Elden Ring Nightreign Wylder Build: Best Stats, Relics, Weapons & Tips

Wylder in Elden Ring Nightreign doesn’t come with the heavy magic or the bulkiest armor, but don’t mistake that for mediocrity as he is not flashy because he doesn’t need to be. Wylder is the reliable heartbeat of any expedition: versatile, adaptable, and quietly lethal when built right. His toolkit leans on fundamentals including positioning, pressure, and raw execution, and rewards players who can read the battlefield. After testing his Elden Ring builds across dozens of expeditions including tank, DPS, solo, and squad, I’ve put together the best guide to make Wylder shine no matter what the game throws your way.

Elden Ring Nightreign Wylder Core Attributes and Playstyle

One of the key reasons Wylder works well in almost any situation is his stat distribution. He doesn’t go all-in on any one stat like some of the other Nightfarers, but instead starts strong across the board, especially where it counts.

Below are his base stats:

• HP: A
• FP: C
• Stamina: B
• Strength: A
• Dexterity: B
• Intelligence/Faith/Arcane: C

That Strength/Dex combo is really what defines his identity. It means Wylder scales nicely with greatswords, halberds, and axes but his Dexterity isn’t too shabby either, which means if you need to pivot to faster more agile weapons such as katanas or curved swords, you’re not throwing your build in the trash.

Due to his decent Stamina pool and high Strength, he thrives in high-pressure frontline roles. You’ll often be the first one to join the fray, slashing through mobs or hammering down on bosses. His moderate Dexterity also gives him solid mobility, enough to keep you nimble, but not squishy.

Although Wylder doesn’t excel in magic, his powers drive from his weapon versatility and relic synergies. You can tweak his build toward high burst damage, stamina sustain, or mild tankiness depending on what relics and talismans you pick up. In short, Wylder is flexible. He can tank, DPS, or support while staying in the heart of the action. That adaptability is his actual strength in a roguelike-style system like Nightreign, where loot and situations change frequently.

• Read more: How to Change Outfits & Skins in Elden Ring Nightreign

Elden Ring Nightreign Wylder Abilities

Sixth Sense (Passive Ability)

Sixth Sense automatically saves Wylder from fatal damage once per expedition run, allowing you to walk away from what would’ve been a kill shot. It’s especially helpful for new players still understanding boss timings and movement.

But it doesn’t protect you from status effects like Death Blight or Madness. It also only triggers once and must be recharged at a Site of Grace or by being revived. So while it’s a free get-out-of-jail card, don’t treat it like an invincibility cheat. Use it as a backup plan, not a strategy. Watch for the Wylder icon below your stamina bar; when it disappears, that means Sixth Sense has been used. Heal up and start playing more carefully until it’s restored.

Claw Shot (Character Skill)

Wylder’s Claw Shot is a grappling hook, gap-closer, combo extender, and the core of what makes him so aggressive and fluid in combat. When used on small enemies, it pulls them to you. On larger enemies like bosses, it pulls you to them. This ability doesn’t cost stamina, which makes it incredibly efficient to reposition or initiate fights. It’s also technically considered a sprint, which means you can follow it up with jump attacks or running strikes to start an offense chain.

If you have relics like the Slate Whetstone, your Claw Shot follow-up gets even better with fire damage and combo potential, turning into a burst-damage skill. This synergy is one of the main reasons to build around greatswords with Wylder. You should use Claw Shot at the end of a dash or jump to extend your movement. You can even dodge many boss attacks or environmental hazards by grappling out of the danger zone instead of sprinting.

Onslaught Stake (Ultimate Art)

Wylder’s ultimate is Onslaught Stake, and it lives up to its name. This attack launches a huge, fiery stake into enemies causing an explosive AoE blast that can be charged to boost damage and blast radius. It’s very useful to break enemy stances, nuke elite mobs, or turn the tide of a boss fight when your team is on the ropes. Even better, it only consumes 75% of your ultimate art gauge if it finishes off an enemy, so you can use it more often than you think. There’s more than one way to use Onslaught Stake:

• Uncharged: Faster, deals solid damage, and knocks Wylder back slightly.
• Charged: Slower but deadly; Wylder remains grounded and unleashes a much larger explosion, suitable for landing in a setup combo or after a Claw Shot initiation.

