Elden Ring Nightreign: Best Class to Choose for Your Build
Elden Ring Nightreign Classes | SteelSeries
Find the best Elden Ring Nightreign classes for every playstyle. Compare stats, builds, and tips to choose the perfect Nightfarer.
Your class choice in Nightreign says a lot about you. Maybe you’re the “run in and hope for the best” type. Maybe you like melting bosses from a mile away. Or maybe you’re here to protect your friends and take the hits they can’t.
Whatever your playstyle, picking the right Nightfarer early on will make your first few hours a lot less painful and a lot more fun. This guide breaks down every class, who they’re best for, and a few pro tips to keep your build strong all the way to the endgame.
Class Comparisons
In Nightreign, you’ll choose from one of 8 Nightfarers, each with a unique passive, skill, and ultimate. Every class is viable, but the right one hinges on how you like to play. Below is a breakdown of each class, what they do best, and who they’re best for.
Class | Core Strengths | Ideal For |
Wylder | Balanced all-rounder; grappling claw + “cheat death” passive | New players or those who like flexibility |
Guardian | Tank powerhouse: high durability, crowd control, team revives | Players who enjoy taking hits (and making friends) |
Ironeye | Ranged specialist; weak point marking and loot perks | Sharpshooters who stay back and pick apart fights |
Raider | Berserker damage dealer; thrives in chaos | Players who like to dive in and hit hard |
Executor | Parry/counter focus; high skill ceiling | Bold players who love timing, risk & reward |
Recluse | Mage/support hybrid; complex but rewarding | Strategy-players who like distance and utility |
Duchess | Agile assassin/unlockable; dodge-heavy, stealth friendly | Skilled players who prefer finesse over brute force |
Revenant | Summoner/support class; revive and team-buff focus | Co-op fans who enjoy supporting the squad |
Unlike some games where you’re locked into a class forever, Nightreign gives you breathing room. Your starting Nightfarer shapes your early playstyle and abilities, but you’re free to switch things up as you progress through new expeditions.
While any Nightfarer can wield any weapon, some weapons naturally perform better depending on your character’s scaling. A halberd that feels amazing on a Guardian might hit like a wet noodle on a Recluse.
Before committing to a loadout, check the Codex to see how each weapon scales with your Nightfarer’s stats. Matching weapon scaling to your build keeps your damage consistent and prevents late-game frustration.
What is the Best Class for Beginners in Nightreign?
If you’re jumping into Nightreign for the first time, two Nightfarers stand out as beginner-friendly: Wylder and Guardian.
Wylder
Nightreign’s do-it-all adventurer. Equal parts agile, durable, and beginner-friendly. With balanced stats, straightforward weapons, and the forgiving “Sixth Sense” passive that lets you dodge death once per expedition, Wylder gives you breathing room to experiment.
You can try melee, ranged, or hybrid setups without being punished for a few mistakes, and that’s exactly why the community jokingly calls him “John Nightreign.” He’s the every-player: reliable, adaptable, and always somehow in the middle of the cutscene.
Pro Tip: Don’t waste your free dodge-death on fall damage. Trust us. “John Nightreign” deserves a more heroic demise.
Guardian
If Wylder is “John Nightreign,” Guardian is his brick-wall best friend. Built to take punishment so others don’t have to, the Guardian dominates co-op runs with high HP, huge poise, and a toolkit that screams “hit me instead.”
Its Steel Guard skill is an active stance that you trigger by holding block and tapping dodge. Once planted, your Guard Boost skyrockets, slashing stamina loss and letting you shrug off attacks that would flatten other Nightfarers. The trade-off? You’re basically rooted in place, so timing and positioning are everything.
Used right, Steel Guard turns the Guardian into a literal bulwark, soaking enemy combos and setting up perfect windows for allies to punish.
Pro Tip: Steel Guard eats stamina fast. Drop the stance between enemy volleys to recover, then plant again before the next heavy hit. Master that rhythm, and nothing short of a Nightlord will break your guard.
Best Class by Playstyle
Every Nightreign class is viable for defeating the Nightlords, but certain Nightfarers just click better depending on how you like to approach fights. Whether you’re the type who prefers to swing big weapons, play from the backline, or support your co-op squad, here’s how to match your playstyle to the right class.
