Elden Ring Nightreign: Choosing Your Nightfarer Team
So you're getting ready to enter Nightreign mode in Elden Ring, ready to construct your perfect team of Nightfarers. The point is, you're meant to pick characters depending on how you want to play, aren't you. Yes. But, having been through a respectable amount of time in Limveld, I'm shocked at the difference the "proper" character makes. All Nightfarers are not created equal, it seems.
Genuinely, I was expecting a pretty balanced lineup. What I found was that there was indeed a pecking order and some characteristically superior characters and one in specific who stood out due to his spectacular kit, ease to use, and sheer domination when presented with those intimidating Nightlord bosses. Now, bear in mind, "meta" doesn't mean Nightreign – your enjoyment comes first. But if you wish to know who packs the biggest punch, especially when you're starting out, this analysis might inform you.
The Undisputed King of Nightreign.
Cut to the chase. If you desire the top character in Elden Ring Nightreign, period, and particularly for multiplayer, our pick of choice is Ironeye.
Why. In a world where Nightlords are zooming around, flying just beyond your sword's reach, melee characters might face an uphill struggle. Archers, however, can bring the pain consistently. And Ironeye. He's the best archer in the trade. His abilities are highly adaptable too. His 'Marking' dash is useful for tagging out enemies for additional team damage, but also serves as a great dodge. Then there's 'Single Shot', a monstrosity ability that knocks up bosses and typically clears out small enemies around it. Other characters might be great on their own, but within the framework of synchronized teamplay, Ironeye is nothing short of revolutionary.
The Nightreign Nightfarer Tier List
Here's our take on the rest of the roster setting up:
| Tier | Characters |
|---|---|
| S-Tier (The Elite) | Ironeye, Duchess |
| A-Tier (Very Strong Picks) | Raider, Wylder, Executor |
| B-Tier (Solid, but Situational) | Revenant, Recluse |
| C-Tier (Needs a Buff) | Guardian |
S-Tier: Cream of the Crop
Ironeye
And as we mentioned, Ironeye's archery skill is unmatched. His 'Marking' skill is not only a damage skill; it is an excellent mobility skill, like Bloodhound's Step. 'Single Shot' is your go-to for high damage and stagger, especially powerful if a Duchess is included to double its effect.
Duchess
The Duchess is the best support who can still inflict critical hurt with agile dexterity weapons. Her 'Restage' ability is her pièce de résistance, having the ability to reapply damage and stagger that's given to bosses. Imagine doubling the power of an ultimate skill or a critical strike – it's incredibly powerful and cools down super fast. She's squishy, but her enhanced dodge and 'Finale' ultimate (group invisibility for revives) make her a gem. Don't forget, you need to unlock her first.
A-Tier: Powerhouses in Their Own Right
Raider
One of my favorites, the Raider loves being up close. His 'Retaliate' headbutt is a staple, and while his 'Totem Stella' rock call (giving poise and strength) is a little tricky, he's an S-tier strength warrior. He's excellent at disrupting boss stances with huge weapons. If 'Retaliate' gets enough damage, it turns into a huge stagger-inducing uppercut. He's a superb solo runner pick as well.
Wylder
Wylder is your standard all-rounded. He's resilient, has average dexterity for varied weapon choice, and adequate health to endure merciless strikes. His grappling hook is a lifesaver for spanning distances on dexterous bosses, and can be paired with heavy-hitting follow-throughs. His ultimate always staggers bosses and even gives invulnerability for critical revives.
Executor
On paper, the Executor is an S-tier lock. His 'Cursed Sword' skill is a great parry with leeway window and his 'Aspects of the Crucible: Beast' ultimate is amazing for crowd control and stun-locking bosses. High arcane = strong status build-ups, like bleed. The twist is Nightreign's chaos. His strengths at single targets disintegrate when surrounded. Without ways to pull aggro, his clunky movement and terrible range on 'Cursed Sword' can have him running around after nothing, especially if an Ironeye is drawing all the aggro. He's still playable with a good weapon, but his kit isn't nearly as good in the thick of combat.
B-Tier: Talented with Caveats
Revenant
This necromancer has the power to call in her "Family" (skeletons, really) to take a beating and absorb aggro. Sebastian, the big skeleton, is particularly good at this. These call-outs even revive allies. Her 'Immortal March' ultimate is also great for clutch revives and temporary invincibility (but damage can still occur). The trade-off. She needs killing blows to call out temporary minions, leaving her vulnerable in fights with her low health. In Nightlord fights with few small enemies, much of her kit is wasted, and she needs to get close to deal damage. She is an unlockable unit, following Duchess.
Recluse
Recluse has S-tier potential, but ONLY if you're playing with a well-coordinated team. She's a spellcaster who pulls elemental affinities from around her (even her allies) to shoot out massive spells. The problem is, she relies heavily on her allies setting up the right affinities for her "Magic Cocktails." Unless she can pull these cocktails off, she cannot generate affinity residues to recover her FP. While spammable basic combos are possible, it's not ideal. Her base stats are quite low, making direct combat a problem. Her 'Soulblood Song' ultimate, which marks enemies to recover HP/FP on hit, is handy. Perhaps three Recluses are the way to go. Not for a beginner or for playing with no one.
C-Tier: Needs Some Love
Guardian
There's something to be said about the hawk-man, but Guardian is a bit lost in Nightreign. He's incredibly tanky with all that base health and a ridiculous enhanced block, but beyond that, it's nothing. In comparison to Raider, he's bested in nearly everything. Since any character can wear a shield, his specialty is less special than it appears. His ability is pretty only good against the basic mobs, which are usually not the problem. His ultimate carries some niche invulnerability or defensive increase, but it's less wonderful in comparison to the damage or utility of the rest of the ultimates. A good design, but regrettably, too frequently he is the afterthought.
Keep in mind, these are simply our personal opinions after a lot of play. The most crucial aspect of Elden Ring Nightreign is discovering the Nightfarer who resonates with you and enjoying it.
