In the realm of Elden Ring, the bow has traditionally served as a versatile support weapon, ideal for drawing enemy attention, softening foes from a distance, or executing precise shots to dispatch creatures like birds for rune farming. However, in the game Nightreign, when you choose to play as the Ironeye class, the bow transcends its usual role, becoming the core of your gameplay strategy. This unique approach sets the Ironeye apart from the other eight classes in Nightreign, positioning it as the closest thing to a dedicated support class in the game. Dive into the exclusive gameplay video below to see the Ironeye in action.
One of the first things you'll notice when playing as the Ironeye is their vulnerability. While they can wield any weapon they come across, sticking to a bow is crucial for maintaining distance and avoiding the direct combat that can quickly deplete their health, especially in the early stages. Fortunately, the Ironeye's starting bow is robust, delivering solid damage and featuring the Mighty Shot skill, which allows for long-range attacks, increased damage, and additional poise damage.
It's important to highlight that Nightreign has significantly revamped bow mechanics. Bows now fire at a faster rate, and you can move more swiftly while targeting locked-on enemies. A notable change is the elimination of the need for arrows, which means you're limited to the arrow type your bow comes with, but you no longer have to worry about running out during critical moments, like boss fights. Other enhancements include a new animation for shooting arrows mid-roll, the ability to perform acrobatic maneuvers like wall-running and shooting, the option to aim without entering first-person mode, and a strong attack that sends a spread of three arrows to hit multiple targets. Additionally, you can now execute backstabs or visceral attacks on downed enemies with arrows. These changes make the bow a formidable primary weapon in Nightreign, addressing the limitations felt in the base Elden Ring.
As the Ironeye, the bow isn't just a tool; it's the essence of the class. The Ironeye's primary skill, Marking, involves a swift dagger dash that penetrates enemies, leaving a mark that amplifies damage from all sources. With a short cooldown, you can keep this debuff active on bosses continuously, enhancing your team's effectiveness. It also serves as a mobility tool, allowing you to bypass enemies and escape perilous situations.
The Ironeye's ultimate ability, Single Shot, lives up to its name with a potent, singular attack. This enhanced version of Mighty Shot requires time to charge, but grants invulnerability during the animation. Once released, it pierces through obstacles, delivering massive damage and effectively clearing groups of enemies.
The true strength of the Ironeye in a team setting lies in their ability to revive allies from a safe distance. In Nightreign, reviving a downed ally involves depleting a segmented circle above their character by attacking them. Most classes must risk close combat or use valuable resources to revive, but the Ironeye can do so safely and resource-free from afar. This ability can turn the tide of battle, though it becomes challenging if an ally has fallen multiple times, as each faint adds a partition to the circle. In such cases, the Ironeye may need to use their ultimate ability just to revive, due to the increased damage output required.
While the Ironeye may not match the raw damage output of some other classes, their impact on a squad is undeniable. From enhancing team damage with their marking ability to boosting item discovery rates with their passive, clearing mobs with their ultimate, and providing safe revivals, the Ironeye's utility is unparalleled among Nightreign's classes.
