Elden Ring: Nightreign - Ironeye Hands-On Preview - IGN

While the bow in Elden Ring is typically used as a support weapon to pull aggro, weaken enemies from a distance, or farm runes by causing creatures like birds to fall to their demise, it takes on a central role when you play as the Ironeye in Nightreign. This class offers a unique playstyle, setting it apart from the other eight classes in Nightreign and positioning it as the game's closest equivalent to a support class. Dive into the exclusive gameplay video below to see the Ironeye in action.

One of the first things you'll notice about the Ironeye is their fragility. Although they can wield any weapon they come across, sticking to a bow is key to maintaining a safe distance from combat and avoiding the hits that could quickly take them down, especially early in the game. Thankfully, the Ironeye's starting bow is quite effective, delivering solid damage and equipped with the Mighty Shot skill. This skill allows for long-range attacks, increased damage, and additional poise damage, making it a valuable asset.

It's important to note that Nightreign has significantly enhanced the mechanics of bows. They now shoot faster, and you can move more swiftly while targeting locked-on enemies. Moreover, the need for a constant arrow supply is gone, although you're limited to the arrow type of your equipped bow. Other enhancements include a new animation for shooting arrows out of a roll, the ability to perform acrobatic feats like wall-running and shooting mid-leap, the option to aim without entering first-person mode, and a strong attack that fires a spread of three arrows capable of hitting multiple enemies. Additionally, you can now backstab or perform visceral attacks on downed enemies using arrows. These improvements make the bow a formidable primary weapon in Nightreign, addressing the limitations felt in the base version of Elden Ring.

As the Ironeye, the bow is not just a tool; it's the essence of the class. The Ironeye's main skill, Marking, is a swift dashing dagger attack that passes through enemies, leaving a mark that amplifies damage from all sources. With a short cooldown, you can almost always keep this debuff active on a boss if you're vigilant. It also serves as an excellent mobility tool, allowing you to navigate through enemy lines to escape danger.

The Ironeye's ultimate ability, Single Shot, is a powerful, enhanced version of Mighty Shot. It requires some time to charge, but during this period, you're invulnerable. Once fired, the shot pierces through nearly everything in its path, dealing substantial damage and making it ideal for clearing groups of enemies.

In team scenarios, the Ironeye excels at safely reviving allies from a distance. In Nightreign, reviving an ally involves emptying a segmented circle above the downed character by attacking them. While most classes must risk close combat or use mana or their ultimate ability to revive, the Ironeye can do so from afar without expending any resources. This capability can significantly impact the success of a run. However, the challenge increases with each additional segment added to the circle upon subsequent ally deaths, as the Ironeye struggles to clear all three segments from a distance 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, increasing item drops for the group, to their effective crowd control ultimate and their unique safe revival method, the Ironeye's contributions are invaluable in Nightreign.