One of the great (and underutilized) mechanics is that you can use Onslaught Stake to revive allies. If a teammate is down near a boss or mob group, you can detonate your ult and bring them back during the combat.

Best Elden Ring Nightreign Wylder Weapons

Wylder’s arsenal is as broad as his shoulders. While most Nightfarers tend to lean hard into a specific weapon class, Wylder’s stat sheet opens the door to a ton of melee variety particularly weapons that scale well with Strength and Dexterity.

Greatswords are the most preferred weapon Wylder likes to hold in his hands as they align nicely with Wylder’s A-rank Strength and B-rank Dexterity. When you combine that with his ability to close distance through Claw Shot, it makes total sense to invest in big blades that can make the most of his frontliner role.

These are the best Greatswords for Wylder build:

• Knight’s Greatsword – A reliable, balanced option with excellent base stats and clean scaling, ideal for general DPS builds.
• Flamberge – Deals physical and bleed damage. Combine this with relics that increase critical hits or status build-up.
• Forked Greatsword – Similar to the Flamberge, but with unique animations and slightly more aggressive stats.
• Gargoyle’s Blackblade – Introduces Holy damage scaling, which can be effective against certain Nightlords or mobs.
• Ordovis’s Greatsword – Another solid Holy-scaling blade with good stance breaking power.

Honorable Mentions

• Blasphemous Blade – This boss weapon pairs healing and fire damage in one package.
• Marais Executioner’s Sword – More niche, but can be fun for Dexterity-leaning builds.
• Halberds & Axes – Wylder’s stat mixture allows him to use other heavy weapons like halberds and greataxes, which gives fantastic range and crowd control options.

Moreover, Wylder starts with a small shield having a buckler parry. But if you’d rather not gamble on timing, equip a medium or greatshield as needed, it primarily helps if your team needs a semi-tank or in solo. It’s recommended to two-hand your main weapon unless you’re deliberately playing defensive. Wylder is the best when he’s pushing forward and maintaining pressure but not turtling behind a shield.

Best Weapon Passives for Wylder

Nightreign introduced an interesting feature that has changed the usual course of the Elden Ring weapons system, you can benefit from the passive effects of weapons in your inventory, not only the ones you’re actively wielding unless marked with a hand icon. It opens up a lot of room for min-maxing. To optimize Wylder the best way, part of your build strategy should be to hunt down weapon passives that increase his natural strengths. Even if you don’t plan to use a weapon, keeping it in your bag can passively level up your stats or combat abilities.

Best Wylder Offensive Passives

• Improved Attack Power (Two-Handed)
• Improved Affinity Attack Power
• Improved Stance-Breaking
• Bleed Buildup Boost

Best Defensive Passives

• Successive Attacks Negate Damage
• Taking Damage Boosts Negation

Even if a passive sounds situational, stacking multiple low-tier passives can still create strong synergies. Don’t overlook weapons with utility passives like stamina recovery boosts or improved flask effects, which can slightly but meaningfully impact your survivability.

• Read more: How to Get and Use Stonesword Keys in Elden Ring Nightreign

Best Elden Ring Nightreign Wylder Relics

While the game’s semi-randomized loot system means you won’t always get your dream relics, there are still a few key ones to prioritize and some specially tailored for Wylder himself. At the start, Wylder has a relic urn that lets him equip two red relics and one blue, and as you defeat bosses, you’ll unlock more slots. You need to know which ones complement his strengths and turn his utility skills into major damage tools.

