Elden Ring Nightreign Raider Guide

Welcome to the Elden Ring Nightreign Raider guide, soulslike fans! At the time of writing this, the only public network test for the game didn’t let us play Raider, who got showcased later on, so we decided to give you a bit more in-depth look at this character. In this guide, you will find an explanation of abilities, playstyle, pros and cons, and much, much more. That way, you’ll have a better idea of whether Raider is a character for you.

Murk is key to unlocking relics, cosmetics, and more at the Small Jar Bazaar — but grinding it out takes time. Buy Nightreign Murk at Skycoach to speed up your progression, grab the upgrades you want early, and head into your next expedition fully equipped.

Raider Overview

The goal of the Elden Ring Nightreign Raider overview is to explain what this nightfarer represents. Forged by the storms of the sea and hardened through unrelenting combat, this class channels overwhelming strength into every encounter. Designed for players who favor a relentless, aggressive playstyle, the Raider excels at breaking through enemy lines with punishing blows and exceptional tenacity.

Armed with a colossal double-headed axe and abilities that favor pure Strength scaling, the Raider thrives in the thick of the fight—where most others would falter. Unlike defensive tank classes like the Guardian, the Raider isn’t concerned with absorbing damage for allies. Instead, he powers through hits, turns pain into momentum, and leads the charge in close-quarters brawls.

His signature skill, Retaliate, rewards boldness by making him unflinching in the face of attacks. Combined with the Fighter’s Resolve passive, this skill becomes an unstoppable strike that can’t be interrupted, setting the tone for the Raider’s brutal tempo. And when the moment calls for something bigger, Totem Stela delivers—a towering gravestone that damages enemies, buffs allies, and can even be climbed for a tactical edge.

Now, let’s get to the most interesting parts of the character in our ERN Raider guide.

Raider Pros and Cons

The Raider is built for players who thrive in the chaos of close-range combat and enjoy the thrill of powering through enemy attacks. His kit encourages direct confrontation and rewards bold, aggressive gameplay. Unlike Guardian, who shields and protects, the Raider is all offense — fueled by strength, timing, and sheer defiance. So, what are the Elden Ring Nightreign Raider pros and cons? Let’s have a look:

Pros:

1. Unstoppable Offense: Retaliate and Endure allow the Raider to absorb damage and stay locked into powerful attack chains without being interrupted.
2. Totem Utility: Totem Stela isn't just a damage dealer — it buffs nearby allies and gives the team vertical control in open arenas.
3. Excels in 1v1 Combat: Especially effective in boss duels and gladiator-style Remembrance fights thanks to his ability to tank and punish in isolation.

Cons:

1. Lack of Range Options: Struggles to engage enemies at a distance or deal with aerial threats.
2. Slow and Predictable: Heavy swings and telegraphed animations make him vulnerable to faster enemies or well-timed counters.
3. Limited Versatility: Outside of smashing things, Raider brings little utility — no crowd control, no healing, no scouting tools.

The Raider is tailor-made for players who love the raw satisfaction of Strength builds — power through pain, swing hard, and never back down. With the right timing and positioning, he becomes a wrecking ball that defines the tempo of battle.

Raider Abilities

This nightfarer thrives in the heat of battle with a compact yet devastating toolkit focused on aggression, damage mitigation, and team utility. While Elden Ring Nightreign Raider abilities may seem simple compared to more technical classes, each of his three core abilities serves a distinct and powerful purpose, enabling him to dominate the front lines. BLOG20

Ability Type	Icon	Name	Description
Passive Ability		Fighter’s Resolve	The Raider cannot be knocked down while using Retaliate, allowing him to absorb heavy hits and stay on the offensive.
Character Skill		Retaliate	Delivers two heavy stomps, with the second evolving into a massive punch if the Raider absorbs damage during the cast. This move staggers even large foes and lets you trade damage confidently.
Ultimate Art		Totem Stela	Slams the ground to summon a towering gravestone that deals AoE damage, boosts ally attack power, and doubles as a climbable platform for tactical positioning.

Whether you're charging headfirst into a mob or dueling a boss one-on-one, the Raider’s abilities give you both the survivability and impact to swing any battle in your favor. Learning when to use Retaliate aggressively and how to position Totem Stela makes all the difference in mastering this brawler's rhythm.

Raider Gear

The Raider begins his journey wielding the Raider’s Great Axe, a hefty two-handed weapon that deals solid physical and fire damage. It also comes with the Endure skill, which lets the Raider absorb hits without staggering — perfect for maintaining pressure when Retaliate is on cooldown. While this axe is a strong opening tool, it won't carry you forever.

