On December 4, 2025, the most anticipated Elden Ring Nightreign The Forsaken Hollows DLC will officially launch, bringing with it a series of brand-new challenges. Every class can wield any weapon, which opens endless build possibilities. This guide delivers the best Forsaken Hollows builds with optimized setups for all Nightfarers, including Scholar and Undertaker. 

Top 10 The Forsaken Hollows Best Builds (Elden Ring Nightreign DLC)

The Forsaken Hollows DLC will bring a wealth of new content to Elden Ring: Nightreign, including two brand-new Nightfarers, two original Nightlord bosses, a new Shifting Earth event, and returning fan-favorite bosses like Artorias the Abysswalker from Dark Souls (Deluxe Edition owners get the DLC for free). The most notable additions are the new playable Nightfarers: Scholar, a high-Arcane academic who wields light swords and daggers, and Undertaker, a Faith-focused warrior armed with a mace. Here are some powerful build options for each character in the Forsaken Hollows DLC.

1. The Forsaken Hollows Wylder Build

This build stacks fire damage and stamina sustainability through three core Relics: the Wylder's Earring (grants an extra character skill use, creates a fire AoE after ultimate activation, and restores stamina on hits), the Dark Night of the Beast (increases attack power by 15% after taking damage, boosts fire damage by 6.5%, and stacks stamina recovery on hits), and the Collector Signboard Relic (unlocks the Flaming Strike Ash of War and adds another 6.5% fire damage boost). Obtain the Wylder's Earring via the Wylder's Remembrance questline, the Dark Night of the Beast by defeating Everdark Gladius, and the last one with Sovereign Sigils. In combat, activate your ultimate first to trigger area fire damage, use Flaming Strike for single-target or group enemies, deliberately take minor damage to activate the attack power buff, and the dual stamina recovery effects let you launch non-stop assaults to maximize Wylder's explosive potential.

2. The Forsaken Hollows Recluse Build

This build has two variants: consistent and high-damage. The consistent variant uses the Vestige of Night and the Collector Signboard relics (increases max FP by 3 when equipping 3+ stab weapons, boosts max FP by unlocking Sorcerer's Rise, and enhances magic attack power), suitable for any sorcery to ensure stable output. The high-damage variant stacks 2 - 3 Improved Crystalian Sorcery effects (each increases Crystalian spell damage by 15%) paired with magic attack power - boosting Relics. These enhancement effects are obtained from expeditions and are not rare. Leveraging Recluse's passive FP efficiency, the consistent variant is ideal for players who dislike RNG, while the high-damage variant focuses on Crystalian spells (such as Crystal Barrage). Cast spells from a safe distance using terrain for cover, and use FP - restoring items to extend combat time.

3. The Forsaken Hollows Duchess Build

Centered on the Improved Carian Sword Sorcery effect, this build pairs with the Increased Damage of Character Skill for Dodges (adds 10% more damage to skills after dodging) and focuses on the widely available Carian Slicer spell (commonly found in forts and Sorcerer's Rise). Prioritize collecting Relics with Improved Carian Sword Sorcery, and it's even better if they also have magic attack power - boosting effects. Duchess's fast-paced moveset perfectly complements Carian Slicer's quick-casting feature. In battle, dodge enemy attacks to trigger the skill damage boost, then follow up with the spell. Use flexible movement to evade attacks between outputs. Even without perfect Relics, this build can efficiently clear area enemies and bosses due to its high versatility.

4. The Forsaken Hollows Guardian Build

Abandoning traditional shield play, this build relies on Whirlwind on Halberd Charge Attacks, Increased Duration of Character Skill, Partial HP Restoration on Heavy Damage Attacks, and the Endure Ash of War (replaces the starting Halberd skill). Most Relics are obtained from the Guardian's questline or Small Jar Bazaar, and only the Endure Ash of War needs to be farmed from expeditions (with a high drop rate). In group battles, activate the Whirlwind skill to gather enemies and then use charge attacks to wipe them out, with heavy attacks restoring HP to keep your health bar full. Against bosses, use Endure to tank attacks, then land charge heavy attacks to build stance damage—usually two hits are enough to trigger a critical strike. Optional effects like the Evergaol Effect or Taking Attacks Improves Attack Power can further enhance damage, and the Guardian's high HP makes this aggressive playstyle viable.

5. The Forsaken Hollows Revenant Build

This build stacks 3 Improved Frenzied Flame Incantations effects to maximize the damage of Frenzy Flame spells, paired with Revenant - exclusive effects such as Trigger Ghostflame Explosion during Ultimate Art and Power up while Fighting alongside Family. Frenzy Flame spells can be found in cathedrals, shacks, Frenzy Camps, or through the Flame of Frenzy event. Use Revenant's summons to draw enemy aggro, buying time for the long casting animations of Frenzy Flame spells. The ultimate not only triggers Ghostflame explosions but also strengthens summons to continuously distract enemies. Although Revenant's FP efficiency is not as good as Recluse's, the burst damage of Frenzy Flame spells is enough to quickly take down enemies.

