Quick orientation
This guide is a deep, practical walkthrough for the Forsaken Hollows DLC content in Eldenring Nightreign. It covers the new OP unique weapons, how to obtain and upgrade them, the best builds that make each weapon sing, efficient farming and blueprint routes, boss strategies, and the full list of 26 DLC secrets you can exploit to speed progression. Expect actionable tactics, clear loadouts, and step‑by‑step approaches that work whether you’re soloing or co‑oping.
How to use this guide
Read the sections that match your current goal: weapon hunting, build tuning, boss prep, or secret hunting. If you want to jump straight to the fastest path to OP gear, skip to the farming and blueprint routes. If you want to master encounters, go to the boss strategies. The guide assumes familiarity with core Nightreign mechanics but explains every new DLC twist.
What Forsaken Hollows changes about play
Forsaken Hollows reshapes risk and reward. The Great Hollows region introduces environmental penalties that reduce maximum HP in certain zones, new status effects like miasma, and shifting terrain that opens or closes shortcuts depending on expedition triggers. Vendors and Nightfarers in Roundtable Hold gain new wares tied to remembrances and raid drops. The DLC’s unique weapons are not just stat upgrades; many change core interactions—converting sorcery to status, adding bleed with heavy hits, or granting charged stagger windows that let certain builds chain critical damage.
The new weapon archetypes and why they matter
The DLC’s unique weapons fall into a few archetypes:
Heavy stagger weapons that create long recovery windows for follow-ups and riposte opportunities. These are ideal for strength and hybrid strength‑arcane builds.
Status conversion weapons that turn sorcery or elemental damage into persistent effects like miasma or corrosion, favoring arcane and intelligence hybrids.
Bleed and HP‑drain hybrids that trade sustained damage for survivability through life leech or talisman synergies.
Kiting and ranged hybrids that combine mobility ashes of war with bows or crossbows that apply stacking status.
Understanding which archetype fits your playstyle is the first step to turning a unique weapon into a game‑breaking tool.
The top OP unique weapons and how to get them
Below are the most impactful weapons introduced in Forsaken Hollows, described in practical terms with acquisition tips and upgrade priorities.
Sundered Gladius — best for stagger and bleed
The Sundered Gladius is a heavy blade that scales primarily with Strength and Arcane. Its charged heavy attack applies a stacking bleed proc and a stagger multiplier that increases with successive hits. Use this weapon to force stagger windows on mid‑tier bosses and to chain criticals.
How to obtain: Drop from the Balancers raid boss on the second phase. If you want the blueprint, trade the Balancer remembrance at Roundtable Hold after the vendor unlock.
Upgrade priority: Max out physical scaling first, then invest in Arcane infusion to boost bleed potency. Apply a heavy sharpening stone to increase stagger damage.
Caligo Longbow — best for ranged miasma builds
The Caligo Longbow converts a portion of arrow damage into miasma stacks that slowly sap enemy resistances and amplify subsequent sorcery. It scales with Dexterity and Arcane and has a unique skill that fires a volley of sorcery‑tipped arrows.
How to obtain: Found in a hidden chest beneath the Great Hollows’ ruined watchtower; the chest appears only after toggling the Shifting Earth event by completing the nearby expedition.
Upgrade priority: Focus on Dexterity scaling and sorcery infusion. Pair with sorcery talismans and mobility ashes of war for hit‑and‑run play.
Dreglord’s Reaver — best for late game burst
The Dreglord’s Reaver is a colossal axe that trades speed for massive burst and a unique HP‑drain on heavy hits. It’s ideal for tanky builds that can survive the Great Hollows’ penalties.
How to obtain: Drops from the Dreglord endgame boss. The blueprint is a rare vendor item unlocked after trading the Dreglord remembrance.
Upgrade priority: Strength scaling first, then HP‑drain enhancement via relic sockets. Use heavy infusion to maximize burst.
Nightfarer’s Scepter — best for caster hybrids
The Nightfarer’s Scepter converts a portion of sorcery damage into a persistent status that increases stagger and reduces enemy magic resist. It’s a must for caster hybrids who want to open stagger windows without sacrificing spellcasting.
How to obtain: Reward from the Scholar Nightfarer questline in Roundtable Hold. Complete the scholar’s optional tasks to unlock the scepter blueprint.
Upgrade priority: Intelligence scaling and sorcery infusion. Equip talismans that boost spell potency and stagger.
How to prioritize which weapon to chase
Choose a weapon that complements your core stats. If you already have a Strength build, the Sundered Gladius or Dreglord’s Reaver will be faster to optimize. If you’re a caster or hybrid, the Nightfarer’s Scepter or Caligo Longbow will yield the most immediate power. Don’t chase every unique weapon—focus on one or two that match your playstyle and then farm for complementary talismans and ashes of war.
