With the release of Elden Ring: Nightreign set for May 30, 2025, the excitement around FromSoftware’s next major expansion is palpable. In true Soulsborne fashion, Nightreign promises a hauntingly beautiful, brutal, and immersive experience that builds upon the foundation of the original Elden Ring Runes. While Bandai Namco has attempted to clamp down on leaked footage and alpha gameplay, a steady stream of details has found its way to fans via gameplay leaks, the network test, and official announcements.
From returning bosses and dynamic roguelike zones to new classes and game mechanics, here's everything we know so far about Nightreign — including its design philosophy, content roadmap, and what players can expect in this highly anticipated DLC.
How Did the Elden Ring: Nightreign Leak Happen?
The floodgates opened when a short, low-quality video was posted on TikTok over the weekend, showing off Nightreign gameplay that clearly differed from the closed network test. The footage showcased enemies, environments, and user interface elements not seen before, sparking widespread speculation. It was quickly confirmed to be genuine when Bandai Namco issued copyright strikes against reuploads.
The floodgates opened when a short, low-quality video was posted on TikTok over the weekend, showing off Nightreign gameplay that clearly differed from the closed network test. The footage showcased enemies, environments, and user interface elements not seen before, sparking widespread speculation. It was quickly confirmed to be genuine when Bandai Namco issued copyright strikes against reuploads.
The source of the leak is allegedly an alpha tester who hinted that the content shown in the network test made up only about 40% of what’s currently in the alpha build. While plans for further gameplay reveals were teased, these were swiftly shut down—likely indicating legal action and revoked access for the leaker.
What the Leaks & Network Test Revealed
1. Bosses – From Night Lords to Dark Souls Favorites
The most buzzworthy revelations center around the bosses. Nightreign doesn’t just bring new horrors to face—it resurrects familiar ones from the Dark Souls franchise in reimagined forms.
1. Bosses – From Night Lords to Dark Souls Favorites
The most buzzworthy revelations center around the bosses. Nightreign doesn’t just bring new horrors to face—it resurrects familiar ones from the Dark Souls franchise in reimagined forms.
⚔️ Returning Bosses:
Dancer of the Boreal Valley (Dark Souls 3): Elegant and lethal, she appears with her iconic spin-based move set and glowing blade. The leak hints she’s a night-time exclusive boss.
Dancer of the Boreal Valley (Dark Souls 3): Elegant and lethal, she appears with her iconic spin-based move set and glowing blade. The leak hints she’s a night-time exclusive boss.
Gaping Dragon (Dark Souls 1): This grotesque beast is deadlier than ever, using acid to control the battlefield and eliminate summons instantly.
Centipede Demon (Dark Souls 1): Another legacy boss tweaked for the expansion’s increased tempo and precision mechanics.
Duke’s Dear Freja (Dark Souls 2): The twin-headed spider returns surrounded by swarms of smaller arachnids.
? New Bosses:
Triphos, the Three-Headed Wolf: A flagship Night Lord who wields a massive chain sword. Fights like this define the tone of the expansion—fast-paced and chaotic.
Triphos, the Three-Headed Wolf: A flagship Night Lord who wields a massive chain sword. Fights like this define the tone of the expansion—fast-paced and chaotic.
Draconic Tree Sentinel (Elden Ring): A reskinned yet more aggressive version of the original.
Morgit, the Fell Omen: Now a roaming world boss with new moves and enhanced aggression.
Unnamed Dragon and Toad Entity: One features an exaggerated jaw and aerial attacks, while the other, a glowing-eyed toad, appears to utilize confusion or status effects.
The game’s climax revolves around the Night Lords—eight elite bosses players can select from before starting a run, indicating a major shift in boss progression and player agency.
2. Hero Classes – Prebuilt Champions, Not Custom Characters
Nightreign replaces the original game’s character creation system with eight predefined Heroes, each with a clear identity, role, and stats hidden from the player.
Nightreign replaces the original game’s character creation system with eight predefined Heroes, each with a clear identity, role, and stats hidden from the player.
?️ Network Test Classes:
Wilder: High defense, slow attacks, great for tanking.
Wilder: High defense, slow attacks, great for tanking.
Guardian: Supportive and survivable, built for frontline endurance.
Recluse: Long-range sorcerer with AOE crowd control.
Duchess: High-risk, high-reward caster with enormous burst potential.
? Leaked Heroes:
Spirit Summoner: Focuses on controlling up to 3 summons, creating chaos on the battlefield.
Spirit Summoner: Focuses on controlling up to 3 summons, creating chaos on the battlefield.
Hunter: A trap and bow-based ranged attacker, excellent at setting up ambushes.
Ninja-like Hero: Agile and stealthy, utilizing counterattacks and poison.
Ram-Horn Warrior: A brute wielding a colossal axe, excelling at stagger and bleed.
The Heroes support duplicate selection in co-op, a choice that reflects Nightreign’s focus on balance and flexibility rather than class uniqueness per party.
3. Weapons, Combat, and Mechanics
Nightreign keeps many of Elden Ring’s beloved combat elements but adds more depth and complexity.
