Technologies

Elden Ring Nightreign Beginner’s Guide: Team Strategy, Level Goals and Survival Tips

So you want to kill a Nightlord?

Elden Ring Nightreign is FromSoftware’s new multiplayer spin-off of 2022’s popular action-RPG Elden Ring, and it will make even the most hard-core fans completely overwhelmed at first. Luckily, there are some tips to help Nightfarers survive the night and triumph over the Nightlord.

In Elden Ring Nightreign, players team up or go solo on runs to take down a Nightlord, a daunting boss waiting for them at the end of two in-game days of fighting enemies and getting stronger, which requires fast thinking and quick reflexes to take down. While it carries the Elden Ring name, Nightreign plays so differently, as the name of the game is speed rather than the slow exploration of other FromSoftware titles. It’s this change of pace that will throw veteran players off, but if you follow some of these tips, you and your team will be prepared to survive the night.

Team chemistry is key

Putting a good team together is what will ultimately lead to a successful run. A team should be made up of someone who can tank (Wylder, Raider, Guardian) and a mix of the other characters. One big help is going to have one team member play a ranged character (Ironeye, Recluse) who can act as a reviver to pick up characters who fall in battle, as they need to be attacked in order to heal them (or at least having another player carry a ranged weapon to perform the same). Being able to do this from a distance can be very useful in runs.

Another part of team chemistry is having someone to strategize where to go on the fly. A point person to lay out where your team will go instead of everyone chiming in will help move the runs along without having to wait around to figure out where to go next.

If possible, go for flasks first, then bosses

Every character starts out with three flasks for healing, but there are more available. They can be found in churches scattered on the map, usually in a bright orange color. Having more than three flasks is going to be a tremendous help, so they should be prioritized. Ideally, you’ll want to head to the nearest church while clearing out camps on the way. Once you have two additional flasks, then focus on bosses. If a church is too far away, fight through camps full of enemies on the way to the church to level up while heading there.

Pick up all the weapons

An interesting mechanic in Nightreign is that each weapon found in a run has a passive bonus, and those bonuses stack up as long as you have them in your bag. That’s six weapons with six buffs, and that will be a big help for your character. Also, don’t worry if you pick up a weapon that’s not intended for your character. A melee brute like the Raider could find a magic wand that has a certain buff that works well for them. Shields, for example, offer some good buffs even though you may not want to equip them. Another idea is if a ranged weapon like a bow drops, consider picking it up if you’re a melee character as a way to revive teammates from a distance when needed.

Look for the best route

Routing is so important for a good run. You want to try to clear out the various dungeons, castles, mines and camps available to gain levels and better equipment. Since you have a set amount of time before the storm circle closes in, start on the outer parts first and slowly make your way in. Eventually, you’ll get the timing down to clear out camps right before the circle closes to get the last bit of runes to level up your character.

Pay attention to your surroundings, you might miss some help

Found all throughout the map are tiny patches of glowing flowers, fire butterflies and so on that provide some quick buffs, like finding more runes or getting rid of status ailments or healing you. One thing to definitely keep an eye out for is scarabs. These little critters — hovering over a glowing ball and emitting a bell-tinkling sound — will typically drop talismans that can be equipped to provide permanent offensive or defensive buffs to your character equivalent to what you’d get when beating a boss.

Use consumables

It never fails that players will want to hold onto their consumables, but ignore that feeling. If you’re fighting a boss, use all the consumables you have. The consumables you can find in a run are very useful, and there are a lot of them all around the map.

Don’t be afraid to run away

While the storm circle doesn’t seem to take much damage when you’re stuck in it, do not tempt fate. You need to stay out of the storm. If you’re in the middle of clearing out a camp, and the storm is on top of you, there’s a point where it’s time to cut and run. This is especially important to remember in a mine or an underground dungeon where the only exit likely takes you right into the storm. Until you get the timing of the storm down just right, don’t try to do too much too close to the storm — and if you do venture beneath the surface, keep checking the map to know when the circle starts closing.

One thing to keep note of, bosses that you might have started fighting and had to run away on say day 1, they still will be around on day 2. Not only that, they will not heal themselves once you run away. This means they’re easy pickings as they are already weaker, and your team is stronger.

Realize when to ignore trash mobs and items

When you drop onto the map, your team is very likely going to be in a random spot, and you’ll see some low-level enemies nearby. You should definitely take down all these weaker enemies to get yourself to level 3. There will also be random items scattered around the map. Feel free to get these early on, but once you get to level 3, it’s time to focus. In Nightrein, you need more levels, better equipment and buffs, which won’t be found on weak enemies or the items around them. Ignore them completely once you get high enough, as you will not have extra time to take them down in your quest for stronger boss enemies and powerful upgrades.

