In Elden Ring, the bow typically serves as a support weapon, ideal for drawing enemy attention, softening them up from a distance, or even farming runes by causing a bird to plummet to its death. However, in Nightreign, when you choose to play as the Ironeye, the bow becomes the core of your gameplay. This class offers a unique playstyle, distinct from the other eight classes in Nightreign, and it's arguably the closest thing to a support class the game provides. Experience the Ironeye in action through the exclusive gameplay video below.
One of the first things you'll notice when playing as the Ironeye is their vulnerability. Although they can wield any weapon, sticking to a bow is crucial for keeping a safe distance from combat, as they can't withstand many hits, particularly in the early stages. Thankfully, the starting bow is quite effective, dealing decent damage and equipped with the Mighty Shot skill, allowing you to strike from an impressive distance, inflict extra damage, and disrupt enemy poise.
It's important to note that Nightreign has significantly revamped how bows function. They now fire more rapidly, and you can move more swiftly while targeting locked-on enemies. Another significant change is the elimination of arrow inventory management, meaning you're limited to the type of arrow your bow uses, but you'll never run out during critical moments like boss fights. Additionally, new features include a unique animation for shooting arrows while rolling, the ability to perform acrobatic maneuvers like running up walls and shooting mid-leap, and the option to stay in third-person view while aiming, enhancing mobility. The strong attack now fires a trio of arrows capable of hitting multiple foes, and you can even execute backstabs or visceral attacks on downed enemies with arrows. These enhancements transform the bow into a formidable primary weapon, addressing its limitations in the base Elden Ring.
As the Ironeye, the bow is not just a weapon but the essence of the class. Their primary skill, Marking, is a swift dagger dash that pierces through enemies, marking them for increased damage from all attacks. With a short cooldown, this skill can be almost constantly active on bosses, making it an excellent tool for both offense and mobility.
The Ironeye's ultimate ability, Single Shot, is a powerful, single arrow that serves as an enhanced version of Mighty Shot. While it takes time to charge, you're invulnerable during the process, and the shot itself can pierce through multiple enemies, making it perfect for crowd control.
What truly sets the Ironeye apart in team play is their ability to revive allies from a distance. In Nightreign, reviving a downed ally involves clearing a partitioned circle above them by attacking. Most classes must risk getting close or use valuable resources to revive, but the Ironeye can do so safely from afar without consuming any resources. This ability can be the deciding factor in a successful team run. However, reviving an ally with multiple partitions on the circle is challenging for the Ironeye due to their limited long-range damage output, unless they use their ultimate for revival.
While the Ironeye may not match the raw damage output of some classes, their impact on a team is undeniable. From enhancing team damage with Marking, boosting item discovery, clearing groups of enemies with their ultimate, to safely reviving allies, the Ironeye's utility is unmatched among Nightreign's classes.
