It only takes a few minutes in Elden Ring: Nightreign to realize one truth—this isn’t the Lands Between anymore. From the second your boots hit the dirt in Limveld, the world feels hungrier, harsher. The rules are familiar but twisted, like wandering into a dream version of the game you once thought you mastered. And if you try to play it like traditional Elden Ring, you’re going to get crushed.
I learned this the hard way, of course. My first run? I strolled into a fortress like I was still in the base game, got jumped by a Night Aspect, and barely made it out with a sliver of health. I didn’t even make it to the first Nightfall. But over several more runs, some luck, and a lot of screaming into the void, I picked up the 12 lessons every Tarnished needs to survive. Some are obvious in hindsight, some feel like dev-only secrets, but all of them made the difference between getting wiped early and standing tall in the final circle.
The first lesson? Don’t linger at level one. Nightreign is unforgiving at the bottom rung. The enemies scale hard, and until you hit level two, even the weakest grunt can mess you up. The good news? The game always starts you near a camp full of easy targets. Don’t ignore the hint—farm them, level up, and then think about exploring.
But even when you’ve got your first level under your belt, the temptation to rush into a boss fight can be deadly. Nightreign isn’t built for patient one-on-one duels. It’s a timer-based gauntlet, and if you go toe-to-toe with a Nightlord too early, you’re just burning precious time. A good rule of thumb is to wait until level four or five before trying to down any of the big names, unless you want to end your expedition prematurely.
And about that timer? The shrinking circle isn’t as slow as you think. It’s deceiving on the map. I learned that during my second run when I committed to a fortress thinking I had “plenty of time.” Two floors in, the ring swallowed half the map and I was left scrambling for a Spiritspring. Limveld’s vertical terrain is beautiful and brutal—don’t trust cliffs, and always have a backup route. Those glowing blue cracks on the map? Lifesavers. Spiritsprings can blast you over terrain that would otherwise take minutes to traverse. Don’t hesitate to use them.
Nightreign’s terrain design makes planning essential. There’s no quick way around some obstacles, and I’ve lost count of how many times I saw the circle closing in while I was stuck on a narrow ledge wondering, “Was this really the right direction?”
It’s not just terrain that can ruin a run—going solo is a gamble. The game lets you go it alone, sure, but unless you’re some kind of PvE god, you’re going to need your squad. Splitting up might seem efficient, but it’s almost always a mistake. This world was built with cooperation in mind. Not just for tackling bosses, but for simple survival. If you go down—and you will go down—you’re going to need someone to revive you. And if your allies are off on the other side of the map? Well, enjoy watching the circle close in while you bleed out.
Churches, meanwhile, are your best friends. They’re not just pretty architecture; each one grants you another flask charge. Hit three, and you’ll be loaded up for the final confrontation. Plus, they’re full of loot—Warming Stones, Exalted Flesh, even a lucky Boiled Crab if you’re feeling spicy. Think of them like the “corner stores” of Limveld: fast, essential, and weirdly cozy in a hostile world.
And then there’s the final boss of each day. The build-up to these fights is unlike anything else in Nightreign. The arena is harsh, the enemies tougher, and the stakes sky-high. Before you step in, always, always find a Site of Grace. You don’t want to burn your flasks on the lead-up only to walk into a boss room empty. It’s like prepping for a big test—don’t go in with no pencils and half a notebook.
Speaking of preparation, there’s one underrated tip that saved my team more than once. If you’re downed, crawl to your allies. Even better, crawl toward other downed players. A single revive can now pop two people up at once, especially if you’ve got an Ironeyes or Revenant with their powerful Ultimates nearby. It’s a little thing, but in the chaos of battle, small efficiencies mean everything.
Now here’s a trick even some seasoned players miss: press Triangle (or Y on Xbox) while on the map. It reveals detailed info about every marked location—merchants, materials, enemy types. In a world moving this fast, that kind of info makes a huge difference. I once picked a route based on that info and walked straight into a camp holding an anti-boss weapon I didn’t even know existed.
Fortresses hide even more secrets. Ever notice how some of them have towers with Abductor Virgins at the front? Those hold Fort maps—hidden up a ramp, tucked away inside a tower room. Grab one, and you’ll get info about the region, including where to find those shiny little Scarabs that drop talismans. One map led me straight to a rare bleed talisman that let our team melt the Day 3 Nightlord like butter. I still remember the cheers on voice chat.
Now, this one’s subtle, but essential: when you choose your final boss, pay attention to its weaknesses—whether it’s fire, bleed, or frost. Then, during the run, keep your eye out for landmarks or camps with the same icon. Gear from those places is tailor-made to counter your chosen boss. It’s not always about the highest damage number—sometimes, the right type matters more. If you find a weapon you like that matches the boss’s weakness? Don’t ditch it for something rarer. Just power it up with Smithing Stones and let it carry you.
Finally, don’t ignore the Roundtable Hold between runs. After each Expedition, check your character’s journal. Completing their Remembrances doesn’t just unlock lore—it gives you access to powerful new Relics and skins. One of the Duchess’s upgrades changed my entire approach to Day 2 bosses. That extra bit of narrative also makes the grind feel personal. You’re not just fighting for loot; you’re uncovering stories piece by piece.
Elden Ring: Nightreign may not be the traditional journey through the Lands Between, but in its own frantic, brutal way, it demands just as much mastery. The difference is that now, you’ve got the tips we wish we had on our first run. So take a breath, rally your team, and brace for the Night. You’re going to need all the help you can get.
