Elden Ring Nightreign Guide: Complete Walkthrough, Bosses & Builds
Key Takeaways
- Nightreign adds 40+ hours of content with a new underground realm, 12 unique bosses, and 3 alternate endings.
- Recommended level range is 120-150 for the final boss, but you can start exploring Nightreign at level 80 if you know the shortcuts.
- Faith/Arcane builds shine here because of the new incantations and bleed-resistant enemies. Strength builds need at least 60 Vigor to survive the final stretch.
- One hidden area requires you to use the Omen's Bell after defeating the third boss—most players miss this entirely.
Getting Started in Nightreign
To access the Nightreign expansion, you need to defeat Morgott in Leyndell and then interact with the cursed altar in the Subterranean Shunning-Grounds. The game doesn't tell you this—I wasted two hours trying to figure it out.
Once inside, you'll notice the atmosphere shifts. The lighting is darker, enemies hit harder, and there's a constant "madness" buildup effect in certain zones. Bring Clarifying Boluses or equip the Mushroom Crown (found in the first area) to reduce buildup by 35%.
Recommended Order of Progression
1. The Drowned Catacombs (level 80-90) – Farm the Putrid Knights for runes and the Ashes of War: Night Blight.
2. Tower of the Lost Moon (level 90-110) – This is where you get the Moonveil Katana upgrade material. The boss here, Lunar Guardian, summons clones—ignore them and focus on the original (it has a blue aura).
3. Pale Valley (level 110-130) – Poison swamp area. Use Flame, Cleanse Me incantation and equip the Mottled Necklace +2 (boosts immunity by 80).
4. The Colosseum of Night (level 130-150) – Final area. Three bosses in a row with no grace between them.
Boss Guides (The Three Hardest)
1. The Nightmare King (Tower of the Lost Moon)
This fight is pure chaos. The King has two phases, and in phase two, he teleports every 10 seconds. Don't chase him—stand still and wait for him to reappear behind you (it's always behind you).
- Weakness: Strike damage and Frostbite. He takes 20% more damage from hammers.
- Recommended weapon: Great Stars +25 with Chilling Mist Ash of War. The bleed and frost proc simultaneously around hit 6.
- Dodge timing: His "dark explosion" attack has a 1.2-second windup. Roll into it, not away.
2. The Forgotten Dragon (Pale Valley)
This dragon breathes rot and lightning. Stay under its belly—its tail swipe is the only attack that can hit you there, and it's telegraphed by a 2-second roar.
- Build tip: Use the Dragoncrest Greatshield Talisman (found in the Drowned Catacombs) to reduce lightning damage by 30%.
- Cheese method: Poison Mist incantation deals 150 damage per tick while the dragon is stationary. It takes about 4 minutes to kill it this way, but it works.
3. The Final Boss: Elden Lord of Night
This is a 3-phase fight. Phase 1 is a humanoid swordsman, phase 2 is a giant beast, phase 3 combines both. Your best bet is a tank build with 60 Vigor and heavy armor (Bull-Goat set is ideal).
- Phase 1: Parry his first two attacks. He always starts with a lunging thrust.
- Phase 2: Stay at mid-range. His charge attack leaves a 3-second opening.
- Phase 3: Summon your mimic tear +10 and spam the Blasphemous Blade weapon art. Each hit heals you for 10% of your max HP.
Best Builds for Nightreign
Faith/Arcane (Recommended)
- Stats: 50 Faith, 45 Arcane, 40 Vigor, 25 Mind
- Weapons: Dragon Communion Seal +10, Bloody Helice +10
- Incantations: Ancient Dragons' Lightning Strike, Pest Threads, Swarm of Flies
- Why it works: The new bosses are weak to fire and bleed. Pest Threads melts large enemies because each thread deals 300-500 damage, and they all hit simultaneously.
Pure Strength
- Stats: 60 Vigor, 55 Strength, 30 Endurance
- Weapons: Greatsword +25 with Lion's Claw Ash of War
- Talismans: Shard of Alexander, Claw Talisman, Bull-Goat's Talisman
- Why it works: You can stagger most enemies in 3 hits. The downside is slower stamina recovery—use the Green Turtle Talisman.
Intelligence Build (Underrated)
- Stats: 80 Intelligence, 30 Mind, 25 Vigor
- Weapons: Lusat's Glintstone Staff +10, Wing of Astel +10
- Spells: Comet Azur, Terra Magicus, Stars of Ruin
- Why it works: Comet Azur with the Cerulean Hidden Tear one-shots most bosses in phase 1. But you'll die quickly if you miss—high risk, high reward.
Comparison Table: Build Performance
| Build Type | Boss DPS | Survivability | Ease of Use | Rune Efficiency |
| ------------ | ---------- | --------------- | ------------- | ----------------- |
| Faith/Arcane | 8/10 | 7/10 | 8/10 | 9/10 |
| Pure Strength | 7/10 | 9/10 | 9/10 | 7/10 |
| Intelligence | 10/10 | 4/10 | 5/10 | 6/10 |
Hidden Secrets and Easter Eggs
1. The Omen's Bell – After defeating the third boss (Pale Valley), return to the starting grace and use the bell on the broken statue. This opens a portal to the "Memory of the First Elden Lord" where you fight a ghost version of Godfrey for the golden armor set.
2. Secret Talisman – In the Colosseum of Night, there's a hidden wall behind the second boss's arena. Roll into it 3 times to find the "Talisman of the Night Lord" which boosts all damage by 15% at night. This stacks with the Scorpion charms.
3. NPC Quest – The merchant "Roderika" appears in Nightreign if you upgraded your spirit ashes to +10 in the base game. She sells unlimited Ghost Gloveworts [9] for 10,000 runes each—worth farming for.
Level-Up Guide (Efficient Rune Farming)
- Level 80-100: Farm the Putrid Knights in the Drowned Catacombs. Each drops 3,500 runes. You can get 50,000 runes per hour.
- Level 100-130: The Pale Valley's giant bats drop 8,000 runes each. Use the Golden Scarab talisman (+20% runes) and you'll earn 150,000 per hour.
- Level 130-150: The Colosseum's first boss respawns after fast travel. Kill him in 2 minutes for 40,000 runes per run. That's 1.2 million per hour.
Final Tips
- Upgrade your flask to +12 before entering Nightreign. The enemies hit harder than anything in the base game.
- Save your Larval Tears. You get only 3 in Nightreign, and you'll need them for respeccing at Rennala.
- Don't bother with the chariot traps in the catacombs. They're a waste of time—just run past them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I play Nightreign before finishing the base game?
A: Yes, but I don't recommend it. You need at least level 80 and a +15 weapon to survive the first area. The recommended route is to finish Leyndell first, then enter Nightreign at level 100.
Q: What's the best weapon for Nightreign?
A: The Blasphemous Blade is the safest choice because its weapon art heals you. But if you want raw damage, the Moonveil Katana with its new Ash of War "Night Blight" deals 1,200 damage per hit at 60 Intelligence.
Q: How many endings does Nightreign have?
A: Three. The "Lord of Night" ending requires you to defeat the final boss without using any summons. The "Fractured" ending requires you to collect all 7 Night Shards (hidden in each major area). The "Default" ending is just beating the final boss normally.