All Elden Ring Nightreign classes and what they do

The classes you can play as in Elden Ring Nightreign are known as the Nightfarers — eight distinct characters with predetermined stats, movesets, and appearances. Unlike the blank-slate, highly customizable characters of the original Elden Ring, these classes fit into neat class roles like rogues, sorcerers, barbarians, archers, and mages.

At launch, there are eight classes, though FromSoftware may add additional Nightfarers over time (which we’ll add to this post should they become available). For details about the Nightfarers available at launch, here’s a guide to all Elden Ring Nightreign classes along with details about how they play and footage of them in action.

Duchess

The Duchess is a nimble fighter who specializes in stealth and prefers daggers. She’s basically the rogue of the group: a speedy glass cannon who fights with quick, up-close slashes, and can provide crucial combat support to her team. If you’re a Dexterity-focused Elden Ring player, she’s your Nightfarer. [Note: The Duchess won’t initially be playable; you’ll need to unlock her first by defeating the Nightlord Gladius, Beast of Night.]

Passive Ability

Magnificent Poise: Dodge and attack swiftly with reduced stamina cost. Allows up to two consecutive evasive actions.

Character Skill

Restage: Reapply the last few seconds of team damage to enemies. Use this immediately after dealing heavy damage to enemies for bonus damage.

Ultimate Art

Finale: Obscure nearby allies to hide from foes. Enemies lose track of the caster (and her allies), wandering aimlessly or becoming prone to leaving themselves vulnerable. Basically, it’s an invisibility spell.

Stats, Strengths, and Weaknesses

Duchess has high Intelligence, Dexterity, and Faith, so equip her appropriately with magic damage weapons that strike quickly. She’s weak on Strength and Stamina. Her ultimate, Finale, can be very helpful when trying to revive near-death allies.

Executor

The Executor is “a condemned warrior who wields a cursed katana blade.” He’s an offense-heavy fighter with a special deflection ability, and the power to transform into a huge beast.

Passive Ability

Tenacity: Receive a boost when cleansed from status ailments, like poison, sleep, madness, and others.

Character Skill

Cursed Sword: Deflect enemy attacks with a special stance. Repeated deflections reveal blade, enabling powerful attacks with the living sword. Executor cannot run while at the ready with his enchanted blade.

Ultimate Art

Aspects of the Crucible: Beast: Executor assumes the form of the primordial beast, letting him slash at enemies.

Stats, Strengths, and Weaknesses

Executor has high Dexterity and Arcane stats who excels with katanas that apply afflictions to enemies. He’s weak with Intelligence and Faith. He’s a high damage-dealing Nightfarer, and best in a one-on-one fight — he should focus on a boss or particularly strong enemy, not mobs of enemies.

Guardian

The Guardian is a “pinionfolk captain” — a flying birdman, in other words — who is skilled in offense and defense, and who prefers halberds, poking enemies from behind the cover of a heavy shield.

Passive Ability

Steel Guard: Plants his feet and braces with his shield raised for a more powerful guard. Greatly improves guard boost, but prevents running while holding up shield.

Character skill

Whirlwind: Guardian beats his wings to summon a cyclone that draws in enemies, knocking them off their feet. Whirlwind can be charged to enlarge its range and can repel light projectiles

Ultimate Art

Wings of Salvation: Dive from above to attack a large area and protect allies from damage. While in the air, Guardian can move briefly.

Stats, Strengths, and Weaknesses

Guardian has high HP, Stamina, and Strength, giving the birdman some of the best survivability in the game. Strength-scaling weapons, particularly halberds and crossbows, are his specialty. He’s weak in Faith and FP, but since you should be using Guardian to pull enemies’ focus on him, sticking with halberd and shield is probably your best strategy.

Ironeye

Ironeye is an archer class with “split-second judgment and pinpoint accuracy.” If you like bows (and giant bows) and sweet loot drops, Ironeye’s your guy.

Passive Ability

Eagle Eye: His keen observation increases drops from downed enemies — allies get the same boost.

Character Skill

Marking: Marks enemies to create a temporary weak point. Ironeye cuts his foe with a dagger, creating a temporary weak point. Inflicting damage on that weak point to damage and stagger foes. Damaging the weak point extends its duration.

