Elden Ring: Nightreign - Ironeye Hands-On - IGN First Impressions

While the bow has always held its own as a versatile weapon in *Elden Ring*, it’s typically seen as more of a support tool—ideal for pulling aggro, weakening enemies from range before closing in, or even farming runes by knocking that one annoying bird off a cliff. But with the introduction of the Ironeye class in *Nightreign*, the bow transforms into something far more significant: the core mechanic of the entire playstyle. This makes the Ironeye stand out as one of the most unique classes available, and arguably the closest thing to a dedicated support class that *Nightreign* offers. You can get a closer look at the Ironeye in action in the exclusive gameplay video below.

One of the first things you’ll notice when playing as the Ironeye is their fragility. While they can technically wield any weapon, the class is clearly designed around ranged combat. Staying at a distance isn’t just preferred—it’s essential. Given how few hits the Ironeye can withstand, especially early on, your best bet is to keep your enemies at arm’s length. Fortunately, your starting bow is more than capable. It delivers solid damage output and comes equipped with the Mighty Shot ability, allowing you to strike from extreme distances with bonus damage and additional poise break effects.

Bows have also received major improvements in *Nightreign*. They now fire faster, and you retain much better mobility while locked onto an enemy. Perhaps most notably, there's no longer a need to manage an inventory of arrows. While this means you’re limited to the arrow type your bow provides, it eliminates the frustration of running out mid-boss fight. Additional quality-of-life enhancements include new animations for shooting from a roll, performing acrobatic maneuvers like wall jumps and aerial shots, and quicker aiming movement without switching to first-person mode. The strong attack now fires a spread of three arrows, ideal for hitting multiple targets, and yes—you can perform backstabs or visceral attacks on downed enemies using your bow. All the missing pieces that once made bows less viable as primary weapons in base *Elden Ring* have been thoughtfully addressed in *Nightreign*.

Ironeye Class Abilities Overview

The Ironeye’s signature skill is Marking—a fast, dashing dagger attack that pierces through enemies, leaving them marked. This mark increases damage dealt by all sources, making it a powerful boon for both solo and group play. With a short cooldown, you can keep the debuff active on bosses almost constantly, provided you stay aware of its uptime. Beyond its utility, Marking doubles as an effective escape mechanism, letting you dash through enemies to reposition safely.

The Ironeye’s ultimate ability, Single Shot, lives up to its name. Essentially a souped-up version of Mighty Shot, it requires a brief charge but leaves you fully invulnerable during the animation. Once fired, it unleashes a devastating blast that pierces straight through everything in its path—perfect for clearing groups of enemies or delivering massive damage to a single target.

Ironeye as a Support Powerhouse

What truly sets the Ironeye apart in multiplayer is their ability to revive fallen allies from a safe distance. In *Nightreign*, when a teammate falls, a partitioned circle appears above their body. By attacking the downed ally, the bar gradually depletes, eventually reviving them. Most classes must either risk getting close or expend mana for a spell or ability to save a teammate. The Ironeye, however, can perform these revives remotely—and without resource cost. This makes them an invaluable squad member, often turning the tide between victory and defeat. The catch? Each time an ally falls, another segment is added to the revival gauge. While the Ironeye handles one or two-part revives with ease, they struggle with full three-segment resurrections unless they use their ultimate ability.

Though not the strongest in raw offensive power, the Ironeye brings immense value to any team. From their damage-boosting Mark ability, to their passive item-finding bonus, crowd-clearing ultimate, and unique long-range revival mechanics, the Ironeye excels where others fall short. Their versatility and utility make them a standout choice in *Nightreign*, offering a fresh and rewarding experience unlike any other class in the expansion.