~13 MIN
Ultimate Elden Ring: Nightreign class guide
In this ultimate Elden Ring: Nightreign class guide, we break down the most powerful Nightfarers you can play. Each class has been carefully ranked in a tier list to help you understand the current meta and make smarter choices. Along the way, you’ll find in-depth breakdowns of every class — their unique strengths, key weaknesses, and ideal use cases — so you can choose the best Nightfarer for your preferred playstyle in Elden Ring: Nightreign.
Elden Ring Nightreign Classes Ranked
If you’re jumping into Elden Ring: Nightreign and feeling overwhelmed about which class to start with — you’re not alone. The expansion introduces nine distinct Nightfarers, each with a unique identity, skill expression, and role within a team. And while FromSoftware games famously embrace the “play who you like” philosophy, the reality is that some classes clearly rise above the rest — especially in co-op settings or during high-speed encounters with aggressive Nightlords.
This Nightreign class tier list ranks all Nightfarers based on their overall performance, flexibility, ease of learning, and how well they contribute in team-based scenarios. From solo-friendly bruisers to high-synergy support casters, here’s how each Nightfarer fares in terms of raw power, meta relevance, and utility:
| Tier | Classes |
|---|---|
| S | Ironeye, Duchess, Wylder |
| A | Executor, Raider, Recluse |
| B | Revenant, Guardian |
🥇 Elden Ring Nightreign S-Tier Classes
The S-tier Nightfarers are the cream of the crop — highly effective in both solo adventures and co-op missions. Ironeye, Duchess, and Wylder shine thanks to their powerful skill kits, adaptability across multiple scenarios, and strong synergy with teammates. Whether you’re tackling difficult bosses or pushing through dynamic events, these classes offer unmatched impact and reliability. They’re easy to build around, tough to counter, and excel even in the most punishing encounters against Nightlords.
S-tier Ironeye
🎯 Ironeye – The Dominant Ranged DPS
Ironeye stands tall as the top-tier ranged carry in Elden Ring: Nightreign — and for good reason. He’s the only true long-range damage dealer among the Nightfarers, which gives him a massive advantage in chaotic boss encounters where melee classes often struggle to stay in position. Ironeye excels at picking off enemies from a distance, disrupting bosses, and offering some of the best utility in the game.
His Marking Dash ability not only marks enemies for increased team-wide damage but also grants generous iframes, making it one of the best defensive tools for surviving heavy boss mechanics. On top of that, Single Shot delivers devastating burst damage, staggers enemies with ease, and — if timed correctly — can even revive fallen allies, turning the tide of battle in seconds.
✅ Pros & Cons of Ironeye
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✅ Long-range burst & crowd control | ⛔ Weak in close-quarters combat |
| ✅ Top-tier revive utility | ⛔ Low defense and poor melee scaling |
| ✅ Exceptional boss stagger potential | ⛔ Relies heavily on smart positioning |
💡 Tip: Activate Marking Dash just before your ally uses their ultimate — the bonus damage multiplier can melt even the toughest Nightlords in seconds.
He’s especially useful during high-pressure Expeditions, where ranged burst and revives make the difference in boss-heavy encounters.
S-tier Duchess
🕶️ Duchess – The Support Assassin
Duchess is the ultimate hybrid — a high-impact support assassin that brings stealth, burst damage, and team-saving utility all in one elegant, elusive package. Don’t let her stylish appearance fool you — she’s one of the most dangerous and clutch Nightfarers in the game.
Her signature move, Restage, allows her to replay the last high-damage moment — be it a teammate’s ultimate, a boss stagger, or her own critical hit. This can double the team’s output during boss fights or recover a lost opportunity in seconds. Even more impressively, Finale can cloak the entire team in invisibility, making it perfect for revives, disengages, or setting up a devastating combo.
She may be squishy, but Duchess has unmatched mobility thanks to her double-dodge mechanic, making her the slipperiest character in the roster. While she’s locked behind progression, unlocking her is more than worth it — especially for players in coordinated teams or high-difficulty co-op.
✅ Pros & Cons of Duchess
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✅ Replays massive damage moments (ult/crit) | ⛔ Requires good team synergy to fully utilize |
| ✅ Can cloak the entire party with Finale | ⛔ Must be unlocked before using |
| ✅ Extremely mobile with double dodges | ⛔ Fragile if caught off-guard or mistimed |
💡 Tip: Use Restage right after a stagger or critical to double-tap major damage — especially in coordinated boss fights.
S-tier Wylder
🛡️ Wylder – The Jack-of-All-Trades
Wylder is the most well-rounded and beginner-friendly Nightfarer in Elden Ring: Nightreign. He’s the perfect choice for players who want to explore the DLC without locking themselves into a narrow playstyle. Wylder offers solid performance across all categories — offense, mobility, survivability — making him a reliable pick in any situation.
His stats are balanced across Strength and Dexterity, allowing him to wield a broad range of weapons with ease. His Claw Shot (grappling hook) provides fantastic mobility, enabling gap closers, fast repositioning, and even reviving allies from behind cover. Meanwhile, his Onslaught Stake ultimate deals impressive AoE damage and staggers multiple enemies, which is a huge asset in both solo and team play.
