Elden Ring Nightreign: A Guide to Surviving the First Expeditions

Elden Ring Nightreign is a challenging and strategic experience that demands preparation from the very first steps. In this beginner's guide, we've gathered the key information you need to know before venturing into the corrupted land of Limveld . You'll understand how expeditions work, which characters are available at the start, and how to make the most of your first moments of gameplay so you don't get overwhelmed by the Night Lords.

From choosing your character to the first battles and explorations, every decision can be crucial to the team's success. Furthermore, understanding how important items and locations work can facilitate progression and prevent unnecessary deaths.

Here you'll find a complete overview with practical strategies to make the most of the resources available in the game. Prepare to immerse yourself in a hostile world where cooperation and planning make all the difference in the fight against the forces of the night.

How do expeditions work in Elden Ring Nightreign?

In the universe of Elden Ring Nightreign, you don't face the final bosses directly. You must undertake an expedition to Limveld , an unstable territory filled with enemies, challenges, and random events.

Each expedition lasts three in-game days and involves exploring, leveling up your character, and collecting equipment before confronting one of the dreaded Night Lords. These enemies have specific elemental , requiring advance preparation and careful attention when choosing weapons and abilities.

The map areas change with each new expedition, making each journey unique. As time passes, the Night Tide begins to limit accessible regions and intensify combat, creating a constant sense of urgency.

The importance of choosing the Nightfarer.

Right from the start, you can choose between six playable characters called Nightfarers . Each one has predefined abilities and a unique combat style, which directly affects the type of strategy you should adopt.

During the game, it's possible to unlock two more secret characters by fulfilling certain requirements. However, changing characters can only be done at the main base, before starting a new expedition.

Testing characters in the training field before setting off is an efficient way to understand their mechanics, combos, and weaknesses. This helps in making faster decisions during real combat.

First steps in Limveld

Upon landing in Limveld, the ideal strategy is to explore a nearby enemy camp and a resting point called Site of Grace with your team. This initial area grants enough runes for your first level of evolution and provides basic weapons.

Items such as weapons and consumables are not duplicated for each player. This means that if someone picks up an item, it disappears for the rest of the team. However, runes, used to evolve the character, are distributed equally.

Communication and team spirit are fundamental in deciding who will keep a particular item and when to use shared resources, such as temporary heals or buffs.

How to level up your character and use the Site of Grace

The Site of Grace is where you restore your character's health and magic points . Once you have enough runes, you can level up automatically, without needing to manually choose attributes.

Attribute progression is determined by the selected Nightfarer, making the evolution process more straightforward.

Furthermore, these points serve as safe return locations, where it is possible to reassess strategies, exchange equipment, and prepare the group for upcoming challenges.

Important places you should visit

During your journey through Limveld, you will encounter churches, ruins, encampments, and fortresses.

Churches always provide an item that enhances your healing abilities, which is essential for survival on longer expeditions.

Meanwhile, ruins and fortresses hide powerful enemies and chests containing rare weapons. Defeating these mid-bosses is one of the most efficient ways to acquire passive abilities and high-level equipment.

Also keep an eye out for temporary activation points that offer collective healing or damage bonuses. Knowing when and how to use them can change the course of a battle.

Weapon management: rarities and consumables

All weapons in the game can be used by any character, but the Nightfarer affect their performance.

The weapons have distinct rarities: common, blue, purple, and gold, with the latter being the most powerful. The higher the rarity, the better the damage and the associated passive ability.

Consumable items cannot be upgraded but have specific functions and can be purchased from merchants scattered across the map.

Remember that inventory space is limited, and decisions about which items to take should be strategic.

Group combat strategies

Initially, it is recommended that the group stay together to face enemies more safely and maximize collective damage.

As players gain experience and map mastery, they can split up to cover more areas quickly. This decision depends on the balance between the team's power level and confidence.

Long-range weapons are useful for reviving fallen allies with less risk. And whenever possible, use map resources to shorten routes or gain a tactical advantage in combat.

Preparing for the battle against the Nightlord

The third day marks the decisive moment of the expedition. You will be taken to the Nightlord's fortress and will have access to a final merchant and a last rest area.

Use your remaining resources to upgrade your equipment and secure support items . Any unused runes will be lost after the fight, so use them wisely.

During the final battle, it's ideal for players to take turns on the front line so everyone can use healing and support abilities. Synchronization is essential to ensure the group's survival.

What happens after the expedition ends?

Regardless of victory or defeat, you will receive relics and a substance called murk.

Relics allow you to customize your character's starting attributes and can be combined to create specific builds.

Murk can be exchanged for cosmetic or consumable items at the main base. Over time, these rewards increase your chances of success in new expeditions .