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Sometimes, all you want to do in a Soulslike isgrab a big hammer and bonk enemies over the head with it. Magic is cool and all, and dex builds are great for matching the frantic speed of newer FromSoftware games, but strength is reliable for good reason. So, it’s only fitting thatElden Ring Nightreigncaptured that spirit with the Raider.
This behemoth of a pirate caneasily stun and aggro enemies, using hisheightened poiseto barrel through attacks with his own. He’s a great addition to any team,filling the tank rolewith ease, making him a perfect pairing to more vulnerable Nightfarers like Recluse and Revenant. More importantly, he hits like a truck.
Overview Of Raider
Raider is one of the easier characters to get a handle on.He has high HPand isgreat at staggering opponents, so you’ll want tostay closeand utilise hisA-tier staminato land more attacks.
Unlike Guardian, you don’t need to use Guard Counters to stun enemies; simply attacking them will do.
While Raider does have high poise, allowing him to tank blows without being interrupted, it’s still worth dodging. This is a Soulslike after all, and you don’t want to be wasting what precious little flasks you have.
He doesn’t have much FP, and hisFaith and Intelligence scaling are only D-tier, so spells and incantations won’t save you. For additional healing, you either have to rely on teammates orcollect Warming Stones.
As the team’s tank, your role will be tokeep enemies focused on you, allowing teammates to revive one another, and ranged characters such as Ironeye and Recluse to focus on damage from afar. As they have quite low HP, it’s paramount that youkeep opponents away from them. Otherwise, Raider is the simplest Nightfarer of the lot, using heavy weaponry to bash enemies into submission.
Raider’s Traits
Like with every other Nightfarer,Raider has three unique traits, and all pair nicely with his role as the team’s tank.
C
Character Skill
Take his Character Skill,Retaliate, in which hetakes reduced damage while headbutting enemies, either causing them tofall down, flinch, or stagger. It’s best usedagainst slower opponents, given the long wind-up.
Passive Ability
Raider’s passive ties directly into his Character Skill, allowing him to use it without being knocked out of the animation.
If Raider takes a blow that should kill him while using Retaliate, he will instead drop to one HP.
If yousuffer enough damage, it willbuff Retaliatethe next time that you use it, turning it intoa more powerful uppercut which can stagger gigantic enemies, making it an invaluable tool when fighting bosses. But it’smuch slower.
Ultimate Art
As the team’s tank, Raider’s Ultimate Art is designed to support nearby allies, though it also deals a hefty amount of damage.
When castingTotem Stela, Raider will plunge a gravekeeper’s wedge into the ground tosummon an enormous stone obelisk,boosting nearby allies' attack power, while alsoproviding a platform for ranged allies to stand on.
It remains in place for 30 seconds, andcan be used anywhere, making it versatile even outside of combat; it canbreak stone statuesfor loot orallow you to reach higher ledges.
Best Weapons To Use With Raider
Since Raider has anS rank in Strength, he is incrediblywell-equipped to use Colossal Weapons, greataxes, and great-hammers. These complement his abilities nicely, as they’readept at staggering enemies. He only hasC-tier Arcane and Dexterity scaling, though, so it’s best to avoid lighter weapons such as katanas.
While Ironeye is a dedicated archer,he isn’t skilled with larger weapons, which means thatRaider is one of the best Nightfarers to use a Greatbow with, owing to his Strength scaling. Paired with Totem Stela, he can be a surprisingly versatile character, even working at range, but it’s still best to focus on keeping aggro.
