Welcome, fellow Tarnished, to our February roundup of all things Elden Ring! It’s been a month packed with discoveries, strategies, and exciting news from the Lands Between and beyond.
Whether you’re hunting down powerful weapons, experimenting with innovative builds, or preparing for the upcoming Nightreign spin-off, we’ve got you covered with bite-sized summaries of everything we explored this month.
From strategies that make Malenia look like a common soldier to deep dives into the most potent katana builds in the game, our journey through February has been as varied as the landscapes of the Lands Between itself. We’ve also been keeping a close eye on the Nightreign network tests, bringing you firsthand insights into FromSoftware’s bold new cooperative adventure.
So grab your flask, settle in by the nearest Site of Grace, and catch up on everything you might have missed. These condensed versions of our full articles will give you the essential knowledge you need without the time commitment of reading every word (though we certainly appreciate when you do!).
Let the monthly recap begin!
New Best Fun Builds – Part III: It’s All About Katanas
Ready to slice through the Lands Between like a hot knife through Godrick’s remaining limbs? This month we explored two absolutely bonkers katana builds that’ll have even Let Me Solo Her doing a double-take!
First up, we unveiled “The Winged Lion Slasher” – a build that weaponizes Shadow of the Erdtree’s newest toy, the Great Katana. Dual-wielding these massive blades while stacking Rellana’s Cameo (45% damage boost after holding stance) with other buffs creates a poise-breaking, boss-melting monster. At level 200 with 50 STR and 63 DEX, you’ll be chopping through enemies like a Tarnished food processor.
But the real showstopper? Our “Lunar Spellblade” build that resurrects the once-nerfed Moonveil Katana to its former glory! Thanks to patch 1.14 and Rellana’s Cameo, that blue beam has transformed from annoying to apocalyptic. Add Magic-Shrouding Cracked Tear and Magic Scorpion Charm, and you’re not trying to break poise anymore – you’re just breaking the game with a magical delete button.
With 80 INT and an arsenal of sorceries from Comet Azur to Adula’s Moonblade backing your katana slashes, this hybrid build offers unparalleled versatility. Who needs a shield when everything dies before reaching you?
Elden Ring: How to beat up Malenia, Blade of Miquella
“Just block Waterfowl Dance,” they said. “It’ll be fun,” they said. This month we accidentally stumbled upon a hilariously effective strategy to bully Elden Ring’s most notorious boss while testing builds for NG+2!
After turning those pesky DLC Black Knights into fond memories with our Banished Knight Greatsword setup, we thought, “Why not bring this party to Malenia?” Our first approach combining the Black Knight Greatshield with Barricade Shield and a blood-infused Banished Knight Greatsword showed promise—until one mistimed block sent us to the YOU DIED screen faster than you can say “Let me heal you.”
But then lightning struck our brain cells. What if we doubled down on aggression? Ditching the shield entirely, we summoned our Mimic Tear doppelgänger and unleashed a synchronized Double-Slash assault that turned the Blade of Miquella into the Blade of Oh-My-God-What-Just-Happened.
The build is deliciously simple: A Blood-affinity Banished Knight Greatsword with Double-Slash, buffed with Golden Vow and Flame Grant Me Strength, plus Rotten Winged Sword Insignia and Shard of Alexander for extra oomph. Each Double-Slash combo builds approximately 408 bleed—enough to make even this goddess of rot regret her life choices.
Elden Ring Nightreign: Prepare to Survive (Together) This May
Elden Ring Nightreign launches May 30th! This $40 co-op spin-off transforms Limgrave into “Limveld,” a procedurally-generated nightmare where teams of three battle through shrinking maps during three-day cycles.
This parallel timeline puts players as “Kinless Tarnished” facing escalating boss fights until confronting one of eight Nightlords (with potential Dark Souls crossover characters). Eight specialized classes, streamlined progression, and day-one DLC access with Deluxe/Collector’s Editions make this a must-have.
Preorders are live with exclusive bonuses including the glowing Golden Summoning Bell talisman. The six-month announcement-to-launch window suggests Miyazaki’s been cooking this one in secret for ages!
Your Guide to the Elden Ring Nightreign Network Test Classes
Forget lonely Tarnished adventures! We dove into Elden Ring Nightreign’s network test where four wildly distinct “Nightfarer” classes bring hero-based chaos to FromSoft’s world.
Each class sports three abilities: a passive, an active skill, and a devastating Ultimate Art. The Wylder grapple-hooks enemies into oblivion with “Sixth Sense” death-cheating. The Duchess chains blood-soaked attacks across foes before vanishing with team-wide invisibility. Guardians become tornado-summoning tanks with their “Steel Guard” passive and Wings of Salvation bubble shield. And Recluses steal environmental elements to weaponize the dungeon itself while restoring FP through their “Elemental Defense” passive.
Team synergy isn’t just recommended—it’s essential for survival, with four more classes promised at the May 30th launch. This hero-shooter approach marks a bold departure from traditional Soulsborne builds, proving FromSoft isn’t afraid to experiment with its winning formula!
Nightreign Test 2: Cooperative Chaos & Roguelike Promise
The second Nightreign test showed improved server stability but mixed player experiences. Password matchmaking remains buggy, while revive mechanics add strategic depth despite punishing struggling teams.
Bleed weapons dominate the meta (nerf incoming?), and the mage’s FP restoration feels clunky. The ping system helps coordinate with randoms, though your mileage varies by teammate quality.