Ultimate Art

Single Shot: Shoots a supersonic arrow that pierces any defense. Single Shot pierces all types of enemies, terrain, and structures. In a pinch, it can instantly revive a downed, near-death teammate.

Stats, Strengths, and Weaknesses

Ironeye has high Dexterity, Stamina, and Arcane stats, making him good with bows for ranged combat (and curved swords, if you need a melee option). He’s weak on Intelligence and Faith. Upgrades and relics that boost his Stamina will help his effectiveness, and players should constantly keep their Marking character skill active on enemies.

Raider

Raider is a “powerful sea-farer who favors enormous weapons.” If you like walking around with a giant sword, axe, or hammer, and playing offense, you’re a Raider.

Passive Ability

Fighter’s Resolve: Taking damage boosts the potency of Raider’s character skill, Retaliate. He cannot be knocked down while using it, and will stay in the fight with a sliver of HP even after taking heavy damage.

Character Skill

Retaliate: Assume a defensive posture that reduces incoming damage and unleash a vigorous punch that can stagger large enemies.

Ultimate Art

Totem Stela: Summons a giant tombstone that deals damage, boosts nearby allies, and can be climbed and used as a platform. The tombstone radiates a protective aura, boosting strength of nearby allies, and blocking arrows.

Stats, Strengths, and Weaknesses

Raider has high Strength, giving him plenty of damage output. He has high HP and Stamina, making him resilient in battle. That’s important, because he needs to take damage to be effective. He’s good with Colossal Weapons and Greatbows, if you need a ranged option.

Recluse

Keep your distance as the Recluse, a witch of the deep forest who deftly wields ancient sorceries. Elden Ring players who focus on Intelligence and Faith builds will gravitate toward the Recluse.

Passive Ability

Elemental Defense: Collect elemental residues to replenish FP, and grant allies residues of specific elemental affinities.

Character Skill

Magic Cocktail: Combine elemental resides into different powerful spells. Collect the affinity residues of targets to unleash an affinity-exploiting magic cocktail. Complex affinity combinations create more powerful spells.

Ultimate Art

Soulblood Song: Brand foes with temporary blood sigils that increase damage taken by enemies. Those sigils also restore the HP and FP of caster.

Stats, Strengths, and Weaknesses

Recluse is a backline damage-dealer: low in HP and Strength, but high in Intelligence, Faith, and FP. She’s great at damaging enemies who are weak to elemental afflictions, and has high elemental resistance herself. She has a steep learning curve, and doesn’t fare well with melee weapons.

Revenant

Nightreign’s Revenant is a doll-coded glass cannon who serves the role of summoner who can support her teammates by bringing spirits into battle and quickly reviving downed teammates. [Note: The Revenant won’t initially be playable; you’ll need to unlock her by first unlocking the Duchess and then defeating the Night Idol in battle.]

Passive Ability

Necromancy: Raise enemy ghosts to fight as allies. The ghosts of enemies whom the Revenant dispatches with a final blow will fight alongside her then dissipate after a short period of activity.

Character Skill

Summon Spirit: The Revenant plays her lyre to summon one of three specters: Helen the Page, Frederick the Pumpkin Head, or Sebastian the Giant Skeleton.

Ultimate Art

Immortal March: Make self and nearby allies immortal, reviving near-death allies and transforming them into immortal warriors temporarily.

Stats, Strengths, and Weaknesses

Revenant is also strong in Faith and Intelligence, effectively using sorceries and incantations. She’s good at creating diversions and healing and reviving her party, making her a valuable asset in most team lineups. But like the Recluse, Revenant has low HP and weak defenses.

Wylder

The Wylder is your classic all-rounder, with well-balanced abilities and easy-to-handle skills. Probably a good starting point in Nightreign before specializing.

Passive Ability

Sixth Sense: Cheat death a single time. Can be restored by dying or passing through a Site of Grace.

Character Skill

Claw Shot: Launch a grappling claw to rope in foes or move swiftly. Only certain enemies can be pulled in with Claw Shot, but it’s effective at breaking guard.

Ultimate Art

Onslaught Stake: A powerful single attack that launches an iron stake with a great explosion.

Stats, Strengths, and Weaknesses

Wylder is high in Strength and Dexterity, making him a capable frontline attacker who excels with greatswords. His ultimate, which can be charged for greater effectiveness, is great for knocking down bosses, reviving teammates in a pinch, and dealing large amounts of consistent damage.