In Elden Ring, the bow typically serves as a support weapon, used to draw enemy attention, weaken foes from a distance, or even farm runes by causing certain creatures to fall to their demise. However, when you step into the shoes of the Ironeye class in Nightreign, the bow transforms into the core of your gameplay, offering a unique playstyle distinct from the other eight classes. This makes Ironeye the closest thing to a support class in Nightreign. Dive into the exclusive gameplay video below to see the Ironeye in action.
Playing as the Ironeye, you'll quickly notice their vulnerability. While they can wield any weapon, sticking to a bow is crucial for maintaining distance and avoiding direct combat, as they can't withstand many hits, especially early in the game. Thankfully, the starting bow is robust, delivering solid damage and equipped with the Mighty Shot skill, enabling long-range attacks with increased damage and poise impact.
Nightreign has significantly revamped the bow mechanics. Bows now shoot faster, and you can move more swiftly while targeting locked-on enemies. The need for arrows has been eliminated, though you're limited to the type of arrows your bow comes with. This change is a relief, as it removes the worry of running out of ammunition during critical moments like boss fights. Additional enhancements include a new animation for shooting arrows mid-roll, the ability to perform acrobatic feats like wall-running and shooting, and the option to aim without switching to first-person view, all while moving faster. The strong attack now fires a spread of three arrows, capable of hitting multiple targets, and you can even execute backstabs or visceral attacks on downed enemies with arrows. These updates make the bow a formidable primary weapon, addressing the shortcomings it had in the base version of Elden Ring.
The Ironeye's main skill, Marking, is a swift dagger dash that pierces through enemies, marking them for increased damage from all sources. With a short cooldown, you can keep this debuff active on bosses continuously if you're vigilant. It also serves as an excellent mobility tool, allowing you to escape tight spots by passing through enemies.
The Ironeye's ultimate, Single Shot, is a potent, charged attack that renders you invulnerable during its animation. Once fired, it delivers massive damage and penetrates through obstacles, making it ideal for clearing groups of enemies.
The Ironeye truly excels in team play, particularly with their ability to revive allies from a safe distance. In Nightreign, reviving a downed ally involves depleting a segmented circle above their character through attacks. While most classes must risk close combat or use valuable resources to revive, the Ironeye can do so safely and without expending any resources. This capability can be the deciding factor in a team's success. However, reviving an ally becomes challenging if they've fallen multiple times, as additional segments are added to the circle, and the Ironeye's long-range damage may not suffice without using their ultimate.
Although the Ironeye may not match the raw damage output of other classes, their utility on a team is unparalleled. From enhancing team damage with their marking ability, boosting item discovery, clearing mobs with their ultimate, to safely reviving teammates, the Ironeye's contributions are invaluable among Nightreign's nightfarers.
