Elden Ring: Nightreign - Ironeye Preview - IGN First

In the expansive world of Elden Ring, the bow has traditionally served as a support weapon, useful for drawing enemy attention or softening targets before engaging in close combat. However, when you step into the role of the Ironeye class in Nightreign, the bow transforms into the core element of your playstyle. This unique approach sets Ironeye apart from the other eight classes in Nightreign, positioning it as the game's closest equivalent to a support class. Dive deeper into the Ironeye experience with our exclusive gameplay video below.

My initial impression of playing as the Ironeye was their notable fragility. While they can wield any weapon, the bow is crucial for keeping a safe distance from the action, minimizing the risk of taking hits. This is vital, as even early on, Ironeye can be quickly overwhelmed. Thankfully, their starting bow is robust, offering decent damage and the Mighty Shot skill, which allows for long-range attacks with increased damage and poise impact.

It's important to note that the mechanics of bows have been significantly revamped in Nightreign. Bows now fire at a faster rate, and you can move more swiftly while targeting locked-on enemies. Additionally, there's no longer a need to manage arrow supplies, though this means you're limited to the arrow type your weapon provides. These changes, along with new animations for shooting from a roll, the ability to perform acrobatic feats like wall-running and shooting, and the option to aim without entering first-person mode, all contribute to making the bow a formidable primary weapon. The strong attack now releases a spread of three arrows, capable of hitting multiple enemies, and you can even execute backstabs or visceral attacks on downed foes with an arrow. These enhancements address the shortcomings of bows in the original Elden Ring, making them a viable choice in Nightreign.

As the Ironeye, your primary skill is Marking, a swift dagger dash that pierces through enemies and applies a debuff that amplifies damage from all sources. With a short cooldown, you can almost always keep this debuff active on bosses, enhancing your team's effectiveness. It's also an excellent mobility tool, allowing you to navigate through enemy lines safely.

The Ironeye's ultimate ability, Single Shot, is a powerful, concentrated attack. It's essentially an enhanced version of Mighty Shot, requiring a brief charge time during which you're invulnerable. Once released, it pierces through obstacles and enemies, making it ideal for clearing groups of foes.

What truly distinguishes the Ironeye in team play is their ability to revive allies from a distance. In Nightreign, reviving a downed ally involves depleting a segmented circle above their character through attacks. While most classes must risk close combat or expend resources to revive, the Ironeye can do so safely and resource-free from afar. This capability can be crucial in determining the success of a run. However, reviving an ally becomes more challenging with each additional segment added to the circle upon subsequent downs, as the Ironeye's long-range damage may not suffice without using their ultimate.

Although the Ironeye may not match the raw damage output of other classes, their utility on a team is unparalleled. From enhancing team damage with their marking ability, boosting item discovery, clearing mobs with their ultimate, to safely reviving teammates, the Ironeye's contributions are invaluable in the world of Nightreign.