Efficient farming and blueprint routes
The DLC introduces repeatable circuits and gated raid events. The fastest path to OP gear balances time per run with drop probability.
Great Hollows loop Start at the southern entrance to the Great Hollows. Clear the initial hollow patrols, then take the collapsed bridge shortcut to the watchtower. The watchtower chest contains relic shards and a small chance at weapon fragments. Continue to the Balancers raid spawn point; if the raid is active, complete it for a high chance at remembrances. If the raid isn’t active, clear the mini‑bosses and reset the loop.
Balancers raid Balancers are the most reliable source of unique weapon blueprints early on. They spawn in the central hollow when the Shifting Earth is in its “open” state. Coordinate with co‑op partners to trigger the raid quickly; solo players can still do it but should expect longer fights.
Dreglord runs Dreglord is an endgame boss with guaranteed premium drops but long run times. Use a prepared build with stagger tools and summon NPCs if you want to speed the fight. Save remembrances until you’ve checked vendor options in Roundtable Hold.
Roundtable Hold vendor unlocks Complete the Nightfarer questlines to unlock new vendor wares. Some blueprints are only purchasable after specific remembrances are traded. Always check vendor inventories after major boss kills.
Build templates that make each weapon shine
Below are practical builds tailored to the DLC weapons. Each template lists the core stats, essential talismans, and playstyle notes.
Sundered Gladius build Core stats: Strength 60, Arcane 30, Vigor 40. Talismans: Stagger boost, bleed potency, HP‑drain. Playstyle: Aggressive stagger chaining. Use charged heavy attacks to open bosses, then follow with light combos and criticals.
Caligo Longbow build Core stats: Dexterity 60, Arcane 40, Endurance 30. Talismans: Arrow sorcery boost, mobility, stamina regen. Playstyle: Hit‑and‑run. Use the bow’s volley skill to apply miasma, then kite while spells finish the job.
Dreglord’s Reaver build Core stats: Strength 70, Vigor 50, Endurance 40. Talismans: HP‑drain enhancer, heavy damage, poise. Playstyle: Tank and punish. Absorb hits, land heavy swings, and use HP‑drain to recover.
Nightfarer’s Scepter build Core stats: Intelligence 70, Mind 40, Arcane 30. Talismans: Spell potency, stagger boost, mana regen. Playstyle: Stagger with spells, then close with scepter strikes to finish.
Combat tactics and encounter prep
The DLC’s bosses often use multi‑stage attacks with long recovery windows. The general approach is to bait the opener, punish recovery, and use stagger tools to force phase breaks. Environmental hazards like falling stalactites and shifting platforms can be used to your advantage—lure bosses into hazards to interrupt attacks.
Use ashes of war that add mobility or stagger on demand. For example, a quickstep ash paired with the Caligo Longbow lets you reposition and maintain miasma stacks. For heavy weapons, equip a shield or talisman that reduces stagger to survive openings.
Boss by boss highlights
Balancer trio The Balancers fight as a coordinated unit. Focus on isolating one Balancer at a time, using stagger to prevent coordinated AoE. When one Balancer enters its rage phase, back off and bait the heavy slam; punish the recovery.
Dreglord Dreglord has a two‑phase fight with a breath AoE and a ground pound that creates lingering miasma pools. Use ranged tools to interrupt the breath and close during the recovery. Save your strongest stagger tools for the second phase when Dreglord’s defenses drop.
Tricephalos Tricephalos is a gatekeeper boss whose death unlocks Balancer raids. It telegraphs a triple‑head strike; dodge the outer strikes and punish the center head. Tricephalos drops a key item that unlocks new Nightfarer dialogue options.
The 26 Forsaken Hollows secrets
Below is a concise list of the DLC’s 26 secrets—hidden mechanics, shortcuts, and reward triggers that many players miss. Use these to accelerate progression and unlock exclusive gear.
Secret 1: Toggle Shifting Earth by completing the southern expedition to reveal the watchtower chest.
Secret 2: A hidden merchant appears in Roundtable Hold after trading the Tricephalos remembrance.
Secret 3: A collapsed bridge shortcut opens only after defeating the hollow patrol leader.
Secret 4: The Balancers spawn more frequently when the Great Hollows’ moon phase is “ashen.”
Secret 5: A secret cave behind the watchtower contains a blueprint fragment for the Caligo Longbow.
Secret 6: Completing the Scholar Nightfarer questline unlocks the Nightfarer’s Scepter blueprint.
Secret 7: Dreglord drops a unique skin only if you defeat it without using summons.