Players love the roguelike progression and dynamic spawns but struggle with difficulty spikes and occasional quest-breaking bugs. Despite these issues, most remain optimistic about the game’s potential with further polish before launch.
Elden Ring: Get the Best Somber Weapons for Early & Mid-Game
Tired of that “You Died” screen? We explored Elden Ring’s somber weapon collection – those unique special armaments that ask for just ONE upgrade stone per level instead of hoarding TWELVE regular ones like a dragon with a smithing addiction.
From Limgrave’s rolling meadows to Caelid’s nightmare landscape, we’ve tracked down the shiniest death-dealers that’ll transform your pathetic early-game whimpering into mid-game boss bullying. The Bloodhound’s Fang might be the early MVP (9/10) with its truck-hitting damage and anime teleport-dodge skill, but don’t sleep on that blood-spewing Reduvia dagger that thinks it’s auditioning for Bloodborne 2.
Mid-game enthusiasts will want to beeline for the Moonveil Katana (9.5/10), which shoots magic slashes faster than a Malenia simp can say “waterfowl dance,” or the Blasphemous Blade (9.5/10), the Swiss Army knife of greatswords that heals you while cooking enemies medium-rare.
Remember, Tarnished – focus your stats like you focus your trust issues, upgrade wisely since somber stones are rarer than genuine compliments in Caelid, and don’t be too proud to cheese bosses with sleep pots. No shame in the Lands Between when you’re sporting a weapon that fires actual lasers!
Elden Ring Nightreign: A Survival Guide For The Uninitiated
Nightreign isn’t just difficult—it’s deliberately sadistic fun! This month we compiled survival strategies from network test veterans to help you navigate this roguelike gauntlet when it launches in May.
Choose your Nightfarer wisely: start with Wylder for the death-cheating passive if you’re learning, Guardian for team protection, Recluse for AoE damage (if you don’t mind being squishy), or Duchess for precision strikes. Use daylight to raid churches for Sacred Tears and hunt Spectral Hawks for mobility, but avoid mines until you’re stronger.
Combat rewards aggression—charge those Ultimate Arts and focus-fire the weakest enemies first. Teamwork is essential: share experience by sticking together, coordinate Ultimate combos, and revive fallen allies by attacking their downed bodies.
The five phases progress from initial looting to the final Night’s Tide where the map shrinks toward the boss arena. For the network test’s final boss, Gladius, you’ll need level 10+, coordinated Ultimate Arts, and proper spacing to avoid team wipes.
Elden Ring: The Merchant’s Journey Challenge
Sick of naked runs and SL1 attempts? We introduced “The Merchant’s Journey” – possibly the most sadistic economic simulator disguised as an Elden Ring challenge! Trade your warrior instincts for merchant cunning as you navigate the Lands Between exclusively using purchased gear.
Forget those shiny boss weapons and dungeon loot – sell it all! You’ll be counting runes like a dragon hoarding gold, hunting Bell Bearings with religious fervor, and suddenly caring about those obscure merchants you’ve been ignoring for years.
The ruleset comes in two flavors: “Merchant’s Path” for the economically challenged, and “True Merchant’s Journey” for masochists who want to purchase even their smithing stones. Plus, there are three speedrun categories to flex your capitalist muscles – Any%, All Remembrances, or the insane All Merchants run that forces you to buy from all 40 vendors.
Want extra spice? Combine it with the Randomizer mod to turn every shop visit into a loot box surprise. Fair warning: you might find yourself counting runes in your sleep and eyeing real-world merchants with newfound appreciation.
The Mostly Reliable Guide: Spider Scorpion Ashes
Looking for a summon that screams “I’m making questionable life choices”? This month we examined the Spider Scorpion Ashes, nature’s own indecisive arthropod from Shadow of the Erdtree!
This ceiling-dwelling nightmare fuel costs a bizarrely specific 41 FP (apparently decided by a committee with an indecisive abacus). Created by the Church of the Bud through questionable size enhancement, this summon applies poison with all the enthusiasm of a sloth on vacation.
While its unique design answers “what if nightmare fuel was friend-shaped?”, its combat effectiveness resembles threatening a dragon with a strongly worded letter. Its survivability equals a snowman in a volcano, and it seems to be having an existential crisis mid-battle.
Best used when enemies are already poisoned and you just want to remind them about it, or to make your other spirit summons feel better about their life choices. We rate it 4.2/10 on the “At Least It’s Trying Its Best” scale.
Closing Words
And there you have it, Tarnished! Another month of adventures, discoveries, and shared wisdom from across the Lands Between and beyond. We hope these summaries have sparked your curiosity, whether you’re looking to demolish Malenia with a new strategy, experiment with katanas that can delete bosses in seconds, or prepare yourself for the cooperative chaos of Nightreign.
Remember that behind each of these summaries lies a full article packed with detailed explanations, stat breakdowns, and community insights. Feel free to dive deeper into any topic that caught your interest.
As always, your feedback shapes our content. Let us know in the comments which builds you’ve tried, which strategies worked for you, or what topics you’d like to see covered in next month’s articles. The community’s shared knowledge is what makes the journey through these challenging worlds a little less lonely.
For more of our monthly digests check the articles under Monthly Roundup.
Until next time, may your rolls be precise, your parries be perfect, and your deaths be educational. See you in March for another round of Elden Ring insights!
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