All Elden Ring Nightreign characters (Explained)

Elden Ring took the world by storm when it came out in 2022, instantly winning the hearts of countless worldwide fans and the Game of the Year award in the process. The game’s Shadow of the Erdtree DLC was equally as loved and was also nominated for the same award as the base game, despite being a DLC.

Now, fans will hop into the world of Elden Ring one more time with Elden Ring Nightreign ^[1]. Unlike the RPG game that was Elden Ring, this game utilizes battle royale mechanics to ensure the experience is unique for players. This also means players choose one of four characters who have different classes. However, those who weren’t able to access the closed beta may wonder who every character in Elden Ring Nightreign is and how they differ from one another.

So, without further delay, here is every single playable character in Elden Ring Nightreign explained.

Duchess

The Duchess is a Nightfarer in Nightreign. She is a swift, high-burst-damage class. While her defenses are weak, she excels at evading attacks with ease.

Core aspects

• The Duchess is a thief-assassin hybrid who forgoes brute force in favor of swift, precise strikes. She excels at weaving in and out of combat, relying on agility and rapid attacks to overwhelm her foes.
• Unlike other Nightfarers who rely on standard dodge roll, the Duchess employs a graceful side-step to evade attacks with precision and finesse.
• Her unique skill lets her replicate the recent damage dealt by nearby allies and herself to a targeted enemy, effectively striking them again and with the same force. When used strategically and with proper coordination, this devastating ability can annihilate foes instantly.

Abilities

• Magnificent Pose (Passive): This passive grants the Duchess the ability to perform a second dodge after the initial dodge. It also enhances her dodge with increased speed and extended invincibility frames, making her evasive maneuvers highly effective.
• Restage (Ability): The Duchess can reapply all damage and static effects dealt to enemies before her over the last five seconds. This ability does not duplicate repost damage. It can be activated anytime, even during animations or while taking hits, but cannot be used in a downed state.
• Finale (Ultimate): Grants an immediate 3-second window of invincibility frames, followed by 15 seconds of invisibility for the Duchess and nearby allies. However, enemies will continue attacking the last known position of an invisible player if they recently took damage from them.

Guardian

The Guardian is a Nightfarer in Nightreign, a bird-like humanoid warrior who wields powerful heavy attacks and excels in tanking. 

Core aspects

• The Guardian embodies the classic tank archetype, delivering powerful but slow attacks while boasting enhanced damage resistance.
• The Guardian’s primary role in combat is to absorb and reduce incoming damage while drawing enemy attention by building aggro.

Abilities

• Steel Guard (Passive): This enables the Guardian to enter a defensive stance, enhancing his blocking effectiveness at the expense of movement speed. While in this stance, he takes significantly less stamina damage when blocking, making it easier to withstand powerful attacks.
• Whirlwind (Skill): This attack strikes all enemies in a 360-degree radius around the guardian. You can also charge the skill, increasing its area of effect at the cost of a longer wind-up. This ability excels at hitting multiple enemies simultaneously and can knock them down.
• Wings of Salvation (Ultimate): His ultimate ability lets him leap high into the air before crashing down. Upon impact, he deals massive area damage to enemies while boosting his party’s defense. This powerful skill is especially effective for reviving fallen enemies. However, using the ability without charging consumes only half of the Ultimate Gauge, allowing for more frequent use.

Recluse

Recluse is a Nightfarer in Nightreign, a master of forbidden sorcery. Armed with an ornate staff, she commands potent hexes to execute her mission.

Core aspects

• The Recluse can absorb elemental energies from enemies and release them as devastating attacks.
• The Recluse can siphon FP from enemies and allies to sustain her spellcasting. By using Magic Cocktail on foes she has damaged, she can absorb their FP.
• Every fourth cast of Magic Cocktail activates a special effect determined by the combination of elements- Fire, Magic, Lightning, or Holy- extracted from targets.

Abilities

• Elemental Defense (Passive): Allows you to detect elemental residue on enemies, enabling you to use Magic Cocktail after inflicting damage on them.
• Magic Cocktail (Skill): This skill enables you to harness the elemental combinations revealed by Elemental Defense. It triggers different effects based on the elements absorbed.
• Soulblood Song (Ultimate): Marks all nearby enemies for 10 seconds. When you or your allies strike a marked enemy, including bosses, you will restore HP and FP, making this a powerful support ultimate. However, it has a limited range and will not affect enemies or bosses who are too far away.

Wylder

Wylder is a Nightfarer in Nightreign. He is a well-balanced, versatile hero who is ideal for newcomers.

Core aspects

• Wylder is a versatile hero capable of adapting to various roles but lacks the specialization of other Nightfarers.
• Wylder weilds a hook shot that can pull in enemies or be used for swift, stylish evasions.

Abilities

• Sixth Sense (Passive): This passive grants a one-time death immunity per run, preventing lethal damage when triggered. Further testing is needed to confirm if it resets upon using a Site of Grace.
• Claw Shot (Skill):  Allows you to grapple toward larger enemies or pull smaller foes toward you. It can also be used on terrain when no targets are in range, propelling you in a chosen direction to evade attacks or close the distance to your enemy more quickly.
• Onslaught Stake (Ultimate):  A devastating single strike that fires an iron stake, triggering a massive explosion. However, this ultimate has a short range when activated.

FAQs

How is Elden Ring: Nightreign different from Elden Ring?

Nightreign transports players to a procedurally generated realm called Limveld, a reimagined version of Limgrave from the original Elden Ring. Players, in teams of up to three, have three in-game days to prepare for a climactic boss battle, navigating a shrinking gameplay area reminiscent of battle royale mechanics.

How does multiplayer work in Nightreign?

The game emphasizes three-player cooperative play, allowing friends or online players to team up. Each player selects from uniquely skilled heroes, each possessing their own abilities and distinct flair.

When is the release date for Nightreign?

Elden Ring: Nightreign is scheduled for release on May 30, 2025, and will be available on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S platforms.

References

1. [1] "Official Elden Ring Nightreign website". en.bandainamcoent.eu. Retrieved March 02, 2025