Elden Ring: Nightreign Shouldn't Miss a Golden Opportunity to Revisit Its Boldest PvP Bosses

Apr-02-2025 PST

As excitement mounts for the release of Elden Ring: Nightreign, a spin-off game from the renowned FromSoftware, it's impossible to ignore the unique opportunities this title presents-especially regarding the use of PvP bosses. With its co-op gameplay focus and a roguelike approach to each run, Nightreign stands as a love letter to FromSoftware's previous titles, incorporating a mix of gameplay elements from the entire Soulsborne universe. However, there's one golden opportunity that Nightreign must seize: the chance to bring back some of the most memorable and challenging PvP bosses from previous FromSoftware games.

 

The Power of PvP Bosses in FromSoftware Games

 

For many fans, PvP bosses are among the most unique and exhilarating challenges in the Soulsborne series. These bosses break the mold of traditional single-player encounters by summoning other real players into their boss battles. This adds an extra layer of unpredictability and intensity, where the outcome of the fight is shaped by human players with different skills, strategies, and tactics.

 

Bosses like Old Monk from Demon's Souls, Looking Glass Knight from Dark Souls 2, and Halflight from Dark Souls 3 all demonstrate the potential of PvP bosses to elevate the stakes and inject a fresh dynamic into the typical boss fight. By taking the traditional player-versus-environment (PvE) combat and introducing an element of player-versus-player (PvP) interaction, these bosses created some of the most intense moments in Soulsborne history.

 

Elden Ring: Nightreign's Co-op Focus and PvP Potential

 

Nightreign is designed to be a three-player co-op game, with a roguelike structure that challenges players to survive across three in-game nights. Each night is marked by increasingly difficult boss fights, culminating in a climactic encounter with a powerful Night Lord. The co-op focus makes the title ideal for the inclusion of PvP bosses, which could seamlessly blend with the game's multiplayer dynamics.

 

The game's setting, Limveld, a parallel version of Limgrave, offers ample opportunity for a variety of challenges, including PvP-based encounters. With the game shrinking over time and featuring battle royale-inspired mechanics, PvP elements could enhance the experience significantly, especially during boss fights. This presents the perfect chance for FromSoftware to reintroduce some of the most iconic PvP bosses from its catalog-adjusting them for the Nightreign experience while still retaining their original, nerve-wracking appeal.

 

Reviving PvP Bosses in Nightreign

 

The return of PvP bosses would not only pay homage to FromSoftware's past but also elevate Nightreign by adding a layer of strategic depth. Imagine a battle where two groups of players face off against one another, with both teams summoned by the same boss. Players would have to juggle the task of dealing with a powerful PvE boss while simultaneously fending off another team of human opponents. This would combine the intense boss battles of Soulsborne gamthe es with the high-stakes unpredictability of PvP.

 

Let's look at a few prime candidates for the inclusion of PvP bosses in Nightreign:

 

Old Monk (Demon's Souls): Old Monk's unique mechanic, where players could invade the world of another player to fight as the boss, could be easily translated into Nightreign. Imagine a boss fight where one group of players faces the Old Monk, who can summon other players into the fray, resulting in a chaotic free-for-all.

 

Looking Glass Knight (Dark Souls 2): This towering knight summons NPC phantoms to assist in the fight, but what if Nightreign could make it so that the Looking Glass Knight summons real players instead? The fight would immediately become more unpredictable, as the boss could either strengthen or weaken based on the skills of the summoned players.

 

Halflight (Dark Souls 3): Halflight's ability to summon other players to battle is already a perfect fit for Nightreign's multiplayer format. Players could be summoned into a world where the primary goal is to face off against each other while avoiding a deadly boss that requires perfect teamwork and strategy to defeat.

 

Multiplayer PvP Combat Could Define Nightreign

 

The success of multiplayer combat has always been a key feature of FromSoftware's titles, but with Nightreign's co-op and roguelike mechanics, the potential for competitive PvP elements becomes even more intriguing. Adding PvP bosses into the mix would not only broaden the scope of gameplay but also amplify the tension and excitement as players would have to worry about both defeating the boss and surviving the other players.

 

PvP bosses have always been a source of tension and excitement, and introducing them in Nightreign would bring an entirely new layer of complexity to boss battles. Players would need to keep on their toes, adapting to an ever-changing situation where the dynamic shifts with each new phase of the fight. Whether it's dealing with a powerful PvE boss while dodging players from an opposing group or protecting your teammates from the sudden arrival of invaders, PvP bosses could create unforgettable moments of triumph and frustration.

 

Why PvP Bosses Matter for Nightreign's Legacy

 

Nightreign is set to be an exciting chapter in FromSoftware's legacy, and including PvP bosses would help the game stand out as a truly special spin-off. By tapping into the best elements of past Soulsborne games, Nightreign can offer players an experience that's fresh yet familiar. With its roguelike, multiplayer-heavy approach, it has the potential to be a game-changer for PvP combat in the genre.

 

If FromSoftware revisits its boldest PvP bosses from the past and adapts them for Nightreign, the game will not only pay homage to its roots but also set a new standard for multiplayer interactions in future FromSoftware titles.

 

Incorporating new Elden Ring items and Elden Ring runes tied to these bosses and multiplayer experiences would further deepen the system, encouraging exploration and experimentation in both solo and multiplayer play. Whether it's using specific runes to enhance your character's PvP abilities or unlocking items that help you in cooperative battles, it could add a rich layer of strategy and replayability.