Elden Ring: Nightreign Beginner's Guide — Essential Tips & Tricks for New Players

At first glance, Elden Ring: Nightreign may seem like a lazy co-op creation made from base game assets. And for the most part, this is true, as almost all the content, mechanics, and enemy behavior in the new release are taken from previous FromSoftware projects. However, Nightreign has quite a few nuances that can easily stump even the most hardened Souls-like fans. In this guide, we’ll explain how to start playing Nightreign and help you get comfortable in this rather confusing co-op adventure.

Elden Ring: Nightreign is a story-driven co-op game with cutscenes and an ending. To complete it all the way to the end, you need to defeat all available bosses — the Nightlords. At the very beginning, only one boss will be available, but after your first victory, new opponents will unlock. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves, as we’ll break down the final enemies in separate guides.

As soon as you start a match, you’ll have three days (actually two), during which you need to quickly collect runes to level up your character or buy useful items from the merchant. You’ll also need to gather good equipment (like in battle royales) and pick up passive skills, which can randomly drop for killing particularly strong enemies. At first, the game cycle may seem confusing because of the vast area, unclear map, and a completely useless tutorial.

At the very start, you need to know just one thing: maps, enemies, and bosses change every time depending on RNG, so there are no clear strategies or tutorials for fast leveling. You can easily lose because of a randomly spawned dragon, which is extremely difficult and time-consuming to kill.

There is no visible timer in the game, but it is built into the gameplay itself, which means you need to rush to the location with the most valuable loot. Don’t waste time, but also don’t panic if you don’t manage to level up properly. As the day comes to an end, the Night Tide will begin — a wall that shrinks the playable area. Gradually, it will lead you to the boss of the first day, so watch the wall and the direction it’s moving carefully.

Elden Ring: Nightreign has 8 characters with a specific set of abilities and stats. They are radically different from each other and offer unique gameplay. At first, 6 heroes will be available to you, and you’ll unlock the rest later in the story.

You can freely switch between heroes in the lobby. Near the “Round Table” there’s a knight statue where you can change your character. However, at the start of a match, you can choose any wanderer, regardless of whom you picked in the lobby.

For beginners, we recommend starting with the archer or the mage. You’ll be able to keep your distance from enemies while still dealing good damage and contributing to victory.

In the lobby, there is a special area where you can test each hero's abilities. There you will find several training dummies to practice mechanics on. It's very important to remember your character's timing and swing speed, so that later you’ll clearly understand how to play. This is an essential step for beginners, as every wanderer has nuances that are better to know in advance.

In the arena settings menu, you can change the skill gauge fill speed and the character’s progression level. Don’t forget to adjust these parameters to master abilities faster and estimate the damage your hero will deal in the final stage of the match.

There is also a weapon chest on the training ground, where you can try out different weapons. Be sure to familiarize yourself with each one to choose the optimal set you’ll aim for during your run. It’s also worth noting that all weapons in the expedition are randomized and have a random set of passive abilities, so make your selection as broad as possible.

In Elden Ring: Nightreign, you can prepare your character in advance and customize their passive skills using “relics” obtained in expeditions. This is an important part of the gameplay that you should pay special attention to.

Relics can have up to three random effects, and each character can equip up to three relics at a time. Some stones have general abilities that work in any situation, while others are specific to certain heroes. Read the descriptions carefully and pay attention to relic compatibility. If you see a red icon next to a passive skill, that means this stone conflicts with one already equipped.

With relics, you can adjust your characters and choose a unique playstyle. With the right set of stones, you can become a support or a tank. The power of relics won’t disappear after returning from an expedition, so don’t be afraid to take the best ones from the list. After each run, check the ritual area to learn about the features of the relics you’ve found. In separate guides, we’ll talk about the best builds and combinations.

In the lobby, there is a library where you’ll find the “Codex,” which contains valuable information about the game world and additional mechanics. Study it if some aspects are unclear to you. Also, from time to time, read the character journals to advance the story. The place with the book is in the corridor next to the “Round Table.” From the notes, you’ll learn about side objectives and special conditions required to complete micro-stories.

Before starting the expedition, you must choose the boss that will appear at the end of the third day. Carefully read the description and look at the icon that shows the element the boss is vulnerable to. For example, the first boss has a weakness to Holy. This element can be found in places locked by seal spells. If you collect the right items during the expedition, you’ll be able to defeat the enemy quickly.

