In the world of Elden Ring, the bow traditionally serves as a support weapon, used to draw enemy attention or to weaken foes before engaging with a primary weapon. It's often employed for tactical advantages, like causing a specific enemy, such as a bird, to plummet to its demise for rune farming. However, when you step into the shoes of the Ironeye in Nightreign, the bow transcends its usual role, becoming the core of the class. This transformation results in a unique playstyle that sets Ironeye apart from the other eight classes in Nightreign, positioning it as the game's closest equivalent to a support class. Experience the Ironeye's capabilities in our exclusive gameplay video below.
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 direct combat, as they can't withstand much damage, especially in the early stages. Thankfully, the starting bow is quite effective, delivering solid damage and featuring the Mighty Shot skill, which allows for long-distance attacks with increased damage and poise impact.
It's important to note that the mechanics of bows have been significantly revamped in Nightreign. Bows now shoot faster, and you can move more swiftly while targeting locked-on enemies. Additionally, there's no longer a need to manage arrow supplies, although you're limited to the arrow type your bow comes equipped with. This change is a boon during intense battles, eliminating the worry of running out of ammunition. Other enhancements include a new animation for shooting arrows while rolling, the ability to perform acrobatic feats like running up walls and shooting, and the option to aim without switching to first-person mode, all while moving at a brisk pace. The strong attack now releases a spread of three arrows, capable of hitting multiple targets, and you can even execute backstabs or visceral attacks on downed foes with arrows. These updates transform the bow into a formidable primary weapon, addressing the shortcomings it faced in the base version of Elden Ring.
For the Ironeye, the bow isn't just a tool; it's the essence of their class. Their primary skill, Marking, is a swift dashing dagger attack that pierces through enemies, marking them to amplify damage from all sources. With a short cooldown, this skill can be consistently applied to bosses, enhancing your team's offensive capabilities. It also serves as an excellent mobility tool, allowing you to evade dangerous situations by passing through enemies.
The Ironeye's ultimate ability, Single Shot, is a potent, concentrated attack. It's an enhanced version of Mighty Shot, requiring time to charge but granting full invulnerability during the process. Once unleashed, it pierces through obstacles, dealing massive damage and clearing groups of enemies efficiently.
The true value of the Ironeye shines in team play, particularly in 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 expend resources to revive, the Ironeye can do so safely and without cost. This ability can be the deciding factor in a team's success. However, reviving an ally becomes more challenging with each additional segment added to the circle upon subsequent deaths, as the Ironeye's ranged damage may not suffice for multiple segments without using their ultimate.
Although the Ironeye may not match the raw damage output of other classes, their impact on a team is undeniable. From enhancing team damage with their marking ability, boosting item discovery, clearing mobs with their ultimate, to their unparalleled capacity for safe revivals, the Ironeye's utility is unmatched among Nightreign's nightfarers.
