Ultimate Guide to the Nightreign Wylder Build in Elden Ring

Introducing Wylder, the first Nightfarer of Elden Ring Nightreign, who not only plays a key role during the game’s tutorial but also brings a unique set of skills to your gameplay. Equipped with a grappling hook, a powerful ultimate, and a passion for wielding Greatswords, Wylder is perfect for players who revel in delivering high damage and swiftly depleting enemy health bars.

One of Wylder’s standout features is his passive ability, which allows him to cheat death once per encounter. This trait is particularly advantageous for struggling squads as well as solo adventurers striving to complete their Expedition successfully. To maximize the potential of Wylder’s abilities, check out our comprehensive Wylder build guide for Nightreign.

Complete Guide to the Wylder Build in Elden Ring

Key Skills, Passives, and Ultimate Art

Wylder’s abilities encompass the following:

Passive Ability: Sixth Sense – This unique skill grants Wylder a second chance at life, enabling him to cheat death once until he is revived by a teammate or passes through a Site of Grace.
Character Skill: Claw Shot – A grappling hook that can either pull Wylder towards a target or pull the enemy towards him, depending on their size.
Ultimate Art: Onslaught Stake – An impactful strike that launches an explosive iron stake. This move has recoil that pushes Wylder back but retains part of the Ultimate Art gauge. Players have the option to enhance the attack by holding the button, maximizing impact while anchoring towards a target.

The Visual Codex entry for the Wylder is shown in Elden Ring: Nightreign — Image credit: Bandai Namco/VG247

Wylder may initially appear simple to master; however, his toolkit offers significant utility. His passive ability essentially grants him a second opportunity to survive, a crucial advantage that can prevent Expedition failures. His ability resets when revived or when reaching a Site of Grace, allowing for strategic planning throughout a run.

In addition, the Claw Shot skill facilitates quick engagements with bosses, effectively closing the distance against foes that maneuver around their arenas. This grappling hook is versatile; it can assist in reviving downed teammates, evading dangerous enemies, or, with proper aim, slice through swaths of smaller foes.

It’s worth noting the hook interacts differently with foes based on their size. Smaller enemies will be pulled towards Wylder, enabling quick targeted attacks. However, using the hook against larger foes may pull Wylder into danger, so caution is necessary. Following up with an attack after grappling can yield impressive style points and potentially stun enemies.

Now, regarding Wylder’s Ultimate Art—Onslaught Stake—this powerful attack has two activation modes. Pressing the button leads to a sizable explosion, followed by recoil that creates distance from the target. Conversely, holding the button unleashes a significantly larger explosion while keeping Wylder in position, allowing him to maintain offensive pressure.

The explosive nature of this ability is handy for interrupting enemy attacks and can be strategically used to deal massive stance damage to chaotic bosses, like Tibia Mariner, who often spawn multiple minions.

Optimal Team Synergies for Wylder in Nightreign

Wylder’s versatility allows him to adapt to any team composition effortlessly. When strategizing about your trio of Nightfarers, consider how his capabilities align with the Nightlord’s challenges ahead.

For formidable bosses such as the Equilibrious Beast, it’s crucial to pair Wylder with resilient Nightfarers who excel in dealing stance damage, thereby disrupting the boss’s powerful attacks. Ironeye proves to be a formidable option due to his melee and ranged proficiency, making him a well-rounded ally in tank formations.

Conversely, when contending with agile opponents like Augur, relying on ranged attackers—such as Ironeye or Recluse—can be vital. Nevertheless, Wylder can also proficiently utilize bows or crossbows due to his scaling across Strength and Dexterity.

If Wylder is destined to be the primary attacker, partnering with support characters that can provide cover is advisable. This could include fellow melee specialists like Raider, Duchess, or Guardian, or you may opt for the more fragile but distractive Revenant and her summons.

Optimal Relics and Passive Effects for Wylder

The choice of relic traits and passive effects for Wylder largely hinges on your intended playstyle. While some players favor a two-handed sword approach, prioritizing critical hit passives, others may excel with shield mechanics that enhance guard counters. Here are notable attributes to consider:

Critical Hit Enhancements – Ideal if you anticipate being the primary source of critical hits.
Guard Counter Improvements – Best for those utilizing shields frequently.
Attack Power Increases when Two-Handing – Beneficial for players wielding swords or dual armaments.
Greatsword Focused Attack Power – Enhances the effectiveness of Greatswords in Wylder’s arsenal.
Stamina Recovery Buffs – Increased stamina ensures sustained combat effectiveness.
Strength or Dexterity Boosts – Enhancements to Wylder’s base stats are always advantageous.
Affinity on Starting Armament – Equipping a starting weapon that inflicts Fire, Poison, or Frost damage can significantly influence performance.

Some specific Relics to consider include:

Slate Whetstone – Enhances follow-up attacks with character skills, specifically for Greatsword users.
The Wylder’s Earring – Activates fire spread upon art activation, enhances character skill, and boosts stamina recovery with successful attacks.
Silver Tear – Greatly restores the art gauge upon activation, providing significant boosts to both the Ultimate Art gauge and Arcane attributes.
Night of the Beast – Fosters stamina recovery with each successful attack and starts one’s expedition with a Fire-damage dealing Greatsword.
Night of the Baron – Enhances critical hit performance and provides stamina recovery boosts upon achieving critical hits.
Night of the Fathom – Raises maximum HP, enhances flask healing for allies, and bestows effects on nearby comrades when using items.

While the recommended Relics from Wylder’s Remembrance quest are well-tailored to his abilities, various alternatives exist should you prefer different approaches. For example, Night of the Beast is useful for stamina recovery and starting with a dual-damage weapon, while Night of the Baron caters to those focusing on a critical hit build. Meanwhile, Night of the Fathom is a worthy option when in doubt, increasing your entire team’s survivability and enhancing item benefits.

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