What is the best Elden Ring Nightreign class? There are eight Nightfarers to choose from in Nightreign. Each class boasts an assortment of unique abilities, stats, and equipment that correspond to a class archetype in FromSoftware's action RPGs. Some excel as defensive tanks, while others sling spells from a distance. With so much variety, finding the right class for you can be a bit of a grind.
To help you decide, we've got a full overview of all classes in soulslike games. However, even niche classes can excel in the right hands. Here are all Nightreign classes available and how to use them.
What is the best Elden Ring Nightreign class?
Ironeye is the best Nightreign class. His low skill floor and high skill ceiling make him a high-value pick for beginners and experts alike. Newbies can remain at a distance and provide , while veterans can enjoy the complexities of parkour positioning.
When choosing the best Nightreign class for you, it's important to consider your preferred playstyle. The Executor might be more to your taste if you favor melee over ranged, but even this powerful class can be ill-suited if you struggle to parry. Ultimately, all classes are viable in Nightreign; even situational classes like the Recluse and Revenant provide additional challenge for soulslike veterans.
All Nightreign classes
Here are all eight Nightreign classes ranked from best to worst:
- Ironeye
- Executor
- Duchess
- Wylder
- Guardian
- Raider
- Recluse
- Revenant
Ironeye
Role: Ranged DPS
Main Stat: Dexterity
Starter Weapon: Bow
ive: Eagle Eye – Increase loot drop chance from fallen foes.
Skill: Marking – Mark enemies with a temporary weak point.
Ultimate: Single Shot – Shoot a supersonic arrow that pierces any defense.
The Ironeye is the core archer class, so expect to let the arrows fly at long range while providing excellent to any close-range classes in your party. As an Ironeye, you can hang back and attack from a safe distance, which may appeal to newer players who struggle with close-range combat. However, this class also demands quick reflexes to dodge attacks when enemies inevitably shift their attention towards you.
Thankfully, the Ironeye is also a very athletic class that can parkour off walls, which you can rely on to attack from the air or quickly reposition. Fire arrows will be a firm favorite for Ironeye players who want to let loose some extra damage, but we wouldn't be surprised to see Bloodbone, Poisonbone, and other arrow types that trigger debilitating status effects in Elden Ring. Arrows are a finite resource in the Lands Between, so be prepared to rely on crafting to keep your quiver full.
Marking enemies leaves them susceptible to getting their stance broken, and it's a huge benefit when going up against bosses. Unlike Elden Ring's archers, Ironeye can backstab – watch out for opportunities to dash in and inflict one when your foe's back is turned. Finally, Ironeye's ive makes it the ideal class for loot runs, particularly if you're grinding for a particular item. It's the Nightreign class with the best capacity to resurrect fallen allies from a distance, too.
Executor
Role: Melee DPS
Main Stat: Dexterity
Starter Weapon: Katana
ive: Unyielding Spirit – Receive an active effect when you recover from a status effect.
Skill: Bewitched Sword – Unsheathe the enchanted sword to deflect and nullify enemy attacks
Ultimate: Aspects of the Crucible (Beast) – Transform into a primordial beast.
While it hasn't been officially announced yet, reliable leaks and rumors tell us that the Executor is Nightreign's samurai class, which is great news for both Sekiro fans and katana s. Parries and deflections are a staple of FromSoftware combat, so a dedicated class for these mechanics is a no-brainer. It's also not for the faint of heart; if you want to excel with the Executor, you must nail those timings.
Early reports suggest that the Executor's skill allows them to unsheathe their katana to deflect incoming attacks. This could prove a lifesaver against massive AoEs, especially if there's no Guardian or Raider around to absorb them. However, perhaps the most anticipated rumor we want to see shake out is the possibility of an ultimate transformation into a "primordial beast."
Katanas are famed for their Bleed status buildup in Elden Ring, so we wouldn't be surprised to see it as a potential strategy for the Executor. Either way, this is a decidedly beginner-unfriendly class, but there's no question of the extreme damage it could do in the right hands. Just don't forget to dodge.
