Elden Ring Nightreign offers a smoother gameplay experience compared to its predecessor, Elden Ring. Instead of crafting a character from the ground up, players can select a class and enhance it with each gaming session. While the archer class was absent during the beta test, a recent trailer has unveiled Ironeye, a character centered around the bow and arrow, who brings agile combat techniques and finally makes archery a viable option in the latest FromSoftware title.
It’s already known that the bow and arrow are capable of inflicting backstabs—or backshots, if you prefer—and this newly released trailer vividly showcases their effectiveness in Nightreign. Position your allies to engage closely with primal threats, and once they have weakened the foes, you can shoot them from behind to stagger them, creating the perfect chance to rush in and deliver a piercing critical shot. Finally, archers can live out their Legolas fantasies.
Ironeye brings a fascinating skill to the table, allowing players to unleash a sizeable arrow that travels through several enemies, culminating in an area-of-effect whirlwind that eliminates any remaining foes. If adversaries choose to spread out rather than line up for you, there’s an alternative attack that disperses arrows in a wide arc, effectively hitting multiple enemies at once. This versatility with Ironeye is crucial for handling Nightreign’s unpredictable random events.
In addition to the traditional bow and arrow, we see Ironeye utilizing incendiary shots. There’s something exceptionally satisfying about weapons that are simply on fire. This suggests the possibility of additional elemental enhancements, too.
All of these features remind me of the ranger class from Dragon’s Dogma, which was always my personal favorite. Initially, I had planned to go all out with a massive sword in Nightreign, in line with my typical choices in the Dark Souls series and Elden Ring itself, but this trailer has sparked a genuine interest in exploring archery more deeply. While people have completed Elden Ring using bows, it’s also noteworthy that some have succeeded with unconventional controls like dance pads, which isn’t exactly the most engaging way to play. Historically, I only employed a bow for tail severing in Dark Souls. Perhaps it’s time to shift my approach. Don’t miss our Nightreign hands-on preview to help you make your own decision.
Meanwhile, explore all the new games of 2025 to keep yourself entertained while eagerly awaiting the release of Elden Ring Nightreign at the end of May.