I’ve been absolutely buzzing with excitement since FromSoftware dropped the bombshell announcement about Elden Ring Nightreign The Forsaken Hollows DLC. As someone who’s sunk countless hours into the base game, I can tell you this is exactly what the community has been craving. The December 4, 2025 release date feels both tantalizingly close and frustratingly far away, but I’m here to break down everything we know so far about this game-changing expansion.
Elden Ring Nightreign The Forsaken Hollows represents the first major DLC expansion for the standalone co-op survival action game that took the gaming world by storm earlier this year. Priced at a reasonable $14.99, this expansion isn’t just some minor content drop – it’s a substantial addition that promises to shake up the entire Nightreign experience.
From what I’ve gathered from the official announcements and trailer analysis, The Forsaken Hollows introduces two new playable characters, multiple new bosses including the legendary Artorius from Dark Souls, and an entirely new Shifting Earth event called The Great Hollow. The DLC will be available across all platforms – PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam.
What really gets me excited is how this DLC seems to address some of the community’s biggest requests. We’re not just getting reskinned content; we’re getting genuine new experiences that build upon Nightreign’s already stellar foundation. The fact that Deluxe and Collector’s Edition owners get this automatically is just icing on the cake.
Let me take a moment to share why I’m so invested in Nightreign in the first place. Unlike traditional Souls games, Nightreign’s co-op survival formula creates this incredible tension between methodical planning and chaotic action that I absolutely live for. There’s nothing quite like the rush of coordinating with two friends as you race against time to prepare for the Nightlord encounter.
The combat system in Nightreign feels even more responsive and fluid than Elden Ring proper. I love how each character brings something unique to the table, and the synergy between different classes can create these magical moments where everything just clicks. The three-day structure means every decision matters, and the permadeath elements keep you on your toes without being overly punishing.
What really sets Nightreign apart for me is how it balances accessibility with depth. New players can jump in and have fun, but veterans like myself can spend hundreds of hours mastering the intricacies of each character and optimizing strategies for different scenarios. It’s this perfect blend that makes me so excited for The Forsaken Hollows – more content to explore in a game I already adore.
With the December 4th release date fast approaching, I’ve been putting together a preparation guide to help you hit the ground running when The Forsaken Hollows drops. Here’s what I recommend doing in the meantime:
Master the Base Game Characters: Before diving into the new content, make sure you’re comfortable with the existing roster. Each character teaches you different aspects of Nightreign’s combat system, and this knowledge will transfer over to the new additions.
Stockpile Resources: Start gathering upgrade materials and currency now. The new content will likely have its own progression systems, but having a solid foundation of resources will give you a head start.
Build Your Co-op Squad: Nightreign shines brightest with friends. Start coordinating with your regular gaming partners now so you can tackle the new content together from day one.
Study the Current Meta: Understanding how the current characters and weapons work together will help you quickly integrate the new additions into your strategies.
Check Out Our Elden Ring Nightreign Class Tier List to get a better understanding of character strengths and weaknesses before the DLC drops.
The Forsaken Hollows introduces two new Nightfarers that look incredibly distinct from the existing roster. Let me break down what we know about each:
The Scholar immediately caught my attention as someone who loves support characters with depth. Described as “an academic who walks the Lands Between,” this character boasts impressive arcane levels and gains advantages through battlefield observation. From the trailer, I can see he wields what appears to be a cane sword in one hand and a book in the other – a classic spellblade setup.
What really excites me about the Scholar is his ultimate ability, which seems to involve debuffing enemies and then buffing himself after defeating them. This creates this interesting risk-reward dynamic where you need to carefully manage debuffed targets to maximize your effectiveness. I can already imagine the synergy potential with characters who excel at area control.
If the Scholar is about finesse and strategy, the Undertaker is all about raw power and righteous fury. As “an abbess who was mandated to slay the Nightlord,” she brings impressive strength and faith stats to the table. Her starting weapon appears to be a one-handed hammer, and her ultimate ability – which literally has her summoning a hammer from her mouth to smash enemies – looks absolutely devastating.
The Undertaker seems perfect for players who prefer a more straightforward, aggressive playstyle. Her faith focus suggests she’ll have access to powerful miracles and buffing abilities, making her potentially invaluable in group scenarios where support and damage dealing need to be balanced.
The Forsaken Hollows isn’t just about new playable characters – it’s bringing some serious boss challenges that have me both excited and intimidated. Here’s what we know about the new threats:
Let me just say this – seeing Artorius return from the original Dark Souls DLC gave me chills. This beloved boss is making his Nightreign debut as a Night boss (not a Nightlord), which means we’ll likely encounter him during the expeditions rather than as a final boss. The trailer shows him with some new moves, including a grab attack that looks particularly nasty.
For those who never fought Artorius in Dark Souls, you’re in for a treat. He’s known for his aggressive, acrobatic fighting style and devastating combos. I’m particularly curious to see how his moveset has been adapted for Nightreign’s faster-paced combat.
This one’s fascinating – the Seven Angels appear to be seven angel-like beings wielding polearms. The smart money is on them merging into a single boss form, because fighting seven separate enemies simultaneously would be absolute chaos (though this is FromSoftware, so who knows?). The visual design suggests we’re in for something truly unique and potentially terrifying.