Best Melee DPS Class: Raider
Why it’s great: Raider is a pure brawler; high risk, high reward. Raider’s passive boosts damage when your health drops below 50%, turning desperation into domination. With relentless combos and a rage-fueled ultimate, Raider thrives on staying in the enemy’s face and ending fights fast.
Strengths:
Massive stun potential and high damage
High stamina to last in battle
Synergizes perfectly with heavy-hitting weapons
Weaknesses:
Little defense — one bad dodge can end your run
Requires precise timing against bosses
Lower mobility
Pro Tip: Stack stamina and aggression. If you’re not attacking, you’re dying.
Best Ranged Class: Ironeye
Why it’s great: Ironeye rewards patience and precision. Its character skill creates a temporary weak point on enemies that increases damage, and its ultimate launches a large, powerful arrow that can stagger enemies. Ironeye is perfect for players who like to keep their distance while pushing their team toward the finish line.
Strengths:
Superior ranged accuracy and damage scaling
Great visibility and control of the battlefield
High mobility, meaning he can dodge just about anything
Weaknesses:
Vulnerable up close
Requires positioning discipline
Pro Tip: Learn enemy patterns, then punish safely from mid-range — Ironeye turns boss fights into target practice.
Best Tank/Support Class: Guardian
Why it’s great: Guardian’s massive durability and revive potential make it the go-to pick for team-oriented players. Its shield-based skill lets you block projectiles and absorb AoEs, while its passive damage reduction can be triggered for revives or when you’re low on HP.
Strengths:
Nearly unbreakable defense
Team-saving ultimate and built-in revive synergy
Perfect for boss aggro management
Weaknesses:
Slow attack animations
Low solo DPS
Pro Tip: In co-op, alternate between blocking and baiting. Every time you pull aggro, your teammates get a window to unload damage.
Best Hybrid Class: Wylder
Why it’s great: Wylder plays like the “main character” class — adaptable, fast, and beginner-friendly. Its passive “Sixth Sense” triggers a one-time heal at fatal HP, making it forgiving while you learn new mechanics. Wylder can pivot into almost any build mid-run, from melee to spellblade to tanky brawler.
Strengths:
Balanced stats and versatile scaling
Forgiving passive for early mistakes
Ideal for solo exploration and boss learning
Weaknesses:
Jack of all trades, master of none
Requires item drops to become more specialized later in your run
Pro Tip: Treat Wylder as your sandbox class — use it to experiment with gear and play styles before committing to a specialty.
Best Caster/Control Class: Recluse
Why it’s great: Recluse excels at manipulating the battlefield with AoE control, buffs, and status effects. It’s not as flashy as Ironeye or as tanky as Guardian, but its utility can completely turn fights around in co-op runs.
Strengths:
Excellent crowd control and debuffs
High ceiling in co-op support play
Weaknesses:
Requires strategic positioning and timing
Low damage output when solo
Pro Tip: Recluse is strongest in groups. Stack your cooldown reduction gear and keep allies buffed while locking down enemies.
How to Choose a Class in Nightreign
Picking your Nightfarer is about matching how you play best. Every class can eventually clear Nightlords, but your starting choice shapes the kind of early-game chaos you’ll thrive in (or survive through). Here’s how to think it through before starting your first run.
Step 1: Know Your Instincts
Ask yourself what kind of player you naturally are:
Aggressive? You’ll feel at home with Raider or Executor — both reward fast reactions and fearless aggression.
Defensive or cautious? Guardian is your best friend, allowing you to play methodically and maintain control of every fight. Iron Eye is another option because his job is basically to hang back and shoot.
Tactical or supportive? Try Recluse or Revenant — they shine when you manage the flow of battle instead of brute-forcing it.
Indecisive or curious? Start with Wylder — the game’s most flexible pick for experimenting with builds and weapons.
Pro Tip: You can switch classes with each run, so treat your first few as test drives. Learn what feels good before committing to a long-term main.
Step 2: Consider Who You’re Playing With
In co-op, team composition matters just as much as class choice:
Guardian + Ironeye is a classic tank-and-sniper combo — steady and reliable.
Recluse + Raider lets one control space while the other goes in for kills.
