Elden Ring Nightreign: Raider Class Reviewed - IGN

Elden Ring's enduring appeal lies in its diverse playstyles, and my personal favorite involves maxing out Strength stats, wielding colossal weapons, and demolishing enemies with bone-crushing jump attacks and charged heavy hits. If that sounds like your style, meet Nightreign's Raider class (featured in the video below).

While the Guardian class – another tanky option with high HP and heavy weapon proficiency – specializes in defense with starter shields and party-wide damage mitigation ultimates, the Raider stands out as pure offensive devastation.

The Raider's signature move is Retaliate, which initially appears underwhelming – just two stomps dealing modest physical and posture damage. But its true power comes from the passive ability: complete knockdown immunity during execution. This transforms Retaliate into a risk-free counterattack that lets you tank boss-level strikes while upgrading the second stomp into a devastating punch capable of staggering even towering foes.

Complementing this is the Raider's ultimate, Totem Stela – a seismic ground slam summoning a massive damage-dealing pillar. Like all Nightreign ultimates, this game-changer serves multiple purposes: dealing AoE damage, providing climbable cover for tactical positioning, plus granting team-wide damage buffs. Its versatility makes it essential for coordinated engagements.

Among Nightreign's eight classes, none delivered more sheer enjoyment than the Raider.

The class starts with the reliable Greavtaxe, featuring fire damage and the Endure skill for attack absorption when Retaliate recharges. Still, progression demands upgrading to superior Strength-based weapons as challenges intensify.

The Raider shines brightest in solo combat – fittingly, its Remembrance challenges (detailed later) feature gladiatorial one-on-one boss arenas that perfectly showcase its brutal playstyle.

These are our Nightreign class impressions, but stay tuned throughout June for deeper dives into gameplay mechanics, developer interviews, and more IGN First content.