Elden Ring Nightreign has arrived, and players are plunging into its ever-changing realms to confront the Nightlord. However, those who warmed up with the original Elden Ring might find themselves slightly disoriented by some alterations to the control scheme.
While the controls in Elden Ring Nightreign largely mirror the original, a few adjustments have been implemented—either to accommodate new abilities or simply to reconfigure the layout. Some changes apply to new maneuvers or updated versions of familiar tools. One particular modification, however, appears to be causing a fair bit of confusion: the healing flask.
In FromSoftware's Souls games and Elden Ring, the flask is a cornerstone of your inventory: a reusable potion container serving as your primary healing source during combat. Typically, the flask is one of several consumable items, cycled through and activated mid-fight. In Elden Ring Nightreign, the flask is now a static element. By default, you press the left-most face button (X or Square, depending on your controller) to drink from it, while the D-Pad's Up button is assigned for using other items.
I keep pressing 'X' to use items.
byu/The_Mudddler inNightreign
It seems some players are already experiencing muscle-memory mix-ups. There's a certain irony in seasoned Elden Ring players, whether preparing for Nightreign or simply transitioning between games, having to retrain their reflexes due to this update.
Alongside the flask adjustment, a Nightreign-exclusive super-sprint is now mapped to L3. Although your loyal steed Torrent is absent in this expansion, FromSoftware has compensated by granting players an remarkably swift sprint ability. The catch is that a standard sprint is still activated by holding the dodge button. As one player pointed out, they frequently revert to Elden Ring's original sprint instead of utilizing the new one.
That was just rude of them
byu/Justanotherkiwi21 inNightreign
The most puzzling change, however, seems to be the complete removal of the crouch function. After personally launching Elden Ring Nightreign to verify, I confirmed that no crouch option exists within the controller settings. While clicking the left stick was the default in the base game, it appears the feature hasn't just been relocated—it's been entirely omitted. Admittedly, Nightreign's focus seems to be on rapid movement and overwhelming foes rather than stealth.
Other players have noted that the default mouse-and-keyboard controls also feel unfamiliar compared to the original Elden Ring. This isn't the first time FromSoftware has revamped its control schemes. Each Souls or Souls-like title typically introduces some degree of change, particularly in games like Bloodborne, which feature significant mechanical and systemic differences from other entries in the genre.
Fortunately, controls are fully rebindable, allowing you to customize the setup for maximum comfort. Consider this article a friendly reminder to spend some time familiarizing yourself with Elden Ring Nightreign's control scheme and fine-tuning it before embarking on your first adventure. And perhaps spare a thought for the player who keeps accidentally drinking their Estus in the heat of battle. We've all been there.
For more assistance, we have a wealth of Nightreign tips and tricks to help you defeat all eight Nightlord Bosses. If you're curious about unlocking the two locked Nightfarer Classes, explore our guides on How to Unlock the Revenant and How to Unlock the Duchess, plus How to Change Characters.
