Elden Ring: Nightreign Co-op Spin-off Explained

Don't underestimate Elden Ring Nightreign just because it's a spin-off. Lore enthusiasts will find plenty to analyze. Like branches of the Erdtree, Nightreign represents an alternate timeline rooted in Elden Ring's universe, introducing fresh concepts and characters while operating independently from the main storyline. The ending reveals these connections clearly.

Warning: This article contains major spoilers for Elden Ring Nightreign's conclusion.

Is Nightreign Canon?

Nightreign presents a divergent path in The Lands Between's history, exploring a darker "what if" scenario. Consider it an alternate reality rather than canon - though you'll need to complete numerous expeditions and defeat Nightlords to fully understand its relationship to the original game's lore.

Elden Ring Nightreign Ending Explained

The opening establishes Nightreign's premise: a timeline where the Tarnished never arrived. After Marika shatters the Elden Ring, millennia pass without a ruler until the Nightlord emerges - a catastrophic entity whose presence brings world-ending darkness. Your mission as a Nightfarer is to stop this apocalypse by hunting lesser Nightlords across a decaying Limgrave, facing twisted versions of Elden Ring and Dark Souls creatures.

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The final confrontation reveals the Nightlord as Heolstor, a three-armed warrior wielding a Moonlight Greatsword. Defeating him awards the Primordial Nightlord's Rune, triggering an ending where your character dissolves into light. A post-credits scene shows the restored Elden Ring timeline, implying your actions erased this dark alternate reality.

Who is Heolstor and what happens in the alternate endings?

Heolstor's history remains mysterious, though item descriptions suggest he was a resurrected knight who became an inevitable force of darkness. Character-specific endings offer different resolutions:

• Wylder's Ending: Becomes the new Nightlord to save his sister, perpetuating the cycle
• Ironeye's Ending: Extends the Night to protect his undead clan from persecution
• Recluse's Ending: Finds and comforts the Night-touched infant, potentially preventing future Nightlords

Standard endings follow the main conclusion, though future DLC Nightfarers may expand the narrative further.