Wylder doesn’t excel in any one area, but that’s exactly what makes him so flexible. With the right gear and timing, he can shine as both a frontline bruiser or utility-driven hybrid.
✅ Pros & Cons of Wylder
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✅ Versatile and fits any team composition | ⛔ Lacks a defined “best stat” to focus build |
| ✅ Grappling hook enables creative mobility | ⛔ Abilities require timing and precision |
| ✅ Solid stagger and decent tankiness | ⛔ Needs good gear scaling to reach full power |
💡 Tip: Use Claw Shot to grapple onto a downed ally’s position and revive them even through terrain or obstacles — it’s a game-changer in co-op.
A-tier Executor
⚔️ Executor – The Parry Bruiser
Executor is a high-risk, high-reward melee specialist who plays like a bloodthirsty blend of Sekiro and Elden Ring’s most stylish duelists. He thrives on timing, aggression, and precision. His core ability, Cursed Sword, enables him to parry nearly any incoming attack with a generous window — punishing enemies with devastating counters. And when things escalate, his Beast Form ultimate transforms him into a relentless, boss-melting brute with overwhelming offensive pressure.
With excellent Arcane and Dexterity scaling, Executor synergizes well with Bleed and Poison effects, making him a nightmare for enemies with staggerable health bars. However, his greatest strengths are also his biggest weaknesses — his parry stance locks him into slow movement, and without proper timing or awareness, he can be overwhelmed in chaotic skirmishes.
He’s a duelist’s dream, but demands practice, awareness, and calculated aggression.
✅ Pros & Cons of Executor
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✅ Deadly parries with massive burst potential | ⛔ Slow movement while in parry stance |
| ✅ Beast Form melts bosses and clears mobs fast | ⛔ Vulnerable if caught out or surrounded |
| ✅ High scaling with Bleed & Poison status effects | ⛔ Requires solid timing and mechanical discipline |
💡 Tip: Bait out an enemy’s telegraphed strike, parry with Cursed Sword, then instantly chain into Beast Form for a lethal burst — perfect for elite mobs or boss phases.
A-tier Raider
🪓 Raider – The Heavy-Hitting Frontliner
Raider is the embodiment of raw power in Elden Ring: Nightreign — a hulking strength-based frontliner who bulldozes through enemies with sheer force. Armed with the ability to dual-wield heavy weapons, he thrives in drawn-out brawls where other classes would get staggered or pushed back.
His defining skill, Retaliate, allows him to absorb incoming damage and respond with a devastating uppercut, making him a natural counter to boss telegraphs and AoE bursts. Additionally, Totem Stella provides a huge boost to nearby allies by granting bonus poise and stamina regeneration, making him a valuable anchor in any co-op setup.
But Raider’s power comes at a price: he’s slow, both in terms of movement and attack speed. Without proper support or stamina buffs, he can become a sitting duck — especially against fast, mobile Nightlords. That said, pair him with a Duchess or Recluse, and he becomes an unstoppable juggernaut.
✅ Pros & Cons of Raider
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✅ Incredible burst damage and poise-breaking power | ⛔ Poor stamina regen without support |
| ✅ Retaliate counters and punishes boss strikes | ⛔ Sluggish movement and slow attack speed |
| ✅ Totem Stella enhances team durability and recovery | ⛔ Struggles against agile or ranged opponents |
💡 Tip: Drop Totem Stella right before a major boss phase — the poise and stamina regen can help your entire team maintain pressure and avoid stagger.
A-tier Recluse
🔮 Recluse – The Elemental Caster
Recluse is Nightreign’s definitive mage archetype — a glass-cannon spellcaster with the potential to unleash devastating elemental combos when properly geared and supported. Her playstyle revolves around Magic Cocktail, a signature ability that allows her to mix elemental affinities and trigger high-damage, status-inflicting chain reactions. Paired with Soulblood Song, her ultimate, she offers massive value to her team by healing HP and regenerating FP on hit — a rare and powerful form of sustained utility.
Recluse can be absolutely game-breaking in the right setup, especially when backed by a diverse team with multiple elemental sources. However, her performance is highly gear-dependent, and she suffers without good affinity relics or elemental synergy in the group. She’s also physically fragile and vulnerable to pressure, making her a poor pick for solo newcomers — but an essential carry in organized co-op runs.
✅ Pros & Cons of Recluse
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✅ Devastating elemental combos with proper synergy | ⛔ Relies heavily on item RNG and elemental team comp |
| ✅ Provides team-wide HP and FP sustain via ult | ⛔ Extremely low HP and poor defense |
| ✅ Scales powerfully with magic relics and affinities | ⛔ Weak in early game without gear or affinity stacking |
💡 Tip: Prioritize Fire or Lightning affinities early — they’re the most consistent and have the strongest synergy with Magic Cocktail builds.
