Elden Ring: Nightreign drops you into the heart of a decaying realm called Limveld, and from the moment you arrive, it’s clear: survival is not guaranteed. With the Night spreading across the land and powerful Nightlords lurking at the end of every run, it pays to be prepared. Whether you're jumping in solo or with friends, this article will walk you through the early game basics so you can get the most out of every expedition—and hopefully make it out alive.

Elden Ring: Nightreign

Elden Ring: Nightreign is a 2025 roguelike action role-playing game developed by FromSoftware and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment. The game is a spin-off and prequel to Elden Ring, using many of its features and gameplay elements, and focuses on roguelike and cooperative mechanics. The game is available to play today on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.

Essential Beginner Tips for Elden Ring: Nightreign

Learn the Loop Before You Rush In

Nightreign isn’t your typical open-world adventure. Each run into Limveld is a structured three-day expedition with a single goal: stop the Nightlord. But you won’t be able to walk right up and take them down on day one. Instead, you’ll need to spend each day leveling up, grabbing gear, and clearing enemies. As the sun sets, the Night rolls in and brings with it tougher challenges—and eventually, the boss that caps off each night.

You’ve got to manage your time wisely, because as each day ticks forward, parts of the map start getting sealed off by the Night’s Tide. There’s a constant pressure to move fast, make smart decisions, and be ready to fight when the sun goes down.

Beginner Tips for Elden Ring: Nightreign

Get to Know the Roundtable Hold

Before you set foot in Limveld, take advantage of what the Roundtable Hold has to offer. This is your prep zone, and it’s where you’ll choose your Nightfarer—your playable character for the run. There are eight total Nightfarers (six unlocked from the start), and each one comes with a unique moveset and playstyle. The good news is you can test them all freely before locking in. Head to the Sparring Grounds to try out their skills against AI enemies or test drive any weapons you’ve picked up.

Don’t skip the Codex in the Library either. It’s packed with info on weapons, stats, mechanics, and systems you might otherwise overlook. The Hold also gives you a preview of the Nightlord waiting for you at the end of your run. Knowing what you’re up against helps a ton when you’re choosing which gear and abilities to prioritize.

Beginner Tips for Elden Ring: Nightreign

Team Up, Stick Together, and Loot Smart

When you finally land in Limveld, you’ll usually start near a Site of Grace and a small enemy camp—just enough to get your first level-up. From there, the map opens up with camps, ruins, forts, and boss lairs. While enemies drop runes for everyone in the group, weapons and consumables are first-come, first-served. That means if you pick something up that doesn’t fit your build, drop it for your teammates. It’s worth it to keep your group strong across the board.

Sites of Grace work as heal points and places to level up with runes. They don’t respawn enemies, so there’s no downside to using them early and often. Your Nightfarer levels automatically based on their class stats, which keeps things streamlined and makes your gear and ability choices even more important.

Beginner Tips for Elden Ring: Nightreign

Gear Up and Pay Attention to Rarity

Nightreign’s loot system is all about rarity. Weapons and relics come in four tiers—common, uncommon, rare, and legendary—and higher rarity means stronger passives and better base stats. You’re not locked into a specific weapon type, either. Every Nightfarer can equip any weapon, but not all of them will get the same value out of each piece. Keep an eye on what boosts your strengths and complements your skill set.

Smithing stones let you upgrade gear mid-run, and you can find them in chests, caves, or buy them from merchants. If you spot an anvil, stop and upgrade—you’ll thank yourself when the next boss rolls around.

Merchants scattered across Limveld sell upgraded weapons, consumables, and extra pouch slots to expand your inventory. Consumables may not scale in power, but stuff like warming stones and damage boosts can be clutch during tougher fights, especially at night.

Beginner Tips for Elden Ring: Nightreign

Explore Smart and Use Your Movement

There’s no shortage of places to explore, but you can’t afford to waste time. Between sprints, wall jumps, and spectral movement, you’ve got a ton of traversal options to help you get around fast. Churches are especially important—they’ll often grant extra flask charges or stat boosts for your party. Look for ruins and forts when you’re hunting for gear or rare loot drops.

Make sure to pace your leveling. You’ll want to be around level five by the end of the first day and at least level ten by the second. The difficulty ramps up fast at night, and if you’re under-leveled, you’re going to feel it.

Beginner Tips for Elden Ring: Nightreign

Surviving the Night is a Team Effort

Each night ends with a showdown against a powerful wave of enemies and a boss. There’s no time limit here, but if your whole squad gets wiped out at once, it’s game over. Staying alive means watching each other’s backs, reviving fallen teammates fast, and using your ultimates when it matters most.

If you see enemies glowing gold, they’re holding someone’s dropped runes. Take them down to get those runes back. Ranged weapons are great for revives and support, so it’s worth having at least one person on your team with a bow or magic. Night fights are a test of your coordination and your loadout. Make sure everyone knows their role and don’t be afraid to reposition if the fight gets too chaotic.

Facing the Nightlord

If you make it through the second night, you’ll be taken straight to the final area—a boss arena where you’ll face the Nightlord. You’ll find one last Site of Grace, a merchant for consumables, and a place to upgrade weapons with your remaining smithing stones. Spend all your runes here. You can’t take them with you, and anything left unused is lost when the expedition ends.

This is where everything comes together. The Nightlord fights are challenging and will test your ability to dodge, time ultimates, and make the most of your gear. Don’t hold back—if you’ve been saving something, now’s the time to use it.

Post-Run Rewards and Customization

After each run, successful or not, you’ll earn murk and relics. Murk is used to buy gear and cosmetics from the Hold’s bazaar, while relics can be slotted into your Nightfarer’s chalice to modify stats and abilities. Some relics are straightforward stat boosts; others change your gameplay entirely.

Eventually, you’ll unlock more chalices and cosmetic options, including alternate outfits and effects for your character. Testing out relic builds in the Sparring Grounds is a good idea, especially as you start pushing for tougher Nightlords. 

Final Thoughts

Elden Ring: Nightreign demands more than just reflexes—it asks players to think strategically, communicate effectively, and adapt to a world that shifts with every passing day. From mastering your Nightfarer’s strengths to coordinating as a team during high-stakes nighttime encounters, success hinges on preparation and quick decision-making.

Whether you're grinding through your first run or pushing to conquer a tougher Nightlord, every expedition into Limveld is a chance to learn, grow, and refine your approach. The darkness is relentless, but with the right tools, timing, and teamwork, it’s a challenge well worth facing. For more in-depth community tips and group coordination, the official Elden Ring Discord or platform is a solid place to get connected with other players.