These are the recommended red relics for Wylder:

• Slate Whetstone [Wylder]
  • Follow-up attacks possible after using Claw Shot (Greatsword only)
  • Boosts Physical Attack
  • This is the single most synergistic relic for Wylder’s kit. It turns Claw Shot from a reposition tool into a combo launcher and grants fire damage follow-up.
• Grand Burning Scene
  • Leaves fire residue after Onslaught Stake
  • +2 Strength and Dexterity
  • Great for AoE control and stat boosts; fire persists in the area, making it great for attrition fights.
• Night of the Baron
  • Levels up critical hit damage
  • Refills the ultimate art gauge on crit
  • Improves stamina regen after a crit
  • Bonkers in synergy with stance-breaking and bleed builds.

For the blue relics, I’d suggest this:

• Polished Drizzly Scene
  • Draws enemy aggro while guarding
  • +3 Vigor
  • Helps Wylder pivot into a tanky role if needed, or simply improves survivability in aggressive melee.

You should always tailor your relic loadout to the Nightlord you’re up against and your team’s composition. Wylder can lean more offensive or defensive depending on the gear you give him, so stay flexible.

Best Elden Ring Nightreign Wylder Talismans

Talismans don’t define your playstyle, but they definitely help improve it. Like relics, talismans are often RNG-based, so part of the strategy is to decide which ones to chase and which ones to ditch. Since Wylder’s whole identity revolves around stamina management, burst offense, and frontline pressure, your best talisman choices will reflect that.

Stamina-Based Talismans

• Viridian Amber Medallion
  • Boosts max stamina by 12%
  • Important for longer engagements and skill-heavy play.
• Green Turtle Talisman
  • Speeds up stamina recovery
  • Excellent for staying aggressive without risking exhaustion.

Offense Boosters

• Millicent’s Prosthesis
  • +5 Dexterity
  • Bonus attack power on successive hits
  • Great synergy with combo-based relics and weapon passives.
• Axe Talisman
  • Increases charged attack damage
  • A natural fit for Wylder’s two-handed heavy-hitting style.
• Claw Talisman
  • Improves jump attacks
  • Pairs fine with Claw Shot setups and airborne crits.

Defensive Picks

• Dragoncrest Shield Talisman
  • +15% Physical Damage Negation
  • Offers an extra protection layer in boss fights or tough enemy rooms.

Balance at least one stamina talisman with one offensive and one situational like elemental resistance or ultimate art boost. That way, you will be ready for pressure fights and longer duels.

Dormant Powers & Consumables for Wylder

Dormant Powers in Elden Ring: Nightreign are passive buffs that affect your build’s long-term performance. You should pick stamina and offense-focused powers to support his playstyle as a frontliner who regularly swings, dodges, and leaps into danger.

These are the best Dormant powers for Wylder:

Stamina-Boosting Powers

• Increased Maximum Stamina – More stamina = more attacks, more dodges, more blocking – so always a good investment.
• Improved Stamina Recovery – Perfect for staying mobile and aggressive, especially when weaving Claw Shots and heavy swings into every fight.

Offensive Powers

• Improved Physical Attack Power – A flat rise to your melee damage, and it stacks well with relics and talismans.
• Improved Affinity Attack Power – Levels up elemental or status-based attacks like fire or bleed, good in case of Flamberge or Slate Whetstone.

Defensive Powers

• Increased Max HP – Doesn’t sound glamorous, but it’ll often save you from one-shot mechanics and give you more time to react.
• Improved Flask HP Restoration – Better healing means fewer deaths mainly in co-op where your team is counting on you to survive.

Other than that, consumables in Nightreign are highly impactful and in use in almost every boss fight. So, don’t hoard them as they’re meant to give you the edge when it matters.

• Exalted Flesh – Temporarily increases physical damage, use this before charging into a boss or mini-boss encounter.
• Pickled Turtle Neck – Speeds up stamina recovery; It pairs strong with Wylder’s two-handed build and lets you stay aggressive longer.
• Boiled Crab – Massively increases physical damage negation.

How to Play Wylder in Elden Ring Nightreign Effectively

Wylder’s toolkit rewards players who are proactive, opportunistic, and confident in melee range. These few things can help to play Wylder at its best level:

Play Your Role

At the start of every run, assess your team composition. If you’re the only melee-heavy character, you’ll be the tip of the spear but if there are other DPS players like Ironeye or Recluse, adjust into a semi-tank role to absorb aggro while they unload damage.

