Ironeye is Elden Ring Nightreign’s most useful character, but their anti-soulslike style bores me to tears

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‘No.’

In the games created by FromSoftware, categorized as soulslike, long-range physical attacks with weapons like bows and arrows are not uncommon but typically play a minor role compared to other elements such as magic. When imagining Dark Souls, it’s more likely that you envision a heavily armored, greatsword-carrying warrior reminiscent of Berserk, rather than a swift and agile archer.

To put it simply, I often prefer controlling ranged characters over melee ones, and even though I wouldn’t attempt to navigate Undead Burg with a bow, I was delighted to discover Ironeye in the Nightreign lineup prior to release. With some companions to take most of the combat damage, I can imagine the appeal of being that agile archer, staying at a distance to bother big bosses, and using my speed to dodge trouble if it approached me.

It turns out my assessment was correct. Our Elden Ring Nightreign character tier list places Ironeye in the top spot, and he’s often seen as a key component for successful runs. There are even strategies that utilize a ‘tank, double ranged’ trio as one of the most effective combinations to tackle Nightreign with. Yet, here’s the catch: despite being a popular choice in the meta and fitting my preferred playstyle, I find Ironeye tediously dull to play. Instead of rampaging around Limveld from the sidelines, I’ve found myself struggling to stay engaged with him.

Crystal Tears

In Dark Souls and Elden Ring, I engage to experience the exhilaration of overcoming a formidable boss following a tense 30 minutes of evading attacks, or the rush of vanquishing a colossal adversary when I barely have any health left. These games captivate me because they offer pulse-pounding, nerve-wracking gameplay, where a well-timed dodge-roll is an unparalleled triumph, embodying the spirit of David versus Goliath.

Essentially, when I engage with games like Dark Souls or Elden Ring, it’s not about spending long stretches of time in combat repeatedly pressing the same button. Nor is it about running away at the first sign of a boss or feeling intimidated. Instead, these games offer a more strategic experience where choices matter, such as deciding between firing one arrow, three arrows, a large arrow, or an extremely large arrow, which adds depth to gameplay.

It seems there’s more depth to Ironeye than what’s initially apparent during gameplay, yet it often fails to fully capture this depth. While I can opt for melee combat, I question the point if I’d rather engage with Wylder, who offers a fun experience. Admittedly, Ironeye could potentially aid in victory, but the appeal of sacrificing enjoyment for 30 minutes to achieve victory is lost on me. So, what’s the point of playing Nightreign when it doesn’t provide the entertainment I seek?

The enjoyment derived from playing Elden Ring or Dark Souls games depends on personal preferences. However, it’s hard to dispute that these games offer an intense and captivating experience, moment by moment. Even though Nightreign deviates from the usual patterns of a soulsborne game with its focus on multiplayer, it still retains the gripping, immersive difficulty of dodging attacks from colossal, beastly enemies. This is why it seems strange to depart from those familiar patterns in favor of Ironeye’s monotonous and lethargic bow shooting mechanics.

The reason I began my crusade against Ironeye originated from one particularly tough, beastly adversary causing immense trouble for my team. We pondered if there might be some hidden game mechanic at play. However, it was simply a matter of skill improvement, a harsh but relevant reminder to ‘improve yourself’. The solution we needed was already within our grasp, and we had even attempted it once, yet found that the experience wasn’t enjoyable before Ironeye sent us back to the starting point. In fact, choosing to avoid Ironeye has further strengthened our bond with Wylder, Raider, and Executioner – if soulslikes are about overcoming challenges and achieving mastery, it makes sense for us to learn how to emerge victorious on our terms, rather than relying on mindless button-mashing for a cheap win.

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2025-06-23 20:12