FromSoftware’s Elden Ring: Nightreign is designed with cooperative multiplayer at its core. Each expedition is structured around a trio of Nightfarers working together to survive the randomized chaos of Limveld. But despite its intended three-player format, the game does offer a solo mode. And while soloing Nightreign may not be the most forgiving path, it’s absolutely viable with the right preparation, strategic choices, and a good grasp of risk management.
This article gives everything solo players need to know; from setting up singleplayer mode to choosing the best characters, and adapting tactics that make all the difference when you’re fighting without backup.
Activating Solo Mode and What Changes
Solo mode isn’t a workaround or cheat—it’s an official setting provided by the game. You can start a solo expedition by heading to the Roundtable Hold and opening the expedition menu. From there, move to the matchmaking settings tab and change the expedition type to “Singleplayer.” Once this is set, your expedition will begin with balance adjustments specifically designed for lone players.
These adjustments include reduced enemy health and damage to account for the lack of allies. A recent patch also made the experience more manageable: solo players now get one automatic revive during the final Nightlord fight. Additionally, rune acquisition throughout your run has been increased, which helps you level up and gear faster.
High-rarity relics also become more accessible on the later expedition days, as well as through Scenic Flat stone purchases at the Small Jar Bazaar. Importantly, players can also purchase an additional revive before the Nightlord battle for 10,000 runes. This makes the final boss encounter far more survivable, especially when mistakes happen under pressure.
While these adjustments certainly help, they don’t trivialize the experience. You’re still alone, with no backup to revive you, no one to draw enemy aggro, and no one to capitalize on your buffs or status effects. That means every encounter requires full concentration and smarter positioning.
Best Solo Characters in Nightreign
Not every Nightfarer is suited for lone survival. Some, like the support-oriented characters, depend too heavily on synergy with teammates to shine in solo. Others, however, are naturally self-sufficient and can handle the pressure of facing down multiple enemies or soloing bosses without aid.
Ironeye
Ironeye is one of the most reliable options for solo players, especially those new to the game. His playstyle is built around staying at range, dealing steady damage while avoiding close-quarter chaos. Thanks to his speed and the efficiency of shortbows and longbows, Ironeye can thin out enemy groups before they ever reach him.
His passive ability, Eagle Eye, also increases loot from early encounters, which can lead to faster build progression. His active skill, Marking, not only increases damage output but also functions as a powerful evasive move, helping him pass through enemy attacks and reposition mid-combat.
While his health pool is lower than some other Nightfarers, the ability to avoid danger and manage spacing more than makes up for it when used well.
Raider
Raider takes a very different approach. He embodies raw strength, high durability, and aggressive disruption. With massive weapons and staggering potential, Raider can overwhelm enemies in a few well-timed hits. His ability to interrupt and stagger even bosses with light attack chains provides a level of control that’s rare in solo play.
Raider’s tankiness is another advantage—he can absorb far more damage than most characters, which gives him the breathing room to correct mistakes or brute-force fights that other Nightfarers must carefully dance around. His active abilities are also geared toward control. Retaliate is a counterattack that reduces incoming damage and punishes with a powerful headbutt, while Totem Stela summons a climbable gravestone that acts as both cover and a zone-based damage buff.
His only downside is his slow movement, which means you’ll need to be confident in your positioning and prepared to commit when you engage. But if you’re used to strength builds in previous FromSoftware games, Raider will feel like a natural fit.
Executor
Executor is a more technical choice. He’s not built for casual solo runs, but in the hands of a player who understands his toolkit, he can become nearly untouchable. Executor’s main appeal lies in his Cursed Sword, which allows you to deflect nearly any attack, similar to Sekiro’s parry system.
There’s no cooldown on these deflects, so once you learn a boss’s attack patterns, you can repeatedly stagger and punish them in a way few other characters can match. It’s a high-risk style of play, as mistiming a deflect can mean instant failure, especially since Executor has a limited health pool and isn’t well-suited for multi-target situations.
That said, if things go south, his Ultimate—Aspects of the Crucible: Beast—lets him transform into a powerful creature capable of dishing out massive area damage and staggering even stronger enemies. Executor requires discipline, timing, and familiarity with each boss’s moveset, but in return, he can dominate the late-game Nightlord fights better than most.
Wylder
Wylder is also worth a mention for solo players who prefer balance and flexibility. While not as specialized as the three listed above, Wylder offers solid health, middle-of-the-road stats, and compatibility with nearly every weapon or relic type. His adaptability makes him especially forgiving during runs where loot variety is unpredictable.
For players still learning the solo pacing of Nightreign, Wylder offers a smooth entry point with room to experiment.
Strategic Progression Across Expedition Days
Surviving a solo expedition isn’t just about moment-to-moment combat. It’s about building momentum over three days and planning your route intelligently.
Day One: Early Momentum
On the first day, your priority should be securing small victories. Focus on clearing low-level camps and finding churches, treasure caches, and sorcerer rises that provide early flask upgrades and relics. This sets the foundation for a stronger build and avoids the risk of engaging high-level enemies too early.
Use this time to test weapons and relics you acquire to see what synergizes with your chosen Nightfarer.
Day Two: Power Spikes and Bosses
Day two is the right time to become more aggressive. Return to cleared settlements to upgrade your gear and start targeting world bosses. These encounters will push your skills, but they also reward powerful passives that can define your run.
If you’re playing as Raider, this is when your build starts to show its true strength. If you’re Ironeye, you’ll now have the range, damage output, and evade tools to pick apart tough enemies methodically. Keep an eye out for merchants like the Small Jar Bazaar, where you can buy Smithing Stones and relics that push your build even further.
Day Three: Final Prep for Nightlord
On day three, your focus should shift toward final preparation. This is your last window to buy upgrades, refine your loadout, and scout terrain before facing the Nightlord. It’s also when the increased rune drop rate from the solo patch starts to pay off.
By now, your character should feel powerful and well-suited to your playstyle. If you’re struggling at this point, reconsider your relic loadout and ensure you’re using all your consumables. Items like greased weapons and defense-boosting foods can make or break your final encounters.
Don’t forget—you also have access to a purchased revive if needed, in addition to the free one granted by the patch.
Final Thoughts
Soloing Elden Ring: Nightreign takes more than reflexes. It’s about understanding your Nightfarer, using every tool the game offers, and learning from each run.
The revive and rune boosts help, but the challenge remains. Every mistake hurts, and every win feels well-earned.
Remember, Nightreign was originally built for co-op. Loot randomness, ability synergy, and boss pacing reflect that. Some fans argue that softening solo mode reduces the satisfaction. Whether you agree or not, solo play is now fully supported.
As updates and feedback shape the game, soloing continues to improve. Whether you’re picking off enemies as Ironeye, parrying with Executor, smashing with Raider, or adapting with Wylder, solo mode is more accessible than ever. But don’t expect it to be easy. That’s never been FromSoftware’s way. Play Now
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