It’s 2026, and the hype for Elden Ring Nightreign is still very much alive. Remember the days when a 'soulslike' meant solitary struggle and the infamous 'YOU DIED' screen? Well, FromSoftware and Bandai Namco have decided to toss that rulebook off a cliff – quite literally, since fall damage is apparently a thing of the past in this new venture. After getting some hands-on time ahead of the network test, it's clear Nightreign isn't just another expansion; it's a chaotic, cooperative, and competitive remix of everything we thought we knew about the Lands Between. How do you blend a roguelite open world with a battle royale circle and classic Souls boss fights? Let's dive in and see if this ambitious cocktail is a refreshing new brew or a confusing concoction.
There Are Eight Night Lords
The familiar, melancholic sanctuary of the Roundtable Hold makes a return, but with a stunning new view from a cliffside training area. This isn't just for show, though. It's your mission control. From here, you select a 'Night Lord' – the ultimate boss you'll face at the end of your three-day run. Think of them as the final exam. But the professors for the first two days? They're always a surprise, with randomized bosses keeping you on your toes. With eight distinct Night Lords, the game promises a formidable challenge for the eight unique 'Nightfarers' you can play as.
Each Nightfarer Has A Unique Ultimate Ability
Gone are the days of agonizing over starting classes like Vagabond or Astrologer. Nightreign introduces Nightfarers, each with their own distinct personality, starting gear, and most importantly, a unique Ultimate Ability. Want to unleash a devastating area-of-effect spell or perform a teleporting backstab? Your choice of Nightfarer dictates your playstyle's ultimate trump card. You can meet them all in the Roundtable Hold, swap between them at statues, and pick your champion after matchmaking. It's a system that emphasizes mastering a specific character's toolkit rather than building a generic one from scratch.
You Can Revive Teammates (Sort Of)
Remember the isolation of death in Elden Ring? Poof, you're gone. In Nightreign, death is a team sport. When you fall, you don't just vanish; you go into a 'downed' state with three health bars floating above your head. Your teammates then have the... unique honor of attacking you to revive you! Each subsequent death fills another bar, making revival progressively harder. Talk about tough love! The stakes change depending on where you die:
| Location | Consequence of Death |
|---|---|
| Open World | A timer appears. If it runs out, you respawn one level weaker. |
| Daily Final Boss | No timer! You lie there until the boss is defeated or your whole team wipes. |
So, do you let your friend take the level penalty, or risk everything for a risky revive mid-boss fight?
Levelling Is A Lot Simpler
Say goodbye to micromanaging Vigor, Mind, and Endurance. Nightreign streamlines progression. You collect Runes and spend them at a Site of Grace for a straightforward level increase. This boosts your health, stamina, and magic all at once, which is a blessing since you start about as durable as a wet paper bag. But here's the roguelite catch: your level resets every time you return to the Roundtable Hold. Each match is a fresh climb from zero.
Runes Are Shared, But Loot Isn't!
This is where teamwork gets interesting. Runes are shared globally within your team. Kill a dragon on the other side of the map? Your teammates get the Runes too. This encourages strategic splitting up to tackle more minibosses and accelerate your collective leveling. However, loot is a different story. Opening a chest doesn't magically put items in your inventory. Instead, goodies spill onto the ground for everyone to see, leading to a frantic scramble or a polite (or not so polite) division of spoils.
But wait! Special floating orbs from minibosses offer a private reward. You get a menu with three choices:
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🗡️ New Gear
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💧 'Dormant Power' (e.g., Flask tweaks, HP on Scarlet Rot)
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🔮 Other Boosts
You can only pick one, so choose wisely!
Relics Are Your Permanent Power
If leveling resets, how do you get stronger over time? Enter Relics. These are permanent unlocks earned after every match, win or lose. Equip them at a bench in the Roundtable Hold for lasting bonuses like increased bleed damage or +5 Strength. They come in three tiers with color-coded slots, and each Nightfarer has a specific affinity. So you can't just slap every powerful Relic on your favorite character; you have to build a collection and tailor it to their strengths.
Flasks, Merchants, and the Joy of No Fall Damage
You start each run with a measly three healing flasks. To get more, you must find churches. An upgrade is always waiting on the altar, instantly boosting your flask count. However, magic flasks are gone! To restore FP, you need to find blue trees or glintstone items, level up, or use specific ultimate abilities.
Phantom merchants dot the landscape, selling useful items. Crucially, each has a smithing station nearby. Upgrading gear is simplified into a rarity system instead of the traditional +1 to +10 grind, letting you improve your weapons on the fly without a blacksmith.
And finally, the most liberating change of all: There is NO fall damage. That's right. Feel the need to escape the encroaching Ring of Fire? Just leap off the nearest thousand-foot cliff. It's a change that perfectly complements the faster-paced, chaotic exploration Nightreign encourages. In a game about surviving against all odds, it's nice to know gravity is finally on your side.