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Welcome to the exciting world of Elden Ring Nightreign! Now, after three network test sessions deep into this action-packed title, we’ve had a chance to really dig into its mechanics, the characters, and their roles in the chaotic world of Elden Ring. While the first test session was riddled with connection issues, things have improved since then, and now that players worldwide are diving in, we have a clearer understanding of what makes this game tick.

Today, we’ll take a detailed look at the four playable characters available in the Elden Ring Nightreign network test. I’ll break down their strengths, abilities, and playstyles, along with how they synergize in groups of three. I’ll also provide a personal ranking based on my own experience, so whether you’re a fellow tester or just interested in the game, you’ll have a solid understanding of what to expect from each character.

Let’s dive right in!

1. Wilder - The Jack of All Trades

Wilder is your classic all-rounder. He’s a versatile character who can fill multiple roles in a party, from tanking to dealing damage. His stat scaling, particularly in strength and dexterity, makes him a great fit for a variety of weapon types. If you’re familiar with Elden Ring's "quality" weapons, think greatswords, long swords, and twinblades, all of which fit Wilder’s diverse playstyle.

Wilder’s Strengths

  · Weapon Versatility: Wilder can use a wide range of weapons, both for strength and dexterity builds. He is a great fit for players who enjoy experimenting with different playstyles.

  · Tankiness: With enough levels, Wilder can become surprisingly tanky, which is great for absorbing damage and holding enemies' attention during boss fights.

  · Unique Abilities:

     o Claw: Wilder’s grappling hook isn’t just a utility tool. It offers both traversal benefits and a powerful combat capability. By hooking enemies, Wilder can pull them toward him, or if the enemy is larger than him, he’ll be pulled to them instead. This can be used strategically in combat to either isolate or engage enemies.

     o Passive Ability (Cheat Death): Wilder can cheat death once during the day, allowing him to avoid losing a level if he dies, or even save a run if he survives a deadly night boss. The catch? This ability is situational, and sometimes you’ll waste it on minor encounters.

     o Onslaught Stake (Ultimate): Wilder loads a powerful cannon shot into his arm and fires it at enemies, dealing massive damage and staggering foes. It’s an excellent tool for breaking through tough bosses or gaining an edge in combat.

Overall, Wilder’s versatility makes him a great character for those who want to try a bit of everything, from melee combat to utility.

2. Guardian - The Tank and Team Support

Guardian is the tank of the group. If you like the idea of standing tall against enemy attacks while protecting your allies, this character is your go-to. Guardian is all about strength, stamina, and resilience, making him perfect for blocking and holding aggro, especially during boss fights.

Guardian’s Strengths

  · Massive Health and Stamina: Guardian scales best with strength, granting him high health and stamina. This allows him to take long attack chains and hold up in prolonged battles.

  · Shield Mastery: You’ll want to focus on using shields and heavy weapons with Guardian. The added stamina regeneration makes him a fantastic option for taking control of the battlefield and reviving fallen teammates.

  · Unique Abilities:

     o Steel Guard (Passive): Guardian can plant his shield in the ground to strengthen his defense, reducing knockback and making him harder to stagger. This is perfect for absorbing attacks and buying time for your teammates to regroup or deal damage.

     o Whirlwind: This active ability summons a cyclone around Guardian, staggering enemies and providing crowd control. It’s ideal for managing large swarms of enemies or breaking up tough boss fights where other characters can’t land their hits.

     o Wings of Salvation (Ultimate): This ability allows Guardian to leap into the air and slam down, clearing out enemies while also providing a defensive shield for his allies. The shield grants immense protection, allowing reckless play from your teammates for a short period. Additionally, Guardian is invincible during this move, ensuring that you can help your team while being immune to damage.

Guardian is the backbone of any team, capable of both dealing decent damage and keeping enemies distracted while protecting allies from harm.

3. Duchess - The Swift and Deadly Damage Dealer

Duchess is all about dexterity, speed, and precision. She’s the squishiest character of the bunch, but when played well, she can deal some of the highest amounts of damage in the game. If you’re someone who enjoys playing fast and loose, dodging attacks, and rapidly chaining together strikes, Duchess is the character for you.

