Class Concept
The Raider is a classic strength-oriented class designed for direct damage and mitigation. Unlike the Guardian, who does his best at shielding allies, the Raider is a tank-damager type of player who uses an aggressive playstyle. With extreme poise, he can withstand hailstorms of attacks, and with gigantic weapons, his enemies crumble into dust.
This class excels at drawing enemy fire and being the party's primary frontline fighter. The Raider's play style is all about bringing it up close and personal to the enemy and using his high endurability to survive longer in combat than other classes. His kit is designed for those who prefer close-range combat over positioning, so he's one of the simplest classes to master Nightreign.
Stats
The Raider possesses S-rank in Strength and complete failure in magical stats (D in Intelligence and Faith). Health and Stamina receive A-rank, placing him second in survivability behind the Guardian. Low FP means frugal utilization of weapon skills.
Latent high Poise is the class's defining feature, allowing for untied attacks while taking damage. Such stat distribution makes the Raider highly specialized - while he lacks creativity in arcane skills, his physical skills cannot be beaten. High Stamina rating ensures that he can maintain aggressive attack schemes utilizing heavy weapons with spent breath not being a concern.
The trade-off for this specialization is that Raider players must be committed to strength-based play. You won't be utilizing spells or faith-based incantations effectively, but the pure brute physicality completely compensates for these shortfalls in most contexts.
Skills
Retaliate serves as the primary survival tool. A powerful punch deals significant damage and stagger, but most importantly provides massive damage negation during animation. Essentially a "forgiving parry" with a 12-second cooldown.
Fighter's Resolve enhances Retaliate after accumulating damage. The Raider begins glowing with a smoky aura, and the next skill use transforms into an uppercut with shockwave, dealing more damage and always stunning the opponent.
Totem Stela is a controversial ultimate. Creates a stone monument dealing AoE damage and granting 15% attack bonus to allies within range for 30 seconds. Can serve as high ground for snipers but also blocks casters' line of sight and sometimes traps bosses inside.
Weapons and Builds
The starting Raider's Greataxe remains relevant throughout the early period. The ideal goal is dual-wielding Great Axes, Hammers, or Colossal weapons. These categories maximize S-rank Strength and provide devastating jump attacks. Swords are less preferable due to poor Strength scaling and smaller reach.
Among blue rarities, status variants stand out: Great Omenkiller Cleaver, Rotten Battlehammer, Great Stars. Purples include Gargoyles Black Axe (holy damage), Cranial Vessel Candlestand (fire skill), Ghiza's Wheel (bleed).
Relics
The Raider questline rewards two relics and three chalices of particular gem slots. Survivability, critical damage, endurance, and physical damage should be prioritized. Health restoration from kills near the totem is especially desirable.
Choose relics on the basis of those that complement the Raider's aggressive playstyle. Damage negation relics work well because you'll be in the midst of combat most of the time. Stamina recovery after landing a hit can sustain your pressure, and critical hit bonuses take advantage of the stand-breaking power of heavy weapons.
The questline chalices are decent with the slots that they offer in terms of combinations, and you can vary your build based on the gems that you receive in expeditions. Carry relics that augment dual-wielding effectiveness in case you can manage to get duplicate sets of weapons since this will significantly enhance your damage.
Team Role
The Raider fits any composition as a frontline tank. The only difficulty is that the totem can interfere with casters by blocking line of sight. Optimally having at least one mage for damage balance, but there are no strict composition requirements.
Success depends on maintaining aggro, constant Retaliate usage, and jump attack accuracy. With proper approach, the Raider becomes the backbone of any group.
Conclusion
The Raider offers a straightforward yet effective approach to Nightreign's challenges. Master the timing of Retaliate, secure proper dual-wielding setups, and focus on keeping enemies' attention while your teammates deal damage from safer positions. This class rewards aggressive play and proper positioning, making it an excellent choice for players who enjoy being at the center of every fight.
FAQ
Q1: What makes the Raider different from the Guardian in Elden Ring Nightreign?While the Guardian focuses on defensive team protection, the Raider is an aggressive tank-damager with superior poise for sustained attacks. The Raider has S-rank Strength and specializes in frontline combat with colossal weapons.
Q2: What are the best weapons for Raider builds? Great Axes, Greathammers, and Colossal weapons work best due to S-rank Strength scaling. Notable options include Great Omenkiller Cleaver, Rotten Battlehammer, Gargoyles Black Axe, and Ghiza's Wheel. Dual-wielding these weapon types maximizes damage output.
Q3: How does the Retaliate skill work and when should I use it? Retaliate is a powerful punch that provides massive damage negation during animation, functioning like a forgiving parry with a 12-second cooldown. Use it constantly in boss fights to survive attacks you can't dodge properly.
Q4: What does Fighter's Resolve do and how do I activate it? Fighter's Resolve enhances Retaliate after taking damage. The Raider glows with a smoky aura, and the next Retaliate becomes an uppercut with shockwave that always stuns enemies and deals increased damage.
Q5: Is the Totem Stela ultimate worth using in team play? Totem Stela deals AoE damage and provides 15% attack bonus to allies for 30 seconds. It's excellent with melee teammates but can block casters' line of sight. Use it strategically based on your team composition.
Q6: What stats should I prioritize for the Raider? Focus on Strength (S-rank), Health and Stamina (A-rank). The Raider has low FP and poor Intelligence/Faith scaling, so avoid magical builds. High Poise allows uninterrupted attacks while taking damage.
Q7: Which relics work best for Raider gameplay? Prioritize critical damage, endurance, physical damage, and survivability relics. Health restoration from kills near the totem is especially valuable. Damage negation and stamina recovery relics complement the aggressive playstyle.
Q8: Can the Raider fit into any party composition? Yes, the Raider functions as a frontline tank in any composition. The only consideration is that the totem can impede casters by blocking line of sight. Having at least one mage for damage balance is ideal but not required.