Since you’re playing a Strength-based brawling character, it’s a good idea to prioritize Elden Ring Nightreign Raider gear with high base damage, slow windups, and wide swings. He performs best with Greatswords, Greataxes, Colossal Weapons, and certain Hammers that deal heavy poise damage and capitalize on his ability to trade hits.

Some standout weapon types to consider for the Raider include:

1. Executioner’s Greataxe – High base damage and a punishing moveset.
2. Greatsword (aka the “Berserk” sword) – A fan favorite for Strength builds with massive reach.
3. Brick Hammer – Delivers explosive stagger potential in tight spaces.
4. Troll Knight’s Sword – Colossal reach and reliable sweeps for groups.

While weapons in Nightreign no longer scale with stats the way they did in the original Elden Ring, the Raider still benefits the most from slow, high-damage options that complement his kit. Look for traits like poise damage, wide arcs, or AoE effects — anything that turns your aggression into control.

Raider Best Build

The Elden Ring Nightreign Raider best build turns him into the game’s most durable frontline threat — a pure tank with unstoppable pressure and escalating power the longer a fight drags on. This setup emphasizes two-handing colossal weapons, leveraging Strength-based passives and maximizing stagger potential with every charged attack. Retaliate becomes your bread-and-butter for trading hits, while Totem Stela provides area control and team-wide buffs during boss phases.

To get the most out of this build, focus on stacking relics and passives that reward being hit, boost physical damage, and reduce skill cooldowns. Gear like the Axe of Godfrey or Giant-Crusher are ideal, and talismans like the Dragoncrest Shield and Green Turtle provide the stamina and survivability needed for drawn-out slugfests.

If you want to break enemy stances, shrug off incoming attacks, and walk straight through chaos, this is the Raider loadout for you.

You can check the full Raider tank build here: Elden Ring Nightreign Best Builds.

How to Play Raider in Elden Ring Nightreign

To answer the question of how to play Raider in Elden Ring Nightreign in a few words, you gotta take risks. Raider plays like a moving wall — built to absorb pressure, dish out punishment, and remain unshaken through chaos. With high poise and raw Strength scaling, you’re expected to be in the middle of every fight, breaking stances and creating space for your team.

Your skill, Retaliate, rewards aggression by countering enemy attacks with high-impact melee. Use it to stay in control during enemy flurries or boss bursts. Your Ultimate, Totem Stela, slams into the ground with full-body i-frames and locks down an area, often trapping enemies inside. It boosts team damage and can create a critical recovery window mid-battle. BLOG20

Over the course of all three days, Raider’s presence becomes more dominant. Early on, a lot will depend on the Elden Ring Nightreign Raider weapons you find and use to stay alive. Mid-game, your relics start stacking into a bruiser playstyle. By Day 3, you’ll be shrugging off hits and controlling boss fights by sheer presence alone.

Raider Tips

Raider thrives in the thick of battle, where constant pressure, high poise, and area control turn the tide for the team. While simple on paper — a heavy Strength build with huge presence — Raider's success depends on timing, positioning, and resource trade. Retaliate’s parry window, Totem’s i-frame slam, and your massive weapon swings give you control over tempo — if you stay disciplined. These five Elden Ring Nightreign Raider tips will help you use your toolkit more effectively.

Even though Raider feels like a tank, overextending without relic support can get you picked apart. Knowing when to hold ground and when to rotate is key to maximizing your role as a frontline anchor.

1. Use Retaliate reactively, not preemptively. Its counter window is brief, and spamming it will get you punished. Save it for boss burst windows or tight duels where you’re reading animations.
2. Position Totem Stela at chokepoints or boss aggro zones. It creates soft zoning, forces movement, and buffs team damage inside. Dropping it during enemy ultimates can shift momentum.
3. Stack poise and stagger damage. Raider isn’t just a damage sponge — you're a stagger machine. Equip heavy weapons and relics that boost poise and posture break to dominate frontlines.
4. Abuse weapon traits with high Hyperarmor. Colossal swords and great hammers shine on Raider, letting you swing through hits and punish with massive trades.
5. Don't babysit your team — pull aggro instead. Let enemies focus on you while squishier allies recover or set up damage. Being the center of attention is your win condition.

Raider is less about raw damage numbers and more about shaping the battlefield. If you stay standing, your team keeps moving forward. By Day 3, you should feel unshakable — the last one down and the first one in.

Conclusion

Raider isn't flashy — but that’s the point. Your role is about presence, not spectacle. When you're doing your job right, your team survives longer, bosses fall faster, and enemies burn through resources just trying to stagger you. You’re the frontline, the brawler, the wall that doesn’t move.

If you're looking for a class that rewards positioning, timing, and sheer stubbornness, Raider is it. You don’t carry fights with a single move — you carry them by refusing to fall.

F.A.Q.