Elden Ring Nightreign: How to play Executor

If you're trying out the Executor in Elden Ring Nightreign, you’re stepping into one of the trickiest but most rewarding classes. Executor is a quiet character, covered in full bronze armor, and spends his downtime painting the Erdtree at the Roundtable Hold.

But don’t let the peaceful vibe fool you. In combat, he’s a close-range fighter who can parry attacks and turn into a massive beast. This guide will walk you through how to play him effectively, what gear works best, and tips to get better over time.

How to play Executor in Elden Ring Nightreign

Executor playstyle overview

Image via FromSoftware

Executor is all about timing and positioning. He doesn’t rely on brute strength or magic. Instead, he focuses on Dexterity and Arcane stats, using a cursed blade to parry incoming attacks and build up power. When things get tough, he can use his Ultimate Art to transform into a beast that hits hard and heals slowly over time.

If you like parrying in games like Sekiro, you’ll enjoy playing Executor. But he’s not easy to master. You’ll need to get used to the deflect system and manage when to use your cursed sword versus your regular weapons. It’s a class that rewards patience and precision.

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Executor core abilities

Passive: Tenacity

This gives you a short boost to attack and stamina recovery after you recover from a status effect. It kicks in when the status bar fully drains, not when you first get affected. Some players use self-inflicted effects like Seppuku to trigger it on purpose.

Character Skill: Cursed Sword

When activated, Executor pulls out a cursed katana. This sword lets you deflect enemy attacks by blocking right before they hit. Each deflection chips away at a shell covering the blade. Once the sword is fully revealed, it glows and you can use a strong special attack.

With the sword active, you can’t run and your dodges become short hops, so your movement is limited. This skill works best in one-on-one fights. You can switch the sword on or off quickly, so don’t be afraid to change it up depending on the situation.

Ultimate Art: Aspects of the Crucible – Beast

This ability turns Executor into a beast with a new set of attacks. Light and heavy moves knock enemies down, and heavy attacks can interrupt even some boss abilities. While transformed, you gain hyper armor so your attacks can’t be interrupted, but you still take damage.

The Ultimate Art bar drains as you attack, and when it’s empty, the transformation ends. You can also cancel it early. It’s best used when you're low on health, surrounded by enemies, or trying to revive teammates.

Best relics for Executor in Elden Ring Nightreign

Image via FromSoftware

Focus on relics that boost Dexterity, Arcane, and Vigor. Here are some of the ones that work well with Executor’s abilities:

• Heal upon revealing the cursed sword
• HP recovery on successful guarding
• Boost stamina or Art gauge on guard
• Increased poise or guard counter damage
• FP or HP recovery on kills or hits
• Relics tied to successful deflections

One top pick is Golden Sprout, which comes from Executor’s Remembrance and fits his playstyle well.

Best weapons and talismans for Executor in Elden Ring Nightreign

Image via FromSoftware

Executor works best with light, fast weapons like Katanas and curved swords. Because he scales with Arcane and Dexterity, you should focus on weapons that can inflict status effects like bleed or poison. Dual-wielding is a solid option.

Try pairing a Katana and a Wakizashi. When you block while dual-wielding, you swing both weapons at once, which doubles the speed of status build-up.

Look for weapon passives that:

• Boost damage after successive hits
• Help with parry or guard counters
• Restore FP or HP on hit
• Increase poise when guarding

For talismans, these ones are especially useful:

• Bull-Goat’s Talisman
• Erdtree’s Favor
• Godskin Swaddling Cloth
• Green Turtle Talisman
• Millicent’s Prosthesis
• Lord of Blood’s Exultation (for bleed builds)
• Winged Sword Insignia

Tips to get better with Executor in Elden Ring Nightreign

Image via FromSoftware

Spend time in the Roundtable Hold’s sparring grounds. The cursed sword’s deflect mechanic is forgiving compared to Sekiro, but it still takes practice. Try learning enemy attack patterns and using the cursed sword’s draw animation to parry.

Don’t use the cursed sword in every fight. It’s not great against groups or fast enemies. Use your regular weapon loadout for crowd control and switch to the cursed sword when it’s a good time to focus on a single target.

Dual-wielding two status-effect weapons can really help. You won’t be able to parry in this setup, but if you need to, you can switch back to the cursed blade. Use the character's skill wisely depending on the enemy type and situation.

Also Read: Elden Ring Nightreign: How to get more flask shards

FAQs

Is Executor good for beginners?

• Not really. Executor has a steep learning curve and is better for players who like parry-based combat or want a more technical playstyle.

Can Executor be played solo?

• Yes, but it’s harder. You’ll need to master timing and use the Ultimate Art smartly to survive tougher fights.

What stats should I level first?

• Focus on Dexterity and Arcane. Add some Vigor and Endurance to stay alive longer and keep stamina up.

Where do I get the Golden Sprout relic?

• You can get it as a reward from Executor’s first Remembrance or from the Small Jar Bazaar and Expeditions.

Does the cursed sword work with guard-based relics?

• Yes. Deflects count as guards, so any relics that trigger on guarding will work when you deflect attacks.

Can I cancel the beast transformation?

• Yes. You can press the activation input again to end it early and save some of your Ultimate Art gauge.