Wylder + Anyone always works — it’s the flexible glue of any team comp.
If you prefer solo play, consider classes that can self-sustain, such as Wylder or Guardian. Both have solid survivability and built-in passives that save you from early mistakes.
Step 3: Don’t Fear Switching
Unlike traditional Souls builds, Nightreign doesn’t punish experimentation. You can switch Nightfarers and their relics freely at Roundtable Hold before expeditions.
That freedom means you’re encouraged to try new things.
Hate your first choice? Swap it out.
Want to play up your Nightfarer’s strengths in different ways? Change your relics.
No resets, no regrets — just more ways to destroy bosses.
Common Beginner Mistakes to Avoid
Even the best Nightfarer can get shredded if you fall into a few classic traps. Nightreign doesn’t hold your hand, but it does reward smart play, so before you charge headfirst into Limveld, keep these in mind:
1. Treating It Like the Base Game
Nightreign may share DNA with Elden Ring, but it plays differently. Nightreign has an overarching story holding the game together, but it doesn’t function as a campaign game the way Elden Ring does. Runs are time-bound, encounters are denser, and boss patterns are more randomized. Don’t waste time farming early areas and lean into the roguelike pacing.
Pro Tip: Each expedition rewards risk. The faster you progress, the stronger your drops get.
2. Ignoring Your Passive
Every Nightfarer has a unique passive ability, and it’s easy to forget how much that shapes your strategy. Wylder’s “Sixth Sense,” Guardian’s “Steel Guard,” or Raider’s “Fighter’s Resolve” all change when and how you should engage enemies.
If you’re dying a lot, it’s probably not your gear; it’s that you’re playing against your passive.
3. Over-Relying on Gear Drops
Nightreign’s loot pool is generous, but RNG isn’t a strategy. Don’t bank on finding one perfect weapon — learn to adapt with what you get. Every weapon can be deadly in the right hands (and every bad drop can teach you spacing and patience).
Pro Tip: Focus on learning boss patterns and dodges before chasing weapons.
4. Forgetting Team Synergy
If you’re playing co-op, treat your team like a loadout — not everyone needs to be a damage dealer. A Guardian holding aggro makes a Recluse exponentially more effective. An Iron Eye breaking stance can flip a losing run. If you’ve got a Wylder, let them flex into whatever role the squad’s missing.
Pro Tip: Communication beats DPS every time.
Just like choosing the right class changes how you experience Nightreign, having the right headset changes how you experience the Lands Between. With 3D spatial audio from the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro, you’ll hear enemies circling behind you, allies calling for heals, and boss attacks charging before they land.
5. Hoarding Resources
Nightreign’s runs are short, intense, and meant to be spent. Holding onto healing flasks, items, or special charges out of fear will get you killed more than using them will. You can’t take your inventory to the next run — use it or lose it.
6. Ignoring Your Arena
Every major encounter in Nightreign is built with movement in mind. Watch for ledges, cover spots, and elevation — you’ll often find small “safe zones” built right into the map.
If you die in the same corner twice, the arena probably has an answer. You just didn’t use it.
Pro Tips for Building Your Character
Once you’ve picked your Nightfarer and survived the first few boss fights, it’s time to think long-term. Nightreign gives you plenty of freedom to experiment, but a few small adjustments can make the difference between “barely surviving” and crushing completely.
1. Build Around Your Passive
Nightfarer passives are basically your character’s core identity. Allow these to define how you move, react, and survive in Nightreign’s toughest fights. Learn them early, and your build will click a lot faster.
