Boss Strategy, Revives, and Class Balance
With Elden Ring: Nightreign launching May 30, FromSoftware’s Junya Ishizaki has opened up about major changes made after the network test, the game’s co-op-focused combat design, and how the team crafted its eight distinct character archetypes.
Combat Comes First in Nightreign
In a new interview on PlayStation Blog Japan, Ishizaki emphasized that combat is the core pillar of Nightreign’sdesign. Built around defeating Nightlords at the end of each in-game night, the world map and character progression are designed to support strategic, evolving encounters.
“The biggest challenge was making major mechanical changes while keeping the soul of Elden Ring intact,” Ishizaki said.
One unique mechanic that stands out is the revival system, where players revive downed allies by attacking them—a quirky yet tactical decision that came from rethinking Elden Ring’s assets for co-op play.
Smarter Bosses and Adaptive Strategy
Players can expect more tactical depth in the full release. Bosses will now adapt to repeated strategies, forcing players to change their approach mid-battle. Additionally, boss weaknesses like poison will be scouted in advance, encouraging players to tailor their builds each run.
This adds an extra layer of preparation and unpredictability to the roguelike-inspired loop.
Post-Network Test Tweaks
Based on feedback, FromSoftware is making several improvements:
Clearer UI and environmental cues
Refined difficulty curve
Buffs to bosses like Gladius for better late-game balance
The goal: keep Nightreign challenging but fair, especially in multiplayer sessions.
Meet the Nightfarers – Eight Classes, Two Design Pillars
The game features eight playable Nightfarers, each based on a blend of classic RPG archetypes and Soulsborne-style builds—think strength tanks, agile swordfighters, and elemental spellcasters.
“We wanted each Nightfarer to feel grounded in both fantasy and FromSoft tradition,” Ishizaki The result is a carefully curated roster of characters designed for synergy, not novelty. So don’t expect any “macho wizards”—just tight, purposeful class design that fits the world.
The result is a carefully curated roster of characters designed for synergy, not novelty. So don’t expect any “macho wizards”—just tight, purposeful class design that fits the world.
Elden Ring: Nightreign launches May 30 for PlayStation, with a focus on tight co-op, high-stakes combat, and adaptive gameplay in a dark new chapter of the Lands Between.
