Elden Ring Nightreign retains many of the mechanics and features of the original Elden Ring, including the ability to swap between one-handing and two-handing a weapon, and the ability to use a special dual-wielding moveset by equipping two weapons of the same type. By taking advantage of this, players can greatly increase the effectiveness of certain weapons and weapon types, especially when playing certain characters.
This Elden Ring Nightreign guide will explain how to dual wield, how to two-hand a weapon, and the benefits of each, discussing situations where using this mechanic will be beneficial. For example, characters with high strength like the Wylder and Raider will benefit greatly from two-handing their heavy weapons of choice, while nimbler characters like the Duchess and Executor can deal a lot more damage by making good use of dual-wielding movesets.
Elden Ring Nightreign: How To Surge Sprint & Wall Climb
Elden Ring Nightrein offers new movement abilities to players like Surge Sprinting and Wall Climbing to traverse the vertical landscape of Limveld.
How to Dual Wield in Elden Ring Nightreign
Dual Wielding is surprisingly straightforward in Nightreign, as players simply need to equip two weapons of the same type, one in their left hand and one in their right. This will allow them to perform dual-wielding attacks by pressing the light attack button for the weapon in their left hand (L1 on PS5). This works with all melee weapon types, but some of the best options in terms of sheer speed and damage are daggers, katanas, and axes.
Dual Wielding is perfect for further strengthening characters like the Duchess (especially if you can get hold of two magic damage daggers) and the Executor (particularly with Katanas that inflict different status effects like poison, rot, or frostbite).
How to Two-Hand Weapons in Elden Ring Nightreign
To hold a weapon with both hands, just hold down the Interact Button (triangle on PS5) and then tap the light attack button for the hand you're holding that weapon in (L1 or R1 on PS5). Repeat the input to swap back to holding it in one hand. Two-Handing a weapon will increase your effective strength for the purposes of that weapon's damage, so any weapon that has damage scaling off the strength stat will deal more damage if you two-hand it. Two-handing a weapon also allows you to use its weapon art instead of the weapon art of whatever's in your other hand, which is helpful when using shields that don't have the "No Skill" weapon art.
The Wylder, Raider, and Guardian all benefit greatly from Two-Handing their heavy weapons when they need to prioritize damage.
Elden Ring Nightreign
- Released
- May 30, 2025
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG, Soulslike, Roguelite