Class | Passive Ability | What It Does | How to Play Around It |
Wylder | Sixth Sense | Automatically dodges one lethal hit per expedition. The effect refreshes at a Site of Grace. | Push aggression knowing you’ve got one “get-out-of-death-free” moment. Perfect for experimenting and learning boss timing. |
Guardian | Steel Guard | Plant your feet to greatly increase Guard Boost (5×), reducing stamina loss while blocking. | Play patiently. Activate for heavy combos or burst phases, then drop it to recover stamina. Excellent for tanking Night Lords. |
Raider | Fighter’s Resolve | Taking damage powers up Retaliate and prevents knockdowns during its animation. | Thrive under pressure — bait hits, then strike back harder. Risky, but brutal when timed right. |
Executor | Tenacity | Recovering from a status ailment grants a 20s boost to attack power and stamina recovery. | Pair with Bleed or Madness weapons to trigger it intentionally. Great for aggressive, momentum-driven builds. |
Recluse | Elemental Defense | Damaging enemies reveals elemental residues that restore FP for you and nearby allies. | Maintain pressure to keep your FP topped off. Perfect for casters and support roles in long fights. |
Ironeye | Eagle Eye | Increases accuracy and damage on distant targets when aiming down sights. | Stay back, line up your shots, and make them count — precision over spray-and-pray. |
Duchess | Magnificent Poise | Reduces stamina cost on attacks and dodges; allows chaining two quick evasions with strong i-frames. | Dance through danger — weave attacks between double dodges to keep up relentless offense. |
Revenant | Necromancy | Enemies slain by you or your allies reanimate briefly as spectral allies. | Use it during mob-heavy encounters for extra crowd control or to distract mini-bosses. |
2. Find Weapons That Fit Your Class
Even though Nightreign lets every Nightfarer wield any weapon, some combinations just feel right. Each class has natural pairings that amplify its strengths, and the earlier you find your rhythm, the faster you’ll carve through bosses.
Nightfarer Class | Recommended Weapons | Why It Works |
Wylder | Straight swords, curved blades | Balanced speed and control for all-around play |
Guardian | Greatshields, hammers, halberds | Perfect for slower, defensive gameplay and blocking |
Raider | Dual blades, great axes | High-risk, high-reward aggression; strong stagger potential |
Executor | Spears, rapiers | Fast and precise for parry-heavy, timing-based play |
Recluse | Staves, catalyst weapons | Excellent for ranged combat and AoE control spells |
Ironeye | Crossbows, bows, throwing weapons | Rewards accuracy and distance; easy repositioning |
Revenant | Scythes, curved greatswords | Strong reach and sustain; ideal for co-op synergy |
Duchess | Daggers, katanas | Fast, evasive combat; great for hit-and-run tactics |
Pro Tip: Don’t chase raw damage, chase flow. A weapon that complements your class’s rhythm will outperform higher stats every time.
3. Balance Offense and Survival
Yes, you want damage, but Vigor still wins runs. Most Nightreign bosses hit hard enough to one-shot low-HP builds.
If you’re playing Raider, learn when to disengage — you don’t want to lose a fight just because you got overzealous.
If you’re Revenant or Recluse, you’ll want higher survivability to keep supporting your squad longer.
4. Play Smart in Co-Op (Don’t Be That Tarnished)
Splitting up and trying to solo a world boss usually ends the same way: a quick death and a tougher fight for everyone else.
Stick with your team, share healing items, and communicate before you dive in. If someone’s playing a tank class, let them take the hits while you focus on damage or support. If your squad’s using buffs or abilities, stay close enough to benefit from them instead of wandering off.
And FYI, world bosses scale with the size of your team, so charging it alone just makes it harder on everyone else. All in all, the more you fight together, the smoother the run will be.
Pro Tip: The strongest team isn’t the one with the most damage; it’s the one that covers each other’s backs.
5. Fine-Tune Your Setup (Literally)
Precision wins fights as much as stats do. Tight dodges, parry timing, and fast reaction flicks separate good runs from great ones.
Pro Tip: Before you tweak your build, tweak your setup. A precision mouse like the SteelSeries Rival 3 Wireless Gen 2 gives you ultra-low latency and pixel-perfect tracking — crucial for bosses that punish even a single misstep.
Dodge, Die, Repeat (Then Win)
Every Nightreign run is a test of patience, timing, and build creativity. Whether you’re parrying as Executor, holding the line as Guardian, or diving into chaos as Raider, the game rewards adaptability above all else.
Pick a Nightfarer that matches your instincts, learn your abilities inside out, and keep experimenting because Nightreign’s best moments come when your build finally clicks and a boss that wrecked you for hours suddenly feels easy.
And hey, if your reflexes aren’t quite god-tier yet? That’s what good gear is for.
Wordsmith at SteelSeries. Enthusiastic about Dota 2 and fighting games. A cat dad.