Shoot for level 12

It can’t be stressed enough how important it is to be at the right level when fighting a Nightlord. One level could be the difference between an easy win and an utter defeat. A good rule of thumb is to shoot to be at least level 4 by the end of day 1, level 8 by the end of day 2 and level 12 when taking on the Nightlord. While you can beat the bosses at levels lower than those suggested, the fights will go much easier the higher your levels are.

Spend a little time exploring and training at Roundtable Hold

Roundtable Hold is not just a hub to buy relics, do some training and interact with characters. As you progress, there will be new content to find in the area. New Nightfarers, for example, will unlock once you get certain items and interact with other NPCs. This is especially true after a successful run, as there will be more to learn when exploring Roundtable Hold.

Head out on your own

To have a successful run, each player on the team needs to understand their character’s abilities, how to properly equip themselves and learn the pattern of certain bosses. That’s hard to do during a match as your time is limited, and the group you’re with wants to keep running. This is why doing a few solo runs on your own can help get your footing with the game. To start a solo run, head to the table at the Roundtable Hold, click on it, and go to options. At the bottom of the options, there’s a selection to have a single-player run or a multiplayer run. Make sure that it’s single-player and start by yourself. Keep in mind, this is going to be very difficult to do a solo run, but you want to use this time to develop an understanding of the game’s mechanics and your character.

Expect the unexpected

The last bit of advice is to expect the unexpected. There are random events that can happen throughout the game, from a group of enemies teleported right on top of you, additional bosses showing up after a boss battle, or even the Nightlords popping up as day 1 bosses. You always need to be prepared because things can change in a split second, and your match could be over.

Elden Ring Nightreign launches on May 30 for PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S and Xbox One consoles for $40. Owning the original Elden Ring is not required to play this game.

Technologies

Apple AirPods Max 2 vs. Sony WH-1000XM6: What’s the Best Choice for Apple Users?

How do the AirPods Max 2 stack up to Sony’s excellent WH-1000XM6 headphones? CNET’s audio expert David Carnoy gives you the full rundown.

When the AirPods Max 2 came out, I wrote an article comparing them to the original AirPods Max for Apple users who were considering upgrading. But some folks seemed more interested in my thoughts on how the Max 2 compare to Sony’s WH-1000XM6, which are among the very best noise-canceling headphones out there right now.

Both headphones earned CNET Editors’ Choice awards — and both are expensive. The AirPods Max’s high price was a source of contention when the original model launched in 2020, and the Max 2 also lists for $549. Pricing consumer headphones at more than $500 was a little shocking six years ago, but that didn’t stop people from buying the Max and setting a new benchmark for premium noise-canceling headphone prices, with top models from Bose, Sony and Bowers & Wilkins all receiving price hikes in recent years.

It’s a bit early for significant discounts on the Max 2, but later this year, they should settle in around $500 on Amazon, so you’re looking at about a $100 to $150 price bump to get them instead of the XM6, which retail for $450, but are typically discounted to around $400 in flash sales.

You can read my AirPods Max 2 review and Sony WH-1000XM6 review at those links.

Design

On the outside, anyway, the Max 2 are exactly the same as the Max USB-C, which came out in late 2024, and they’re available in the same five color options.

You can argue about which design is better and which model is more comfortable, but I’d have to give the Max 2 the advantage for pure build quality. These are headphones with a stainless steel frame, aluminum-clad earcups, smooth telescoping arms and swanky earpads that adhere magnetically and are easily replaceable. And then there’s that sweet digital crown to adjust volume and control playback.

Aside from their minimalist smart case, which I don’t love, the Max 2 have a more luxurious and durable design than the XM6. The Sonys are made primarily out of high-tech plastic and carbon-fiber composite, and their hinges aren’t immune to cracking despite their metal reinforcements, according to some user reports. The problem doesn’t seem nearly as prevalent as it was with some earlier Sony models, and I haven’t had any issues with my XM6. But online, you will find some photos of cracked or broken XM6 hinges and arms.

The trade-off for build quality is weight. The Max 2 weighs 386.2 grams or 13.6 ounces, while the XM6 weigh 254 grams or 9 ounces. The Max 2 are well-balanced and do a nice job distributing that extra weight on your head, with their breathable mesh knit canopy that spans the top of the headband. They don’t seem as heavy on your head as they feel in your hand. Most people will find both headphones quite comfortable, but you can’t get around the fact that the Max 2 are on the weightier side for headphones, and that may be a downside for some people, whether they’re on your head or in a bag, which you have to carry around with other things, such as a laptop.

It’s also not a good idea to drop the Max 2 on pavement because the aluminum can get dinged up or scratched. I’m pretty good about not dropping my headphones, but I put clear plastic earcup covers on my original Max as a precaution, especially after my daughter kept borrowing them from me. I should also note that the earpads and canopy can get a little stained and dirty if you’re not careful, especially the lighter colors. My kids don’t treat their headphones as well as I do, so I ended up having to replace the earpads for $69, though I did make my daughter pay for those replacements with her own money.

Winner: AirPods Max 2 win for build quality and durability, but the Sony WH-1000XM6 are well designed and will appeal to those looking for lighter headphones. The XM6 also have a dual-hinge design that allows them to fold up and flat (the Max 2 simply folds flat). I grade this a draw.

Features

The Max 2 have the edge in features as well, especially after Apple upgraded the Max 2 with the H2 chip, which essentially adds all the features found in the AirPods Pro 3 to the Max 2. These include Adaptive Audio, Conversation Awareness, Voice Isolation, Live Translation and Siri Interactions that allow you to use head gestures to answer and ignore calls or dismiss audio notifications. The Max 2 also support studio-quality audio recording and Apple’s camera remote feature using the digital crown. Both are useful for content creators.

The XM6 also offer a strong set of features, including Sony’s Speak-to-Chat feature, which preceded Apple’s Conversation Awareness feature. While they have different names, they both automatically lower the volume of the audio you’re listening to and shift the headphones from noise-canceling mode to transparency mode as soon as you start talking, letting you have a conversation without taking your headphones off.

But the AirPods Max 2 are designed to work with Apple products, and they automatically switch audio between devices on your iCloud account. Also, Apple’s spatial audio with head-tracking is arguably superior to Sony’s 360 Audio with head-tracking, which only works with Android devices, as Apple’s only works with Apple devices.

Now, if you’re an Android user, I’d be having a different conversation. Yeah, the AirPods Max 2 can be paired with Android devices, but they lose many of the Apple-exclusive features that set them apart. So if you’re an Android/Windows user and don’t have any Apple devices, you should opt for the XM6, which also support Sony’s high-quality LDAC audio codec if you pair them with an Android device. Or maybe Bose’s QuietComfort Ultra 2nd Gen or Bowers & Wilkins’ PX7 S3.

Winner: While the Sony WH-1000XM6 has a robust feature set available for Apple and Android devices, the AirPods Max 2 eke out a win on features for Apple users. The XM6 win for Android fans.

Noise canceling

With Apple’s H2 chip and software completely rewritten for it, both noise-canceling and voice-calling performance have improved with the Max 2. Apple says the noise canceling is 1.5x better, and you can definitely hear the difference compared to the ANC on the original Max. But the Sony XM6’s noise canceling is top-notch, and it’s hard to tell whether the XM6’s or the Max 2’s ANC is better. Ultimately, it’s very close, and both are quite impressive.

The Max 2 have a slight edge as far as their transparency mode goes. While Sony has improved its ambient sound mode that lets you hear the outside world, Apple’s transparency mode is still the gold standard, and stellar on the Max 2.

Winner: Tie

Voice-calling performance

Both have excellent voice-calling performance and do an impressive job of reducing background sound while isolating your voice. In my initial tests, I found the Sonys did a slightly better job in the noisy streets of New York, as callers said my voice sounded a little clearer and more consistent. But both headphones almost completely eliminated background noise during calls and are top-tier in the voice-calling department.

Winner: Tie

Sound quality

While both headphones sound superb for wireless headphones, they do sound different. Which one sounds better will likely depend on your personal tastes.

The Max 2 and Max 1 have a similar sound signature that’s balanced and pretty accurate. However, the Max 2’s upgraded dynamic range amplifier, coupled with Apple retuning its Adaptive EQ for the H2 chip, allows for a cleaner, more natural sound that’s nearly distortion-free.

The Max 2 do offer more clarity and dynamic sound, while the XM6 are a little warmer and more forgiving. My ears tend to gravitate toward more revealing headphones, such as the Max 2, but they can make badly recorded tracks sound even worse.

Without listening to the Max 2, you’d probably think the Sony’s sound is nicely detailed and accurate, with very good bass definition. But flipping back and forth between the two headphones, the Max 2 come across as more aggressive and intimate, while the XM6 are a little more laid back.

You can tweak the XM6’s equalizer settings in their companion app, which some people prefer. The Max 2, however, rely exclusively on their Adaptive EQ to optimize sound quality. The lack of flexible tuning bothers some people, but most don’t seem to mind the automatic tuning.

I didn’t notice that much of a change to the highs and mids between the Max 1 and Max 2. But whenever I hit a track with a harder bass line — or just more bass in general — the quality of the bass jumped out at me. Not only did it seem to hit harder, but it was tighter and more natural sounding.

The Max 2 sound a little more precise overall than the first-gen and have slightly better separation between instruments, so you can hear them a little more distinctly. That extra bit of precision helps with spatial audio, whether you’re listening to music or watching movies.

As I said, both the Max 2 and XM6 sound excellent in their own way. You can’t go wrong with either of these headphones for sound. But if you’re looking for a little more articulate headphones with slightly better clarity, the Max 2 have the edge in my book.

Winner: AirPods Max 2 win in a photo finish.

Wired listening

I’ll finish with a couple of smaller but still important items that may make a difference for some people. Note that the AirPods Max 2 have support for USB-C audio, which means you can plug the included USB-C cable into them and use them in wired mode with PCs, phones and tablets. The XM6 do not support USB-C audio.

However, the XM6 come with an analog headphone cable with a 3.5mm connector, so you can plug them into a headphone jack for wired mode (or use them with a USB-C-to-3.5mm adapter). This cable comes in handy when you need to plug into an in-flight entertainment system.

The Max 2, on the other hand, don’t include a USB-C-to-3.5mm cable for plane use, which is disappointing given their high price. You can buy the cable for around $35, but note that you have to use Apple’s official cable, not a generic USB-C-to-3.5mm cable.

Winner: The AirPods Max 2 technically have more robust wired-listening capabilities, but they get a points deduction for not including a USB-C-to-3.5mm cable, so I grade it a draw.

Battery life

Lastly, the XM6 do have the Max 2 beat on battery life. The Sonys are rated for up to 30 hours at moderate volume levels with noise canceling on, while the Max 2 are rated for up to 20 hours.

Winner: Sony WH-1000XM6

AirPods Max vs. Sony WH-1000XM6 final thoughts

Honestly, it’s hard to declare a true winner between these two great but expensive headphones. Each has some advantages and some small disadvantages.

Earlier this year, when the Max 2 hadn’t been released yet, I would have told you to get the XM6. But now that the Max 2 are here and the upgrades turn out to be a little more significant than I initially thought, it’s a tougher choice. They do offer some real advantages to Apple users from a features standpoint, so as long as you like the Max 2’s fit, they’re a pretty safe choice if you can afford them.

Technologies

Health-Tracking Pet Collar Acts Like a Smartwatch for Dogs and Cats

Tractive has two new smart collars armed with GPS tracking, AI-powered health monitoring and other tech tools.

Since our pets can’t tell us how they’re feeling or where they’re hiding, Tractive, an Austria- and Seattle-based tech company that creates GPS tracking devices for pets, has announced two new smart collars that «will redefine pet care for millions of families.»

Is your pet stressed, breathing unusually or scratching too much? Much like the basic health-tracking features you can find on a smartwatch, the collars — the Cat 6 Mini ($79) and Dog 6 XL ($89) — are designed to track this behavior and communicate the issues to help maintain your dog or cat’s quality of life, according to the company.

«Pets can’t tell us when something is wrong, but their bodies can,» Michael Hurnaus, CEO and founder of Tractive, said in a statement. «With cutting-edge sensors on every tracker, learnings from millions of pets and AI-powered insights, we’re turning one of the world’s largest pet data platforms into clear, simple information so pet parents can act sooner and care even better.»

When it comes to tracking collars, dogs have usually been the target pet audience for such devices. Tractive’s new Cat 6 Mini collar aims to provide the same service for your feline friend. You can use it to monitor your cat’s respiratory rate and resting heart rate and identify any health concerns early. It’s expected to ship on May 31.

The Dog 6 XL collar, an upgrade from the company’s previous dog wearable, is designed for dogs weighing over 55 pounds. It’s more durable for outdoor use and offers up to four weeks of battery life between charges. It comes equipped with a scratch-monitoring system that flags unusual scratching behavior caused by allergies, skin irritants and other stressors.

You can also use the app to access your pet’s travels and mark safe zones regarding walks, entries and exits. An AI-powered health hub displays your pet’s overall health stats and also acts as a GPS tracker in case your dog or cat goes missing.

