New Elden Ring Nightreign trailer is all about the archer class that wasn’t in the beta, and this might be the first FromSoftware game where bows don’t suck

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Nightreign offers a more structured approach compared to Elden Ring as a whole. Instead of crafting your own character from the ground up, you’ll select a class and progressively level it during each gaming session. Although we didn’t observe the archer in action during the beta, a fresh trailer has been released showcasing Ironeye, a character specialized in bow and arrow combat. This new addition to Elden Ring promises nimble movements and makes bows more practical in contemporary FromSoftware games.

In Nightreign, it has always been known that bows and arrows could perform stealthy attacks from behind, or as I like to call them, sneak shots. The latest trailer showcases the incredible might of these weapons. Use your teammates to get close to the bosses, weakening them first. Then, when they’re vulnerable, take aim and shoot them in the back for a stunning surprise attack before plunging an arrow deep into their core for a critical hit that will leave them reeling. Essentially, Nightreign offers a Legolas-like experience.

With Iron-Eye, you have the ability to launch a massive arrow that not only penetrates numerous foes but also leaves behind an area of effect whirlwind to eliminate any remaining enemies. If your enemies choose to avoid a straight line approach and instead form a wide group, you can employ another attack that disperses several arrows in front of you, hitting all enemies within an arc. This provides you with a variety of strategies when using Iron-Eye. (As a note, while each class can wield any weapon, it is evident that Iron-Eye excels particularly with bows.) This versatility should aid you in coping with Nightreign’s erratic and unpredictable random events.

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Besides the conventional bow and arrow, Ironeye also employs flaming arrows, which I find oddly fascinating. There’s something about weapons ignited with fire that really appeals to me. These fiery projectiles suggest the possibility of incorporating additional elemental effects as well.

This brings back memories of the Ranger class from Dragon’s Dogma, which has always been my favorite. I was planning to wield a large sword in Nightreign, as I usually do in Dark Souls games and Elden Ring itself, but this trailer has me considering giving bows a serious try. While it’s true that people have conquered Elden Ring with bows, the same can be said for using dance pads, and those aren’t particularly effective weapons either. So far, I’ve only used a bow to cut off the dragon tail in Dark Souls. Perhaps it’s time for something new. If you’re still indecisive, take a look at our Nightreign hands-on preview for more insight.

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2025-04-01 19:39