Also, don’t forget to pick up relics with passive skills that the boss is vulnerable to. There are several enemies weak to fire or ice damage. Without proper preparation, most of your time will be wasted.

As soon as you land, open the map and check out the nearest points of interest. Mark locations so your allies know where you’re headed. If you don’t know the map, follow your teammate.

Try to stay close to your allies, as teamwork is the key to victory. Even if you’ve beaten Elden Ring with your eyes closed, we do not recommend playing solo from the very beginning.

If, after landing, your allies haven’t marked any points of interest, decide for yourself where to go. Most drop zones are adjacent to small camps and “Sites of Grace.” In these camps, you can earn enough runes for the first level (about 3500), get basic items, and additional weapons. Be sure to level up your hero at the very start, as the starting HP won’t even be enough to clear the first fortress.

Don’t chase after the kill count! Runes are split evenly among the whole team, regardless of who killed the enemy. However, equipment and items go only to whoever picked them up.

If you pick up a weapon after killing a boss, it will disappear for your allies. If you get a legendary sword or bow that doesn’t suit your class, pick it up and drop it on the ground through the inventory menu. Don’t be greedy — share your loot. Maybe this very weapon will save you at a critical moment.

By default, you have six weapon slots and two for talismans. Don’t carry your entire arsenal — throw away what you don’t need. If you play as an archer, try to have: a regular bow, a heavy bow, and a ballista. This is the optimal set for all situations. The same logic applies to other classes.

Yes, in Elden Ring: Nightreign there is very little time for exploration, but you have to do it, as a poorly planned route leads to defeat. Study the attributes and locations of the camps. Take time to collect extra healing flasks and smithing stones. Even if your allies run ahead, don’t rush — you’ll catch up with them quickly.

As we wrote above, there are many “Sites of Grace” on the map, which will automatically heal you and refill your health flasks. Try to kill enemies in the area around these places to quickly restore lost strength.

If you have enough runes to level up, you’ll see a small arrow next to your value in the top left corner of the screen. Try to do this as soon as you have enough. In Nightreign, it’s very easy to die from any mistake, and having to recover dropped runes seriously slows down your progress and character development.

It’s also worth noting that after death you’ll lose one level from your total. However, it’s not all that bad. The dropped runes will always be supplemented by exactly the same amount you spent on buying the level. Therefore, after recovering what you lost, you should return to the “Site of Grace” and level up your hero again.

Leveling up your hero happens automatically, and you don’t need to choose stats yourself. This saves a lot of time and lets you level up in just a few seconds.

In Limweld, there are several camps and locations you should pay attention to first. The first is the church. There’s always an item in them that will upgrade your healing charge. Having extra healing options seriously simplifies progression and saves you in battles with final bosses.

Next on the list: ruins, fortresses, and camps. Each of these structures has a special set of enemies, item chests, and a fairly simple boss. In these places, you can get new weapons, talismans, and extra items. The stronger the boss in a specific camp, the better the items that will drop.

While moving around the location, don’t forget to activate special buff spots scattered throughout the map. Some of them give healing and mana restoration, while others increase the number of runes gained, spells, or protection from regular enemies. Every player can use these spots, so don’t be afraid to activate them first.

Sometimes you’ll come across scarabs on your path. Take a little time to catch them to get valuable loot, which can be much better than what you get from clearing a fortress. For example, most often you’ll get talismans that protect against negative effects like poison or bleeding.

As you explore the map, try to collect greases and bombs with effects that are best suited for the final boss. For example, if your enemy is vulnerable to electricity, you should gather a whole pack of items that will boost your main weapon. All other items, such as pills, bombs, and knives, should be used immediately on the spot and not kept in your inventory throughout the entire day.

Also, study the map carefully to spot camps with a vulnerability icon for a specific type of damage. If your weapon has a passive fire property, head to camps with the corresponding icon. This way, you’ll deal with enemies faster and get everything you need for progression.

Absolutely all characters can equip any weapon available in the game. However, their starting stats affect the overall damage and usage intensity. So, an archer can technically use a sword, but there’s not much point in doing so.

Unlike the original game, you don’t need to worry about weapon weight or inventory load. You have six slots available for any sword, shield, dagger, axe, or bow. All items are divided by rarity rating. There are four in total: Common (gray), Uncommon (blue), Rare (purple), and Legendary (gold). The last one can only be used when you reach level 10. The higher the weapon’s rarity, the better its damage and set of passive effects. In Nightreign, you can combine effects, so with the right equipment selection you can get double buffs.

