Throughout the majority of FromSoftware’s games, games like the Dark Souls series and Elden Ring, armor sets have been a steadfast feature allowing players to protect themselves in combat and immerse themselves in the world around them through unique and intentional armor design and lore. What is arguably more important to the community is the mixing and matching of armor sets allowing players to freely express themselves and their character through fashion. Elden Ring: Nightreign is no exception. There are various Nightfarers in Elden Ring: Nightreign, each with their own unique wardrobe. Wylder is one such Nightfarer with a particularly robust set of outfits. Below, we rank his outfits from worst to best.
#6: Dawn
This may be a controversial pick but let me explain. This outfit is too yellow, and in ways that it doesn’t need to be. Gold used sparingly makes a very powerful statement when used as an accent. In instances like this, however, too much gold appears gaudy and removes the air of nobility associated with the metal. The tunic present in this outfit is the same as the default outfit, except it is stained with a mysterious yellow that looks like Wylder spilled a commercial sized container of mustard all over himself and had to wipe it down with a dirty rag. Finally, we move onto the helmet. This faceplate is the only design of Wylder’s that is meant to resemble the beaked face of a winged beast. If you look closely, you can see false eyes that further sell the illusion. While a very intriguing idea, it is unfortunate that the winged beast in question looks like an angry duck.
With all that said, I do enjoy certain pieces of this outfit. An aspect of this design that I do like is the gold trimmed half cape, an excellent use of gold as an accent rather than a base. Another point of praise is the wings on the helmet. The upwards curvature of the sleek wings gives a righteous and noble appearance, a message that I wish carried throughout the rest of the outfit.
The Dawn outfit for each character is supposed to represent a valiant hero who fought to end the Endless Night and bring the dawn of a new day to the Lands Between. It is supposed to represent light, purity, and new beginnings. This outfit does not capture that image, instead making our hero appear as a mustard covered duck.
I do not hate this outfit, but when compared to Wylder’s other options, this one is definitely the weakest.
#5: Remembrance
There is not much to say about this outfit. It is identical to Wylder’s default outfit save for a single earring acting as a broach pinned to the cloak. The earring is relevant to Wylder’s story, but the outfit does not differentiate itself in any meaningful way from that of the original. The Remembrance outfit for Wylder is inoffensive but underwhelming when considering the amount of effort put into unlocking it.
#4: Lion Knight
This one was tough. From here on out, I have only good things to say about the outfits. Comparing the legacy outfits from previous Dark Souls games to the newly made Nightfarer specific outfits seems a little unfair seeing how the legacy outfits are previously established designs that were brought back due the popularity of the characters or armor sets that they represent. For all that could have been chosen, the Lion Knight outfit based upon the Faraam Set from Dark Souls 2 was a great choice. The profile of the armor set is very similar to Wylder’s default outfit, matching his armored knight look and long blue tunic while replacing his cape with a stylish animal pelt.
The Lion Knights in Dark Souls 2 are wandering swordsmen looking for purpose after the fall of their kingdom. In this way, Wylder himself is a Lion Knight, and that’s what makes this outfit so very fitting.
#3: Darkness
This outfit is the antithesis of the Dawn outfit, especially in the way that it masters subtlety so much better. The purple / black color combo present throughout the ensemble along with the darker steel make Wylder appear more ominous, but not necessarily more sinister. I liken his appearance to nightshade. The long flowing purple cloak spreads across his back like a miasma rolling down a hill. The wings on his helmet resemble that of a bat and are more rigid than his other outfits. They are also angled downwards, aiding to the dark narrative of the outfit.
The Darkness outfits of each Nightfarer are representative of the warriors who, for whatever reason, decided to continue the Endless Night. It represents gloom, despair, and hopelessness and, for Wylder, perfectly reflects the darkness of embracing such things.
#2: Abysswalker
Based on the Dark Souls boss (and Nightreign DLC boss) Artorias of the Abyss, this outfit was an excellent choice to add to Wylder’s wardrobe. Purely speaking from a visual standpoint, I greatly appreciate the visual similarities between Artorias and Wylder. The color scheme, the cape, the armor, it is as if Wylder was made with this legacy outfit in mind. From a storytelling standpoint, Artorias is the perfect parallel of Wylder. Whereas the Lion Knight represents Wylder’s origin as the wandering knight searching for purpose, Artorias represents Wylder’s end as the valiant but tragic hero sacrificing himself for the sake of others. That’s all that I can reveal without spoiling both Artorias’s and Wylder’s stories. This outfit is perfect for Wylder.
#1: Wylder
Honestly, I’m just as surprised as you are. As someone who feels a need to play any other skin than the default in every game he plays, something keeps pulling me back to Wylder’s default outfit. The reason why the Darkness and even the Dawn outfits have aesthetic appeal is that they are alterations of the classic. The design of the Darkness and Dawn outfits are carried by the details found within the base Wylder outfit that they build upon. The Darkness outfit succeeds where the Dawn outfit fails because it respects the design of the original while adding its own unique flavor whereas the Dawn outfit takes away from the original design by deviating too heavily. The weathered tunic and frayed cloak are that of a traveler who has been on a long journey. The runic design on the armor, Valkyrie wings on the helmet, the multicolored pattern on the leather found on the nape of the neck, and the longship design on the tunic all harken to Wylder’s Viking origins. This outfit is truly unique, I cannot think of a single armor set in all of the Dark Soul’s games and Elden Ring that resemble the Wylder outfit. Simply put, the Wylder outfit is perfect as is.
Tell us what you think! How would you rank the Wylder’s Outfits for Elden Ring Nightreign? Comment below or join the conversation on Boss Rush Network’s Discord, Facebook, and X.
Featured Image: ELDEN RING NIGHTREIGN | Bandai Namco Entertainment America Inc.
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