Duchess
Role: Melee DPS
Main Stat: Dexterity
Starter Weapon: Duchess' Dagger
Starter Item: Shield Grease x3
ive: Magnificent Poise – Attack and dodge optimally, dodging repeatedly when necessary
Skill: Restage – Stage a reprisal of recent occurrences to damage nearby foes
Ultimate: Finale – Obscure self and surrounding allies to hide from foes
The Duchess is Nightreign's thief class, and is as close to an assassin archetype you can get. She cloaks herself in an invisible veil to advance on foes without being seen, waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike. Backstabs and sneak attacks are her bread and butter, but she's blessed with an extended dodge to help her dance out of harm's way.
The ability to reapply recent damage to foes is by far the most powerful aspect of this class, but the decision to use it can separate a skilled Duchess from a novice. Activating it right after a Wylder triggers their ultimate, for example, will be far more effective than doing so after any old backstab.
The Duchess is a good step up from the Wylder, sticking to the simplicity of melee but with the added challenge of quick dodging. She's also a great class to train your awareness of other allies, and the payoffs are high enough that you can still inflict a lot of damage despite the low base damage of the daggers she favors.
Wylder
Role: Melee DPS
Main Stat: Strength, Dexterity
Starter Weapon: Wylder's Greatsword
Starter Shield: Wylder's Small Shield
ive: Sixth Sense – Cheat death a single time.
Skill: Claw Shot – Launch grappling claw to rope foes in or move swiftly by retracting.
Ultimate: Retaliate – A powerful single attack that launches an iron stake with a great explosion.
The Wylder is the signature Elden Ring knight, albeit with a Nightreign twist. He's a highly versatile melee class, and the perfect option for beginners thanks to his life-saving ive. This makes ill-timed attacks and similar mistakes more forgiving, especially when finding your feet. Also, don't be misled by its description – this ability refreshes whenever you rest at a Site of Grace, letting you use it multiple times in a single run.
The Wylder can serve as a tank in a pinch thanks to his shield, though his performance in this role pales compared to the Guardian. This follows through to other Nightreign classes, where they offer specialist roles; the Wylder is a generalist. However, that's not necessarily a bad thing. For one, it makes the Wylder highly adaptable, with enough tricks up his sleeve to comfortably respond to most situations.
The most distinctive tricks are his grappling claw and wrist crossbow. The former can pull enemies towards him or let him reposition on the fly, while the latter deals exceptional poise damage to bosses and displaces whole mobs of enemies in a single shot. Both demand careful timing to use optimally, providing just enough challenge to skirt boredom.
Guardian
Role: Melee Tank
Main Stat: Vigor
Starter Weapon: Guardian's Halberd
Starter Shield: Guardian's Greatshield
ive: Steel Guard – Plant feet and brace with shield for a more powerful guard.
Skill: Whirlwind – Sprout wings from your back to whip up a wind-churning cyclone.
Ultimate: Wings of Salvation – Leap up and dive back down to raise the protective area.
The Guardian is a classic tank archetype that should be familiar to anyone who's played Dark Souls. Their ive guard can absorb some of the most devastating attacks, with the capacity to rescue allies and save a run. It's the ideal class for players who want to stay on the frontlines. However, pulling and holding aggro is a major component of their role, and a Guardian that fails to do so can quickly get their allies killed.
However, this winged protector is more than just a walking shield; they're also an excellent crowd controller. The Guardian can use that same shield as a battering ram to knock enemies off balance, or summon a cyclone to send the most fortified foes flying into the air. This presents the perfect opportunity for your squishier allies to unleash their deadliest attacks without fear of reprisal. There's also the opportunity to send enemies into walls and other environmental obstacles, dealing bonus impact damage.
The Guardian's ultimate is also surprisingly versatile, bundling in a knockback attack that's difficult for enemies to intercept alongside a teamwide defensive buff. However, it's also possible to only expend half your ultimate gauge and inflict knockback without the buff, which is a great way to conserve your gauge when you already have the upper hand.
Raider
Role: Melee DPS Tank
Main Stat: Strength
Starter Weapon: Raider's Great Axe
ive: Fighter's Resolve – Cannot be knocked down while using the Retaliate skill.