6. The Forsaken Hollows Executor Build

Taking advantage of Executor's Tenacity passive (increases attack power by 20% each time recovering from a status effect), the core is a Relic with the Sepuku Ash of War (changes the starting weapon's skill to trigger a status effect and activate the passive). It pairs with the Dark Night of the Miasma (adds frostbite to the starting weapon, grants concealment, and improves physical damage negation) and Relics like Improved Katana Attack Power or Attack Power Up when Facing Frostbite-afflicted Enemy. The Sepuku Ash of War is obtained from expeditions or Merc's rolls (most players already have it), and the Dark Night of the Miasma is purchased from the Collector Signboard after defeating Everdark Caligo. At the start of combat, activate Sepuku to trigger the first attack power boost, recover from the status effect, and stack it up to 4 times for a maximum 80% damage increase. Use the concealment effect for flanking or resetting aggro, but avoid using Sepuku during boss fights with long animations to prevent being vulnerable.

7. The Forsaken Hollows Ironeye Build

The easiest-to-use build consists of the Night of the Lord (unlocked by defeating the final boss Heolstor, boosts overall attack power by 20% and grants random affinity buffs when swapping weapons), a universal Relic with +1 Additional Character Skill Use (essential for maintaining target marks), Partial HP Restoration on Bow Attacks, Character Skill Cooldown Reduction +3, and the Edge of Order (increases counterattack damage by 20%, boosts bow attack power by 6%, and adds holy damage to the starting weapon). Carry two bows to activate the Night of the Lord's buff by swapping them. Use the Dagger Marking skill to keep damage - boosting marks on targets. The long-range advantage of bows makes counterattacks extremely easy (shoot pierce damage while enemies are attacking). Holy damage is effective against holy-vulnerable enemies like Gladius, and switch to physical bows found in expeditions for other enemies. The HP restoration and cooldown reduction effects allow you to maintain high-pressure output without retreating.

8. The Forsaken Hollows Raider Build

The strongest regular build centers on the Dark Night of the Baron (unlocked by defeating Everdark Gaping Jaw, the only stackable Improved Critical Hits +1 effect) and two Relics with the Improved Critical Hits effect (stably obtained from the Collector Signboard or Small Jar Bazaar). Raider is the preferred character for this build, as their high Attack Rating makes critical hits more powerful. They have the most effective frames for buckler parries, and their ultimate grants a free critical hit. Wylder also performs well with this build, relying on their ultimate's free critical hit and aggressive playstyle, though slightly less powerful than Raider. In combat, Raider triggers critical hits through parries, while Wylder uses their ultimate to start critical strikes. Stacking 2-3 Improved Critical Hits effects is sufficient for regular expeditions, and Raider's exclusive Relic Damage Taken while using Character Skill Improves Attack Power and Stamina can further enhance critical hit damage.

9. The Forsaken Hollows Scholar Build

As a new high-Arcane character, Scholar mainly uses thrusting swords (such as the Antspur Rapier that inflicts Scarlet Rot). The build focuses on status effects and battlefield observation abilities. His skill can apply debuffs to enemies within sight (suspected to slow them down or increase damage taken), and his ultimate Joint Chain binds enemies together, allowing damage to be transferred to all bound targets. His passive may grant buffs by collecting maps or using landmarks. It is recommended to stack Arcane damage - boosting Relics and status effect - triggering enhancement traits. The fast attacks of thrusting swords can efficiently apply Rot or poison, and Joint Chain spreads status effects to group enemies. Prioritize completing Scholar's Remembrance questline after the DLC is released to unlock exclusive Relics and finalize the optimal build. He can greatly improve the team's overall efficiency through debuffs and damage transfer in a team, and continuously wear down enemies with status effects when playing solo.

10. The Forsaken Hollows Undertaker Build

As a new Strength/Faith character, Undertaker's playstyle leans towards traditional heavy attacks and incantations. Limited information is available so far, but the speculated core is Strength-boosting Relics paired with Faith incantation enhancement traits. You can choose heavy weapons for physical burst damage or use Faith-driven incantations for elemental damage, and her positioning may be a character with both tankiness and auxiliary capabilities. After the DLC is launched, it is advisable to first complete her Remembrance questline to obtain exclusive Relics and weapons, which are crucial for determining her optimal build. In the early stage, you can follow the conventional Strength/Faith build, using high-defense equipment to support frontline combat and reserving skill slots for potential auxiliary incantations.