The Raider stands as an imposing force on the battlefield of Elden Ring Nightreign, embodying the quintessential frontline bruiser that every team needs. As players venture through the twisted landscapes of Limveld in 2025, this powerhouse class has become increasingly popular for those who enjoy getting up close and personal with their enemies. With his massive weapons and ability to withstand punishment, the Raider serves as both the shield and sword for his team of Nightfarers.

"The Raider is not just about swinging big hammers," explains veteran player Marcus during a recent tournament. "It's about understanding positioning and knowing when to deploy your ultimate to maximize team effectiveness."

The Totem Master: Black Claw Necklace

The Raider's ultimate ability—summoning a towering totem from the earth—creates a focal point for team strategy. Among the relics that complement this ability, the Black Claw Necklace stands as perhaps the most synergistic choice available in the current meta.

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This relic offers three crucial benefits:

  • Health restoration when defeating enemies near your Totem Stela

  • Accelerated Art gauge filling upon enemy defeats

  • +3 Poise bonus

"I never realized how game-changing the Black Claw could be until I tried it in the Crimson Hollows area," shares community streamer EldenQueen. "The health restoration alone saved our run multiple times when we were down to our last flask."

Standing Your Ground: Poise-Focused Relics

One of the most frustrating experiences as a Raider is having your devastating hammer swing interrupted by a pesky enemy attack. While the Raider's passive does provide immunity during skill activation, regular attacks remain vulnerable to interruption.

This is where poise-focused relics become invaluable. Relics that boost poise near Totem Stela create a power zone where Raiders can unleash their full potential without fear of interruption.

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The developers seem to have intentionally designed these relics to create synergy with the Raider's kit. When standing near your totem with such a relic equipped, you benefit from both offensive and defensive buffs simultaneously. It transforms the totem from a simple damage dealer into a strategic anchor point for the entire team.

The Supportive Bruiser: Night of the Fathom

While many players view the Raider purely as a damage dealer, savvy teams recognize the class's potential as a support figure. The Night of the Fathom relic exemplifies this alternative playstyle perfectly.

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This remarkable relic offers:

  • Increased maximum HP

  • Flask healing that extends to allies

  • Item effects that spread to nearby teammates

The communal healing aspect cannot be overstated in its importance. During the infamous Nightlord battles that cap off each run, having a Raider who can provide team-wide healing while maintaining frontline pressure creates a significant advantage.

As one player commented during the recent Limveld Championship, "Our Raider with Night of the Fathom basically turned into a walking healing station. We could focus entirely on damage while he kept us topped off."

Weapon Synergy: Maximizing Your Arsenal

Elden Ring Nightreign's unique equipment system allows players to benefit from multiple weapon passives simultaneously without worrying about weight or stat requirements. Smart Raiders take full advantage of this system by filling their inventory slots with complementary weapons.

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Certain relics specifically boost this mechanic by providing additional bonuses based on the number and type of weapons equipped. For maximum effectiveness, Raiders should aim to have at least three colossal weapons, great axes, or great hammers in their inventory slots.

The community has taken to calling this the "Arsenal Approach," and it's particularly effective against the newer Nightlords introduced in the March 2025 update.

The Berserker Path: Torn Braided Cord

For those who embrace the Raider's role as a damage-absorbing berserker, the Torn Braided Cord represents the perfect relic choice. This item transforms damage taken during skill usage into offensive power—essentially rewarding players for being in the thick of battle.

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With each hit absorbed, the Raider gains:

  • Increased attack power

  • Improved stamina

  • +3 Strength bonus

This creates a positive feedback loop where taking damage—something inevitable for frontline fighters—directly translates into greater offensive capability. It's a straightforward but extremely effective approach that requires little tactical consideration beyond aggressive positioning.

"I've seen Raiders with the Torn Braided Cord absolutely demolish Nightlords that should have been much more challenging," notes game analyst Sofia Chen. "The damage scaling gets a bit ridiculous after they've taken a few hits."

Stat Boosters: The Foundation of Power

While flashier relics often get more attention, the humble stat-boosting relics form the foundation of any effective Raider build. These straightforward options provide consistent value throughout an entire run.

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Relics that boost Strength and Vigor are particularly valuable for Raiders. The additional Strength directly increases damage output with the class's preferred heavy weapons, while extra Vigor provides the survivability needed to remain effective on the frontline.

The recent balance patch in April 2025 actually increased the effectiveness of these stat bonuses by approximately 15%, making them more viable than ever before.

Stamina Management: The Unsung Hero

Perhaps the most overlooked aspect of effective Raider play is stamina management. The class's heavy weapons demand substantial stamina investment, making regeneration-focused relics extraordinarily valuable.

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The best stamina relics provide:

  • Recovery with successful attacks

  • Boosted recovery speed after critical hits

  • +3 Endurance bonus

This combination ensures that Raiders can maintain offensive pressure even during extended engagements. The ability to recover stamina through successful attacks creates a virtuous cycle where aggressive play is rewarded with the resources needed to continue fighting.

During the recent Night of Champions tournament, the winning team's Raider attributed their success largely to stamina management: "Everyone focuses on damage or survivability, but if you can't swing your hammer when it matters, none of that helps. Stamina is king."

FAQ: Raider Mastery in 2025

Q: Which weapon type is best for Raiders in the current meta?

A: Great Hammers currently edge out the competition due to the recent buff in patch 2.3, though Colossal Weapons remain competitive for players who prefer their move set.

Q: How important is the Black Claw Necklace for Raider builds?

A: While extremely powerful, it's not mandatory. Raiders can succeed with various relic combinations, though team compositions focused on totem synergy will benefit tremendously from the Black Claw.

Q: Can Raiders function effectively in solo play?

A: Absolutely! While their team support capabilities are valuable, Raiders' high damage output and survivability make them excellent solo operators. Consider relics like Torn Braided Cord that don't rely on ally proximity for solo ventures.

Q: How has the May 2025 patch affected Raider viability?

A: The patch improved Raider's totem duration by 3 seconds and slightly reduced skill cooldowns, making totem-focused builds even stronger. The class is currently considered A-tier in most community rankings.

Q: What's the biggest mistake new Raider players make?

A: Overcommitting to attacks without managing stamina. Many new players exhaust their stamina bar with heavy attacks, leaving them vulnerable. Learning proper stamina management is crucial for Raider mastery.

The Raider continues to evolve as Elden Ring Nightreign's meta develops throughout 2025. With the right relic combinations and an understanding of the class's strengths, Raiders can serve as the cornerstone of any successful Nightfarer team. Whether you prefer the supportive frontliner approach or the berserking damage dealer role, there's a Raider build waiting to be mastered. 🔨⚔️🛡️