Elden Ring: Nightreign Showcases Ironeye Class: Ranged Mastery in Co-op Spin-off
FromSoftware and Bandai Namco have just put out a fresh look at the upcoming co-op spin-off, Elden Ring: Nightreign. This time around, however, the emphasis is firmly on the Ironeye, one of the available classes that boasts deadly accuracy with range.
Mastering the Bow: The Ironeye Playstyle
Picture Legolas, but with a from that typical FromSoftware darkness and flair. The Ironeye revolves around ranged combat, starting with a bow and agility-based gear. Their overall philosophy is to shoot well from distance, dealing damage and important support to the party venturing into the unforgiving world of Limveld.
It is not all about raining down arrows on enemies, naturally. The trailer teases some impressively smooth moves including rapid dodges, wall jumps, and even multi-shot sliding. We also saw a mention of doing devastating critical hits, perhaps after weakening enemies softened up by allies, a ranged backstab reinterpretation perhaps.
Impressive Skills and Unique Utility
The Ironeye has some very effective skills to throw into the battle. One demonstrated an enormous arrow shot through many foes before becoming a whirlwind, great for mowing down crowds. Another depicted a wide shot, which would be useful in handling larger spreads. And sure enough, flaming arrows are a given, foreshadowing possible elemental impacts to take advantage of vulnerabilities in enemies.
Co-op fans will most care about Ironeye's utility. They purportedly have a ability to resuscitate killed teammates at distance. During intense hard boss fights or flooded content, having such an option available to restore an ally into battle safely might be straight up game-breaking.
And, in keeping with FromSoftware tradition, there is something strange. The Ironeye's last attack seems to involve growing a huge bow out of their arm
A Glimpse at the Other Nightfarers
While the Ironeye is towering today, remember that they are just one of several classes (Nightfarers) that you can choose from in Elden Ring: Nightreign. Here is a quick rundown of the rest that we have so far:
- Wylder: Balanced fighter, with equal skills in offense and speed.
- Guardian: The tank, to take damage and dish out tough hits.
- Duchess: Fast and agile, with focus on quick attacks.
- Recluse: The mage, casting ranged spells and healing magic.
Keep in mind, while each class starts out with a specialty, Nightreign allows any Nightfarer to wield any weapon they find on their runs, giving room for flexibility.
Learning Elden Ring: Nightreign
It is notable that Nightreign is another flavor from the main Elden Ring game. It is more co-op based and includes elements of roguelike. Instead of creating a character from scratch over the length of an extended journey, you will choose a class and upgrade them through multiple runs, finding random events and challenges each time through.
Release Date and Price
Ready to team up and face the shadows Elden Ring: Nightreign comes out on May 29th, 2025, for all platforms at $39.99.
With co-op action taking center stage, special classes, and roguelike dangers, Nightreign appears to be an intriguing, darker spin on the Elden Ring experience. Let us find out what is next.
