Elden Ring Nightreign: Addressing 20 Pressing Questions

FromSoftware bosses? Now we’re in for a treat!

Exactly. At the close of each day, you’ll face a formidable boss that will reward you with valuable loot, hopefully making your journey a bit smoother. By the end of the third night, a Nightlord will challenge you. Defeating this tougher adversary grants you lasting character boosts (we’ll dive into those a bit later). What’s really exciting about Nightreign is its lineup of bosses from several signature FromSoftware titles, like Elden Ring (think Margit and the Demi-Human Queen) and the legendary Dark Souls series (yes, even the Nameless King!). Fans of From’s epic boss battles will feel right at home.

Are there bosses from any of FromSoftware’s other works?

For now, FromSoftware has only confirmed bosses from their Dark Souls titles and Elden Ring. Still, it’s hard not to hope for some additions from Sekiro or, dare I say, another one that doesn’t usually grace Xbox shores (you know the one). I’d bet against seeing any bosses from the Armored Core lineup though.

So, if you’re not crafting your own character, who do you play as?

Before each gameplay session, you’ll pick a Nightfarer, each boasting unique abilities and skills. Every Nightfarer also wields an ultimate power categorized as either offensive, defensive, or a utility skill. Mastering the combination and timing of these ultimates is one of the game’s most rewarding challenges. You can mix and match to have up to three different Nightfarers or even multiples of the same one. Each setup comes with its perks and drawbacks, making teamwork and communication key.

What types of characters did you experiment with?

When the game launches in May, there’ll be eight Nightfarers in total, but the network test allows a sneak peek into three of them:

Wylder, whose balanced skills and straightforward play make him an ideal pick for newcomers.

Guardian, an eagle-headed warrior with a knack for defense, who can fend off enemies and create protective barriers.

Recluse, a master of magic—both challenging and supremely rewarding once you master her.

Wylder and Guardian will feel familiar to fans of Elden Ring and Souls games, mainly due to their use of weapons and shields. Recluse, on the other hand, breaks away from the traditional mold of magic users in those series.

Can Recluse just unleash spells and top off her FP whenever?

That’s where things get intriguing. Recluse can certainly cast spells and launch magical attacks, but refilling FP isn’t simple. Instead of just drinking a potion, you must gather attribute marks from enemies after hitting them with magic, fire, lightning, or holy attacks. Collect four marks, and you can unleash a mighty attack that varies depending on the marks you’ve gathered. Her “Song of the Blood Soul” ultimate allows marking enemies so allies can recover HP and FP by attacking them. High-level Recluse users are bound to be highly sought after, as she significantly boosts the team’s performance.

How does an average match kick off?

Before diving into a match, you’ll find yourself at the Roundtable Hold, which has had some upgrades since it was last featured. The most noteworthy addition is a training area with dummies to practice on. You can tweak plenty of settings like character level, stamina, damage dealt, etc. It’s perfect for honing skills before entering a session. Once you’re geared up, you launch an expedition and get matched with two other players. You’ll then each have 10 seconds to choose your Nightfarer, and off you go into Limveld.