How to use Relics in Elden Ring Nightreign
Everything you need to know about Relics including how to obtain and equip them, changing the colour slots in your loadout, and selling Relics you no longer need.
As a roguelike, Elden Ring Nightreign doesn't let you carry much between runs. Every time you restart, you'll be more or less back to square one when it comes to your chosen character's level, default weapon, and most perks you picked up along the way.
There are some rewards that carry across between runs, however, and these are conveyed via Relics: equippable additions to a character's core kit that grant trait bonuses, persist between runs and, furthermore, aren't consumed when you use them – although that's not to say you're stuck with them forever, either. Read on for an essential overview of how to use Relics in Elden Ring Nightreign
How to use Relics in Elden Ring Nightreign
You can equip Relics by performing a Relic Rite while resting at Roundtable Hold between runs, either by interacting with the appropriate altar or directly from the hub menu.
Each character has three Relic slots available, however it's worth noting that only Relics which match the colour of the slot they're placed in will activate their associated perk.
There are five Relic colours: red, yellow, blue, green, and iridescent, which lets you equip any colour Relic. With only three slots available per character, you naturally won't be able to attach just any Relic to any character and expect it to work. Initially, character archetypes can only make use of two Relic colours, with the default loadouts (Urns) as follows:
- Wylder: 2x Red, 1x Blue
- Guardian: 1x Red, 2x Yellow
- Ironeye: 1x Yellow, 2x Green
- Raider: 1x Red, 2x Green
- Recluse: 2x Blue, 1x Green
- Executor: 1x Red, 2x Yellow
- Duchess: 1x Red, 2x Blue
- Revenant: 2x Blue, 1x Yellow
It's worth reading a Relic's description, as some Relics will grant a unique perk when applied to a specific character. There's a slight wrinkle, however, in the fact that said character-specific trait might be on a Relic which isn't colour-matched to that character's Relic slots.
When this happens, keep an eye out for Grail and Goblet items on sale in the Small Jar Bazaar. These items can be equipped to a character to allow for a different set of colour slots as an alternative Relic loadout. Grails are universal and can be applied to any character, while Goblets are specific to a named archetype.
You can maintain Relic loadouts for every character you have unlocked, so even if you play some more than others, it's worth ensuring that everyone has a full three-Relic loadout applied just in case you decide to switch things up (this also prevents you from accidentally selling a Relic that might come in handy later for a lesser-played character you want to try out, since equipped Relics can't be sold).
The only major rule to keep in mind is that you can't apply two identical Relics to a single character ("identical" in this case meaning that the Relic has the same name, colour, and rarity, even if the stat bonuses are different.
How to get Relics in Elden Ring Nightreign
There are three main sources of relics in Nightreign.
The first way to gain more Relics is to complete a run either successfully or unsuccessfully. After every Expedition, you will obtain new, randomly-generated Relics of varying quality regardless of if you completed the run successfully or not. That said, defeating a Nightlord will also reward you with a unique, powerful Relic exclusive to that boss.
The second way to get Relics is to spend the Murk (a type of currency you also earn from completing Expeditions) at the Small Jar Bazaar in Roundtable Hold. The Small Jar Bazaar has a small selection of low-level Relics of each colour available, and you can also buy a loot box of sorts that can be opened to receive a randomised mid-level Relic.
The third way of obtaining Relics is by completing the Remembrance quests of Nightreign's playable characters. These are progressed by taking part in Expeditions as each Nightfarer, unlocking their chapters in the Journal (which is located in the east wing of the Hold) and completing any objectives the Remembrance gives you. Examples of these include having to defeat a specific Nightlord as a specific Nightfarer, retrieving items from Limveld as a specific Nightfarer, and other unique interactions.
How to sell Relics in Elden Ring Nightreign
There are some good reasons for wanting to sell some of your Relics in Nightreign. Maybe it's time to get rid of some low-level Relics that are only cluttering up your inventory now that you have much better ones, or perhaps you just know you don't want this many Relics of a particular colour because it supports a playstyle you don't favour.
Whatever the reason, you can exchange your unwanted Relics for Murk which, happily, can then be plugged back into the Small Jar Bazaar and hopefully get you something more aligned to what you want.
To sell a Relic, go to the Relic Ritual menu in Roundtable Hold and tab right past all of the character loadouts. You'll then see the menu where you can sell off your Relics.
Relics are key to any effective Elden Ring Nightreign build; take a look at our build pages for Duchess, Ironeye, and Raider to learn the best Relics for each archetype!