Elden Ring Nightreign was the surprise success that originated from the 2022 Game of the Year winner, Elden Ring. Combining the Soulslike combat that FromSoftware is known for with a roguelike aspect is something few expected, but many absolutely enjoyed.
One thing that ensures things don’t get too stale for players is the Shifting Earth feature. Using this effectively tweaks the map in a certain way so that players can face different enemies and acquire different rewards. Here are all of the Shifting Earths in Elden Ring Nightreign, ranked from best to worst.
1. The Great Hollow
Arriving with the Forsaken Hollows DLC, the Great Hollow only unlocks after defeating the base game’s Tricephalos and one additional boss. It would be wrong to place this Shifting Earth anywhere but at the top, since it’s the most impressive of the bunch. The Great Hollow doesn’t just change certain factors of the typical Limveld map. Instead, it’s a completely different map that consists of new places of interest and enemies that originate from the Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree DLC.
The Great Hollow is a deep underground area that consists of multiple terrain layers of land and ruins. There may not be any fall damage in the game, but falling into the hollows is an instant way to meet death. This Shifting Earth’s power is the Favor of the Great Hollow, which removes the 50% HP debuff received when going to key locations on the map. Additionally, the Arts Gauge gets a boost when the player runs out of Sacred Flasks.
2. Noklateo, the Shrouded City
Noklateo is arguably the best Shifting Earth in the base game of Elden Ring Nightreign. The adjusted map lets players explore an entire city with enemies, bosses, and, even more, a boatload of rewards. One of the more unique rewards here is the fact that players can duplicate any weapon they want, letting them either use two of the same weapons or give one of their legendary weapons to their friend.
However, the biggest reward of this Shift Earth comes when you reach the very depths. While you have to battle Astel, Naturalborn of the Light, it gives you the Favor of Noklateo, the Shrouded City. This favor practically works like an extra Wending Grace, letting players revive themselves after dying once, which could come in clutch against the third night’s boss, especially since it only kicks in when every player falls.
3. Crater
The Crater is likely the first Shifting Earth that most Nightreign players will see when they first start the game. While it isn’t as visually impressive as some of the other Shifting Earths, it turns the entire northern part of the map into a volcano that players can explore and fight bosses in. At first glance, the volcano seems pretty straightforward, since there’s just a lot of lava to explore. However, it’s much deeper than it initially seems.
By falling into the deepest part of the crater, players can find a Magma Worm boss waiting for them. Take down this boss, and you’ll get the option to upgrade any of your weapons into a legendary, increasing their effectiveness by a lot. Even a starting item can turn into a legendary through this Shifting Earth’s hidden power, making it one of the most reliable powers from any Shifting Earth in the game.
4. Rotted Woods
If you’re someone who struggles to hit level 15 at the end of the second day and frequently goes into the final boss underleveled, then the Rotted Woods will seem perfect for you. This Shifting Earth turns the southeast part of the map into a forest infected with Scarlet Rot. Finding the Favor of the Rotted Woods gives players a bump in maximum health. It also lets players recover some of their health if they attack an enemy directly after getting hit.
However, the biggest reason Rotted Woods is such a nice Shifting Earth is because of the number of bosses you can find there. The area is filled with multiple dangerous bosses who reward players with runes, making it extremely easy to reach level 15, especially if you go here as soon as the second day starts.
5. Mountaintop
The Mountaintop may be a visually impressive Shifting Earth, but it falls at the bottom of our Nightreign ranking. The first reason is just how time-consuming it is. Players must dedicate a good portion of the second day to climbing the mountaintop, making it tough to hunt for bosses on that day. Additionally, this Shifting Earth’s power isn’t all that impressive, since it just halves frostbite damage and frost buildup.
Not to mention, the entire area is shrouded by a snowstorm that can really be annoying. This is especially jarring, since the main boss of the area can only be reliably defeated after getting the power. Unfortunately, it’s usually too late to fight a boss of that caliber by the time you climb the mountaintop and get the power. This makes it a constant race against time. It’s even worse if you lose your runes near the top, since getting them again is a process of running past enemies and climbing a lot.
