	S	C	D	D	C

An absolute powerhouse whose basic ability has multiple levels, determining the damage dealt by their punches. Levels charge up by taking damage. The ultimate ability creates a pillar that deals instant damage to enemies while also increasing your strength. Tactical positioning of this ability should be discussed with allies, but overall, it can be useful for strategic play.

Attribute	Vigor	Mind	Endurance	Strength	Dexterity	Intelligence	Faith	Arcane
Scale	D	A	C	D	C	S	S	C

A perfect blend of incantations and sorceries. Depending on the catalyst, you will have access to different sets of spells. Each catalyst has two magical abilities, activated as a regular and strong attack (if the catalyst is in the left hand, the second spell is triggered via the ability button). Since the game lacks mana flasks, mana can be replenished through items or by using the basic ability. After elemental attacks or over time, enemies gain marks—activating your ability on a marked enemy restores mana and grants one elemental charge. When three charges are accumulated, you can activate one of the unique incantations of the Hermit. The ultimate ability is a highly effective form of vampirism, capable of reviving fallen allies despite dealing no damage.

Attribute	Vigor	Mind	Endurance	Strength	Dexterity	Intelligence	Faith	Arcane
Scale	B	D	B	C	S	D	D	S

The basic ability is a unique stance where blocking functions similarly to parrying in Sekiro. Each successful parry charges the sword—once it begins to glow, you can unleash a powerful attack. Based on experience, the parry timing feels similar to Sekiro, making it easier for those familiar with that game. The ultimate ability transforms you into a beast, allowing movement and attacks in this form. With wide swings, it is excellent for staggering enemies and reviving fallen allies. Additionally, the character has a high Arcane stat, significantly increasing the buildup of status effects from weapons. Choosing the right weapon with a status effect (preferably a katana) enables near-instant application of the chosen effect.

Characters(Hidden)

Attribute	Vigor	Mind	Endurance	Strength	Dexterity	Intelligence	Faith	Arcane
Scale	C	B	D	D	B	A	B	C

The Duchess is not available immediately but is easy to unlock. During the first expedition, you may obtain the Old Pocketwatch as a reward, though it has a low chance of dropping at night and is guaranteed only after defeating Gladius, the Beast of the Night. After acquiring the item, speak to the hooded woman and give her the watch to unlock the Duchess as a playable character.
Old Pocketwatch:



The Duchess is swift and mobile, truly shining in coordinated team play and situational awareness. Her most notable features are her efficient dodges and rolls, requiring practice for optimal use. Her ultimate ability is useful against enemies with highly focused attacks or when safely reviving a fallen ally. However, against enemies with wide-sweeping attacks (such as dragons or mounted foes), her invisibility is less effective.

Attribute	Vigor	Mind	Endurance	Strength	Dexterity	Intelligence	Faith	Arcane
Scale	D	A	C	C	B	B	S	B

A unique character who is also unavailable at the start. To unlock her, purchase the Besmirched Frame from the Jar Merchant. Afterward, a ghost will appear in the corner near the hanging painting of Radagon.
Besmirched Frame:


Her location will also be visible on the Roundtable Hold map. Approach and select the "Touch the Ghost" option to enter an arena battle against her—defeating her unlocks her as a playable character. Playing as her is unusual but enjoyable. You can choose from three phantoms, though only one can be used at a time. After a battle, the injured phantom begins regenerating health. The key to mastering this character lies in skillfully combining her abilities and phantoms, as different phantoms may be necessary depending on the speed or aggression of the boss.

Bosses

There are currently many bosses in the game, which makes the variety of tactics and strategies quite vast. But what are they like? In terms of difficulty, they progressively increase—from camp bosses and ruins to fortresses, large castles, and finally, roaming the world. Following the chain I described, you can progress through and defeat bosses, starting with the easiest ones and gradually moving up a level each time. Of course, there are exceptions to this formula, such as the large flowers found in the world, but aside from them, the general hierarchy remains.

The greatest danger comes from the bosses found in transitions between days and the Night Lords themselves. If general preparation helps with the former, facing the Night Lords requires more meticulous planning. When starting an expedition, you will see the type of damage or status effect to which a boss is weak. This doesn't mean you can't defeat them without using a weapon of that specific damage type, but rather that it provides an additional advantage in fighting the Night Lords. For example, Gladius, who is weak to holy damage—once you deal a certain amount of holy damage to him, he will receive a debuff, causing him to take increased damage from your attacks. This effect lasts for 80 seconds.

Another crucial aspect of battle is understanding who the Night Lord prioritizes in their attacks. It's no secret that the game is designed for cooperative play, so quickly identifying who is the target of the boss’s wrath is essential. Fortunately, the game marks the unfortunate character with a red-and-black sign, indicating that they are the primary target of relentless fury. This doesn’t mean the boss will only attack them, but rather that they are the priority target.

One particularly troublesome boss for many players is the Fire Chariots. To defeat them quickly, you need to activate fast running (Alt key on the keyboard), jump onto their back, and strike with an aerial attack. If you jump high enough, you can kill the chariot in one hit, sparing yourself unnecessary suffering.
Example:

I hope this guide has been useful or at least interesting to you. Thank you for your attention!

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Enjoy the game, Night Warriors!



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[Fahim]

Thanks mate. That was a quick read. Just bought the game and this is exactly what I needed :)

[teteram]

nice guide

[chipa_dev]

Thank you!!!

[Scran]

Amazing work, great guide :)