Duchess’s Strengths

  · High Dexterity Scaling: Duchess is built for speed. She can dish out high damage, especially with dex-based weapons like daggers, shortswords, or spears. Powerstancing is a viable option too if you find two of the same weapon type.

  · Incredible Mobility: Duchess’s dodge ability is second to none. With her passive "Magnificent Poise," her dodges come with exceptional iframes (invincibility frames), making her hard to hit. You can chain dodges, backsteps, and quicksteps together with little to no recovery time, allowing you to slip through enemy attacks with ease.

  · Unique Abilities:

  o Restage: This is one of the coolest abilities in the game. Duchess can create a ghostly image of nearby enemies that replays the last two seconds of their behavior, including any damage taken. If you time it well, you can double the damage on enemies, especially when your teammates have landed a significant combo.

     o Finale (Ultimate): Duchess’s ultimate skill turns her and nearby allies invisible. While invisible, they can still attack without breaking the invisibility effect. This makes it a great tool for crowd control, boss fights, or simply setting up ambushes.

Duchess is perfect for players who enjoy fast, fluid combat with a focus on high mobility and explosive damage output. However, you’ll need to be cautious with her low health pool and rely on your dodging skills to stay alive.

4. Recluse - The Master of Sorcery

Recluse is the quintessential magic user in Elden Ring Nightreign. Specializing in staves and catalysts, Recluse is all about ranged combat and spellcasting. While magic may not be for everyone, Recluse’s skillset is extremely potent, and for players who enjoy mastering complex systems, he’s a lot of fun to play.

Recluse’s Strengths

  · FP Regeneration: Recluse’s passive ability allows him to regenerate FP, the resource used for casting spells. This is especially useful considering the limited availability of FP potions in the game.

  · Spellcasting Power: Recluse can use various elemental and magical spells, offering a variety of utility and offensive capabilities. With the right combinations, you can adapt your spell loadout for specific situations.

  · Unique Abilities:

     o Magic Cocktail: Recluse’s primary skill lets him combine elemental magic to create unique new spells. By combining different types of magic residue, he can create various effects, from damage-dealing spells to buffing and healing spells. The potential combinations are vast, allowing for a highly customizable playstyle.

     o Soul Blood Song (Ultimate): Recluse’s ultimate marks nearby enemies with a blood sigil. Once activated, this will restore HP and FP to all players within the sigil’s radius, making it a crucial support tool for your team in longer fights.

Recluse is the most complex character in terms of mechanics, offering deep versatility with magic. He’s perfect for players who love the intricacies of spellcasting and enjoy the role of a supportive caster who can heal and buff allies while dishing out magical devastation from afar.

Ranking the Characters

Now, let’s get into the ranking. Here’s how I personally feel about each of the characters based on the network test experience:

  1. Guardian: For me, Guardian is the clear favorite. His ability to tank damage, control the battlefield, and provide support to allies makes him an invaluable part of any team. The sheer utility of his abilities, especially his ultimate, makes him the anchor of any group.

  2. Duchess: Duchess is second, thanks to her incredible speed, dexterity scaling, and the ability to deal massive damage with the "Restage" skill. While she’s fragile, her mobility and ability to deal high damage when used effectively are unmatched.

  3. Wilder: Wilder is a close third. He’s versatile, tanky, and offers good damage potential with the grappling hook and cannon abilities. While he doesn’t specialize in any one area, he’s solid all-around, making him a great choice for flexible playstyles.

  4. Recluse: Finally, Recluse rounds out the list. While I appreciate the complexity and power of magic in Elden Ring Nightreign, I personally prefer a more hands-on approach to combat. Recluse is still incredibly strong and offers great support for a team, but his playstyle isn’t my top choice.

Conclusion

Each of the four characters in Elden Ring Nightreign has a unique set of strengths, and the ranking truly depends on your personal playstyle. Whether you’re a tanky Guardian, a nimble Duchess, a versatile Wilder, or a magic-wielding Recluse, there’s something for everyone. My personal favorite is Guardian, but ultimately, it comes down to what role you want to fill in your team.

I hope this breakdown helps you understand the strengths and weaknesses of each character. If you’re participating in the network test, let me know which character you’re enjoying the most!