Elden Ring Nightreign Guide – How to Use the Duchess Well

The Duchess is among the trickier classes to master in Elden Ring Nightreign. Learning how to use the Duchess is a matter of learning when to weave in and out of melee range and when to stay at range, blasting away with spells.

While this agile Nightfarer comes with a bit of a learning curve, it is well worth the rewarding gameplay loop that she brings to the table. It’s time to dive in and see what makes the Duchess tick in FromSoftware’s take on a roguelike.

How to Use the Duchess in Elden Ring Nightreign

The Duchess is a Nightfarer best suited to players who prefer dexterity-focused playstyles with quick attacks and fast dodges. It’s best to think of her as Elden Ring Nightreign’s version of Lady Maria from Bloodborne.

Unlocking the Duchess requires a few expeditions into the Lands Between in order to obtain a relic called the Old Pocketwatch. This is either a random drop from enemies or as a guaranteed reward from the very first Nightlord you take on as the final boss of the first expedition. With the Pocketwatch in hand, simply speak to the Priestess at the Roundtable Hold and show her the watch when the option presents itself. A short cutscene ensues, and the Duchess is now selectable from the Character menu.

Understanding how to use the Duchess involves making good use of her abilities. Her Passive ability, called Magnificent Poise, is a boon to players whose dodging game may not be on par with their teammates. Just like the Executor brings Sekiro-like parries to the lands Between, the Duchess brings Bloodborne’s dodges to the table, allowing you to weave in and out of combat like a Hunter.

Her Character Skill, called Restage, is perfect for applying elemental stacks to enemies or to create a second instance of damage after another player performs a Stagger Attack or an Ultimate Ability. You will need to execute the move within three seconds of an enemy taking heavy damage to add another 50% of damage by creating a phantom of the enemy that retakes the damage it received a few moments ago.

Finally, the Duchess’ Finale ability is her Ultimate Art, allowing her to hide herself and nearby allies, losing enemy aggro in the process. It’s perfect for when a teammate has been downed, allowing the Duchess to vanish and rush to their aid. It could also help a teammate who needs to back up and heal, giving them enough breathing room to do so. Remember that invisible players still take damage from enemy attacks.

As far as weapons go, Daggers with elemental abilities like Bleed and Frost should be a priority, as they often take out large chunks of enemy health bars when they proc. Following up each proc with the Restage ability is a great way to cause boss health bars to melt, even as the agile Nightfarer continues her assault due to being able to move quickly out of harm’s way and back into the fray thanks to her passive.

However, given the Duchess’ affinity for magical attacks thanks to her high Intelligence stat, picking up a staff with effective spells is a great idea, allowing the Duchess to create space in tight situations while continuing to deal damage to her enemies. Relics and Talismans that recover HP and FP are always useful, as are special effects that make up for her low health.

The Duchess’ versatility makes her work well with any Nightfarers. However, Ironeye, Executor, Raider, and Revenant are excellent choices for a team looking to make the most out of her abilities, but at least now you know how to use the Duchess well.

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