Elden Ring: Nightreign Bosses – A Complete Guide to Every Challenge

Released on May 30, 2025, Elden Ring: Nightreign has quickly established itself as a brutally difficult, cooperative roguelike spinoff of the original FromSoftware masterpiece. This standalone game recontextualizes the world and lore of the Lands Between, casting a permanent night over the land and unleashing a host of new and enhanced enemies. As players delve into the procedurally generated dungeons and face off against the ever-present Nightlords, a massive list of bosses and mini-bosses awaits. This guide will provide a comprehensive breakdown of all the major encounters you’ll face in your quest to reclaim the day from the encroaching darkness.

Unlike the original Elden Ring, where boss encounters were static, Nightreign introduces a randomized system. Each “Night” or run will present you with a different set of challenges and mini-bosses, drawing from a vast pool of enemies from both Elden Ring and previous FromSoftware titles. The game is divided into different “Expeditions,” each led by a unique Nightlord who influences the type of bosses and enemies you will encounter. This structure ensures a high degree of replayability and keeps players on their toes, as they can never be sure what kind of horrors await them around the next corner.

The Six Nightlords: The Architects of Darkness

The core of Elden Ring: Nightreign’s challenge lies in the six Nightlords. These are the main bosses of the game, each representing a different aspect of the encroaching night. Defeating a Nightlord grants you powerful “Dormant Powers” and unlocks new Expeditions and a wider pool of bosses. You must defeat at least four Nightlords to unlock the final boss.

• Gladius, Beast of Night: Associated with the “Tricephalos” Expedition. A hulking, brutal melee fighter found in the First Fissure, he is a great test of your dodging and parrying skills. He is particularly weak to Holy damage.
• Maris, Fathom of Night: Associated with the “Augur” Expedition. A flying boss that dwells in frozen lakes, Maris specializes in ranged and magical attacks. Lightning damage is her key weakness.
• Caligo, Miasma of Night: Associated with the “Fissure in the Fog” Expedition. Caligo fills the battlefield with poison and death blight, making resistance and quick movement essential. He is weak to Fire damage.
• Adel, Baron of Night: Associated with the “Gaping Jaw” Expedition. A vampiric warlord who uses lifesteal abilities and a blade that feeds on your buffs, Adel is a difficult opponent who requires aggressive play. He is weak to Poison.
• Gnoster, Wisdom of Night: Associated with the “Sentient Pest” Expedition. Gnoster is a caster who uses spectral illusions and gravity magic to disorient and defeat players. She is weak to Fire damage.
• Fulghor, Champion of Nightglow: Associated with the “Darkdrift Knight” Expedition. A blazing fast and ferocious centaur-like boss, Fulghor is a test of your speed and reaction time. He is weak to Lightning damage.

Major Region Bosses and Enhanced Legacy Bosses

In addition to the Nightlords, each Expedition features a number of major region bosses. These are powerful foes that stand in your way before you can face the Nightlord. The game also introduces “Enhanced Legacy Bosses,” which are familiar faces from previous FromSoftware games with new movesets and terrifying abilities, adding a fresh challenge for veteran players. The bosses you encounter are loosely tied to the Expedition you choose, but the randomization means you’ll never face the exact same sequence twice.

• Darkdrift Knight: A major boss in the “Limveld” region, a brutal encounter that will test your ability to read enemy attack patterns.
• Sentient Pest: A grotesque, burrowing creature that fills the battlefield with poison and summons swarms of smaller pests.
• Mountaintop Ice Dragon: A massive dragon that freezes the arena and summons hail meteors in a two-phase fight.
• The Nameless King (Enhanced): A returning fan-favorite from Dark Souls 3, now with an enhanced moveset that includes new electrified blade combos and a terrifying second phase.
• Godskin Apostle (Enhanced): The infamous duo is back, now with new collaborative attacks and an ever-present threat of Black Flame and status ailments.
• Grafted Scion (Enhanced): The first boss from the original game returns with a more aggressive and unpredictable moveset, proving that even a small enemy can be a massive threat.

The Final Boss: Heolstor the Nightlord

After you have defeated at least four of the six Nightlords, you gain access to the “Night Aspect” Expedition and the final boss, Heolstor the Nightlord. Heolstor is a two-phase fight, beginning as “The Shape of Night” and transforming into a brutal, armored warrior. Unlike the other Nightlords, his fight is less about a single gimmick and more about raw, unbridled aggression and a masterfully crafted moveset. Heolstor is a true test of a player’s skill, forcing them to use everything they have learned from the countless nights they have spent in the game. His primary weakness is Holy damage, a crucial piece of information for any player hoping to survive the encounter. Defeating him is the ultimate challenge and the goal of every Expedition.

Elden Ring: Nightreign offers a dynamic and ever-changing boss experience that will keep even the most seasoned Souls veterans engaged for countless hours. With a mix of new bosses, enhanced classics, and the constant randomization of encounters, it is a game that truly lives up to the reputation of FromSoftware’s legendary difficulty. The list above is just a glimpse into the terrors that await. For a full breakdown of every boss and their weaknesses, be sure to consult online wikis and community guides as you progress through this challenging journey.