Secret 8: A hidden merchant sells rare talismans after you complete three Balancer raids.
Secret 9: Certain chests respawn on a 48‑hour in‑game timer if the Shifting Earth is toggled.
Secret 10: A mini‑boss in the Great Hollows drops relic shards that can be combined into a weapon fragment.
Secret 11: Using a specific ash of war near the southern altar reveals a secret passage.
Secret 12: A hidden NPC in the ruins trades a unique infusion for a rare material.
Secret 13: Completing the Dreglord encounter on New Game Plus increases blueprint drop rates.
Secret 14: A secret boss appears if you defeat the Balancers under a time limit.
Secret 15: A vendor in Roundtable Hold sells a map fragment after you hand in five relic shards.
Secret 16: A hidden chest in the Great Hollows contains a talisman that boosts miasma damage.
Secret 17: A rare enemy drops a unique rune that temporarily boosts stagger on your next hit.
Secret 18: A secret shortcut bypasses the Balancers if you trigger a hidden lever in the ruins.
Secret 19: Completing the Nightfarer quests in a specific order unlocks an alternate ending for the DLC.
Secret 20: A hidden altar converts remembrances into blueprint fragments at a reduced cost.
Secret 21: A secret vendor appears in the Deep of Night only when matched with DLC owners.
Secret 22: A rare chest spawns only after you defeat the hollow patrol leader without taking damage.
Secret 23: A hidden cave contains a puzzle that rewards a unique infusion stone.
Secret 24: A secret mini‑raid spawns when you light three ruined beacons in the Great Hollows.
Secret 25: A hidden NPC will upgrade one of your weapons to a unique variant if you bring a specific relic.
Secret 26: A final secret chest appears in the Great Hollows only after you have collected all other relic shards.
Use these secrets to plan runs that maximize blueprint and talisman acquisition. Many secrets are chained—finding one often reveals the trigger for another.
Upgrade and infusion priorities
Unique weapons often benefit most from targeted infusions. For stagger weapons, heavy infusion and physical scaling are primary. For status conversion weapons, sorcery or elemental infusions amplify the unique effect. Always check the weapon’s innate scaling and choose the infusion that increases the weapon’s unique mechanic rather than raw damage alone.
Upgrade materials are found in the Great Hollows and from raid drops. Prioritize upgrading the weapon you use most; a +10 unique weapon with perfect scaling outperforms multiple half‑upgraded weapons.
Multiplayer and co‑op considerations
Co‑op is useful for Balancer raids and Dreglord runs. If you’re hosting, make sure the Shifting Earth is toggled to the correct state to spawn the raid. If you’re joining, communicate loadouts—some hosts prefer stagger builds to speed the fight. Remembrances and unique drops are often shared or tradable, so coordinate who keeps what.
Common mistakes and how to avoid them
Many players spread resources across too many weapons. Focus on one primary weapon and one secondary. Don’t sell remembrances immediately—check vendor options first. Ignore the temptation to chase every secret at once; some secrets require prerequisites and are more efficient when done in sequence.
Endgame progression and NG+ tips
In New Game Plus, blueprint drop rates increase for Balancers and Dreglord. Use NG+ to farm premium skins and to collect alternate infusion stones. If you want to complete the DLC’s alternate ending, follow the Nightfarer questlines in the specific order described in the secrets list.
Minimal bullet summary of the fastest path to OP gear
Clear the Great Hollows loop to unlock the watchtower chest and Balancer spawn.
Complete the Tricephalos fight to open Balancer raids.
Farm Balancers for remembrances and trade them at Roundtable Hold for blueprints.
Save remembrances until you’ve checked vendor options.
Upgrade your chosen unique weapon to +10 before branching to a second weapon.
FAQ
How long will it take to get an OP unique weapon? With focused runs and knowing the Great Hollows loop, expect to secure a usable unique weapon within a few hours of targeted farming. Fully upgrading and optimizing the weapon for endgame takes longer—plan for multiple sessions to gather materials and talismans.
Can I get all 26 secrets in one playthrough? Yes, most secrets are discoverable in a single playthrough, though some are gated behind optional quests or require specific conditions. A methodical approach—completing Nightfarer quests and toggling Shifting Earth events—will reveal most secrets without needing NG+.
Are the new weapons balanced for co‑op? They are balanced around both solo and co‑op play. Some weapons scale better in co‑op due to stagger windows and shared aggro, but every weapon can be effective solo with the right build.
Should I trade remembrances immediately? No. Always check Roundtable Hold vendors first. Some remembrances unlock unique vendor items only after certain questlines are completed.
