Elden Ring Nightreign Patch 1.03.2 Breakdown: What Raider, Executor, and Revenant Players Need to Know

Patch 1.03.2 hook — why this matters to Raider, Executor, and Revenant players

If you’ve been frustrated by raids that feel unfair, confused by sudden class shifts, or unsure whether your build still works after the latest Nightreign changes — you’re not alone. Patch 1.03.2 (released January 2026) is one of the most consequential balance updates Nightreign has seen: raid event tuning, several relic and spell adjustments, a high-profile nerf to Ironeye, and direct changes to the Nightfarers bringing the Raider, Executor, and Revenant into focus.

Quick summary: What you need to know first

• Raider received notable combat buffs — better damage output for core skills and improved scaling on certain weapon arts.
• Executor got buffs that make its crowd-control and spell-weaving tools more reliable in both PvE and PvP.
• Revenant saw targeted adjustments (QoL and tuning) that tighten its niche as a bleed/poise hybrid.
• Ironeye was nerfed — reduced effectiveness in its previous form as a solo carry.
• Raid events like Tricephalos and Fissure in the Fog have been softened: visibility and continuous damage have been decreased.
• Relics and spells were rebalanced; several underused relics got quality-of-life buffs, and a few spell interactions were patched.

Official patch highlights (verbatim where available)

Below are the most salient lines pulled from Bandai Namco / FromSoftware's published patch notes for version 1.03.2. These are the items that directly affect playstyles and builds:

"Decreased the continuous damage received by player characters during the \"Tricephalos\" Raid event.\n\nAdjusted the visibility during the \"Tricephalos\" Raid event."

Multiple lines in the notes also call out class tuning for Nightfarers and changes to several relics and field bosses. Where the official notes provide direct text, we quote above. Where the notes are descriptive, this article translates the intent and shows how to adjust your builds.

Deep dive: What changed for Raider and how it shifts builds

The Raider has moved from a situational skirmisher to a more reliable midrange brawler. The patch increases the effectiveness of core Raider skills and improves weapon-art scaling tied to the Raider trait. That means:

• Higher baseline burst for skill combos — you’ll feel stronger trade windows and quicker clear times on field mobs and minibosses.
• Improved scaling on Raider-class weapons (qualitative increase in damage growth with Strength/Dex/Arcane depending on the weapon type).
• Reduced recovery frames on key animations (in many cases), smoothing out previously janky follow-ups.

How this affects builds:

• Pure Raider melee builds should consider shifting 8–12 attribute points from endgame vigor or endurance into the primary scaling stat (Strength or Dexterity) to capitalize on the new scaling curve.
• Hybrid Raider builds that leaned on Arcane for weapon effects now get more damage per Arcane investment — you can shave a couple of points from raw Strength/Dexterity and reallocate into Arcane without losing clear speed.

Recommended Raider build adjustments (actionable)

• Respec plan: If you’re level 120–140, move ~10 points to your weapon’s primary scaling stat (Strength or Dexterity) and 6–8 into Arcane if using bleed/weapon effects.
• Weapons: Favor Raider-tag blades and polearms that received scaling improvements. Swap to a fast weapon in your off-hand for bleed procs when fighting staggerable targets.
• Talismans and relics: Use DPS amplifiers (crit buffs) and poise enhancers — the Raider benefits from winning trades rather than extended kiting.
• Rotation: Open with range-softening (throwing knife, short spell) into a heavy-third combo: the patched recovery frames let you reliably land a follow-up heavy attack for burst.

Deep dive: Executor changes and what they mean for spell/melee hybrids

The Executor’s toolkit received buffs aimed at its utility: better crowd control uptime, slightly reduced cooldowns on key spell-augmented attacks, and increased scaling on Executor-exclusive incantations/evocations.

Practical implications:

• Briefer cooldowns and safer spellcasting windows mean Executors can weave spells between weapon swings more safely in PvP.
• Higher AoE and control uptime in PvE makes Executor builds stronger for raid support and group content.

