WhenElden Ring Nightreignrevealed it would have a roster of classes instead of fully customizable Tarnished, there were some mixed feelings from the community. Since then, however, the Nightfarers have become an integral part ofElden Ring Nightreign’s design, with unique identities and playstyles to match, and secret backstories to uncover. With each of them being so different, there is a class out there to suit almost anyone.
But some of the classes in the game are more flexible than others, and some of them can specialize in more than one role. Wylder is the jack of all trades, and a strong one at that, and Recluse masters Sorceries and Incantations to cast many types of spells; but there is one whose playstyle is far more flexible than it first appears. Many players could be missing out on a totally new way to experience one ofNightreign’s strongest classes.
Elden Ring Nightreign Players Are Missing Ironeye’s Full Potential by Only Using Bows
Arguably the strongest class inNightreign,Ironeye transformsElden Ring’s bow combat. Previously an area of pain for many FromSoftware fans, this class has turned one of the weakest weapons into one of the strongest with only a few tweaks, showing just how much safer the game is when played at a distance.Elden Ringis designed primarily around melee combat, which requires getting close, and spells, which typically have longer wind-up times, whereas bows inNightreigndon’t have either of these weaknesses. Ironeye’s proficiency with bows makes them not only strong, but accessible to newer players, and it’s easy to see how someone might think that’s all the class has to offer.
Ironeye’s Kit Can Be Even Stronger in Melee
But just because Ironeye synergizes well with bows, doesn’t mean archery is always the best way to play the character. Ironeye comes with an A scaling in Dexterity, which, besides bows, makes them scale very well with a handful of weapon types, includingKatanas, Curved Swords, and Heavy Thrusting Swords. Bows may be great for Ironeye, but these options can often be more effective, as melee weapons will often do more damage at the cost of range. Ironeye’s mark can also be broken faster in melee, allowing for huge burst damage and the opportunity for an inevitable riposte that would be missed at range. Even the dodge that comes with the ability has i-frames, giving Ironeye a pseudo-quickstep in tough situations.
The other stat that players who focus only on Bows miss out on is Ironeye’s B scaling in Arcane. Status effects are one of the most important tools in the arsenal of a Nightfarer, allowing players to chew through large chunks of boss healthbars with ease. Bows have a hard time taking advantage of status effects, struggling to proc many of them, which is where an off-hand melee weapon can come in handy. A few strikes in quick succession can inflict poison on a boss for tick damage, or frostbite to let the bow benefit from an extra 20% more damage.Morgott’s Cursed Swordcan be a brutally effective weapon in the hands of an Ironeye, doing huge bleed and stance damage, taking down bosses in a heartbeat.
A Balanced Playstyle Brings Out the Best in Ironeye
By mixing things up,Ironeye gets the best out of both melee and ranged combat, so there are few bad builds for the character. Their flexibility is a huge boon, and experienced Ironeye players may find they have runs where they make a powerful melee build, barely using Bows, or vice versa. Even without a melee option, Ironeye’s bow can be used unconventionally, as spamming the heavy attack at point-blank range can deal enormous damage. As Ironeye’s abilities are just as effective in melee or at range, there’s nothing lost by pursuing one playstyle at the expense of another, but finding a balance that gets the most out of the character is incredibly rewarding.
