For dedicated fans of FromSoftware, optimizing character builds—encompassing stats, weapon choices, and armor selections—is essential for achieving success in Soulsborne titles. Hours can be spent deliberating over equip loads, poise totals, and damage per second (DPS) to gain an advantage. However, Elden Ring: Nightreign diverges from this intricate approach by offering players eight pre-designed characters, known as “Nightfarers, ”at the start of their adventures. This opens up an intriguing question: which character should you take as your primary fighter?
The answer isn’t straightforward; it ultimately relies on individual playstyle preferences and team composition to tackle the various challenges the game presents. Nevertheless, specific classes do rise above the others as you dive deeper into the mechanics of Nightreign. If you’re torn between different Nightfarers or eager to identify the top choice right away, you’ll find our analysis below informative.
In our evaluation, a character received the nod in the case of a tie if it was favored by two out of three contributors.
8 Recluse
Too Much Glass, Not Enough Cannon
Though every Nightfarer can excel in the right hands, Recluse stands out as potentially the most challenging to master. She begins with the lowest health and stamina statistics among her peers. However, her high focus points (FP) enable continuous use of magic spells, which defines her playstyle.
Recluse’s spells are useful for healing teammates from a distance when they’re in critical condition. Yet, her learning curve and vulnerability to early death in confrontations make her a less appealing choice overall.Her character skill, Magic Cocktail, allows her to adapt to various damage types, capitalizing on enemy weaknesses, but this requires a considerable amount of item gathering and strategy. Additionally, her ultimate art, Soulblood Song, leaves a sigil on enemies that amplifies damage dealt to them, while simultaneously healing the party.
All three reviewers placed Recluse at the bottom of our character rankings.
7 Raider
Slow, But Steady
Raider is far from a poor option, but he typically pales in comparison to higher-ranked characters.His standout features are impressive health and stamina ratings, making him one of the top tanks in the game. If close-quarters combat appeals to you, Raider could be a solid choice.
However, engaging with bosses at close range can be perilous, especially in the challenging environment of Nightreign. Raider excels with heavy and colossal weapons, which are ideal for dispatching lower-tier foes and chipping away at boss health, but he may struggle with the game’s heightened pace.
Raider enjoys a unique advantage with enhanced poise during his special moves, preventing disruption mid-attack. His ability, Retaliate, is effective for unsettling opponents, and his ultimate, Totem Stela, can unleash considerable damage if played strategically. However, the accompanying stone pillar can sometimes hinder movement and positioning.
While one of our reviewers favors Raider and plays him as their main, two others rated him seventh overall despite appreciating his strengths.
6 Guardian
Climbing The Pecking Order
Though Raider appears to be the ultimate tank, the title officially belongs to Guardian. This Nightfarer boasts the highest health and substantial stamina counts, ensuring he remains a constant presence in battles. Although his lower FP may seem limiting, it doesn’t detract from his effectiveness. His lack of range may pose a challenge when facing flying enemies and bosses.
Primarily wielding halberds or similar long-reaching weapons, Guardian excels in melee damage and survivability.He possesses a remarkable passive ability known as Steel Guard, enhancing his defensive capabilities and making him a hard character to eliminate. Additionally, the move Whirlwind is effective for launching smaller enemies into the air, while his ultimate art, Wings Of Salvation, not only deals significant area damage but also revives teammates in dire straits.
Despite receiving a relatively low rank in our evaluations, Guardian remains a personal favorite for providing a blend of offense and defense—ideal for players prioritizing resilience and support.
5 Duchess
Take That, Rewind It Back
Duchess is not accessible from the beginning; players will unlock her after defeating the first Nightlord, Gladius. Initially marked by below-average health and stamina, she may prove challenging for less experienced players.
However, when played effectively, her strengths can be leveraged to create significant advantages. As a rapid attacker who utilizes daggers and short blades, Duchess requires players to maintain close proximity due to her limited attack range.Her ultimate art, Finale, grants invisibility to both herself and a nearby ally, offering strategic escape options or the element of surprise against foes.
What sets her apart from other classes is the character skill, Restage. This unique ability creates an ephemeral visage of any character who previously inflicted damage on an enemy, allowing those attacks to be delivered again, albeit with reduced output. The quick cooldown on this skill ensures it can be used continuously with effective timing.
4 Wylder
Grappling With It
As the main character in the game’s tutorial phase and featured on the cover art, Wylder serves as a balanced, all-purpose class. Boasting commendable health and stamina but slightly lacking in FP, he remains a solid option.
Wylder primarily uses larger swords, providing a natural and familiar combat experience, especially for newcomers to the Soulsborne series. This balanced nature is both an asset and a limitation.His passive skill, Sixth Sense, allows him to avoid one incoming deathblow, proving advantageous during heated encounters.
Equipped with a grappling hook through his character skill, Claw Shot, Wylder can engage lighter enemies or maneuver through environments, facilitating quick escapes or tactical positioning. His ultimate art, Onslaught Stake, unleashes a massive fire blast, capable of changing the tempo of any battle.
3 Executor
If It Bleeds…
Executor specializes in inflicting Bleed damage, progressively building a meter with each attack. Once enough Bleed is accumulated, enemies sustain significant damage all at once. For players skilled in dodging and maintaining pressure, this class can help dispatch formidable foes rapidly.
His character skill, Cursed Sword, permits him to summon a secondary blade at will—a unique feature that isn’t bound by cooldown timers and enhances damage output, with the potential to parry or block incoming strikes. While there’s a learning curve, the benefits are considerable.
Executor’s ultimate ability, Aspects Of The Crucible: Beast, transforms him into a giant beast, enabling devastating light and heavy attacks while unleashing a roar that inflicts chip damage on surrounding adversaries. This ability is visually impressive and adds a new layer of strategy to engagements.
2 Revenant
Summon Time Radness
Lastly, we arrive at the eighth character in Nightreign, Revenant. Players must first defeat this character in combat to unlock her, adding a layer of intrigue and anticipation. Although she shares a low HP score with Recluse, her diverse toolkit makes her a compelling choice.
Starting with Cursed Claws that inflict Magic damage, Revenant’s skills shine in group dynamics.She can summon multiple phantoms that join the battle immediately and remain active for a long duration, providing invaluable assistance during tough boss encounters. Her ultimate art, Immortal March, can revive an ally on the brink of defeat, further emphasizing her role as a supportive powerhouse.
1 Ironeye
No Knocks, Just Nocks
Finally, we spotlight Ironeye, whose health and focus points may be average, but his overall impact is anything but. Don’t allow initial impressions of his starting statistics to deter you, and disregard any preconceived notions about bow and arrow builds in standard Elden Ring. In Nightreign, Ironeye shines brightly.
His arrows are unlimited, allowing for continuous firing from a safe distance. While this type of damage may seem minimal, it accumulates effectively, especially when combined with elemental affinities. Ironeye also wields smaller melee weapons, offering versatility during combat.
His passive ability, Eagle Eye, provides the entire team with detailed visibility of the map, enhancing strategic planning. Additionally, his character skill, Marking, marks enemies to take increased damage from all allies temporarily. His ultimate art, Single Shot, unleashes a colossal arrow, inflicting significant damage on a targeted foe.
Ironeye excels in reviving fallen allies from a distance, marking him as a robust support character. Though he isn’t as durable as some of his counterparts, his overall skillset is unmatched, making him a valuable asset in any boss fight.Envisioning a team entirely composed of skilled Ironeyes could redefine how Nightreign is played.
Two writers ranked Ironeye as their top choice among Nightfarers, while the other placed him second. Clearly, he demonstrates exceptional prowess and adaptability.
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