Everything we know about the Elden Ring Nightreign Scholar so far

The Elden Ring Nightreign Scholar is one of two new Nightfarer characters being added with the Forsaken Hollows free update on December 4. He looks cool, wielding a thrusting sword and using his book to do some magic, but we're yet to read any official descriptions on the Scholar's abilities in Nightreign. With a single gameplay trailer dedicated to the character, the best we can do for now is speculate, so here's everything we've figured out about the Scholar so far, and bear in mind we'll update this guide when we know more about him.

Elden Ring Nightreign Scholar abilities and stats

Here's all the information that I've been able to glean on Nightreign's Scholar:

• Abilities:
  • Possible Skill: During an Elden Ring Nightreign run in the central castle, the Scholar activates an ability very reminiscent of Cassidy's High Noon Ultimate from Overwatch, marking visible enemies with a timer. Instead of delivering massive damage, the ability appears to debuff all marked foes in some way. Based on the fact the Scholar throws a lightning pot at the enemies and then staggers them with some help from the Duchess, it's possible that debuffed enemies are more susceptible to certain damage types and are easier to stagger.
  • Possible Ultimate Art: Later in the trailer, the Scholar draws his book and uses it to summon some NPC Nightfarers to assist in a boss fight, similar to the Condemned invaders you can come across during runs and in the Everdark Sovereign Libra boss fight.
  • Possible dodge passive: It's not entirely clear WHAT the Scholar's passive is based on the trailer alone but right at the start he does a sort of floating back-step dodge which might have something to do with it. He's also wielding a thrusting sword and staggers a knight with it quite easily, so it could be something to do with that.
• Stats:
  • "Impressive Arcane levels": According to some text on the Forsaken Hollows update information webpage, so expect his Arcane to be at least A-rated.
  • Medium-to-high Dexterity seems likely: The Scholar's character trailer shows him making use of a Thrusting Sword and these have very high Dexterity scaling, so there's a good chance the Scholar has quite high Dexterity.

Comparing these abilities and stats to the other Elden Ring Nightreign characters, the Scholar seems comparable to the Executor, using high Dexterity and Arcane for high Dexterity weapon damage and increased status effect potency. But his abilities are roughly between the Recluse and the Revenant, with the Scholar being capable of debuffing multiple enemies and summoning allies – I'd guess he has respectable spellcasting stats too.

Overall, that should make his kit much more support focused. Rather than attacking aggressively and parrying on the frontline like Executor, the Scholar seems like he'll be best when staying back to provide support, but he'll undoubtedly be much better at defending himself up close against melee attackers compared to the Recluse.

We'll be sure to update this guide with more information on how the Scholar works once The Forsaken Hollows is live on December 4!

Why not also try mastering the Elden Ring Nightreign Recluse and her Magic Cocktail or the Elden Ring Nighteign Revenant with her summoning necromantic summoning abilities.

© GamesRadar+. Not to be reproduced without permission.