By David Smith 
Ready to hunt Nightlords in Elden Ring? These 12 Nightreign tips will give you an edge. They’ll help you navigate encounters and maximize your efficiency. Prepare for strategic gameplay and sharpen your skills. Let’s dive in!
Elden Ring: Nightreign is a hardcore, lock-and-load game that can be a brutal challenge—think of it as a merciless boss battle that’s just waiting to happen. Getting through this game means mastering everything from leveling up your character to keeping your gear in check, all while dodging some seriously lethal attacks. But don’t stress! We’ve got some essential tips, tricks, and cheats to help you crush your next Nightlord encounter.
Day One: Score Those Flask Charges
First up, your sacred flasks are your best buddies. If you’ve ever felt the sting of poor health management, then you know you’ll want to charge those babies up as soon as possible. Make a beeline for any Churches of Marika you see marked in gold on your map; hit them up to snag additional flask charges. Try to aim for two extra by the end of day one, which can make a huge difference in those tough battles.
Prioritize Forts and Great Churches for Boosts
After powering up your flasks, switch your focus to the nearby Forts and Great Churches. These spots are home to relatively easy bosses. Take ’em down for quick upgrades and valuable drops. In Forts, you can often find Stonesword Keys to unlock Evergaols—places where intense bosses await.
Day Two: Boss Hunt
Once you’ve strengthened your character and flask game, it’s time to hunt bosses on day two for those sweet, sweet runes and loot. Don’t forget: The right damage type is crucial! Try to grab weapons that exploit the bosses’ weaknesses before taking them down.
As you take on more bosses, make sure to knock out the Evergaols you’ve unlocked too. They can offer powerful gear that can serve you well against the Nightlords. Aim to be at least level 8 before taking on tougher foes for a smoother run.
Unlock the Duchess!
One of the game’s standout characters, the Duchess, is great to have in your party. Her ability, Restage, is a game-changer. It allows her to repeat a percentage of damage dealt to enemies shortly before her abilities are used again, maximizing your damage output. You can unlock her early by defeating the first expedition boss, so make her a priority.
Don’t Sleep on Ranged Weapons
Even if you prefer melee combat, ranged weapons are a must-have in Nightreign. Not only do they let you deal damage from a distance, they help you keep a safe distance from relentless boss attacks. Plus, every character has unlimited ammo for any ranged weapon they pick up, so experiment and find what works for you.
Check the Map for Loot Opportunities
Save yourself some time and effort by pressing Y on the map to see which gear is likely to drop in specific areas. Each type of zone has certain associated armaments; knowing this can make your exploration more strategic.
Grab Smithing Stones for Gear Upgrades
If you’ve come across some solid blue-rarity weapons, don’t let them gather dust. Hunt for Mining Tunnels to find Smithing Stones that can upgrade your gear. You can turn a blue-tier weapon into a purple-tier weapon, giving you a significant boost in stats.
Utilize Your Abilities Fully
Nightreign keeps some classic FromSoftware mechanics, so don’t forget the possibility of charging your character’s abilities for extra power! It’s all about maximizing damage during those key moments. Spend some time in the Roundtable Hold practicing your moves to get the most out of your character’s kits.
Teamwork Revives Are Key
Each character has a unique ultimate ability, and these can revive teammates if you deal damage while using them. Timing is crucial; get your friend’s back even in the middle of a boss fight by using your powerful abilities.
Gamble for Relics
Don’t just rely on random drops for relics that give your characters boosts in stats—head to the Small Jar Bazaar in Roundtable Hold to spend your Murk on gambling for predetermined relics. It’s a quick way to boost your character’s effectiveness in battles!
Most Weapons Passive Bonuses Work in Inventory
You can enhance your character’s build just by having weapons in your inventory. Though some bonuses only activate when wielding, most are always in effect, boosting your stats. This means you’ve got to be strategic about what you carry to optimize your abilities!
Watch Out for Cataclysms
Feeling brave? Think twice before heading into Cataclysms—these areas increase enemy health and damage dramatically and even spawn hostile phantoms that’ll make your life a nightmare. Unless your squad is super strong or skilled, it’s best to avoid these zones for now.
With these tips and tricks, you’re set to take Nightreign by storm and show those Nightlords who’s boss! Happy gaming!
Game Information Box
Title: Elden Ring: Nightreign
Developer: FromSoftware
Platforms: PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S
Retail Price: Approximately $59.99
Release Date: October 2023
Buy: Available on Steam, PlayStation Store, Xbox Store
You’ve probably noticed if you’re here, but Elden Ring Nightreign is hard. Like, really hard—hard enough that our Nightreign review calls it “a merciless bully.” (We mean that lovingly, of course.) Beating the Nightlord at the end of your run means juggling level progression, weapon upgrades, and elemental weaknesses, all while being chased by a flaming wall of death. No pressure.
These Elden Ring Nightreign tips aim to make all those mechanics and systems a bit more sensible and equip you with some reliable strategies for success during your next expedition. I’ll start off with some suggestions for what to prioritize during day one and two, and then offer some general tips to keep in mind as you chase down your next Nightlord.
For more help perfecting your runs, check out our guide on farming runes in Nightreign. If you’re more concerned with fashion, we’ve got details on how to unlock Nightreign’s Dark Souls outfits. And if you want a rundown on all the Nightlords you’ll face, make sure to read our Nightreign boss guide.
What do you think about the game? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments!