In this The Forsaken Hollows Overview, we will take a look at this new DLC for Elden Ring Nightreign. The DLC expands the base game with new swamp zones, new playable characters, returning bosses, and a fully separate Shifting Earth map with heavy vertical design.
The Forsaken Hollows Overview Key Takeaways:
- The Elden Ring Nightreign Forsaken Hollows launch date is December 4, 2025.
- The DLC is priced at $15, but comes free with the Collector’s Edition.
- It adds multiple swamp zones and a fully separate Shifting Earth map.
- There are two new playable characters in Forsaken Hollows DLC, two major bosses, and multiple returning bosses from previous games.
- The new Shifting Earth event seems to be a separate map instead of replacing a part of Limveld.
4.9The Forsaken Hollows Release Date
The Forsaken Hollows release date is December 4th, 2025. It is a paid expansion for Elden Ring Nightreign; however, everyone who purchased the Collector’s Edition receives it automatically for free. For everyone else, the price of Elden Ring Nightreign DLC is $15, which is a fairly small barrier considering the size of the new areas and the amount of replay value that the new Nightfarers bring.
Even at this price point, The Forsaken Hollows DLC is the one that players will likely revisit multiple times, especially because the new map structure and character kits encourage reruns. The release also comes with new story threads, character quests, and lore hints that will give players who care about worldbuilding plenty to dig into long after the initial run.
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The Forsaken Hollows Updates
The Forsaken Hollows updates feature a wide range of changes that touch most parts of Nightreign’s core loop. Rather than relying on one headline feature, the DLC spreads its changes across new areas, systems, and combat options. The added swamps on the original map change how you plan your early routes, especially since they can slow you down and alter enemy behavior.
New Forge Towns also reshape mid-run decision-making by letting you adjust weapon skills, though you’ll usually need to clear out nearby threats before using them. Alongside those The Forsaken Hollows features, there are new enemy types and updated boss variants that make each run feel less predictable than before.
New Content in The Forsaken Hollows:
- Two new playable characters: The Scholar and The Undertaker
- Two new major boss encounters: The Seven Angelic Sentinels and Dreglord
- New mini-bosses and returning boss variants from previous games
- Multiple new swamps: Poison, Sleep, and Scarlet Rot variants
- New environmental hazards tied to swamps and crystal areas
- New “Forge Towns” where players can activate forges to reroll or change weapon skills
- New weapon abilities and weapon specialization options
- New enemy types: swamp creatures, crystalline enemies, and new humanoid factions
- A new Shifting Earth event set in an entirely new crystalline region
- New traversal challenges and vertical map design elements
- Crystal Curse mechanic in certain areas (halves max HP until cleansed or countered)
- New relic abilities tied to the new Nightfarers
- New character stories and additional lore
One of the biggest The Forsaken Hollows additions is the new Shifting Earth event. It isn’t a reworked version of existing levels, but rather a completely separate map with its own traversal rules, hazards, and objectives. Two new Nightfarers and their relic abilities round out the update, giving players more ways to shape team compositions and plan routes. Taken together, the systems and content in The Forsaken Hollows noticeably shift how you approach each run from now on.
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The Forsaken Hollows New Characters
The Forsaken Hollows new characters are two new Nightfarers, each changing the flow of combat in their own way. They’re not meant to replace anyone in the roster; they just give you more ways to approach fights and build teams. The two new characters are Scholar and Undertaker.
Scholar
The Forsaken Hollows Scholar plays very differently from most other characters in Nightreign. His whole kit is built around fast item use and upgrading items by using them, which isn’t something players usually think about. You need to get used to switching items quickly, managing Analyze, and knowing when to stay back or step in to keep your debuff window moving. It can feel clumsy at first, and it takes a bit of unlearning old habits.
Scholar in The Forsaken Hollows does well in fights with several enemies on screen. Analyze can build up both buffs and debuffs depending on how long you hold it, and Scholar’s ultimate links allies and enemies so that healing and damage spread between them. He struggles with single-target damage, and thrusting weapons won’t be for everyone, but he introduces a support style that the game hasn’t really had before.
