Nightreign and Path of Exile 2 Could Be Similar in One Mechanic

Nightreign and Path of Exile 2 Could Be Similar in One Mechanic



After a massive 2024 that saw the release of Shadow of the Erdtree, Elden Ring fans have an even brighter future to look forward to in the coming year thanks to the recent announcement of Elden Ring: Nightreign at The Game Awards. Elden Ring: Nightreign seems to be elevating the multiplayer aspects of the original FromSoftware title with a heavy emphasis on co-op play with a party of three players. However, where Elden Ring: Nightreign really differs from its predecessor is in its approach to loot, following in the footsteps of a game like Path of Exile 2 more than its predecessor.

Part of what makes Elden Ring a dream for RPG enthusiasts is the wide variety of builds available in the game. Between the numerous weapon and armor types, various incarnations and sorceries, and the relative ease of respeccing a character, Elden Ring offers players a lot of freedom to experiment with their playstyle. With Elden Ring: Nightreign, players will likely have to take an entirely different approach to building their character, as the combination of pre-made classes and randomized loot drops could make for a widely different FromSoftware experience.

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Elden Ring: Nightreign Will Hopefully Be a Marriage of Soulslike Mechanics

Based on what little information is currently available, Elden Ring Nightreign seems to be looping in disparate mechanics from other soulslikes.

Elden Ring: Nightreign’s Approach to Loot Sounds a Lot Like Path of Exile 2, Diablo

Randomized Loot Could Fit Elden Ring: Nightreign’s Gameplay Perfectly

Elden Ring: Nightreign‘s roguelike nature means players are going to be tackling different foes across a three-day cycle for each run they embark on. Part of the randomization included in the game’s roguelike elements is the loot that players will find when defeating an enemy or even breaking items like crates around the game’s map. In contrast to the original Elden Ring, which featured static locations for the majority of its gear, Elden Ring: Nightreign‘s randomized loot is far more reminiscent of games like Path of Exile 2 and Diablo 4.

Players familiar with ARPGs like Path of Exile 2 will likely be accustomed to the color-coded loot system that Elden Ring: Nightreign features to denote the levels of rarity of an item. However, Elden Ring: Nightreign throws a twist on this traditional ARPG loot system by having requirements to wield a piece of gear based on the player’s level, rather than class or other stats. Combine this with the classic soulslike combat system and Elden Ring: Nightreign should serve as the perfect counterpart to Path of Exile 2 in 2025.

Elden Ring: Nightreign is set to feature eight playable classes for players to choose from, including the revealed Wylder, Duchess, Guardian, and Recluse.

What Elden Ring: Nightreign Should and Shouldn’t Take from a Path of Exile 2-Style Loot System

While including a randomized loot system should help keep Elden Ring: Nightreign feeling fresh on each run, this approach to loot can be a double-edged sword if handled incorrectly. One of the biggest draws of an ARPG like Path of Exile 2 is the rewarding feeling of having a rare piece of loot drop from a tough boss, and Elden Ring: Nightreign seems primed to replicate this feeling. Finding pieces of gear with modifiers that synergize well together could be what hooks Elden Ring: Nightreign players in.

However, there are some pitfalls this type of loot system tends to fall into that Elden Ring: Nightreign should avoid. One of the biggest problems many ARPGs with randomized loot systems face is the overabundance of useless loot that ends up clogging the player’s inventory, forcing them to constantly drop or scrap unwanted items. Elden Ring: Nightreign will give players a limit of six total weapons—three for each hand—that they can carry at a time, so it’s possible that players could run into this problem depending on how frequently they are finding new loot.

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