Elden Ring Nightreign introduces unique character classes. Here’s everything you need to know about their abilities and playstyles.
FromSoftware’s Elden Ring: Nightreign is shaping up to be one of the most exciting releases of 2025. Unlike the original Elden Ring, this new entry focuses on a cooperative experience, letting up to three players team up for an intense gameplay experience.
With a new three-day gameplay cycle, evolving environments, and new mechanics, Nightreign brings a lot of new elements to the table while staying true to FromSoftware’s signature style. The game is set to launch on May 30, 2025, for PlayStation, Xbox, and PC.
One of the biggest changes in Nightreign is the introduction of character classes. These classes determine how your character fights, what abilities they have, and how you approach battles. Right now, there are four confirmed classes: Wylder, Duchess, Guardian, and Recluse.
Each of them offers a different way to play, whether you prefer brute force, agility, defense, or magic.
All Elden Ring Nightreign Character Classes and Their Abilities
Here’s a full breakdown of the four classes: Wylder, Duchess, Guardian, and Recluse, their playstyles, and the abilities that make them unique.
Elden Ring Nightreign: Wylder Abilities
Wylder is a balanced melee fighter who can use all types of close-combat weapons. He’s a great all-rounder, easy to pick up but challenging to master.
- Claw Shot: Throws a claw to pull enemies in or quickly close the gap. It can also be fired at the ground or objects to move forward instantly.
- Onslaught Stake: Fires an explosive iron stake that delivers a strong hit. Charging the attack increases its power and range.
Elden Ring Nightreign: Guardian Abilities
The tank of the group. Guardian wields a massive shield and specializes in blocking even the toughest enemy attacks.
- Whirlwind: Uses its wings to create a powerful wind attack that covers a large area.
- Wings of Salvation: Leaps into the air and then dives down for a heavy attack. Upon landing, a defensive formation is deployed to protect allies.
Elden Ring Nightreign: Recluse Abilities
A powerful magic user who excels at cursed magic and can recover FP while fighting.
- Magic Cocktail: Collects elemental traces left by enemies hit with magic-based attacks (fire, holy, etc.). These traces restore FP, and collecting three allows you to unleash a devastating combined-element spell.
- Soulblood Song: Marks nearby enemies with a Blood Brand, causing them to take increased damage.
Elden Ring Nightreign: Duchess Abilities
A quick and skillful fighter who excels at dodging and using precise weapons. Duchess is all about fast movements and outmaneuvering enemies.
- Restage: Re-inflicts the most recent damage dealt to nearby enemies. Timing this ability well can result in massive damage.
- Finale: Turns the player and nearby allies invisible, making enemies lose track of them. This allows for sneaky attacks or a moment to recover.
These are the four classes available in Elden Ring: Nightreign during the Network Test, but there’s a chance that more could be added when the game fully launches or in future updates. If you want to know more about how the game’s core gameplay loop works, check out our full breakdown here.
What do you think about these classes? Which one are you most excited to try out? Let us know in the comments!
