Raider is one of the few tank characters in Elden Ring Nightreign who can also dish out a decent amount of damage to a boss. This Nightfarer starts out every Expedition with a Greataxe with an active skill that is extremely useful to him. His base kit isn't that complicated to understand, but getting better at him depends entirely on the player's playstyle and how they adapt in every situation.
Elden Ring Nightreign: How to Restore FP
Elden Ring Nightreign makes recovering FP a touch more complicated than the original Elden Ring did, but there are still plenty of ways to do it.
This guide offers information on Raider’s abilities, ideal Relic choices, and strong weapon picks to help players get the most out of each Expedition in Elden Ring Nightreign.
Nightreign Raider Playstyle & Class Overview
How To Play Raider In Nightreign, Explained
A pirate who sailed to the Lands Between from a nearby waterway.
The opportunity to try his hand against the Nightlord proved too glorious of an opportunity to pass up.
Raider is one of the few characters in the game who comes with both high HP and Stamina, letting him withstand extended fights before needing to heal with the Flask. With an S scaling in Strength, he becomes an absolute powerhouse, capable of dealing serious damage while soaking up hits. This makes him one of the most reliable tanks in Elden Ring Nightreign, especially in party-based Expeditions where staying alive at the frontlines is crucial.
Since Raider is expected to absorb most of the enemy aggression, it’s essential to upgrade the Flask as early as possible. Players can do this by visiting the many churches scattered across Limveld. His playstyle might feel unfamiliar at first, especially for those used to agile or ranged characters. But once you learn to embrace the damage and lean into his durability, Raider becomes a rewarding and dependable class to master.
Raider Character Skills & Ultimate Art
Fighter’s Resolve, Retaliate, and Totem Stela
Raider Passive: Fighter’s Resolve
- Taking damage boosts Retaliate potency, and cannot be knocked down while using it.
- As the player takes damage, this upgrades Retaliate, allowing them to survive a fatal attack.
Raider Skill: Retaliate
- Assume attack stance and pummel vigorously.
- The enhanced version of the skill can be charged longer, dealing extra damage and staggering larger enemies as well.
- The skill does not make the player invincible, but it reduces the damage taken considerably.
Raider Ultimate Art: Totem Stela
- Drive the gravekeeper’s wedge into the earth to summon a giant tombstone.
- A climbable rock platform that allows uninterrupted ranged attacks.
- Also makes traversal easier when no other climbing options are available nearby.
How to Cast Spells in Elden Ring Nightreign
Everything players need to know to cast spells and incantations in Elden Ring Nightreign.
Best Raider Relics In Nightreign
Relic Bonuses Raider Benefits From Most
Improving Greataxe Attack Power
As players will be using the Greataxe most of the time, it’s best to equip a Relic that complements that weapon choice. There are many Greataxes in the game that drop as boss rewards, making this type of Relic a must-have. If you happen to get one with additional effects, such as boosting Strength or Vigor, it becomes an even better fit for enhancing Raider’s overall performance.
Buffing Character Skill
Another Relic effect you can acquire buffs your character skill, making it so that taking damage during the skill increases both attack power and stamina. These two attributes are extremely important for Raider. Boosting attack power helps him dish out even more damage while maintaining aggro, and increased stamina allows him to dodge or block more frequently without running dry. This is crucial for surviving extended boss fights where every bit of mobility and damage counts.
Enhancing Ultimate Art
As Totem Stela is an important part of his kit, Relics that enhance the Ultimate Art in any way are extremely useful for Raider. The Black Claw Necklace, which causes enemies near Totem Stela to restore HP upon defeat, can be acquired from his Remembrance questline. With this in your possession, you can take on large groups of enemies without worry, as you'll heal after each kill. Some Night Bosses also summon multiple enemies, making this Relic especially effective in those encounters.
There is also a Relic that increases the duration of the Ultimate Art, which is also a great addition to his Relic Rites.
Best Raider Weapons
Raider Favored Weapon: Greataxes, Great hammers, and Colossal weapons
Raider starts with a Greataxe equipped with the Endure weapon skill. This skill is a core part of his playstyle, allowing him to gain Poise and take reduced damage, so it’s crucial to keep the weapon with you at all times.
Even if you come across a better Greataxe during your expedition, it’s still important to switch back momentarily and use Endure to activate its benefit before swapping to your preferred weapon.
Raider can also wield Great Hammers, some of which come with unique passives or effects that are incredibly helpful in specific boss encounters. Thanks to his exceptional Strength scaling, players can also experiment with other Colossal weapons that deal high damage or offer situational advantages. He can even use Greatbows, which may not seem like a natural fit but are surprisingly effective in certain moments, such as breaking weak points or dealing damage from a distance when it’s too risky to go in.
Weapons can be upgraded using Smithing Stones found near the Ghostly Merchants scattered throughout Limveld.
His high Strength stat opens up a wide variety of weapons to choose from, giving players the flexibility to tailor their loadout depending on the threats they face. With an inventory full of powerful Colossal weapons and strong passives, Raider becomes a reliable and adaptable frontline fighter throughout every stage of an Expedition.
Elden Ring Nightreign: How To Replay & Beat The Tutorial Boss
At the end of tutorial level, players will meet a familiar foe as a boss, and taking it down will reward them with a relic in Elden Ring Nightreign.
Advanced Tips For Raider In Nightreign
How To Get Better At Playing Raider
Using Your Ultimate Art Correctly
Totem Stela is Raider's Ultimate Art, and using it during boss fights temporarily changes how you approach combat. When activated, it creates a small area where all party members receive a Strength boost. Once the totem is placed, players can climb on top of it and remain elevated for the duration of the Ultimate.
This high ground allows for uninterrupted ranged attacks, making it easier to target bosses safely. Since Raider can equip a Greatbow, it’s recommended to keep one in your inventory to capitalize on this advantage whenever the Totem is active.
Being Aggressive Is The Key
As the Raider, whether you like it or not, your job will be to act as a frontline and take as much damage as you can. This is because of his passive, which grows stronger the more damage you take. Due to his low FP pool, Raider relies more on healing flasks and consumable items rather than Incantations in Elden Ring Nightreign. Thankfully, the game provides a generous amount of items across Limveld, and you can stock up by exploring various locations thoroughly before heading into tougher encounters.
Once you’re geared and ready, your goal in battle is to stay as close to enemies as possible. Taking consistent damage activates your passive and builds enough Poise to tank through heavy attacks while still dishing out your own. This makes Raider a menace up close, but you still need to monitor your health bar.
Despite having high HP, he isn’t invincible and can be brought down if overconfident or unsupported.
Elden Ring Nightreign
-
OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 80 /100 Critics Rec: 78%
- Released
- May 30, 2025
- Developer(s)
- From Software
- Publisher(s)
- Bandai Namco Entertainment, From Software
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG, Soulslike, Roguelite
