Elden Ring Nightreign has arrived, plunging players into its ever-changing landscapes to confront the Nightlord. Those who revisited the original Elden Ring as preparation may find themselves grappling with several key control adjustments.
A New Era of Combat Mechanics
While Nightreign maintains much of Elden Ring's core control scheme, strategic modifications accommodate new abilities and gameplay refinements. The most noticeable change involves the sacred Flask - now permanently assigned to the left face button (X/Square), with item usage shifted to the D-Pad's Up direction.
"I keep pressing 'X' to use items."
The adjustment period proves challenging even for seasoned players, as muscle memory from hundreds of hours with the original control scheme creates accidental flask consumption during crucial moments.
Enhanced Mobility Options
In place of Torrent, Nightreign introduces:
- A devastating L3-activated super-sprint
- Traditional dodge-button sprinting
This duality creates another learning curve:
"That was just rude of them"
Streamlined Movement Mechanics
The most surprising omission is the complete removal of crouching functionality - a deliberate design choice emphasizing Nightreign's faster-paced, aggressive combat over stealth approaches.
Control Customization Remains King
While default schemes may feel initially disorienting:
- Full button rebinding ensures personalized comfort
- PC players report additional keyboard/mouse adjustments
- The changes follow FromSoftware's tradition of evolving controls between titles
Consider this your pre-adventure checklist:
- Review control settings thoroughly
- Practice new inputs at safe locations
- Anticipate adjustment periods
For those seeking mastery:
