It’s Wyldin’ time. Finally, BANDAI NAMCO has given us the trailer for the mascot Nightfarer — albeit, it came with a little bit of a delay. There is a good reason Wylder is the default character: he is exceptionally versatile, his skill offers him higher mobility, and he has a chance to avoid death — he is a great option for those uncertain of which character to pick while testing out the game, and is likely one of the best choices for solo play.
Who needs mounts when you can leash up the Red Wolf?
If Nightreign had a superhero, Wylder probably would be the Batman.
Wylder Abilities
The Gameplay trailer describes Wylder as “a nomad swordsman in relentless pursuit of the Nightlord” and mentions Wylder’s Abilities:
Passive Ability | SIXTH SENSE: Instinctively avoid a single fatal attack.
Character Skill | CLAW SHOT: A grappling tool that can be used for quick movement or stunning enemies.
Ultimate Art | ONSLAUGHT STAKE: Drive a stake into a foe with a powerful explosion.
Wylder might suffer a bit from Ironeye‘s unremarkability as a patent close-range warrior, but simple doesn’t necessarily mean ineffective. Because Wylder does not have a strict focus aside from physical damage, he will probably be able to make use of just about any weapon. He will fit well into just about any party, and when playing solo the death insurance will come very nice in a clutch. As far as the network tests went, the death prevention could be replenished at a Site of Grace (important to mention, since that affects its usefulness quite a bit).
I mentioned in some of the other character reveals that mobility is really noticeably in timed co-op games like Nightreign, so the shorter-cooldown grappling hook will be very nice for that extra dodge, a leap towards a fast enemy, and for navigating the open world.
Wylder’s Ultmate can be charged (when there is a window to do so) for a chance to inflict a stagger, and deals quite a bit of damage. Honestly, it’s all simple enough that Wylder can always be your backup class for when you are looking for variety, or if a ranged group needs a melee.
And yet, we have to talk about the unfortunate fact of “master of none” here, since Wylder doesn’t necessarily have anything he can easily lean into for exceptional damage, group support, or effective defense. There will likely be a number of builds for Wylder that help him lean into one aspect over another, but that will probably lean heavily on a specific set of items and Relics.
That being said, do you even have to worry about that? If you aren’t aggressively seeking out min-maxing, Wylder will likely just be a familiar, reliable option to play — all Nightfarers are designed to be more than capable of completing their runs, and wouldn’t it be a bit awkward if the one character themed after defeating the final boss wouldn’t be able to even get to it?
… Also, is there a single Nightfarer with an unremarkable voice actor, or is it just me going crazy at all of them?
Wylder Trailers
For all the lack of flashy explosions (though, we featured one at the top of the article!), Wylder more than makes up in epic sword swings and bloody stabbing. Check out his two trailers for yourself:
What impression did Wylder make on you? Is he a little too bland, or is his straightforward style right up your alley? Did FromSoft deliver on the epicness of the “protagonist of the upcoming video game Elden Ring Nightreign”? Let us know in the comments below!
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Mila Grish
Dedicated contributor at EIP Gaming and a part-time collector of books she will never have time to actually read. Jumps on the newest releases just as quickly as on the uncovered dusty collections from the basement. For her, shiny graphics can never be an excuse to not have a polished player experience or an immersive story.