Nightreign keeps many of Elden Ring’s beloved combat elements but adds more depth and complexity.
? Hidden Stats:
Heroes have concealed Strength, Dexterity, Intelligence, and Faith ratings. While all can use any weapon, certain weapons scale dramatically better depending on the hero’s secret strengths.
Heroes have concealed Strength, Dexterity, Intelligence, and Faith ratings. While all can use any weapon, certain weapons scale dramatically better depending on the hero’s secret strengths.
? Status Effects:
Bleed and Frostbite are far more powerful in Nightreign, making certain weapons or class combinations very potent.
Bleed and Frostbite are far more powerful in Nightreign, making certain weapons or class combinations very potent.
Bosses Drop Elemental Weapons:
Ancient Zamor enemies = Frost
Sanguine Nobles = Blood
Dragons = High-tier purple or orange loot
?️ New Mechanics:
Perfect Block & Dodge: Executing a block or dodge at the right moment can negate all damage, similar to parries in Sekiro. These mechanics reward skill-based timing and elevate combat depth.
Perfect Block & Dodge: Executing a block or dodge at the right moment can negate all damage, similar to parries in Sekiro. These mechanics reward skill-based timing and elevate combat depth.
4. Maps & World Design
Unlike the sprawling and static zones of the Lands Between, Nightreign introduces procedural elements that change per run.
Unlike the sprawling and static zones of the Lands Between, Nightreign introduces procedural elements that change per run.
? Dynamic Zones:
Volcanoes and Lava Fields may spawn randomly in different areas.
Volcanoes and Lava Fields may spawn randomly in different areas.
Scarlet Rot Swamps appear in various forms, though they are less toxic this time around.
?️ Environmental Content:
Evergaols: Contain optional bosses but do not provide loot.
Evergaols: Contain optional bosses but do not provide loot.
Caves: Function mainly as shortcuts or access tunnels, not treasure troves.
This procedural twist adds roguelike replayability and variety, keeping players guessing and on their toes during every session.
5. Multiplayer & Crossplay Enhancements
Nightreign supports full crossplay and up to 3-player co-op. While traditional Souls messages are gone, red-glowing corpses of fallen players replace them, offering small loot drops and visual storytelling cues.
Nightreign supports full crossplay and up to 3-player co-op. While traditional Souls messages are gone, red-glowing corpses of fallen players replace them, offering small loot drops and visual storytelling cues.
? Communication:
The new ping system plays a major role in coordination. Successful groups rely on pings to time boss phases, alert allies to threats, and plan out exploration.
The new ping system plays a major role in coordination. Successful groups rely on pings to time boss phases, alert allies to threats, and plan out exploration.
6. Roguelike Structure & Replay Value
Nightreign ditches linear story progression in favor of run-based gameplay. Each session starts with hero selection, a boss choice, and randomized elements influencing difficulty and rewards.
Nightreign ditches linear story progression in favor of run-based gameplay. Each session starts with hero selection, a boss choice, and randomized elements influencing difficulty and rewards.
⚖️ RNG Impact:
Good RNG: Synergistic loot early on can trivialize some bosses.
Good RNG: Synergistic loot early on can trivialize some bosses.
Bad RNG: Poor drops or harsh enemy placement can make some runs brutal.
? Solo vs Co-op:
While solo play is viable, the game is tuned for three-player teams. Solo runners must be hyper-efficient and tactical since they won’t have allies to tank or revive.
While solo play is viable, the game is tuned for three-player teams. Solo runners must be hyper-efficient and tactical since they won’t have allies to tank or revive.
What’s Next: DLC 2 & Post-Launch Plans
Surprisingly, Bandai Namco has already revealed that a second Nightreign DLC is planned. It's included in the Collector's and Deluxe editions, but development won't begin until after the base expansion launches.
Surprisingly, Bandai Namco has already revealed that a second Nightreign DLC is planned. It's included in the Collector's and Deluxe editions, but development won't begin until after the base expansion launches.
Expected to release in late 2025, the second DLC will expand the world even further, adding new heroes, bosses, and biomes. Given FromSoftware’s reputation, it’s likely that feedback from the community will shape balancing and additional content.
Elden Ring: Nightreign Release Date
Elden Ring: Nightreign officially launches on May 30, 2025, as revealed at The Game Awards 2024. Trademark filings and collector’s edition details all confirmed this highly anticipated release date.
Elden Ring: Nightreign officially launches on May 30, 2025, as revealed at The Game Awards 2024. Trademark filings and collector’s edition details all confirmed this highly anticipated release date.
FromSoftware’s decision to take bold new steps with hero classes, procedural elements, and roguelike structures shows they are not content to rest on the success of
cheap Elden Ring Items. Nightreign looks to offer a darker, tighter, and more replayable experience—one where challenge and mystery once again take center stage.
cheap Elden Ring Items. Nightreign looks to offer a darker, tighter, and more replayable experience—one where challenge and mystery once again take center stage.
With bosses from past nightmares, unpredictable worlds, and a full-featured co-op experience, Nightreign might just become FromSoftware’s most ambitious DLC yet. The real question is: will you survive the night?