How would a veterinarian interact with the data collected on the device?

A Tractive representative told CNET, «In our experience, veterinarians are most interested in baseline resting heart and respiratory rate, so it’s less about monitoring these vitals in real time during recovery from anesthesia/acute care and more about understanding if the baseline is changing day to day to identify the onset of new conditions or manage existing ones.»

Even though the collars use a SIM card and require a strong cellular connection to work properly, they can capture activity, sleep and health data while offline. However, without connectivity, the devices «ultimately will not provide any utility,» the representative confirmed.

You’ll need to download the accompanying app and select a separate subscription plan at an added cost. The one-year plan costs $120, the two-year plan costs $168, and the five-year plan costs $300.

Technologies

Double Dazzle: This Weekend, There Are 2 Meteor Showers in the Night Sky

Lyrids began last week, and Eta Aquariids kicks off on Sunday.

We’ve had good reasons to look up at the skies lately: the pink moon earlier this month and the launch and splashdown of the Orion spacecraft, which carried humans to the moon for the first time in more than 50 years on the Artemis II mission.

And now we have two meteor showers.

The first is the Lyrids, which began on Tuesday and continues until the end of the month. It’s a relatively minor meteor shower fed by the C/1861 G1 comet, also known as Thatcher after its discoverer, A.E. Thatcher, in 1861. It’s a long-period comet that takes 415.5 years to orbit the sun.

The Lyrids meteor shower peaks between April 21 and April 22 and will produce somewhere between 15 and 20 meteors per hour under optimal conditions. Per the American Meteor Society, the peak should occur on the evening of April 22, so if you can only make it out for one of the two nights, the second night is expected to be the better viewing experience.

The second meteor shower starting this weekend is the Eta Aquariids. This meteor shower begins on Sunday, April 19 and spans for over a month, wrapping up on May 28. This is the stronger of the two meteor showers with an expected peak of roughly 50 meteors per hour, depending on where you view them from. The Eta Aquariids shower is known for its fast meteors and persistent tails that stick around for a little longer after the meteor has disappeared.

The 1P/Halley comet feeds it, the same one that feeds the Orionids meteor shower every October. Its peak should be between May 5 and May 6. The further south you are, the more meteors you can expect to see, and the opposite is true the further north you go. The best place to view this meteor shower is in the tropics.

How to see Lyrids and Eta Aquariids

Meteor showers come with a built-in trick for finding them. They are named for the constellations where the meteors appear to originate. This origin point, known as the radiant, is where you want to be looking.

The Lyrids meteor shower originates from the Lyra constellation, which is close to the larger Hercules constellation. Both of them rise from the eastern sky shortly around 11 p.m. local time. It will then follow a similar trajectory to the sun, streaking overhead before setting in the west. Sunrise happens long before the constellations actually set, so if you’re waking up early to view these, you’ll want to look high in the western sky.

The Eta Aquariids shower is more difficult to view. It originates from the Aquarius constellation, which spends most of the night of May 5-6 below the eastern horizon. The constellation rises around 3 a.m. local time and will only barely breach the horizon before sunrise a few hours later. If you go out to view the eta Aquariids, get up high and point yourself east.

If you’re having trouble finding the constellations, your best bet is using a sky map app like StarWalk (Android and iOS) or using web tools like Stellarium’s Sky Map. Such tools can help you identify where the constellations will be. For meteor shower viewing, all you really need is the general direction, but there’s no harm in knowing how to find the constellation.

Tips for viewing meteor showers

The advice for viewing meteor showers is the same, no matter how big or small the shower is. The single biggest advantage you can give yourself is getting as far away from light pollution as you can. This means leaving the city and the suburbs behind in favor of greener, dimmer pastures.

The moon can significantly impact viewing. This won’t be a problem for Lyrids since the moon is expected to be about a quarter full during Lyrids’ peak. Eta Aquariids viewers aren’t so lucky since the moon will be about 80% full that night, which will cause significant light pollution. The American Meteor Society says that the shower’s peak may be up to 50 meteors per hour, but with the moon that close to full, people can expect closer to 10.

Other than light pollution, the advice is pretty simple. Make sure to get out there early so your eyes can adjust, and avoid using any bright lights that could affect your night vision. Since meteor shower watching can be a multihour activity, make sure to dress appropriately for the weather and abstain from alcohol, since it acts as a vasodilator and can cause you to lose body heat more quickly on cold evenings.

You won’t need any equipment since meteors are visible to the naked eye. Telescopes and binoculars will reduce your field of view, which may cause you to miss meteors.