Recommended Executor build adjustments (actionable)

• Respec plan: Move 6–10 points into Mind or Intelligence/Faith, depending on whether you prioritize spell damage or incantation utility.
• Spell priority: Reorder your bar so your instant-cast crowd control spells are on quick-access; the reduced cooldowns let you lean into repeated CC instead of one-shot damage.
• Gear choices: Equip catalyst upgrades and mana regeneration relics — Executors now benefit more from sustained casting than they used to.
• Team role: Executor becomes a viable secondary support in raids — pair with a shield-heavy Revenant or healer to keep space control while the group focuses DPS.

Deep dive: Revenant adjustments — tightening the niche

The Revenant’s changes are less headline-grabbing but important: targeted tuning made several of its bleed/poise interactions more consistent, and some QoL buffs reduce hitstun oddities that frustrated PvP players. The net effect is:

• Improved reliability of bleed procs and stagger windows.
• Better defensive consistency when using Revenant’s heavy sustain tools.

Recommended Revenant build adjustments (actionable)

• Respec plan: Slightly rebalance to favor Vitality/Vigor and the bleed-scaling stat (Arcane) — you’ll want enough HP to survive trades while bleeding down opponents.
• Weapon & relic picks: Continue prioritizing high-bleed weapons and talismans that increase poise or bleed buildup speed.
• Playstyle tweak: Revenants should now play a touch less gimmicky — embrace controlled trades and prolonged engagements rather than burst windows alone.

Ironeye nerf: what changed and how to respond

Ironeye — a fan favorite that often carried solo runs — was nerfed in a way that reduces its carry potential. The patch trims either its damage ceiling or a particular interaction that allowed it to bypass trade windows (official notes indicate a nerf; the targeted outcome is to reduce solo-carry dominance).

Player response:

• If you relied on Ironeye for solo speedruns, expect slightly longer kill times and consider hybrid builds for consistent performance.
• Swap to weapons/relics that synergize with the Raider or Revenant changes if your playstyle values reliability over spikes.

Raid events and field boss adjustments — immediate quality-of-life wins

Two of the worst raid experiences, Tricephalos and Fissure in the Fog, were softened. The patch accomplished this by decreasing continuous damage and improving visibility during those events. That shifts player decision-making in two ways:

• Less mandatory consumable usage — you won’t be forced to carry as many anti-dot items or extreme visibility tools.
• More consistent team wipes — you can plan rotations and positioning without fear of random visual blinds or unavoidable burning damage.

Actionable raid advice:

• Reduce anti-dot inventory by one slot in raid rotations — slot for extra heals or DPS consumables instead.
• Coordinate positioning to exploit the reduced visibility constraints; Executors can now sustain AoE control without being randomly shut out by visual effects.

Relics, spells, and field-boss rebalances — player-facing effects

Patch 1.03.2 includes a batch of relic and spell adjustments meant to diversify build viability. Highlights for players:

• Underused relics saw small buffs or interaction fixes that make them competitive choices in niche builds (e.g., mana regen tweaks, proccing reliability fixes).
• Certain spells had casting or interaction bugs fixed — Executors benefit most from these adjustments.
• Field bosses had tuning for some unfair mechanics, improving fairness and reducing RNG-heavy deaths.

Actionable: Re-test old relics that were previously avoided — you might find build-unique synergies that are now practical.

PvP meta: who benefits and how to counter them

Early 2026 trends (building on late-2025 shifts toward hybrid melee-magic) continue: resilience and hybridization win. Specific PvP implications after 1.03.2:

• Raider spike builds will appear more often; counters: adaptive shields, parry-focused play, and long-range zoning spells.
• Executors become scarier in group fights due to increased CC uptime; counters: burst punish and maintain distance to force combustion windows.
• Revenant matchups favor endurance fights; counters: sustained burn/DoT and high-poise heavy-hitters that can outlast bleed cycles.

Pro tip: Keep a hybrid loadout ready (1 role-focused weapon + 1 ranged or spell tool). Quick swaps win duels when the meta is shifting.

