If you’re venturing into the world of Elden Ring Nightreign, you might want to consider playing as Ironeye, one of the most accessible characters for newcomers. As a ranged fighter, Ironeye excels in dealing damage from a safe distance, which is crucial in avoiding danger during challenging encounters.
One significant advantage of using Ironeye is the absence of an FP management system, unlike other characters like Recluse. This allows you a more relaxed playstyle, particularly because you’ll never find yourself low on arrows.
However, every character has their drawbacks. For Ironeye, the primary concern is stamina management. Running out of stamina at critical moments, especially during boss battles, can severely impact your performance.
Understanding Ironeye’s capabilities goes beyond just his strengths. Knowledge about optimal primary and secondary weapons, Relics, and overall strategies is essential for maximizing his potential. Below is a comprehensive guide on how to master Ironeye in Elden Ring Nightreign.
Understanding Ironeye’s Abilities
| Ability | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Eagle Eye | Passive | This ability increases the item drop rate from defeated enemies for you and your allies. |
| Marking | Character Skill | Dash towards an enemy to deal damage and apply a weak point, allowing for further attacks that increase the duration of the mark and potentially stagger the target. |
| Single Shot | Ultimate Art | Launch a powerful arrow that penetrates defenses, followed by a shockwave that deals area damage. |
To leverage Ironeye’s passive ability, Eagle Eye, effectively, take advantage of it during the early game (levels 1-3).At this stage, you’ll frequently encounter weaker enemies, particularly on your travels or while clearing mini-boss camps. This ability enhances your likelihood of obtaining valuable items, such as Uncommon weapons.
Keep in mind that while Eagle Eye improves loot chances, it isn’t a guarantee. Nonetheless, one of its best features is its team benefit; even if you’re apart, your allies have an increased chance to secure drops from defeated foes.
Ironeye’s active skill, Marking, requires you to get close to your target, which contrasts with his long-range prowess. Use this skill strategically to inflict weak points on multiple enemies by dashing through a line of opponents, allowing you to keep them staggered through well-placed shots from your bow.
Against larger enemies that have multiple weak points, any damage you inflict during the Marking process counts toward staggering them, giving you a tactical advantage.
When it comes to his Ultimate Art, Single Shot, this technique fires a massive projectile capable of hitting through enemy defenses, subsequently triggering a damaging shockwave around the target. It’s crucial to note that during the release of this skill, Ironeye is invulnerable, and the ability can also be charged for an extended period of invincibility, adding to your strategic options in combat.
Optimal Weapon Choices
Given Ironeye’s nature as a ranged character, your focus should be on bows and crossbows to maximize his effectiveness. Avoid Greatbows or Ballistas, as their weight can exhaust your stamina when repositioning during battles.
Among the ideal weapons for Ironeye are Light Bows and standard Bows. Common drops that cater well to his playstyle include the Composite Bow, Red Branch Shortbow, Horn Bow, and more. Take care to evaluate the weapon arts and passive abilities of any bows you acquire, as they can differ significantly even among the same model.
Strive for rarer or legendary bows, particularly before facing the Night Lord on Day 3, as higher-tier weapons provide superior damage output. Remember, Ironeye possesses an A rating in Dexterity and a B in Arcane, which pairs well with other ranged characters like Recluse. Consider secondary weapons that inflict Bleed, such as Elenora’s Poleblade, to complement your arsenal.
Top Relics for Ironeye
When it comes to Relics, focus on those that enhance Ironeye’s Endurance, Dexterity, and Arcane capabilities. Equip Relics that apply elemental damage—like Fire or Poison—especially when preparing for specific boss encounters.
For example, the second Night Lord is vulnerable to Poison. By obtaining his relic after defeating him, you can inflict Poison damage with your basic armament, providing a critical edge in battle. Furthermore, if you succeed against the Crater’s mini-boss, you can elevate any weapon to legendary status.
A standout Relic for Ironeye is Cracked Sealing Wax, obtainable through his first Personal Objective. This Relic extends the weak point duration and rewards you with extra runes for achieving Critical hits. Additionally, acquiring Ironeye’s Goblet from the Small Jar Bazaar broadens your options for relic combinations during your adventure.
Effective Expedition Strategies for Ironeye
Here are strategic insights to utilize during your expeditions, whether playing solo or in a group:
- Backdash with Marking: This skill can also serve as a retreat mechanism. Instead of attacking directly, consider using Marking to escape quickly from overwhelming enemy hordes.
- Timely Use of Marking: Avoid waiting too long to activate Marking. It’s essential to use it before the enemy’s attack connects. Timing is critical, and over-eagerness can lead to unnecessary damage.
- Single Shot as a Stall Tactic: Utilize Single Shot judiciously, as its invincibility allows you to avoid status effects during boss encounters. Charging the attack extends your invulnerability window.
- Carry Pickled Turtle Meat: This item boosts your stamina recovery temporarily, ensuring you remain agile throughout your encounters. Warming Stones are also recommended, as they facilitate safe engagements from a distance.
Optimal Team Compositions
For an effective expedition, pairing Ironeye with the following Nightfarers yields the best results:
Raider
Raider serves as a traditional Strength character, boasting an A rating in HP and an S rating in Strength, making him the ideal tank for any party. His ability to wield heavy weapons without significantly altering his playstyle provides stability for the team.
The synergy between Raider and Ironeye is enhanced by Raider’s Ultimate Art, Totem Stella, which offers a climbing point for Ironeye, giving him an advantageous position and boosting the attack power for all allies. This combination is vital in battles against formidable foes, like the Night Lords.
Duchess
Complementing the duo of Raider and Ironeye, Duchess adds speed and agility to the team. Possessing high Dexterity, Duchess is adept at maneuvering without the constraint of stamina resources. Her Ultimate Art, Finale, allows for stealthy engagements, giving her the edge when it comes to drawing enemy attention.
Crucially, Duchess’s skill, Restage, enables the team to inflict damage retrospectively, capturing the enemy’s received damage for additional power. Even if she is not engaged actively in combat, this skill will still enhance her allies’ effectiveness. An alternative to Duchess could be Revenant, who can serve as a temporary tank while also delivering ranged attacks.
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