Fellow Tarnished and devoted readers! As January winds down, we’ve been keeping ourselves busy exploring every nook and cranny of Elden Ring and its DLC, Shadow of the Erdtree.
But that’s not all – excitement is building as FromSoftware prepares to unleash Elden Ring: Nightreign. With the network test starting this Valentine’s Day, we’re in for a month of both nostalgia and fresh pain!
From questionable spirit summons to innovative challenge runs, this month has been packed with discoveries, laughs, and more than a few “YOU DIED” screens. Let’s dive into our most popular articles of the month!
The Mostly Reliable Guide: Black Knight Captain Huw
Black Knight Captain Huw joins our catalog of questionable spirit summons as a prime example of style over substance. Found in the treacherous Scorpion River Catacombs, this Crucible Knight demands a whopping 105 FP – a cost that suggests someone got a bit too enthusiastic with their calculator. What do you get for this steep spiritual investment? A warrior who approaches combat with all the grace of a caffeinated squirrel and the survival instincts of a moth near a flame.
While Huw’s impressive repertoire includes wings and Crucible powers, his defensive capabilities rival a paper umbrella in a hurricane. He treats combat like an interpretive dance recital, consistently finding new and innovative ways to perish while steadfastly refusing to block attacks. Rating a modest 4/10 on our “At Least It’s Entertaining” scale, Captain Huw serves best as a conversation starter or when you need to convince a boss you’re not taking them seriously.
Done With Elden Ring? 10 Epic Games to Play Now
So you’ve conquered the Lands Between and now you’re suffering from serious Elden Ring withdrawal? Fear not, fellow Tarnished – I’ve spent countless hours chasing that same high and emerged with a cure for your gaming blues. Whether you’re craving more “YOU DIED” screens or just miss that sweet dopamine rush of finally beating a seemingly impossible boss, I’ve got your next fix lined up.
Dark Souls 3, Elden Ring’s battle-hardened older sibling, trades open-world freedom for perfectly crafted pain chambers. The Ringed City DLC’s Slave Knight Gael will happily remind you what controller-gripping tension feels like. Meanwhile, Bloodborne’s like that cousin who studied abroad and came back with a Victorian gothic makeover and a cosmic horror philosophy degree – faster, more aggressive, and delightfully disturbing.
The new generation brings fresh pain with Lies of P – imagine if Bloodborne and Bioshock had a baby, and that baby really liked telling lies while wielding mechanically modified weapons. For loot enthusiasts, Nioh 2 combines Souls-like combat with Diablo’s “ooh, shiny!” addiction, letting you literally become the demons you’re fighting. Missing epic boss fights? Monster Hunter: World is basically all boss fights, all the time, plus you get to cook elaborate meals for your cat companion.
And with Monster Hunter Wilds and Ghost: Yลtei on the horizon for 2025, it seems our addiction to beautiful suffering isn’t ending anytime soon. Remember, fellow Tarnished: every death is a lesson, and every victory is earned – that’s what made us fall in love with Elden Ring in the first place.
How to Use Charged Heavy Attacks in Elden Ring
Want to turn your regular bonks into super bonks? Let me introduce you to the art of charged heavy attacks – the golf swing of death that turns blocking enemies into sad pancakes. Sure, charging up makes you feel like a sitting duck at a hunter’s convention, but the payoff is worth every nervous second.
With the right setup, these moves hit harder than the realization that Malenia has a second phase. Stack the Axe Talisman with a Spiked Cracked Tear, and you’ll be doing the kind of damage that makes bosses file complaints with HR. The real trick is mastering the timing – start charging during your roll recovery to feel like a 5000 IQ player, or backstep-charge to make your enemies regret their attack animations.
While colossal weapons like the Zweihander and Giant-Crusher are obvious choices (because subtlety is overrated), don’t sleep on unexpected champions like the Guardian Swordspear. Just remember: timing is everything, and attempting a charged heavy against those Caelid dogs is about as wise as trying to hug Malenia during Waterfowl Dance. Save your charged attacks for bosses who actually give you breathing room – I’m looking at you, Mr. ‘I Need Five Business Days To Complete My Attack Animation’ Tree Sentinel.
Introducing the Elden Ring Weapon Mastery Challenge Generator
Tired of relying on your trusty Rivers of Blood? Born from my jealous console-player tears while watching PC mod videos, I’ve created the Weapon Mastery Challenge Generator – because sometimes we all need a digital dungeon master to force us out of our comfort zone. This web-based tool creates delightfully challenges like ‘Punch Malenia to Death’ or ‘Turn Stormveil into a Dagger-Only Party.’
The generator understands Elden Ring’s progression better than most players understand the lore, crafting challenges that make sense for your chosen area and difficulty level. Want to clear the entire game with fist weapons? We’ve got you. Prefer to torture yourself region by region? That’s covered too. With five difficulty levels from ‘Mostly Sane’ to ‘Who Hurt You?’, everyone from casual players to hardcore masochists can find their sweet spot of frustration.
Think of it as having a slightly sadistic friend who keeps saying ‘but what if you tried it with just a club?’ – except this friend actually understands game balance and won’t suggest fighting Radahn with a broken straight sword at level one. No mods required – just pure, unadulterated weapon experimentation that works across all platforms. Because everyone deserves the chance to discover new and exciting ways to die in The Lands Between.
Check Out the Elden Ring Nightreign Network Test Details
Get ready for a twisted new take on the Lands Between! Elden Ring: Nightreign, a standalone co-op roguelike, kicks off its beta test this Valentine’s Day. Here’s everything you need to know about making your beloved die repeatedly in FromSoftware’s latest creation.
The closed beta runs February 14-17, featuring five three-hour sessions of procedurally generated pain in a warped realm called Limveld. Lucky participants should check their inboxes – beta codes drop February 11. If you missed the sign-ups, time to sweet-talk that friend who got in!
This isn’t just Elden Ring with friends – Nightreign introduces eight unique characters, dynamic day-night cycles, and ever-changing areas that ensure you can’t just memorize your way to victory. Coming to all platforms in late 2025, it promises to be the perfect blend of co-op chaos and FromSoftware’s signature ‘git gud’ philosophy. Because nothing says ‘Happy Valentine’s Day’ quite like dying alongside your friends in style!
What a month it’s been! As we gear up for February’s Nightreign beta test and the release of Monster Hunter Wilds, the Lands Between continue to evolve in exciting ways. Whether you’re still mastering charged heavies, exploring new games, torturing yourself with our challenge generator, or preparing to dive into Limveld’s procedurally generated chaos with friends, the future of Elden Ring looks brighter (or darker) than ever – and always remember: every death is a lesson, and every victory is earned.
Until we meet again, keep exploring, keep dying and most importantly, keep getting back up!
Oh, and if you’d like to read more of our monthly digests, check out the category “Monthly Roundup“.
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