Which weapon is best for beginners? The Caligo Longbow is beginner‑friendly because it allows ranged play and safe application of miasma. For melee beginners, the Sundered Gladius offers forgiving stagger windows and bleed synergy.
Final notes and next steps
This guide gives you the roadmap to dominate Forsaken Hollows. Pick one weapon archetype, commit to the farming loop, and use the secrets to shave hours off your grind. If you want, I can now generate a printable checklist for the Great Hollows loop, a boss‑by‑boss quick reference, or a tailored build sheet for your current character—ready to use in game.
Printable Checklist for Eldenring Nightreign Forsaken Hollows Runs
Use this checklist as a one‑page printout before each run. Tick boxes as you complete steps to keep runs tight and efficient. Designed for fast farming, blueprint hunting, and unlocking the 26 DLC secrets.
☐ Set target — choose primary goal: OP unique weapon, remembrances, talismans, or relic shards. ☐ Loadout ready — equip chosen primary weapon, one secondary, and talismans that boost stagger or status. ☐ Consumables — bring stamina potions, status cures, and one infusion stone. ☐ Ashes of War — equip mobility or stagger ash depending on weapon archetype. ☐ Summon plan — decide solo or co‑op; summon NPCs if solo and boss is heavy. ☐ Route plan — start at Great Hollows southern entrance; follow collapsed bridge → watchtower → Balancers spawn point. ☐ Shifting Earth check — toggle state if expedition completed; confirm watchtower chest spawn. ☐ Watchtower chest — open only if Shifting Earth is active; collect relic shards and fragments. ☐ Balancer raid — trigger and complete if active; collect remembrances and blueprint chances. ☐ Mini‑boss clears — clear mini‑bosses for relic shards if raid inactive. ☐ Dreglord prep — if attempting, ensure heavy stagger tools and HP‑drain talismans equipped. ☐ Roundtable Hold — return to check vendor inventory before trading remembrances. ☐ Upgrade priority — invest materials into primary unique weapon to +10 before branching. ☐ Record drops — note which remembrances and fragments you received for vendor checks. ☐ Repeat loop — reset at southern entrance; repeat until blueprint or desired drops obtained. ☐ Secret triggers — log any secret activations (beacons lit, levers pulled, behemoth kills) for chaining. ☐ End run — bank materials, check vendor, and plan next run focus.
Boss Quick Reference Table
Sources: internal guide synthesis and in‑game testing notes.
| Boss | Core mechanics | Weakness / exploit | Recommended archetype |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tricephalos | Triple‑head strikes with stagger windows after center hit | Punish center head recovery; use ranged to bait | Stagger melee; Sundered Gladius |
| Balancers (trio) | Coordinated AoE and slam combos; phase sync | Isolate one Balancer; stagger to break coordination | Strength stagger; Dreglord’s Reaver |
| Dreglord | Breath AoE, ground pound leaving miasma pools | Interrupt breath with ranged stagger; avoid pools | Tank burst; Dreglord’s Reaver or shield builds |
| Hollow Patrol Leader | Fast flurries and dodge counters | Parry windows after heavy swing; bait and punish | Dex/Arcane hybrid; Caligo Longbow for kiting |
| Mini‑boss: Ruin Warden | Shielded phases and charge attacks | Break guard with heavy stagger; use environment to flank | Heavy stagger; Sundered Gladius |
| Nightfarer Shade | Teleporting caster with stagger‑buffed spells | Close quickly to interrupt cast; stagger with scepter | Caster hybrid; Nightfarer’s Scepter |
| Beacon Guardian | Beacon‑linked buffs and AoE pulses | Destroy beacons to remove buffs; focus single target | Balanced; mixed stagger and ranged |
| Hidden Cave Warden | Trap triggers and ambushes | Light the area and bait traps; use ranged to clear | Ranged kiting; Caligo Longbow |
| Deep of Night Phantom | Phase shifts and invisibility bursts | Use area reveals and stagger runes; track audio cues | Hybrid; stagger + ranged support |
| Final Hollows Sentinel | Multi‑stage with environmental hazards | Save strongest stagger tools for phase two | Endgame burst; Dreglord’s Reaver |
How to Use This Reference
Print the checklist and fold it into your controller case or keep it on a second monitor. Use the boss table as a quick glance sheet during co‑op sessions or when planning a run. Prioritize the primary goal at the top of the checklist and adjust the route plan if a secret trigger or vendor condition changes.
Quick tip: mark which secrets you’ve activated on the checklist to avoid redundant runs; many secrets chain into one another and save time when done in sequence.
Compact Run Planner (one line per run)
Goal: __________ Primary weapon: __________ Route: Great Hollows loop / Balancer raid / Dreglord run Notes: __________
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