Elden Ring Nightreign features six preset characters. Before jumping into your first game, knowing the abilities and skills for every option is helpful.
In Elden Ring, players picked a class that determined their attributes. But from there, players could mold their character to their preferences, which evolved over a playthrough that doesn’t have a time limit.
Elden Ring Nightreign rewrites the formula by giving players a choice between six different preset characters. Each hero has unique abilities, and although you can still collect runes and level up or enhance equipment, each run only has a limited amount of time and resets everything each time. With that in mind, let’s take a look at the options.
Wylder Skills & Abilities
FromSoftware described Wylder as “A character with well-balanced abilities and easy-to-handle skills.”
This is a good character for Elden Ring Nightreign beginners, as none of the abilities require too much technical skill or a long learning process. In addition, players can avoid dying once, thanks to the passive ability.
| Name | Type | Description |
| Claw Shot | Skill | Launch grappling claw to rope foes in or move swiftly by retracting. Whether targets can be roped in or not depends on enemy physique. Effective at breaking guard. Hold to aim. |
| Onslaught Stake | Ultimate Arts | Powerful single attack that launches an iron stake with a great explosion. Recoil causes one to reel back, but preserves a portion of Ultimate Art gauge. Hold to boost impact and remain standing. |
| Sixth Sense | Passive Ability | Cheat death a single time. This ability can only be used once until restored through revival from death or passing through a Site of Graces. |
Guardian Skills & Abilities
Character Description: “A character with high defensive capabilities who can use a shield to withstand even the most ferocious enemy attacks.”
Guardian is unique in Elden Ring Nightreign because you can leap into the air and attack from the sky. The character works well with teammates because they can shield allies from damage and serve as a defensive anchor in any battle.
| Name | Type | Description |
| Whirlwind | Skill | Beat wing to whip up a churning cyclone. Enemies caught in cyclone are drawn toward center. Sweeps away lightweight projectiles. Hold to enlarge range. |
| Wings of Salvation | Ultimate Arts | Leap up and dive back down to raise protective area. Can move briefly while in air, and diving attack is perfect for rescues. Hold to shield nearby allies from damage. |
| Steel Guard | Passive Ability | Plant feet and brace with shield for a more powerful guard. Greatly improves guard boost, but prevents running while holding up shield. |
Duchess Skills & Abilities
Character Description: “This highly dexterous character is skilled in evasion and can perform rapid, consecutive attacks.”
This hero is perfect for aggressive players because you can hide yourself and your allies from enemies, which allows you to flank behind and catch an enemy off-guard. And when you get in the correct position, the skill and passive ability make it possible to attack and dodge quickly.
| Name | Type | Description |
| Restage | Skill | Stage reprisal of recent occurances to damage nearby foes. Damage to phantoms affects original. This skill can be used at any time. |
| Finale | Ultimate Arts | Obscure self and surrounding allies to hide from foes. Enemies lose track of the caster, wandering aimlessly or becoming prone to leaving themselves vulnerable. |
| Magnificent Pose | Passive Ability | Obscure self and surrounding allies to hide from foes. Enemies lose track of the caster, wandering aimlessly or becoming prone to leaving themselves vulnerable. |
Recluse Skills & Abilities
Character Description: “A high prowess character skilled in cursed magic that allows them to use powerful spells.”
For all of the magic fans out there, Recluse is the character for you in Elden Ring Nightreign. The hero has a large arsenal of attacking and defensive spells to use.
| Name | Type | Description |
| Magic Cocktail | Skill | Collect the affinity residues of targets to fire an affinity-exploiting magic cocktail. Affinity residues accumulate. Collect three to wield a magic spell. Complex affinity combinations create more powerful spells. |
| Soulblood Song | Ultimate Arts | Unleash forbidden chant to brand nearby foes with blood sigils. Brand foes with short-lived blood sigils that increase damage taken and restore the HP and FP of caster. |
| Elemental Defense | Passive Ability | Discover affinity residues that can be collected to replenish FP. Affinity attacks create affinity residues. Residues appear for allies, as well, which can also be collected. |
Ironeye Skills & Abilities
Character Description: “An archer with split-second judgement and pinpoint accuracy.”
It’s always helpful to have an ally that can sit back and do damage from the back line. Ironeye is an archer with devastating attacks.
| Name | Type | Description |
| Marking | Skill | Cut foe with dagger, creating temporary weak point. Inflict damage on temporary weak point to destory it and stagger foes. Damaging weak point extends its duration. |
| Single Shot | Ultimate Arts | Fire a powerful arrow that surpasses sound and ignores any defense. Arrow pierces all types of enemies, terrains, and structures. Hold to draw bow and aim before firing. |
| Eagle Eye | Passive Ability | A keenly observant eye discovers more items to obtain from foes. The effect of this ability also applies to allies. |
Raider Skills & Abilities
Character Description: “A powerful sea-farer who favors enormous weapons.”
Like an archer, another generic archetype is a tank, and Raider checks off that box. This character wields massive weapons and assists allies in multiple ways.
| Name | Type | Description |
| Retaliate | Skill | Assume an attack stance and pummel vigorously. A defensive posture which reduces incoming damage. An enhanced skill which causes even larger enemies to recoil. |
| Totem Stela | Ultimate Arts | Drive gravekeeper’s wedge into earth to summon a giant tombstone. Tombstone radiates protective aura, boosting strength of nearby allies and blocking arrows. Can also be climbed. |
| Fighter’s Resolve | Passive Ability | Taking damage boosts Retaliate potency, cannot be knocked down while using it. Remain standing with a sliver of HP even after taking heavy damage. |
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Which character are you most excited to use? Let us know on the Insider Gaming Forums.
