Sekiro Fans Need to Try This One Elden Ring Nightreign Class

Being action-RPGs, most of FromSoftware's past games have let players create their own unique character and build, and equip their own selection of armaments. 2019's Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice took a slightly different approach. Leaning more into action-adventure than action-RPG, Sekiro had players controlling the same titular character, and accessing the same arsenal of weapons and tools as one another. Elden Ring Nightreign bridges the gap between these two FromSoft approaches.

A co-op roguelike, Elden Ring Nightreign gives players eight distinct classes (Nightfarers) to choose from, each one equipped with an affinity for a specific weapon type, along with a unique Character Skill, passive ability, and Ultimate Art. The Executor is one such Nightfarer, and he wields a katana just like Sekiro. But the similarities between the two FromSoft characters don't end there.

elden ring nightreign dark souls nostalgia

Elden Ring Nightreign Could’ve Kicked Open the Door to Nostalgia, But Only Left It a Crack Open

Elden Ring Nightreign caused a lot of discussion when its Dark Souls content was revealed, but its inclusion flies in the face of industry trends.

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By Emma Neeson

Sekiro Fans Need to Try Elden Ring Nightreign's Executor

Elden Ring Nightreign's Executor Borrows Sekiro's Deflection Mechanic

One of Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice's defining features is its Posture system and accompanying deflection mechanic. Something of an evolution of Dark Souls' parry, Sekiro's deflections see players timing their block to match with an oncoming enemy blow. If deflected successfully, players will see a bright ring appear around their sword, and hear the satisfying chime of metal-on-metal. Successfully deflecting multiple blows in a row will cause an enemy's Posture meter to build, which eventually leads to them falling open to a fierce counterattack.

In Elden Ring Nightreign, players can experience a very similar deflection mechanic by selecting the game's Executor class. Nightreign's Executor has a Character Skill that lets them equip a cursed sword. This cursed sword can be used to deflect oncoming blows, almost in the exact same fashion as Sekiro. The sound effect played following a successful deflection is also nearly identical to the one used in Sekiro.

However, rather than build up an enemy's Posture meter, Elden Ring Nightreign's deflection mechanic charges the Executor's cursed sword. Once fully charged, the player can unleash a powerful sweeping attack. Much like in Sekiro, the Executor's deflect ability is a tricky one to master, but it can lead to some incredibly rewarding moments where the player is able to negate all oncoming damage and deliver an aggressive counterstrike.

Unfortunately, Elden Ring Nightreign's deflection mechanic can quickly fade into the background of an ongoing match. As players find better weapons during their run, they're a bit less likely to use the Executor's cursed sword, especially given the greater risk they come under when trying to parry the game's toughest foes.

Nightreign's Executor Has Another Ability That Could Be a Sekiro Reference

While Elden Ring Nightreign's deflection mechanic seems to be a direct callback to Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, the Executor might be hiding one other Sekiro reference in plain sight. The Executor's Ultimate Art sees the katana-wielding samurai transform himself into a gigantic beast. Though this is certainly an otherworldly beast, its physical characteristics aren't too dissimilar from a wolf's. It's definitely a long shot, but this could be a more subtle reference to Sekiro, given the game's title translates to "one-armed wolf."

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