Elden Ring Nightreign: How To Cast Spells

Learn how to cast spells in Elden Ring Nightreign using staffs or sacred seals, with platform-specific controls explained.

Learn to cast spells in Elden Ring Nightreign (Image via Bandai Namco Entertainment)

FromSoftware’s Elden Ring Nightreign has managed to compress an RPG campaign’s worth of progression into a roguelike without losing the original’s essence. Although much of the combat system in Nightreign may seem similar to Elden Ring on the surface, there are some key differences. One of the main changes affects the magic system, which no longer works with memorization.

Now, you can cast spells by equipping either a sacred seal or a staff. Staffs and seals have two spells you can cast, each requiring a different button input.

How To Cast Spells in Elden Ring Nightreign

Recluse class is the primary spellcaster (Image via Bandai Namco) — Recluse class is the primary spellcaster (Image via Bandai Namco Entertainment)

To cast spells in Elden Ring Nightreign, equip a staff or sacred seal with a magic-using class like Recluse or Revenant. Your Light Attack button will trigger the first spell listed on the staff or seal, and your Heavy Attack button will activate the second spell. If the staff or seal is wielded one-handed, only the first spell can be activated using the corresponding button.

So, if your staff or seal is in the right hand, use the Light Attack button to activate its first spell. If your staff or seal is in the left hand, use the Heavy Attack button to activate its first spell. To use the second spell, wield the staff two-handed and use the Heavy Attack button. Here are the default buttons for each platform:

Xbox
- Light Attack button: LB or RB
- Heavy Attack button: LT or RT

PlayStation
- Light Attack button: L1 or R1
- Heavy Attack button: L2 or R2

PC
- Light Attack button: LMB or RMB
- Heavy Attack button: Q or Ctrl + LMB

Dual Wielding Staffs in Elden Ring Nightreign

Gain access to multiple spells by Dual-wielding staffs (Image via Bandai Namco)

If you place a staff in either hand, the Light Attack button will activate the first spell of the right-handed staff, and the Heavy Attack button will trigger the first spell of the left-handed staff. You can hold Y (E on PC) and press RB (Right-click on PC) to switch to two-handed mode on your right-handed staff. Press the same button combination again to switch back to dual-wielding.

Button press	Dual-wielding staffs	Two-handing staff
Light Attack button	First spell of the right-hand staff	First spell
Heavy Attack button	First spell of the left-hand staff	Second spell

Quickly switching between dual-wielding staffs and holding a staff two-handed will give you instant access to three types of spells. You can also switch out staffs and sacred seals from your inventory during battle to use other spells as well. Ensure your character is safely distanced from enemies when switching equipment.