Summary

  • Choosing the right relics is crucial for Raider in order to enhance abilities and alter gameplay.
  • The Black Claw Necklace and Torn Braided Cord offer valuable buffs for damage output and endurance.
  • Equipping multiple weapons boosts attack power, making Raiders versatile frontline tanks.

Raider is, by every definition, a powerhouse. He is a beefy frontliner who likes to get stuck in and dish out some ridiculous damage, whilst letting the other Nightfarers dish out their damage from a safe distance. The class brings a lot of weight when it comes to both their abilities and playstyle, with a focus being placed heavily on colossal weapons and giant hammers.

Elden Ring Nightreign Every Ultimate Art Ranked
Elden Ring Nightreign: Every Ultimate Art, Ranked

Some ultimate arts prioritize damage, while some others help teammates to survive longer in the battlefield.

1

One of the most important factors for Raider and the other classes to consider is which relics to choose for their run. There are so many options that range from small passive buffs to bigger active changes that can alter the gameplay in much more meaningful ways. With so many choices, getting the right combination can be hard, and it's a good idea for players to really think about the kinds of effects they need to take down the next Nightlord unscathed.

7 Black Claw Necklace

Stay Near The Pillar

Nightreign Black claw necklace

Effect

  • Defeating enemies near Totem Stela restores HP
  • Defeating enemies fills more of the Art gauge
  • Poise +3

Raider has an incredibly interesting but also rather strange ultimate that raises a large totem from the earth, dealing a nice chunk of damage whilst also giving nearby players a nice damage buff. When it comes to relics, the Black Claw Necklace stands out as a great piece of utility that gives the ultimate even more buffs than it already has.

It offers some extra sustain for taking out larger groups at the end of a night, an Art restoration bonus that applies to each of the kills, and even some poise to cap it off. It's a really nice relic that gives Raider everything he needs to be the anchor of the team on the frontline of a fight.

6 Poise

Nothing Can Knock You Down

Nightreign Relic Red

Effect

  • Improved Poise Near Totem Stela
  • Poise +3

When the player is wielding a heavy weapon like a hammer or an axe, one of the biggest problems they face is incoming attacks that cancel the swing and ultimately prevent them from dealing damage. While Raider does have a nice immunity effect on his passive, it only applies to his actual skill, meaning that those heavy attacks are still going to knock the player off course.

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Having some additional poise is always going to be a nice thing as a Raider, as players will be able to happily swing away at even the toughest of foes without risking their attack being canceled. Also, with relic effects that work alongside his ultimate, players can stand by their trusty pillar and receive both a damage and poise buff at the same time, serving as an offensive and defensive tool no matter the encounter.

5 Night Of The Fathom

Helping The Team However Possible

Nightreign Night of the Fathom

Effect

  • Increased maximum HP
  • Flask also heals allies
  • Items confer effect to all nearby allies

Being the frontliner has its ups and downs, but at their core, tank players are effectively a support for their DPS. Raider does deal some serious damage up close, and for the most part, he can be considered a tank for all intents and purposes, being able to push through damage and protect his team with the handy pillar.

So, when players are deciding which relics to choose, it can be a good idea to consider whether the team needs more damage or if a supportive role is what's really needed. Night of the Fathom keeps Raider as the frontline the team needs whilst also adding in some nice supportive elements to allow the player to be more than just a walking meat shield.

4 Weapon Attack Power

You Can Always Use More Damage

Nightreign Relic Blue

Effect

  • Improved attack power with +3 Colossal, Great Axes, etc. Equipped
  • Improved Great Hammer attack power

Nightreign comes with a new and unique mechanic that allows players to equip several items at once and benefit from all of their passives whilst not having to worry about equipment loads or stat requirements. With this in mind, players should always be maxing out their slots with as many useful buffs as possible, keeping an eye out for any potential passives that could help them down the line.

This mechanic is made even stronger by certain relic effects that focus on the player's inventory and give them an additional bonus just for having extra weapons in each slot. It doesn't matter the kind of weapon the player chooses to wield, so long as they have a nice full inventory of three or more bulky armaments to fully benefit from their relic passives.

3 Torn Braided Cord

Push On Through The Punishment

Nightreign Torn Braided cord

Effect

  • Damage taken while using Character Skill improves attack power and stamina
  • Strength +3

As Raider, players are going to want to get used to taking damage a lot, whether from the various damage sources that threaten them on the frontline or from using their skill that still lets damage chip through their stance. The Torn Braided Cord is a great relic that feeds into that idea perfectly, giving players a handy boost to their damage and endurance just by performing an action they already do.

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Every retaliation will net a huge boost to their overall damage output, and when combined with the extra strength that the item provides, it turns Raider into a berserking bruiser that never stops with the aggression. Very few relics give as much power in one go, and it is the perfect choice for players who prefer a much simpler playstyle that doesn't involve much thought but still gives some serious power.

2 Base Stats

Simple Yet Strong

Nightreign Relic Green

Effect

  • Strength +3
  • Vigor +3

A character's stats in Elden Ring Nightreign may seem small and insignificant, but they actually play a big role in a lot of their gameplay and how they function on the battlefield. Basic relics that buff a character's core stats can be incredibly valuable when used in the right way, and for Raider, this means even more strength and as much health as they can possibly find.

Raider's biggest asset is his ability to hit hard and keep on swinging despite everything heading his way, and by choosing relics that buff both of those aspects of his playstyle, players will have a much better time dealing with the smaller foes across Limveld, as well as the Nightlord itself at the end of a run.

1 Stamina

Keep On Swinging

Nightreign Relic Yellow

Effect

  • Stamina recovers with each successful attack
  • Critical hit boosts stamina recovery speed
  • Endurance +3

Heavy weapons come with heavy stamina costs, and there is nothing worse in Elden Ring Nightreign than having the perfect window to wind up a huge hit but not having the stamina to perform it. There are so many relics that help with stamina regeneration and total endurance, and for players looking to give Raider a try, these should definitely be on their radar.

Some of the best buffs are related to regeneration speed, as it's one thing to have a huge stamina bar, but if the player can't recover it very fast, then it can be a little troublesome in intense fights. The ability to go in for a critical strike and then be able to dish out many more hits after is hugely valuable and gives Raider a lot more chances to strike than he would have without it.

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Action RPG
Soulslike
Roguelite
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Systems
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Top Critic Avg: 80 /100 Critics Rec: 78%
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Released
May 30, 2025
Developer(s)
From Software
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Elden Ring Nightreign Press Image 6
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WHERE TO PLAY

DIGITAL
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Genre(s)
Action RPG, Soulslike, Roguelite