The shadow-drenched realms of Elden Ring Nightreign hold many secrets, but few captivate players like the elusive Duchess. This agile warrior, reminiscent of a phantom waltzing through moonlit ruins, isn't merely another character—she's a game-changing force whose acquisition feels like deciphering an ancient celestial map. Players initially encounter her disguised as a robed enigma at Roundtable Hold, unaware she's the key to devastating combat synergies. Her locked status perplexed many, especially after her network test availability, making her reveal a triumphant moment that resonates like a perfectly timed parry against despair.
Pathways to Obtaining the Old Pocketwatch
Two roads lead to unlocking Duchess, both centered around acquiring the Old Pocketwatch Relic:
- Conquer the First Night Lord
Defeat Tricephalos, the tri-headed horror guarding Nightreign's early tiers. Victory rewards the Pocketwatch—a green-slot relic granting FP restoration on successive attacks and +3 Dexterity. This method requires skill but delivers immediate satisfaction.
- Embrace Failure's Silver Lining
Repeatedly fail expeditions against Tricephalos. After approximately 6 attempts (RNG-dependent), the Pocketwatch may appear as consolation. This path transforms defeat into opportunity—a broken hourglass still holding grains of hope.
Whichever method yields the relic, players must then gift it to the white-robed woman at Roundtable Hold. Her transformation into Duchess unfolds like a lotus blooming in toxic marshes—sudden, elegant, and paradoxically deadly.
Duchess's Combat Prowess & Relic Customization
Duchess's kit dances between evasion and annihilation:
| Skill | Effect | Strategic Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Magnificent Poise | Reduced stamina cost for dodging/attacking | Turns boss combos into rhythmic duets 🎭 |
| Restage | Reapplies recent team damage | Like rewinding time to double-strike a fading echo ⏳ |
| Finale (Ultimate) | Team-wide invisibility | A ghostly curtain fall for tactical repositioning 👻 |
Her Relic Rite slots initially feature 1 Red + 2 Blue configurations, but Urns purchased from the Jar Merchant unlock variant loadouts (e.g., Duchess' Goblet for 1,200 Murk adds 2 Yellow + 1 Green slots). Customizing these feels like tuning a fractured lute until it plays symphonies of ruin.
The Duchess Experience: A Player's Perspective
Controlling Duchess generates sensations akin to balancing on razor-thin ice over volcanic depths—exhilarating yet perilous. Her Restage ability, particularly when chained with allies' ultimate arts, creates catastrophic beauty: imagine a painter splattering the same bloodstroke twice across a canvas of chaos. The relief of escaping certain death via Finale leaves hands trembling like aspen leaves in a tempest. Yet her true genius lies in transforming group dynamics; she's the hidden gear that synchronizes party rotations into a gruesome ballet.
For those who endured Tricephalos failures, receiving her feels like discovering diamond veins in coal mines—a radiant reward for perseverance. Her agility redefines Nightreign's combat flow, making previously daunting encounters resemble intricate shadow-puppet shows where you hold all the strings.
An Open Invitation to Darkness
What nightmares will you unravel when Duchess's time-bending prowess meets your boldest strategies in the Everdark?