FromSoftware released Nightreign on 30 May 2025 as a three player roguelike built on Elden Ring's combat. Every expedition drops a squad into Limveld for three in-game days, with the layout of camps, churches and forts reshuffled each run. Day three always ends against one of eight Nightlords, and losing wipes the entire loadout you spent the run assembling.
Your choice of equipment defines your damage output and playstyle. This guide ranks every major option, explains what makes each one strong, and tells you which builds they pair best with.
Equipment Rankings
| Equipment | Tier | Best For | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rivers of Blood | S | Nightlords with large hitboxes where bleed procs land repeatedly, especially Gladius and Adel. | A katana carrying the Corpse Piler skill, which fires arcs of blood that stack bleed fast on large targets. |
| Moonveil | A | Hybrid casters who want a melee option that still benefits from their intelligence scaling. | A katana with Transient Moonlight, a sheathed slash that throws a magic wave for chip damage at range. |
| Bloodhound's Fang | A | Wylder and Raider players who want damage without giving up mobility. | A curved greatsword with a mobile leaping skill that covers ground and dodges in the same animation. |
| Dark Moon Greatsword | B | Intelligence builds fighting bosses that punish melee uptime with sweeping attacks. | A greatsword whose charged attacks throw frost projectiles, letting you pressure a boss from mid range. |
| Black Bow | B | Ironeye and anyone tagging Evergaol bosses or breaking distant weak points. | A light bow that fires from a crouched stance with faster draw speed than the heavier bows. |
S-Tier: Rivers of Blood
A katana carrying the Corpse Piler skill, which fires arcs of blood that stack bleed fast on large targets. It drops from chests, small enemies, bosses and merchants, so it is a lucky find rather than a plan.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | S |
| Best For | Nightlords with large hitboxes where bleed procs land repeatedly, especially Gladius and Adel. |
| Key Mechanic | Three day expedition loop |
| Recommended Build | Wylder |
How to get it: Available from mid-game onward. See our walkthrough for the exact progression point.
Best builds using Rivers of Blood: Pairs naturally with Wylder thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
A-Tier: Moonveil
A katana with Transient Moonlight, a sheathed slash that throws a magic wave for chip damage at range. Magic scaling makes it the natural bridge weapon for Recluse and other intelligence users.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Best For | Hybrid casters who want a melee option that still benefits from their intelligence scaling. |
| Key Mechanic | Night's Tide closing ring |
| Recommended Build | Guardian |
How to get it: Accessible in the early-to-mid game. Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using Moonveil: Pairs naturally with Guardian thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
A-Tier: Bloodhound's Fang
A curved greatsword with a mobile leaping skill that covers ground and dodges in the same animation. It hits hard enough for day two bosses while keeping you out of counter windows.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Best For | Wylder and Raider players who want damage without giving up mobility. |
| Key Mechanic | Rune levelling at Sites of Grace |
| Recommended Build | Ironeye |
How to get it: Accessible in the early-to-mid game. Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using Bloodhound's Fang: Pairs naturally with Ironeye thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
B-Tier: Dark Moon Greatsword
A greatsword whose charged attacks throw frost projectiles, letting you pressure a boss from mid range. Frost buildup rewards squads that already have a frontline holding aggro.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Best For | Intelligence builds fighting bosses that punish melee uptime with sweeping attacks. |
| Key Mechanic | Relics and Relic Rites |
| Recommended Build | Duchess |
How to get it: Found in later areas. Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using Dark Moon Greatsword: Pairs naturally with Duchess thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
B-Tier: Black Bow
A light bow that fires from a crouched stance with faster draw speed than the heavier bows. It is the ranged workhorse for chipping down field bosses before the squad commits to melee.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Best For | Ironeye and anyone tagging Evergaol bosses or breaking distant weak points. |
| Key Mechanic | Shifting Earth events |
| Recommended Build | Recluse |
How to get it: Found in later areas. Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using Black Bow: Pairs naturally with Recluse thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
Equipment Progression Path
The order you should acquire equipment as you progress:
- Starting gear → Enough to clear Roundtable Hold
- Moonveil → Your first real upgrade, available early
- Bloodhound's Fang → Mid-game upgrade with good scaling
- Rivers of Blood → Best-in-slot, aim for this by late game
- Upgrade to max → The power spike from max upgrades is enormous
Equipment Tips
- Always upgrade your primary equipment before diversifying. One strong option beats three mediocre ones.
- Match your equipment to your build's stat priorities for maximum scaling.
- Look up your target Nightlord's weakness before you queue. Gladius and Adel take extra damage from poison, Gnoster and Caligo from fire, Maris and Fulghor from lightning, Libra from madness and Heolstor from holy. Picking a matching weapon on the first church visit saves ten minutes of hunting.
- Check our tier list for how equipment rankings affect overall build effectiveness.
More ELDEN RING NIGHTREIGN Guides
- ELDEN RING NIGHTREIGN ELDEN RING NIGHTREIGN Overview
- ELDEN RING NIGHTREIGN Best Builds
- ELDEN RING NIGHTREIGN Tier List
- ELDEN RING NIGHTREIGN Walkthrough
- ELDEN RING NIGHTREIGN Beginner's Guide
- ELDEN RING NIGHTREIGN Tips & Tricks
- ELDEN RING NIGHTREIGN Combat Guide
- ELDEN RING NIGHTREIGN Boss Guide
- ELDEN RING NIGHTREIGN Maps & Locations
- ELDEN RING NIGHTREIGN Crafting Guide
- ELDEN RING NIGHTREIGN Classes & Characters
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