Elden Ring: Nightreign has brought a wealth of new content, with Forsaken Hollows standing out as a challenging area for players looking to test their skills Elden Ring Runes and gear. Among the most exciting aspects of this expansion is the introduction of the Nightfarers, mysterious entities each with unique combat mechanics and abilities. Choosing the right build for each Nightfarer can make the difference between a swift victory and a frustrating defeat. This guide explores the best builds to maximize your effectiveness against each Nightfarer in Forsaken Hollows.

1. Veyrn, the Shadowed Duelist -Melee Dexterity Build

Veyrn is the first Nightfarer most players encounter in Forsaken Hollows. Quick, agile, and capable of devastating counterattacks, Veyrn punishes slower, tankier builds. For this encounter, a high-dexterity melee build is ideal.

Recommended Stats: Focus on Dexterity, Endurance, and Vigor. A minimum of 40 Dexterity ensures weapon scaling maximizes damage. Endurance allows for stamina-heavy dodging and successive attacks, while Vigor boosts survivability against Veyrn's rapid strikes.

Weapons and Gear: Katanas such as the Moonveil or Uchigatana excel due to their bleed potential and fast attack animations. Pairing these with a light armor set like the Black Knife Set allows for nimble dodging. The Red Thorn Talisman further enhances attack power during critical strikes, which synergizes with fast, timed ripostes.

Strategy: Maintain aggressive pressure while dodging laterally to avoid Veyrn's lunges. Exploit the openings after heavy swings and focus on staggerable attacks to maximize DPS. A quick roll combined with jumping attacks can bypass many of Veyrn's defensive maneuvers.

2. Elyndra, the Frozen Weaver -Intelligence Sorcery Build

Elyndra is a Nightfarer who relies on ice-based AoE and freezing effects to control the battlefield. Melee builds often struggle against her ranged attacks, making intelligence-focused sorcery the preferred approach.

Recommended Stats: Intelligence, Mind, and Endurance are key. Intelligence scales your sorcery damage, Mind increases FP for continuous spellcasting, and Endurance ensures enough stamina for repositioning.

Weapons and Gear: Staffs such as the Academy Glintstone Staff or the Meteorite Staff are excellent due to their high sorcery scaling. Equip the Raya Lucaria Robe Set for extra sorcery potency, and the Magic Scorpion Charm to boost spell damage. Cryo-enhanced sorceries like Glacial Lance are particularly effective, as they amplify Elyndra's own freeze mechanics for synergy or counterplay.

Strategy: Maintain mid-range distance to avoid her freezing AoE. Rotate between high-damage Glacial Lance casts and defensive frost shields or wards. Interrupt her casting when possible with precise spell timing. Summons can also provide crucial distraction while you build spell rotations safely.

3. Korrath, the Abyssal Knight -Strength/Colossus Build

Korrath presents a different type of challenge: slow, heavy-hitting attacks combined with high resistances. Against this Nightfarer, raw strength and endurance outperform speed or finesse.

Recommended Stats: Strength, Vigor, and Endurance. Strength maximizes damage output for heavy weapons, Vigor ensures survivability against massive hits, and Endurance allows swinging heavier weapons without stamina penalties.

Weapons and Gear: Colossal weapons such as the Great Club, Dragon Slayer Hammer, or Greataxe are recommended. These weapons deliver staggering damage with each hit, which is critical against Korrath's high HP and stagger thresholds. Heavy armor, like the Bull-Goat Set, paired with the Dragoncrest Shield, mitigates his overwhelming attacks.

Strategy: Time your dodges carefully; Korrath's attacks are predictable but punishing if mistimed. Use charged heavy attacks to stagger him and create openings. Spirit summons or cooperative partners can draw attention while you deal with heavy-hitting combos.

4. Syrine, the Venomous Enchantress -Hybrid Dexterity/Intelligence Build

Syrine specializes in combining poison, magic, and ranged attacks. This Nightfarer requires a flexible hybrid build capable of both close- and mid-range combat.

Recommended Stats: Balanced Dexterity and Intelligence, with moderate Endurance and Vigor. Dexterity improves fast weapon damage and evasion, Intelligence scales your spells, and Endurance/Vigor maintain mobility and survival.

Weapons and Gear: Twinblades or curved swords combined with a sorcery staff like the Carian Glintstone Staff provide versatile options. The Poisonbite Ring enhances your ability to stack poison on enemies, while the Spellblade Ash of War can allow melee attacks to trigger magical damage. Light-medium armor ensures enough mobility to dodge venomous projectiles.

Strategy: Start engagements with mid-range spells to weaken Syrine's defenses. Close the gap with fast melee attacks when she is staggered or casting slow poison spells. Timing is crucial, as mixing spell rotations and weapon combos keeps Syrine off-balance.

5. Morrath, the Twilight Reaver -Dexterity/Ranged Build

Morrath is heavily focused on ranged attacks and mobility. Players need a build that can match speed while delivering consistent ranged damage.

Recommended Stats: Dexterity, Mind, and Endurance. Dexterity maximizes bow or crossbow damage, Mind provides enough FP for ranged skills or buffs, and Endurance sustains dodging and positioning.

Weapons and Gear: Composite bows or crossbows like the Black Bow or Light Crossbow are ideal. Equip the Confessor Set to reduce ranged damage taken and the Hawk Talisman for increased ranged damage output.

Strategy: Mobility is key. Keep distance while baiting Morrath into predictable firing patterns. Utilize spirit summons or environmental obstacles to block projectiles. Quick precision shots can stagger him, allowing brief melee engagement if necessary.

Conclusion

Forsaken Hollows in Elden Ring: Nightreign demands a careful approach to combat, particularly against the unique Nightfarers. Each entity requires a specific mindset, stats, and equipment setup to exploit their weaknesses. From high-dexterity duelists to spell-focused sorcerers and hybrid fighters, understanding the strengths of each Nightfarer allows you to maximize damage output while minimizing risk. Mastering these builds not only makes Forsaken Hollows more manageable but also enhances the satisfaction of fully exploring Nightreign's challenging new content.

Choosing the right build and sticking to solid combat principles—positioning, timing, and resource management—remains the cornerstone of success. Whether you are a veteran of Elden Ring or best site to buy elden ring items approaching Nightreign for the first time, these recommended builds provide a strategic framework to dominate the Forsaken Hollows and emerge victorious against every Nightfarer.