The dim glow of my monitor illuminated my face as I stared at the map before me. Three days into Elden Ring Nightreign, and I was still getting my ass handed to me by Tricephalus. That three-headed monstrosity had been laughing at my feeble attempts to bring it down with my standard weapons. But today, everything changed when I noticed something peculiar on my map – a tiny symbol I hadn't paid attention to before.

The Holy Discovery

I'd been playing Elden Ring for years, but Nightreign's expedition system still managed to surprise me. While browsing forums between attempts, I stumbled upon a crucial piece of information: Tricephalus is unusually vulnerable to holy damage – bucking the trend of most original Elden Ring bosses. This revelation immediately sent me hunting across the lands for anything that could channel divine wrath.

Looking at my map more carefully, I noticed subtle symbols indicating weapon damage types. The holy symbol was easy to miss, especially since it looks frustratingly similar to the lightning symbol.

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See that little marker? That's what separates the frustrated players from the victorious ones. These symbols appear next to locations where holy weapons can be found. I immediately marked three spots on my map and set out, my character's cape billowing dramatically behind me as I rode through the twisted landscapes of the Nightreign world.

The Holy Arsenal

My first expedition specifically for holy weapons yielded a beautifully ornate mace that glowed with divine energy. Its weight felt reassuring in my character's hands. I upgraded it as much as my materials would allow and headed back to face Tricephalus.

The difference was night and day! Where before I had been chipping away at the boss's health bar like I was using a plastic spoon, now my holy-infused attacks were causing significant damage. Each head recoiled as the divine energy coursed through its corrupted form. I still died seven times before finally defeating it, but the improvement was undeniable.

For magic users like myself (I run a hybrid build), I discovered another trick: using the map's detailed view to locate Sacred Seals. These sometimes come with spells that deal holy damage. It's not as reliable as finding weapons with the holy symbol, but it's given me more versatility in my approach.

The Relic Gamble

Perhaps the most interesting strategy I've developed is relying on relics at the start of new expeditions. Some relics can change your starting weapon's damage type to holy, giving you an immediate advantage. This has become my go-to approach when tackling the Tricephalus Expedition or preparing for the Night Aspect Expedition, whose final boss (and the final boss of the entire game) is particularly susceptible to holy damage.

This strategy works for almost any character class – with the notable exception of the Recluse. Her starting staff's damage is determined by the spell being cast, so the relic conversion doesn't apply. I learned this the hard way after wasting a rare relic on my Recluse build, only to find myself still dealing standard magic damage. The game gives, and the game takes away.

My Holy Crusade Continues

As I've progressed through Nightreign, I've developed something of a ritual. Before starting any new expedition, I scan the map for that holy symbol, marking potential weapon locations. I've accumulated quite the arsenal of divine instruments:

  • Blessed Greatsword - Slow but devastating

  • Holy Spiral Rapier - Fast attacks with moderate holy damage

  • Divine Light Bow - For when I need to keep my distance

  • Sacred Flame Catalyst - For my incantations

The Night Aspect Expedition remains my greatest challenge. I've attempted it seventeen times now, each attempt getting me a little further. The final boss has claimed my life repeatedly, but with each failure, I learn its patterns a little better. My holy weapons chip away at its defenses more effectively than anything else I've tried.

Lessons From The Lands Between

What fascinates me most about Elden Ring Nightreign is how it rewards preparation and knowledge as much as skill. Understanding damage types and weaknesses isn't just helpful—it's essential. The game doesn't explicitly tell you these things; it expects you to discover them through observation and experimentation.

Sometimes I wonder if I'm overthinking all of this. Maybe I just need to "git gud" as they say. But there's something satisfying about approaching each expedition with a strategy, about knowing that I've done everything I can to prepare for what lies ahead.

As I prepare for my eighteenth attempt at the Night Aspect Expedition tonight, holy weapons polished and ready, I can't help but wonder: in a game designed to be brutally challenging, is finding these advantages and exploiting weaknesses actually the intended way to play, or am I somehow missing the point of the struggle itself?