Elden Ring: Nightreign - Ironeye Class Gameplay Revealed

In Elden Ring, the bow has typically served as a secondary weapon, used to draw enemy attention, weaken foes from a distance, or tactically eliminate specific targets like the infamous rune-farming bird. However, in Nightreign, the Ironeye class transforms the bow into its core strength, creating a playstyle distinct from the game’s other eight classes and positioning it as the closest thing to a dedicated support role. Watch the exclusive Ironeye gameplay video below.

Playing as the Ironeye reveals its fragility right away. While capable of wielding any weapon found, the bow remains essential to keep enemies at bay, as this class can’t withstand much damage, especially early on. Thankfully, the starting bow is reliable, delivering solid damage and featuring the Mighty Shot skill, which allows attacks from extreme distances, boosts damage, and increases poise damage.

Nightreign significantly overhauls the bow’s mechanics. Bows now fire faster, and players can move more swiftly while shooting at locked-on targets. Arrows are unlimited, tying you to the bow’s default arrow type but eliminating concerns about running out during critical moments like boss fights. New features include a stylish animation for shooting after a roll, the ability to perform acrobatic moves like wall-running and leaping to fire mid-air, faster movement while aiming without needing first-person mode, a strong attack that releases a three-arrow spread to hit multiple enemies, and even the option to backstab or execute visceral attacks with arrows on downed foes. Nightreign addresses every limitation that held back the bow as a primary weapon in the original Elden Ring.

The Ironeye’s primary skill, Marking, is a swift dagger dash that passes through enemies, applying a debuff that amplifies damage from all sources. With a short cooldown, it’s easy to maintain on bosses with proper timing, and it doubles as a mobility tool to escape dangerous situations.

The Ironeye’s ultimate, Single Shot, is a devastating, charged attack that builds on Mighty Shot’s foundation. While charging, the player is invulnerable, and the shot pierces through nearly everything in its path, dealing massive damage and excelling at clearing groups of enemies.

The Ironeye truly stands out in team play with its ability to revive allies from a safe distance. In Nightreign, reviving a downed ally involves attacking them to deplete a segmented circle above their character. Most classes must risk close proximity or expend resources like mana or ultimate skills to revive, but the Ironeye can do so safely with arrows, using no resources. This makes them invaluable for team survival, though reviving allies who’ve fallen multiple times becomes challenging, as the circle gains additional segments, requiring more damage than the Ironeye can easily deliver from afar without using their ultimate.

Though the Ironeye may not match the raw damage output of other classes, their utility is unmatched. Their Marking skill boosts team damage, a passive ability increases item drops for the squad, their ultimate clears enemy groups, and their unique ranged revival capability ensures team resilience. Among Nightreign’s classes, the Ironeye’s support potential is unparalleled.