Skill: Retaliate – A vigorous punch that can stagger even the largest enemies.
Ultimate: Totem Stela – Summons a Giant Tombstone that deals damage. Boosts nearby allies and can be used as a platform.
The Raider is Nightreign's berserker class, forgoing shields and other defensive accoutrements for an all-out brawler combat style. Like the Guardian, the Raider belongs on the frontline to pull aggro away from squishier Nightfarers; unlike the Guardian, he prefers to block damage with his face. Naturally, careful health management is a must.
However, this class is more than just a wall of meat. Not only can he bear the brunt of heavy hits without flinching, but he can attack through them with abilities that can stagger the toughest bosses. His massive bulk makes him the antithesis of agile classes like the Duchess, but he doesn't need it. Instead, he makes up for it with the sheer power behind his attacks, with bonus fire damage on hand via his starter weapon.
Finally, the Raider's tombstone summon is a surprisingly versatile tool that can respond to many situations. You can use it to block devastating attacks or use it as an elevation point for the Ironeye or Recluse to rain damage from above. It also includes a teamwide buff to poise and stamina regeneration, an advantage across all classes. The Raider certainly isn't for everyone, but this is the ideal class that hits first and asks questions later.
Recluse
Role: Ranged DPS
Main Stat: Mind, Intelligence
Starter Weapon: Recluse's Staff
Starter Spells: Glintstone Pebble, Glintstone Arc
ive: Elemental Defence – Collect elemental residues to replenish FP.
Skill: Magic Cocktail – Combine elemental residues into powerful spells.
Ultimate: Soul Blood Song – Affixes blood sigils to enemies that restore the health and magic of Nightfarers who attack them.
The Recluse is Nightreign's sorcery class, though it plays quite differently from its Elden Ring counterpart. The Recluse siphons fire, lightning, magic, and holy elemental energy from foes and repurposes it to cast even more powerful spells. These spells vary depending on the combination of elements in this magic cocktail, from area of effect attacks to defensive shields.
This breadth of spellcasting makes the Recluse a highly versatile class. However, it also demands a keen understanding of which enemies produce which elements, which combinations correspond to which spells, and which is most optimal in your current situation. Consequently, she's by no means a beginner-friendly class.
Like most spellcasters, the Recluse is a glass cannon. Her low health pool and light armor make her vulnerable to powerful attacks. While her enhanced dodge offers more of a chance to reposition herself and avoid incoming damage, she still demands keen combat awareness. Diligent FP management is also essential to survive as the Recluse, but thankfully, you can also siphon FP from enemies – no need to worry about running out of flasks.
Revenant
Role: Ranged
Main Stat: Mind
Starter Weapons: Scythe, Harp Bow
ive: TBA
Skill: TBA
Ultimate: TBA
The Revenant is a summoner class that uses Spirit Ashes, making her the most niche Nightreign class. Since we don't know the full scale of the Spirit Ashes available in Nightreign, it's currently unclear how effective the Revenant may be, but our list of the best Elden Ring Spirit Ash summons shows how versatile they can be in combat.
According to leaks, the Revenant can summon one of the Giant Skeleton spirits that appear in Mohgwyn Palace and Mountaintops of the Giants in Elden Ring. This spirit is a force to be reckoned with, but we expect it's not the only one at the Revenant's disposal.
The only major issue with the Revenant is whether she'll have enough abilities to her alongside her minions. Spirit Ash builds aren't that viable in Elden Ring, since they take a lot of effort to upgrade and don't scale to any particular stat. You also can't control them directly, leading to awkward situations where they focus on the wrong enemies in combat.
That said, it's highly likely that FromSoftware is aware of these drawbacks and has adjusted the Spirit Ashes system to ensure the Revenant matches up to her fellow Nightfarers. We expect that the Revenant is at her best when she stands back and lets her minions do the work, perhaps with some long-range buffs and debuffs thrown in for good measure.
Now that you're up to speed with all the Elden Ring Nightreign classes, check out the Nightreign skins revealed so far, which includes some of the most memorable characters in FromSoftware's stable.