Elden Ring Nightreign Recluse Class Guide And Combos

Elden Ring Nightreign's Recluse puts a unique spin on FromSoft's magic builds. She's a self-sufficient magic caster who can maintain her own FP without using items and whose spell choice determines what additional abilities she can use. There's an additional layer of challenge with her Magic Cocktail that relies almost entirely on random luck with item drops, though, so even with good planning and skill, you might not be able to make full use of her kit in every expedition.

Our Elden Ring Nightreign Recluse guide explains how to play Recluse and lists all her Magic Cocktail combinations. Be sure to also check out our look at the best Elden Ring Nightreign classes.

Recluse abilities and starting armaments​

The Recluse is the only character who can recover FP.
The Recluse's kit is, unsurprisingly, built around magic and absorbing elemental affinities to cast stronger spells. Magic Cocktail is the most important part of the Recluse's skillset, as it restores her FP and gives her access to a broad variety of offensive and support spells, from fiery explosions to auras that raise everyone's maximum HP.

Magic Cocktail and Elemental Defense​

• This is the Recluse's standard art. Use it when an elemental stain is present to absorb that element and recover FP. The Recluse stores three elemental stains, and when she uses Magic Cocktail with three stains, she casts a new spell that changes depending on the stored elements used. Magic Cocktail has no cooldown timer, and you need to use it regularly to restore the Recluse's FP so she can keep casting spells.

Soulblood Song​

• Soulblood Song is the Recluse's ultimate art. She attaches blood sigils to all nearby foes and deals magic damage to them. Allies--including the Recluse--who attack enemies with blood sigils will restore their HP and FP by a small amount with each attack.

Magic dodge​

• This isn't a named ability, but the Recluse's dodge has a slightly longer window of evasion compared to the standard dodge the other Nightfarers get.

The most important thing about Magic Cocktail, aside from learning its combos, is that the Recluse can absorb elemental stains from sources other than her own spells. If, for example, a teammate has a fire bow and attacks an enemy with it, it'll create a fire stain you can absorb.

The Recluse begins an expedition with a single weapon, the Recluse's Staff. It's a basic sorcery staff that lets her cast Glintstone Pebble, which is good for single targets, and Glintstone Arc, which can hit groups of enemies and potentially knock them backward. It's a humble set of spells, but the fully upgraded versions still make a dent in the HP bar of strong enemies.

All Magic Cocktail combos​

Every combo benefits the party, even if some of them don't deal damage.
The number of stacks is irrelevant except in cases where we specify otherwise. For example, the floating fireball spell works whether you have two fire and one standard or two standard and one fire.

Another point worth keeping in mind is that, like with other spells, Recluse combos take a second or two to cast. Make sure you have a safe space to cast them in, without a boss bearing down on you.

• Three standard: Creates a swirl of magic that damages enemies at intervals
• Three fire: Launches a spiralling bolt of fire at a target that explodes on impact. Has short range
• Three lightning: Lightning quickstep, similar to the Quickstep Ash of War in Elden Ring
• One standard, one fire, one lightning: Builds energy for a few seconds and damages nearby foes, then explodes and deals heavy damage. Has a short range of effect
• Standard and fire: Creates a floating ball of fire that hovers around a single target and deals fire damage before exploding and causing heavier fire damage
• Standard and lightning: Charges for a second, then unleashes an arc of lightning-infused magic that speeds toward a target
• Fire and lightning: Rushes forward as a bolt of lightning and crashes down at a target, creating a small explosion of fire
• One holy, one lightning, one standard: Encases self in an ice crystal and causes an ice storm in a broad area for several seconds. Generates ice explosion when the storm ends
• One holy, one lightning, one fire: Calls down brilliant white lightning that electrifies the ground and explodes after several seconds. The explosion leaves burning ground behind
• One standard, one holy, one fire: Breathe holy fire in a wide arc on front of you
• Holy and fire: Creates a field that increases max HP for all inside it
• Holy and lightning: Creates a shield that deflects attacks without consuming stamina or requiring an equipment slot
• Holy and standard: Creates a field that lets you use skills, sorcery, and Incantations without spending FP

Best weapons, magic, and Incantations for Recluse​

The Recluse's ultimate art helps the party recover their health.
Putting together a specific build for the Recluse is more difficult than with other characters, since you have fewer places to look for guaranteed staves, seals, and magic drops. Our guide for where to find magic and Incantations has specifics about where to look.

The ideal scenario is one where you find lightning, fire, and holy spells, so you have the full range of Magic Cocktail combinations available to use. The easiest-to-use ones are:

• Flame Sling
• Lightning Spear
• Discus of Light

All three have comparatively short casting times, and you can charge them for extra damage. Zamoor Ice Storm is another powerful sorcery, though it's rare, and you can end up with good results from any of the dragon communion Incantations. The drawback with using those is how long they take to cast and how difficult it is to target quick enemies with them. The best time to use a dragon breath Incantation is while a boss is immobile during a critical hit or if their attention is occupied elsewhere.

If you can't find the spells you want, it's worth keeping one or two weapons with elemental affiliations on hand. The Recluse isn't built for using greatswords and hammers, but a twinblade, dagger, whip, or sword with a useful affinity lets you use a wider variety of Magic Cocktail's combos even without magic.

Best relics for Recluse​

Spells have lengthy cast times, so make sure you have enough space between you and your target to cast them safely.
Like with weapons, the random nature of finding relics makes it challenging to recommend a combination that might be useful to anyone. However, there are a few Recluse-specific relics and boss remembrances that suit them well.

Grand Tranquil Scene

• [Recluse] Suffer blood loss and increase attack power upon ultimate art activation
• Mind +2
• Intelligence +2

This one is risky, since blood loss takes a chunk of your HP at once. Only use your ultimate when it's safe, and make sure to attack quickly and frequently to restore your health afterward. The Recluse-specific Grand Tranquil Scene is particularly useful when used with other gems or passives that buff you when blood loss occurs.

Vestige of Night

• [Recluse] Collecting affinity (absorbing stains with Magic Cocktail) creates Terra Magica where you're standing
• Magic Attack Power +2

Vestige of Night comes from the Recluse's remembrance quests, and Terra Magica increases the power of sorceries cast while the Recluse is inside the field.

For other gems, you want to focus on these stats:

• Mind (for more FP)
• Increased intelligence or faith
• Improved stamina or stamina recovery

Any other gem that improves intelligence, mind, or faith is worth using, even if their other buffs and stats do little for the Recluse.

If you're keen on playing as Nightreign's mage for a long time, check out all the Recluse skins on offer to change your look as you go.

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