Elden Ring Nightreign: Best Ironeye Build – Relics, Weapons, Talismans & Playstyle Guide

Crafting the “best” Ironeye build in Elden Ring Nightreign is less about a fixed set of gear and more about strategic preparation and adaptability. With so much of your loadout dependent on randomized drops during expeditions, a truly definitive build is elusive. Instead, success hinges on selecting versatile starting relics, recognizing valuable weapons and passives in the wild, and understanding how to leverage Ironeye’s unique skillset in coordination with your team.

This guide will equip you with the knowledge to maximize Ironeye’s potential, covering the best relics to prioritize, potent weapon and passive combinations to look out for, essential talismans, and crucial tips for mastering his playstyle.

Elden Ring Nightreign: Ironeye Build Breakdown

The core of buildcrafting in Nightreign lies in equipping the best available relics before an expedition and then keeping a keen eye out for synergistic weapons, passives, and talismans. A key consideration is always matching your weapon’s affinity to the current Nightlord’s weakness. Follow these tips to set your Ironeye up for victory:

Elden Ring Nightreign: Ironeye – Best Relics

Relics are one of the few elements you can somewhat control pre-expedition. Ironeye has unique relic affixes (marked with [Ironeye]) that can significantly enhance his abilities, such as “Art charge activation adds poison effect,” which imbues his Single Shot ultimate with poison.

Prioritize these relic affixes when available:

• [Ironeye] Art charge activation adds poison effect

• [Ironeye] Extends duration of weak point

• Starting armament inflicts X (Prioritize if you can match a known Nightlord weakness)

• X attack power up (Synergize with the elemental weakness you’re targeting)

• Improved X resistance (Match the Nightlord’s primary damage type)

• X damage negation up (Further enhances survivability against the Nightlord)

• Increased rune acquisition for self and allies (Universal utility for faster progression)

• Rune discount for shop purchases while on expedition (More bang for your buck)

• Items confer effect to all nearby allies (Excellent for support and team buffs)

• HP restored when using cured meats, medicinal boluses, etc. (Stacks with the above for AoE team heals)

• Character skill cooldown reduction +1 (More frequent Marking and Single Shot usage)

• Defeating enemies fills more of the Art gauge (Faster ultimate buildup)

• Poison and rot in vicinity increases attack power (Situational, but powerful if using these statuses)

• Dexterity/vigor/endurance +X (Boosts bow damage via scaling, health, and stamina respectively)

• Flasks also heal allies (Invaluable team support)

Elden Ring Nightreign: Ironeye – Best Weapons and Passives

During your expeditions, actively seek out weapons with beneficial passives. Remember, simply having a weapon with a passive in your inventory grants its effect (unless marked with a red hand, indicating it must be equipped). For Ironeye, longbows or shortbows are generally preferable to greatbows due to their faster firing rate, which is crucial for avoiding damage during hectic Nightlord encounters.

Given Ironeye’s high dexterity, don’t feel confined to bows. He can effectively wield daggers, rapiers, katanas, twinblades, and other dexterity-scaling melee weapons if you find a particularly strong one, especially if it has an affinity matching the Nightlord’s weakness.

Look out for these powerful weapon passives:

• Improved ranged weapon attacks (Core damage increase)

• Improved X attack power (Match the Nightlord’s weakness you’re targeting)

• Improved attack power when two-handing (If opting for a melee setup)

• HP restoration on attacks (Sustain during prolonged fights)

• Improved damage negation at full HP (Rewards careful play)

• Successive attacks negate damage (Excellent for fast-attacking melee weapons like daggers)

• FP restoration on attacks (Useful for weapon skill spam, though less critical for Ironeye’s core kit)

• Improved X damage negation (Match the Nightlord’s attack affinity if known)

• Add X to weapon (Crucial if you haven’t found a weapon with the Nightlord’s weakness)

• Improved attack power at full HP (Synergizes well with careful ranged play)

• Defeating enemies restores HP (Less useful in most Nightlord fights, but good for clearing)

• Improved item discovery (Stacks with Ironeye’s innate item discovery buff)

• Less likely to be targeted (Allows for more consistent ranged damage output)

Elden Ring Nightreign: Ironeye – Best Talismans

Talismans, found by defeating scarabs or via fort map locations, provide significant boosts. Prioritize these for Ironeye:

1. Arrow’s Reach Talisman: Reduces projectile damage drop-off.

2. Arrow’s Sting Talisman: Improves ranged weapon attacks.

3. Millicent’s Prosthesis: Improves dexterity and boosts attack power with successive attacks.

4. Ritual Sword Talisman: Improves attack power when at full HP.

5. Ritual Shield Talisman: Improves damage negation when at full HP.

6. Green Turtle Talisman: Improves stamina recovery.

7. Erdtree’s Favor: Increases maximum HP and maximum stamina.

8. Viridian Amber Medallion: Increases maximum stamina.

9. Crimson Amber Medallion: Increases maximum HP.

10. Crimson Seed Talisman: Improves HP restoration from flasks.

11. Dragoncrest Shield Talisman: Improves physical damage negation.

12. Pearldrake Talisman: Improves non-physical damage negation.

13. Blessed Dew Talisman: Provides continuous HP recovery.

14. Taker’s Cameo: Restores HP upon defeating enemies.

Elden Ring Nightreign: Ironeye – Mastering the Playstyle

Ironeye stands out as one of the strongest Nightfarers due to his versatile kit and ability to deal consistent ranged damage. Here’s how to play him optimally:

• Synergize Marking with Single Shot: Always try to use your Marking skill (a melee dash that tags enemies for increased damage) on a boss before you or your party unleash ultimate Arts like Single Shot. Marking has a very fast cooldown, so use it frequently.

• Marking is Your Dodge: Don’t underestimate Marking’s defensive utility. Its forward dash can be used to phase through charging bosses or reposition for backstabs, similar to Bloodhound’s Step. If you’re unsure about dodging an attack, use Marking to pass right through the enemy, applying the damage vulnerability in the process.

• Bows are Revival Kings: Ironeye excels at reviving downed teammates from a safe distance. Target a fallen ally and plink away with your bow. Shortbows with the Barrage skill are particularly effective for rapid revivals. In a pinch, you can even use your Single Shot Art to revive multiple allies if they are close together – a true clutch move.

• Aim for Weak Spots Manually: Take advantage of manual aiming with bows to target enemy weak spots. Many enemies, including trolls, have headshot vulnerabilities that can lead to stuns or flinches. Experiment to discover these crucial points.

• Coordinate Single Shot with Duchess: If you have a Duchess in your party and are using voice comms, give her a heads-up before you use Single Shot. This allows her to prepare her Restage skill to double the damage and stagger effect of your ultimate.

• Don’t Be Afraid of Melee: While Ironeye is a master archer, his high dexterity makes him proficient with various melee weapons. If you find a powerful dexterity-scaling weapon (dagger, twinblade, katana, etc.) with an ideal elemental affinity or status effect (bleed, frost, poison, scarlet rot) that your bow lacks, don’t hesitate to switch. Adaptability is key.

By focusing on these relic choices, weapon passives, talismans, and playstyle tips, you’ll transform your Ironeye into a Nightlord-slaying machine, capable of leading your team to victory in the treacherous lands of Limveld.