You can also manually increase weapon rarity using smithing stones and the anvil located near the merchant. You can see his location on the map. Stones can be found in a cave, dropped from an enemy, obtained from a chest, or bought from the merchant for 6000 souls.

If you’re unlucky and the weapon you need didn’t drop during the run, you can always buy it from the merchant and upgrade it on the spot. Yes, it’s quite an expensive undertaking, but good gear is just as important as a high level.

Regular consumables do not have rarity gradation and cannot be upgraded. However, they play an equally important role as standard equipment. Warming stones will allow you to restore your allies’ strength during battle, and sword grease will give extra damage against the boss.

Be sure to buy a pouch from the merchant to carry more consumables. Yes, the price bites, but you’ll quickly make up for it by killing small mobs found in nearby camps.

It’s extremely important for beginners to stick together throughout the expedition to maximize overall damage and minimize soul loss. If you’ve just started playing and don’t really understand how the world works in Nightreign, try not to stray from your companions and take on a support role while memorizing the route.

Move through locations by running. Time in the expedition is limited, so cover distances using the ability to climb walls and jump from great heights. There is no fall damage in Nightreign. Use trampolines and spirit eagles to traverse huge distances and climb mountain peaks. However, always pay attention to the direction these objects are facing. Sometimes, eagles can play a nasty trick and send you straight past the barrier.

If you and your team keep dying to the same boss, you should leave it and move on, as the time spent fighting won’t yield enough profit. Losing a level or a large number of souls at the wrong moment can instantly ruin the entire expedition. If you wander into a tough area at the very start and die, chances are you’ll die again when going back for your souls. And then again and again. This way, you’ll lose a huge amount of time and ruin all your progress.

Set a goal for yourself: to gain five levels in one day and five more the next. This is the minimum requirement for fighting the final boss. Of course, it’s better to have more levels by the end of the third day, but situations during the expedition will always vary.

Regardless of your class, you should always have at least one ranged weapon in your inventory so you can revive fallen allies during battle. Remember, a downed companion will eventually die for good and lose all their runes, so act quickly. However, during boss fights, allies cannot be revived, and if the whole party falls, the expedition ends.

If you fail to retrieve your dropped runes after dying and die again, they’ll be lost forever. Sometimes, there will be no runes at the place of your death — this means an enemy picked them up. You need to kill the enemy with the glowing aura to get your resources back.

As soon as the day ends, you’ll see a blue wall that will slowly shrink the area available for exploration. Move in the opposite direction to reach the area of the intermediate boss. Kill all enemies on the map for the main enemy to appear. It’s important to remember that these bosses are random, and some of them are harder than the final one.

There is no timer in the battle with intermediate bosses, so there’s no need to rush. Be extremely careful so that you and your allies are not defeated at the same time. This will lead to the failure of the entire raid. If one of your party members falls, one player should distract the boss while another revives the ally. This will help avoid total group wipeout.

Don’t forget that some characters have abilities that can be used to resurrect fallen allies. For example, the Guardian’s “Wings of Salvation.”

As soon as you kill the intermediate boss during the second night, you’ll be able to move to the lair of the “Night Lord.” There, you can use the smithing stones you’ve collected, buy healing items, and level up.

Restore your health and flasks at the “Site of Grace.” Spend all the souls you’ve accumulated, as you won’t need them anymore. Buy as many support items as possible so you can restore your allies’ health points.

After all preparations, head to the large doors to proceed to the final arena. Each “Night Lord” has their own set of attacks and abilities. Stick to the roles you chose during the expedition to get the most out of the fight. The archer and mage should keep their distance so they can revive fallen allies. The tank should always stand behind the shield and soak up damage. And so on.

Since this is the final stage of the expedition, try to use all the resources you’ve accumulated. Use your abilities and ultimate skill more often. Don’t save them for later.

Regardless of whether you win or not, your character will receive a certain set of relics and darkness points at the very end. We’ve already talked about relics at the very beginning, but the latter can be used to buy items and skins.

Talk to characters in the lobby and complete quests. For example, after defeating the first boss, give the girl in the hood the watch to unlock a new character. Follow the main storyline and the heroes’ mini-stories through the journal. The game has an ending, so you always have a final goal to strive for.