If you're among the eager players jumping into Elden Ring: Nightreign, you might find yourself adjusting to some familiar yet tweaked mechanics. While the core gameplay remains consistent with the original Elden Ring, a few adjustments have been made to accommodate new features or streamline existing ones. These tweaks range from minor updates to entirely new functionalities, but one change in particular has caught players’ attention: the flask system.
In FromSoftware’s Souls series and the original Elden Ring, the flask serves as a lifeline during battles—a reusable healing tool essential for survival. Traditionally, you’d cycle through various consumables mid-combat to stay alive. However, in Elden Ring: Nightreign, the flask takes center stage as a dedicated feature. By default, hitting the left-most face button (either X or Square depending on your controller) triggers its use, while the Up arrow on the D-Pad now opens the item menu.
“I keep pressing ‘X’ to use items.”
— byu/The_Mudddler
This shift has caused some players to stumble over muscle-memory habits developed while playing the original game. It’s amusingly ironic that seasoned veterans, warming up for Nightreign or even revisiting the base game alongside it, now face the challenge of retraining their reflexes.
Accompanying the flask update is a new super-sprint mechanic mapped to L3. Without Torrent by your side, Nightreign introduces a speedy alternative to dash across the battlefield. However, this isn’t the only sprint option available. Players accustomed to holding the dodge button will still find that method intact, leading to occasional confusion between the two systems.
“That was just rude of them.”
— byu/Justanotherkiwi21
A more surprising omission lies in the lack of a crouch function. After testing personally, no crouch option surfaced within the controller settings. Although clicking the left stick previously activated crouching, it seems this ability has been removed entirely. Given Nightreign’s emphasis on rapid movement and aggressive combat, stealth mechanics appear to take a backseat.
Mouse-and-keyboard users have also noted awkwardness in the default control layout compared to the base game. As expected from FromSoftware, each entry in the Souls series often introduces unique adjustments, particularly noticeable in titles like Bloodborne. Fortunately, bindings remain flexible, allowing you to tailor the controls to your preference.
Ultimately, familiarizing yourself with the revised control scheme is crucial before venturing into *Elden Ring: Nightreign*. Consider this article a friendly reminder to tweak your settings and practice until everything feels intuitive. After all, even seasoned players occasionally mistime their Estus chugs during heated fights. Empathy goes a long way when navigating these learning curves. For further assistance, check out our comprehensive guides on defeating the eight Nightlord bosses and unlocking the exclusive Nightfarer classes.