Recluse truly shines when paired with the right Relics to boost elemental affinity and sustain her casting power.
B-tier Guardian
🛡️ Guardian – The Tank with a Problem
Guardian is Nightreign’s traditional tank archetype — a towering hawk-man wielding a halberd and shield, designed to soak up damage and keep allies alive. His Steel Guard stance helps mitigate incoming hits, while his ultimate, Wings of Salvation, revives fallen teammates and grants them a temporary shield — a literal lifesaver in team wipes.
But while Guardian plays his role faithfully, Nightreign’s combat is too fast and punishing for classic tanking to shine. With stamina drain skyrocketing when blocking, limited offensive tools, and sluggish movement, he often feels outpaced by more dynamic frontliners like Raider. His kit feels more suited to a slow-paced MMO than a high-speed Soulslike expansion.
That said, he still has value in organized teams — especially when used reactively for revives and clutch saves during boss chaos.
✅ Pros & Cons of Guardian
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✅ Excellent at absorbing and redirecting damage | ⛔ Excessive stamina drain makes blocking unsustainable |
| ✅ Revives and shields allies with ultimate | ⛔ Lacks mobility and strong offensive options |
| ✅ High base health and defense stats | ⛔ Often outclassed by Raider in tank-based comps |
💡 Tip: Time Wings of Salvation during mid-battle chaos — its invulnerability frame can flip the fight if multiple allies drop simultaneously.
B-tier Revenant
☠️ Revenant – The Risky Summoner
Revenant is a unique support-summoner hybrid who plays unlike any other Nightfarer in Elden Ring: Nightreign. Her kit revolves around spiritual conjuration, letting her summon allies like Sebastian the Giant Skeleton to tank or disrupt enemies. Her ultimate, Immortal March, is one of the most impactful in the game — reviving downed teammates and granting them temporary immortality, which can single-handedly turn the tide of any battle.
She even has access to healing spells, a rare commodity in Nightreign’s brutal world.
But with high reward comes high risk. Revenant is extremely fragile, and her entire kit relies on landing final blows to trigger summons. She’s nearly useless in pure boss fights without adds and requires a strong understanding of positioning, timing, and team composition. In the right hands, she’s a hidden gem — in the wrong ones, a liability.
✅ Pros & Cons of Revenant
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✅ Can revive & support allies from long range | ⛔ Paper-thin health and no frontline viability |
| ✅ Immortal March saves runs in critical moments | ⛔ Needs finishing blows to activate her summon effects |
| ✅ Brings rare utility (healing, immunity, aggro tools) | ⛔ Situational, gear-dependent, and hard to master |
💡 Tip: Make sure you land the killing blow on mobs — Revenant’s Family summons only activate from your kills, not assists.
🏆 Final Thoughts: Best Nightfarers in Nightreign
In this Elden Ring: Nightreign Best Classes tier list, we’ve explored the full range of Nightfarers, from top-tier carries to niche support picks. Whether you’re charging headfirst into boss fights or playing the backbone of a co-op squad, each class offers a unique experience and strategic depth.
Now that you know the strengths, weaknesses, and optimal use cases for every Nightfarer, you’re ready to build your ideal team, experiment with synergies, and face down Nightreign’s toughest encounters — solo or with allies.
🎮 Good luck, Tarnished. May your builds be broken and your dodges clean.
Whether you’re farming Murk, clearing Nightreign Expeditions, or chasing powerful Remembrances, choosing the right Nightfarer can make all the difference.
FAQ
❓ Elden Ring: Nightreign – FAQ (Best Classes & Builds)
🔹 What is the best class in Elden Ring: Nightreign?
Ironeye is widely considered the best Nightfarer due to his powerful ranged damage, boss-stagger potential, and revive utility. He’s effective in both solo and co-op play.
🔹 Which class should I choose as a beginner?
Wylder is the most beginner-friendly class in Nightreign. He offers balanced stats, good survivability, and a versatile playstyle suitable for learning the game.
🔹 What class is best for co-op support?
Duchess excels in support roles thanks to her team invisibility ultimate (Finale), high mobility, and Restage skill, which replays powerful damage events or clutch moves.
🔹 Are there any healers in Nightreign?
Yes, Recluse and Revenant both offer healing or sustain. Recluse regenerates HP/FP through her Soulblood Song, while Revenant can heal and revive allies with Immortal March.
🔹 Who is the best tank in Nightreign?
Raider is currently the most viable tank due to his Retaliate counter mechanic and team-wide buffs from Totem Stella. He outperforms Guardian in most scenarios.
🔹 Which Nightfarers are best for solo play?
Ironeye, Wylder, and Executor are strong solo picks. They offer self-sufficiency, crowd control, and burst potential, making them effective without team support.
🔹 Do I need to unlock some classes first?
Yes, Duchess and Revenant are locked initially and require in-game progression to access. They’re worth unlocking for high-level or co-op-focused play.
🔹 What’s the best elemental setup for Recluse?
Stack Fire or Lightning affinities early — they have the most consistent synergy with Magic Cocktail and scale best with magic relics.