If the Seven Angels represent celestial horror, the Blighted Abomination is all about earthly corruption. This massive boss wields a huge cudgel and sits in what appears to be a blighted wasteland. Given the name and visual design, I’m expecting multiple status effects during this fight – hopefully not Deathblight, but I wouldn’t put it past FromSoftware.
Mentioned in the official Bandai Namco announcement as one of the new final bosses, the Dreglord sounds like it could be the ultimate challenge of this DLC. While we don’t have much visual information yet, the name suggests something related to dregs – perhaps a corrupted or decayed form of a familiar enemy type.
One of the most exciting additions in The Forsaken Hollows is the new Shifting Earth event called The Great Hollow. Described as “a great cavity in the depths of Limveld,” this area features exotic ruins, sacred towers, and crystals that exude a “cursed, life-draining miasma.”
From what I can see in the trailer, The Great Hollow will dramatically change the map layout, creating new pathways and challenges. The crystal formations suggest we might be dealing with new environmental hazards or mechanics related to these structures. I’m particularly interested in how the “life-draining miasma” will affect gameplay – will it be a constant environmental effect, or something triggered by specific actions?
The Divine Beast Dancing Lion is confirmed as the field boss for this area, which suggests we’re in for a multi-phase encounter that takes full advantage of the unique environment. I can already imagine the tactical possibilities this new area will offer – high ground advantages, choke points, and environmental interactions that could turn the tide of battle.
The Forsaken Hollows isn’t just about big bosses – it’s bringing a host of new enemies and even a new raid to keep us on our toes:
These enemies are being imported from the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC, which is fantastic news for players who enjoyed that content. The Fire Knight, in particular, looks like it will bring some intense heat-based combat scenarios. I’m expecting these enemies to appear in the Limeveld area, adding new challenges to familiar territory.
The trailer shows what appears to be a single-headed Gladius being fought in an open field setting. This is particularly interesting because Gladius was one of the Nightlords that didn’t have a dedicated raid in the base game. The fact that it’s appearing here suggests we might be getting a proper raid encounter with this fan-favorite enemy.
Based on all the information I’ve gathered, here’s a comprehensive breakdown of what The Forsaken Hollows will bring to Nightreign:
Release Date: December 4, 2025
Price: $14.99 USD
Platforms: PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC (Steam)
Inclusion: Automatic for Deluxe/Collector’s Edition owners, separate purchase for base game owners
New Content:
Pre-order Bonus: Digital artbook and mini soundtrack for purchases made before December 3rd
While we’re still waiting for the DLC to drop, I can already share some strategic advice based on what we know:
Character Synergy: Start thinking about how the new characters might work with existing ones. The Scholar’s debuffing abilities could pair incredibly well with high-damage characters, while the Undertaker’s faith-based buffs could support entire teams.
Environmental Awareness: The Great Hollow’s crystal formations and miasma effects will require new positioning strategies. Start practicing environmental awareness in the current game to prepare for these new mechanics.
Status Effect Management: With the Blighted Abomination potentially bringing multiple status effects, make sure you’re comfortable with cleansing and managing debuffs in the current game.
Resource Allocation: The new content will likely have its own upgrade paths. Consider saving some resources rather than fully upgrading everything in the base game.
Co-op Coordination: If you regularly play with friends, start discussing roles and strategies. The new characters might change group dynamics significantly.
Q: Is The Forsaken Hollows a free DLC?
A: No, it’s a paid DLC priced at $14.99 USD. However, it’s included automatically for players who own the Deluxe or Collector’s Edition of Nightreign.
Q: Do I need to own the base game to play The Forsaken Hollows?
A: Yes, the base game is required. The Forsaken Hollows is an expansion, not a standalone product.
Q: Will there be more DLC after The Forsaken Hollows?
A: While not officially confirmed, the success of Nightreign and this DLC suggests we might see more content in the future. FromSoftware has been supporting the game with regular updates.
Q: Can I play the new content solo?
A: Yes, while Nightreign is designed with co-op in mind, all content can be played solo if you prefer.
Q: Will the new characters be available from the start?
A: Based on previous patterns, you’ll likely need to unlock the new characters through gameplay, though the exact method hasn’t been revealed yet.
Q: Are there any new weapons or equipment in the DLC?
A: While not officially confirmed, it’s highly likely that new weapons, spells, and equipment will be added to complement the new characters and content.
I don’t know about you, but I’m counting down the days until December 4th. Elden Ring Nightreign The Forsaken Hollows looks like exactly the kind of substantial, thoughtful expansion that this fantastic game deserves. From the return of beloved characters like Artorius to the intriguing new mechanics of The Great Hollow, there’s so much to be excited about.
What I love most about what we’ve seen so far is how FromSoftware seems to be listening to the community. The addition of new characters, new bosses, and significant new content areas addresses many of the requests players have been making since launch. At $14.99, this feels like a tremendous value proposition that will breathe new life into an already incredible game.
Whether you’re a Nightreign veteran like myself or someone who’s been waiting for the right moment to jump in, The Forsaken Hollows looks like it will be worth the wait. I’ll be diving in day one with my regular co-op squad, and I can’t wait to see how these new additions change the meta and create new strategic possibilities.
What are you most excited about in The Forsaken Hollows? Are you team Scholar or team Undertaker? Let me know in the comments, and I’ll see you in Limveld on December 4th!
