One week after Patch 1.5 revolutionized Elden Ring Nightreign, the speedrunning community has already shattered expectations with sub-25 minute Boss Rush completions.
Just seven days ago, FromSoftware dropped the landmark Patch 1.5 update for Elden Ring Nightreign, introducing the highly anticipated Boss Rush mode alongside a sweeping balance overhaul of greataxes and flails. What followed has been nothing short of extraordinary — the speedrunning community has absolutely embraced the new challenge, pushing the boundaries of what was previously thought possible.
As of June 27, the Boss Rush "Torment" difficulty world record has been broken three times in the past 48 hours alone. The current record holder, a top-tier speedrunner known in the community as "LetMeSoloThem," completed the full 18-boss gauntlet in an astonishing 24 minutes and 38 seconds — nearly two minutes faster than the previous record set just a day earlier. The run leverages the newly buffed greataxe moveset introduced in Patch 1.5, combined with optimized routing through the boss sequence.
The Boss Rush mode challenges players to defeat a predetermined sequence of bosses without dying, with checkpoints only available after every third encounter. On Torment difficulty, all bosses are scaled to NG+7 levels with modified attack patterns, making it the ultimate test of skill for even the most seasoned Tarnished. The introduction of this mode was widely seen as FromSoftware's response to the community's long-standing demand for a focused combat challenge.
Beyond speedrunning, the Patch 1.5 meta has settled considerably over the past week. The Colosseum PvP scene, initially chaotic after the greataxe and flail rebalancing, has stabilized into a diverse competitive landscape. Greataxe users have developed counter-strategies against one another, while flail-wielding duelists have found new niches in hit-and-run tactics. Player retention numbers remain strong — concurrent players on Steam are still 55% above pre-patch levels, suggesting that the update's appeal extends well beyond the initial novelty.
FromSoftware has remained characteristically quiet about future updates, though dataminers have discovered references to additional Boss Rush modifiers in the game's code, hinting at potential future content expansions. The community eagerly awaits any official announcements about what comes next for Nightreign.
For players looking to try their hand at Boss Rush, the recommended build centers around a strength-faith hybrid with the newly buffed Greataxe of Malekith, paired with Erdtree Incantations for ranged pressure — the exact setup used in the current world record run. With the meta still evolving, the 24-minute barrier may not stand for long.