As a longtime fan of FromSoftware's intricate worlds, the announcement of Elden Ring Nightreign at this year's Game Awards was a moment of pure exhilaration. Seeing the Nameless King, a personal favorite from a past journey, soaring on his dragon across the trailer's haunting skies instantly connected this new adventure to a rich legacy. The confirmation that Nightreign would weave in enemies from the Dark Souls series has set the community ablaze with speculation and hope. We've only glimpsed a sliver of what awaits in the expanded lands of Limgrave, leaving our imaginations to run wild with the possibilities of which legendary challenges might be resurrected for us to face once more.
This speculation naturally turned into passionate discussion on forums like the Elden Ring subreddit. A fellow player, DJ_Caan, posed the simple yet potent question: which bosses would you want to see return? The answers were a beautiful tapestry of nostalgia, highlighting just how deeply these encounters are etched in our memories. What truly stood out to me was the overwhelming show of love for Dark Souls 2, often considered the series' underappreciated entry. It seems many of us are eager for its finest moments to get a second chance in the spotlight.
🛡️ The Champions of Drangleic: A Call for Redemption
Several names from Dark Souls 2 dominated the conversation, with fans believing Nightreign is the perfect stage for their triumphant return.
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The Burnt Ivory King & His Loyce Knights: User Weak_Big_1709 captured a majestic vision—a revitalized Ivory King, not in his corrupted state, but in his prime, leading a full congregation of loyal Loyce Knights. Imagine that spectacle: a regal, chaotic battlefield where you confront not just a king, but his entire royal guard. It would be a siege, a war, not merely a duel.
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Sir Alonne & The Fume Knight: In a similar vein, Lingjoshua18 passionately argued for either the dignified, swift Sir Alonne or the relentlessly powerful Fume Knight. Their sentiment resonated with me: "Elden Ring Nightreign is a great opportunity to give DS2's best DLC bosses a chance to shine again." These fights were masterclasses in dueling mechanics, and refining them with Elden Ring's fluid combat could make them legendary all over again.
⚔️ Legends Across the Trilogy and Beyond
Of course, the wishes weren't confined to a single game. The desire spans the entire Soulsborne tapestry:
| Game of Origin | Highly Requested Boss | Why Fans Want Them Back |
|---|---|---|
| Dark Souls | Ornstein & Smough | The iconic duo fight; a true test of managing multiple, punishing attack patterns. |
| Dark Souls 3 | Sister Friede | Her three-phase battle is considered one of the series' peaks in intensity and spectacle. |
| Bloodborne | Lady Maria / Orphan of Kos | Maria's tragic, elegant duel and the Orphan's raw, frenetic chaos represent the pinnacle of aggressive combat. |
Notably, some sharp-eyed fans are convinced they spotted Lady Maria's silhouette in the Nightreign trailer, a theory that has sent hopeful shivers down many a hunter's spine. The inclusion of the Nameless King has truly opened the floodgates, making any prediction feel thrillingly possible. FromSoftware has years of experience crafting unforgettable encounters, and Nightreign seems like their playground to remix and reimagine their greatest hits.
😅 The Inevitable, Beautiful Pain
Let's be honest with ourselves. Whatever form these returns take, one outcome is guaranteed: we will be defeated. We will be crushed, sliced, and burned. We will study move sets, adapt our strategies, and likely still end up spread across the floor more times than we'd care to admit. But therein lies the magic. This time, the pain will be shared. We'll struggle alongside friends, old and new, comparing tales of our battles with the returning kings, knights, and sisters. The community will collectively groan and cheer as each classic boss is revealed. In 2026, Elden Ring Nightreign won't just be a new expansion; it feels like it's shaping up to be a grand reunion—a celebration of every brutal, beautiful lesson learned across a decade of journeys through fire and darkness. And I, for one, cannot wait to get pummeled by history all over again.