Learn the Claw Shot

• Engage Fast – Use Claw Shot to close gaps or pull enemies into your range. This ability doesn’t cost stamina, making it good for starting fights or saving dodges for emergencies.
• Disrupt & Punish – On small enemies, Claw Shot can interrupt attacks. Follow it immediately with a heavy strike or combo.
• Reposition Smartly – Against larger foes, Claw Shot pulls you to them, so use it to dodge wide AoEs or leap behind a boss for backstabs.

Combo into Onslaught Stake

• Claw Shot → Jump Attack → Charged Onslaught Stake = one of the deadliest openers in the game.
• Use your Slate Whetstone relic to set your greatsword on fire after a Claw Shot for additional burn damage.

Your passive cheat-death ability (Sixth Sense) gives you room to take risks but only once per life. Use it to join the action early and create momentum, but pull back and heal after its trigger.

• Read more: How to Increase Item Slots in Elden Ring Nightreign

Wylder Build Strategy: DPS or Tank

One of the greatest things about Wylder is his ability to flex between DPS and tank roles depending on your gear and team. Let’s talk about both build paths so you can decide what works for your group, or even pivot mid-run if needed.

DPS Wylder

If Wylder is your team’s main damage dealer, it’s better to focus on these:

Gear Priorities

• Weapons: Flamberge, Knight’s Greatsword, Blasphemous Blade
• Relics: Slate Whetstone, Grand Burning Scene, Night of the Baron
• Talismans: Millicent’s Prosthesis, Axe Talisman, Claw Talisman

Key Strategies

• Always two-hand your weapon for high damage.
• Build around status or elemental stacking like Bleed or Fire.
• Use Claw Shot aggressively to start fights and chain into combos.
• Keep Ultimate Art gauge in flow by landing crits and stance breaks.

Tank Wylder

With the right relics and playstyle, Wylder can eat hits, control aggro, and still dish out decent damage. For tanky build type, prefer these:

Gear Priorities

• Weapons: Greatshield + Greatsword (or Halberd)
• Relics: Polished Drizzly Scene, any HP/Defense boosters
• Talismans: Dragoncrest Shield Talisman, Green Turtle Talisman

Key Strategies

• Focus on drawing aggro with shield blocks or blue relics.
• Use Claw Shot defensively to reposition or rescue allies.
• Save Onslaught Stake for interrupting bosses or reviving teammates.
• Time your Sixth Sense strategically, don’t waste it on trash mobs.

Best Team Synergies with Wylder in Nightreign

Wylder is a team player through and through. Whether he sets the pace in the frontline or acts as the glue that holds the party together, his versatility means he plays well with nearly everyone, but some classes pair better than others. Below are the top synergy picks for this character in Nightreign:

Recluse

• Ranged poison/magic specialist with high DPS.
• Wylder draws enemy aggro while Recluse melts from a safe distance.
• Their skills naturally create “safe zones” where Recluse can free-cast.

Ironeye

• The only character bulkier than Wylder. Use Ironeye + Wylder to get a near-unstoppable frontline.
• Wylder handles mobility and stagger while Ironeye soaks damage and taunts enemies.

Duchess

• A perfect support character with healing and buffs.
• Wylder’s aggressive playstyle pairs well with Duchess dropping heals and covering his flanks.

Raider

• High-damage melee berserker who thrives in chaos.
• Wylder provides controlled disruption while Raider plays full aggro.

Regarding the combat roles, Wylder in Elden Ring Nightreign initiates fights, DPS unloads damage, and support is responsible to keep everyone alive till the fight’s end. If the team lacks crowd control, Wylder can adapt by stacking AoE relics or tank-focused gear. Wylder is not the flashiest Nightfarer, but that’s exactly what makes him lethal as he doesn’t need gimmicks. With the right build, he is the calm in the storm: the first one in, the last one standing, and the glue holding your expedition.