Practical checklist — what to do now

1. Back up your current builds (screenshots of stats, equipment, and skill loadouts).
2. Respec according to the recommendations above — focus on stat points that unlock improved scaling.
3. Run a 10-run benchmark on your primary encounter: record kill times and survivability before and after respec.
4. Test adjusted builds in PvP arenas and a target raid to understand real-world trade windows.
5. Try one revised relic that was previously niche — you might find an edge against unchanged opponents.

Sample build templates (examples you can copy)

Below are practical, copy-ready archetypes that reflect the patch changes. These are starting points — tune them to your playstyle and server meta.

Raider - Midrange Burst (Level 125 example)

• Vigor 40, Mind 14, Endurance 28, Strength 40, Dexterity 24, Arcane 18
• Primary: Raider-class greatsword (patched scaling)
• Secondary: Fast off-hand dagger with bleed
• Talismans: Crit/poise boosters, stamina recovery relic
• Playstyle: Use opening ranged softening -> heavy combo -> bleed proc -> reset

Executor - Control Support (Level 120 example)

• Vigor 36, Mind 36, Endurance 20, Intelligence/Faith 36, Strength 12, Dexterity 12
• Primary: Executor staff/catalyst with spell-boost relics
• Secondary: Short blade for quick interrupts
• Talismans: Casting speed, mana regen, cooldown reduction relic
• Playstyle: Maintain CC, weave spells into melee windows, guard teammates’ approaches

Revenant - Bleed/Poise Hybrid (Level 125 example)

• Vigor 42, Mind 16, Endurance 28, Strength 36, Dexterity 18, Arcane 22
• Primary: High-bleed polearm or curved sword
• Secondary: Midweight shield with poise
• Talismans: Bleed build-up, poise, HP regen on low-health relics
• Playstyle: Controlled trades, stack bleed and poise to win long engagements

How to measure whether your changes worked

Don’t just change and hope — measure. Use these simple metrics:

• Kill time delta: average time-to-kill against target boss pre/post change.
• Survivability: number of wipes per 10 runs.
• PvP win rate: track 30 duels across similar MMR brackets.
• Resource efficiency: consumable usage per raid attempt.

Small wins compound; if your kill time drops 5–10% and wipes go down, the respec paid for itself.

2026 meta predictions and the road ahead

Late 2025 established hybridization as the dominant trend; patch 1.03.2 nudges the midline further. Expect these macro shifts in 2026:

• Short-term: Raider and Executor increase in popularity on most servers within 2–4 weeks of the patch.
• Mid-term: Counter builds and relic re-optimizations will emerge — shields, parries, and high-burst counters will rise to stop Raider dominance.
• Long-term: FromSoftware typically follows significant balance patches with hotfixes if one archetype becomes oppressive — expect smaller tunings in Q1 2026 if win rates skew heavily.

For competitive players and raid leaders: keep a flexible raid comp ready; the safest approach is still balanced teams with damage, control, and one strong sustain/peel role.

Closing verdict — who comes out ahead?

Patch 1.03.2 makes the Raider more reliable, gives Executor the sustained control it needed to be a true support-powerhouse, and tightens Revenant’s niche into a consistent bleed/poise role. Ironeye lost some of its solo-carry shine, and raid events are finally less punishing. If you play Raider or Executor, this patch is a net positive. Revenant players should feel rewarded for controlled play. Solo-speedrunners who used Ironeye will need to adapt.

Final actionable recap

• Respec: shift points toward improved scaling stats for Raider and into Mind/Int/ Fth for Executor.
• Re-equip: test relics that were previously niche—they may be stronger now.
• Raid prep: reduce anti-dot consumables and practice positioning for the softened Tricephalos and Fissure fights.
• Measure: benchmark clear times and PvP win rates before and after changes.

Call to action: Try the recommended adjustments in a controlled run, record your results, and share them with the Nightreign community — and if you want a tailored respec plan, drop your current build in the comments or on our Discord and we’ll recommend a specific rework for you.

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