In Elden Ring Nightreign, the thrill of facing formidable Nightlords is often a shared journey-but what if you crave the ultimate test of skill and solitude? While the game is designed for a trio, venturing solo is not only possible but offers a uniquely intense challenge where every victory feels hard-earned and personal. Ready to brave the dark alone? Here’s how to embark on your solo expedition and master Nightreign on your own terms.
But if you’re looking to play Elden Ring Nightreign solo, whether online or offline, I’m not gonna stop you. Just keep in mind that Nightreign doesn’t have summons, so it’s just you and whatever loot you find.
In this guide, we’ll tell you how to play single-player in Elden Ring Nightreign so you can start expeditions on extra-hard mode.
How to start a single-player Expedition in Elden Ring Nightreign
To start a single-player Expedition in Elden Ring Nightreign, first head to the Roundtable Hold and interact with the central table to open the Expeditions menu. Then, navigate to the Matchmaking Settings section and set the “Expedition Type” to “Single Player” to play solo. After selecting your target Nightlord, such as the initial Tricephalos, you can commence the Expedition alone. Keep in mind that Nightreign is designed primarily for multiplayer, so solo play offers a more challenging experience relying solely on your skills and loot. You can switch back to multiplayer anytime before starting a new Expedition if you wish.
After completing the initial tutorial and speaking with the Priestess, you’ll have (nearly) full run of the Roundtable Hold, the familiar hub area from the original Elden Ring. The table at the center of the Roundtable Hold is your starting point for Expeditions.
To start a solo Expedition (multiplayer is the game’s default), you simply need to walk up to the Roundtable Hold table and press the interact/event action button (△ on PlayStation, Ⓨ on Xbox). From the Expedition screen, tab over to the Matchmaking Settings screen, scroll down to Expedition Type, and select Single Player.
From there, select your target, and then Commence Expedition. (From the start of the game, only the Tricephalos Expedition to take on Gladius, Beast of Night will be available. Defeat him, and you’ll unlock seven more Nightlords, which you can take on in any order.)
What are the key strategies to succeed solo in Elden Ring Nightreign
Key Strategies to Succeed Solo in Elden Ring Nightreign
Playing solo in Elden Ring Nightreign is a demanding challenge due to the game’s design for three-player cooperation, but with the right approach, it is entirely feasible. Here are the essential strategies to thrive as a lone Nightfarer:
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Choose the Right Character: Ironeye is widely regarded as the best solo character thanks to his strong ranged attacks, speed, and evasion skills, which allow you to clear enemies from a distance safely. Alternatives include Raider, who boasts high damage and survivability, and Executor, who excels with a defensive, skillful playstyle using his Cursed Blade. Wylder can also be considered for his free revival skill, though he’s less optimal solo.
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Prioritize Easier Enemies and Minibosses: Avoid major bosses and large enemy groups early on. Instead, focus on farming runes by clearing camps, forts, and churches around the map’s perimeter. This steady rune accumulation helps you level up and upgrade flasks, improving survivability before tackling tougher foes.
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Maximize Flask Charges: Visiting churches to interact with altars is crucial since it increases your Flask charges (healing uses), which is vital for solo endurance against Nightlords. Planning your route around these churches ensures you have enough healing resources for prolonged fights.
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Exploit Elemental Weaknesses: Knowing each Nightlord’s elemental weakness is critical. Using the correct elemental attacks not only deals extra damage but can stun bosses, creating openings for powerful combos. For example, use Holy damage against Gladius and The Shape of Night, Poison for Adel, Fire for Gnoster and Caligo, and Lightning for Maris and Fulghor.
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Plan Your Route and Use the Map Effectively: Solo players must carefully plan expedition routes to avoid unnecessary risks. Starting with nearby points of interest and gradually expanding while avoiding high-risk areas like the central castle on Day 1 is recommended. Constantly monitoring the map helps manage threats like rainfall and find safe spots to recover.
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Use Consumables Strategically: Firebombs and other consumables can provide crucial power boosts during difficult encounters. Stocking and deploying these items wisely can turn the tide in solo fights.
By combining these tactics-selecting the right Nightfarer, focusing on manageable enemies, upgrading healing, exploiting weaknesses, planning routes, and using consumables-you can overcome the unique challenges of solo play in Elden Ring Nightreign and conquer the Nightlords alone.
What character build best balances damage and survivability solo in Nightreign
The character build that best balances damage and survivability for solo play in Elden Ring Nightreign is the Raider. Raider excels with very high survivability thanks to a large HP pool and poise, allowing him to absorb many hits while using his high Strength to break enemy poise and interrupt attacks. His abilities, like Retaliate-a low-cooldown counterattack that reduces incoming damage and can stagger bosses-and Totem Stela, which provides cover and damage boosts, make him a formidable and durable solo fighter. Although slower in mobility, Raider’s tankiness and powerful offensive tools create a strong balance between dealing heavy damage and staying alive in tough encounters.
Alternatively, Ironeye is also a top solo choice, especially for players who prefer ranged combat and evasion. Ironeye can consistently deal damage from a safe distance, stagger enemies with Single Shot, and evade powerful attacks using Marking. His ultimate provides invulnerability and stagger potential, making him excellent for quick, strategic strikes. However, Ironeye’s lower HP means careful positioning is required to maintain survivability.
Executor offers a high skill ceiling with strong defensive options through perfect guard abilities and high damage output, suitable for players confident in mastering precise timing to balance offense and defense solo.
In summary, for the best balance of damage and survivability solo, Raider stands out as the top pick, with Ironeye and Executor as strong alternatives depending on preferred playstyle.