Here is a short summary of Scholar in Forsaken Hollows:
- Focuses on fast item use and upgrading items during combat
- Requires juggling items, learning timing for his Analyze ability, and good positioning
- Strong in multi-enemy fights due to damage split
- Ultimate links allies and enemies, so healing and damage spread
- Weak single-target damage; thrusting weapons may not appeal to everyone
- Introduces a new support-focused playstyle for the roster
Undertaker
The Forsaken Hollows Undertaker is the opposite of Scholar in her game plan. She’s quick, direct, and easy to start playing. Her Trance ability restores stamina and gives her extra movement speed, letting her stay on the offensive longer than most frontline characters. She’s also great at breaking guards and opening up chances for big hits as she uses hammers.
Undertaker in The Forsaken Hollows also possesses an Ultimate ability that makes her stand out from other Nightfarers. The ability is simple, whenever its used, Undertaker will leap straight towards the enemy and deal damage. However, if anyone on the team uses their ult, she can trigger hers for free. This can create long chains of heavy damage as she leaps across the arena again and again. In coordinated groups, or even by accident, you can end up with a string of ultimates that melt boss health bars. She’s reliable, easy to fit into almost any lineup, and rewarding to use even without much setup.
Here is a short summary of Undertaker in Forsaken Hollows:
- Fast playstyle focused on hammers
- Uses simple combos and fast combos
- Trance ability restores stamina and boosts toughness
- Strong at breaking enemy guards and creating critical-hit opportunities
- Ultimate can trigger for free when teammates use theirs, enabling chain damage
- Fits well into almost any team composition and is easy to use effectively
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The Forsaken Hollows New Bosses
New bosses in The Forsaken Hollows include:
- Balancers
- Dreglord
When you are fighting Balancers, all of them are attacking all at once. None of the angels are too tough on their own, but dealing with all seven at the same time keeps you constantly adjusting your position. Beating all seven only starts the real challenge with this new The Forsaken Hollows boss. Balancers will come back to life, and one will take the lead, adding long-range slashes that can cover huge parts of the arena. It’s a fight that asks for steady teamwork, good relic choices, and quick reactions as the pattern keeps shifting.
Dreglord is a long, two-phase fight that’s all about staying calm and playing safe. In the first phase, he summons the Rot Zombies and casts massive Rot explosions. In the second phase, he moves faster and jumps around more, making it more of a test of your personal mechanical skill rather than teamwork.
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The Forsaken Hollows Returning Bosses
The Forsaken Hollows returning bosses introduce some classic fights from DS1 and the original Elden Ring into Nightreign.
- Knight Artorias
- Demon Princes
- Lord of Blood
- Divine Beast Dancing Lion
Some smaller returning bosses also appear in the new swamps and forge towns, which means you’ll run into them while already dealing with status effects or tight spaces. Even though they’re technically returning enemies, the context around them gives the fights a different flavor, and they act as good warm-ups for the more demanding battles.
The Forsaken Hollows New Shifting Earth Event
The new Shifting Earth event in The Forsaken Hollows is a major addition. Unlike earlier ones that reused parts of the original world, this one takes you to a completely new map built around crystal formations and sharp vertical design. There are long drops, narrow bridges, spiraling paths, and frequent spirit springs to help you move between layers. It’s easy to get separated from your group, and falling to your death is surprisingly common, especially during fights.
The Forsaken Hollows new Shifting Earth map includes an objective involving special crystals scattered across the region. Destroying them unlocks a central crystal, which grants a buff and removes hazards like the Crystal Curse. This is an effect that halves your max HP in certain areas, similar to how the curse worked in Dark Souls 1.
The Forsaken Hollows FAQ
In this section of our The Forsaken Hollows DLC Overview, we will answer some of the most common questions about this expansion.
When Does The Forsaken Hollows DLC Release?
The Elden Ring: Nightreign DLC, The Forsaken Hollows, is set to release on December 4th, 2025.
How Much Does The Forsaken Hollows Cost?
The Forsaken Hollows DLC costs $15, but is free for anyone who purchased the Collector’s Edition of Elden Ring Nightreign.
How Many Playable Characters Are in Elden Ring Nightreign DLC?
The Forsaken Hollows DLC adds two new characters to Elden Ring: Nightreign, making it 10 playable Nightfarers in total.
How Many New Bosses Are in Nightreign DLC?
The Forsaken Hollows DLC for Elden Ring Nightreign adds two new major bosses and a bunch of fights returning from previous FromSoftware titles.
4.9Between the Shifting Earth challenges, Forge Towns, and relic-based strategies, there are plenty of ways to experiment with team setups and tactics. Keep an eye on updates, and as players discover more secrets and stories, The Forsaken Hollows will likely continue to offer surprises for the Nightreign community.
