In Elden Ring, the bow typically serves as a support weapon, used to draw enemy attention, weaken foes from a distance before engaging with your primary weapon, or even to farm runes by causing creatures like birds to plummet to their demise. However, when you dive into the world of Nightreign as the Ironeye class, the bow becomes central to your gameplay. This unique class offers a playstyle distinct from the other eight classes in Nightreign, closely resembling what could be considered a support class. To see the Ironeye in action, check out the exclusive gameplay video below.
One of the first things you'll notice when playing as the Ironeye is their vulnerability. While they can wield any weapon, the bow is essential for keeping a safe distance from the fray, as they can be easily defeated, especially in the early stages. Thankfully, the starting bow is robust, delivering solid damage with the Mighty Shot skill, which allows you to strike from an impressive distance, inflicting additional damage and poise damage.
It's important to highlight that the mechanics of bows have been significantly revamped in Nightreign. Bows now fire more rapidly, and you can move more swiftly while targeting locked-on enemies. Additionally, you no longer need to manage a supply of arrows, although this means you're limited to the type of arrow your weapon provides. Other enhancements include a new animation for shooting arrows out of a roll, the ability to perform acrobatic feats like running up walls and shooting arrows mid-leap, the option to aim without entering first-person mode, and a powerful attack that can launch a spread of three arrows to hit multiple targets simultaneously. Furthermore, you can now execute backstab or visceral attacks on downed enemies with arrows. These changes make the bow a formidable primary weapon in Nightreign, addressing many of the limitations it had in base Elden Ring.
In Nightreign, the bow is the cornerstone of the Ironeye class. The Ironeye's primary skill, Marking, involves a swift dashing dagger attack that pierces through enemies, leaving them marked for increased damage from all sources. With a short cooldown, this skill can be continuously applied to bosses, enhancing your team's effectiveness. It also serves as a mobility tool, allowing you to navigate through enemies to escape danger.
The Ironeye's ultimate ability, Single Shot, is a powerful, focused attack. This enhanced version of Mighty Shot requires some time to charge but grants invulnerability during the animation. Once fired, it delivers significant damage and can penetrate through multiple enemies, making it ideal for clearing groups.
The true strength of the Ironeye shines in team play, particularly with their ability to revive allies from a safe distance. In Nightreign, reviving an ally involves depleting a partitioned circle above the downed character through attacks. While most classes must risk close combat or expend resources to revive teammates, the Ironeye can do so safely from afar without using any resources. This capability can be crucial in determining the success of a run. However, the challenge increases with each revival, as more partitions are added to the circle, making it harder for the Ironeye to bring back allies who have fallen multiple times, unless they use their ultimate for revival.
Although the Ironeye may not match the raw damage output of other classes, their presence on a team is invaluable. From enhancing team damage with their marking ability, increasing item drops for the group, clearing mobs with their ultimate, to safely reviving teammates, the utility of the Ironeye is nearly unmatched among Nightreign's classes.
