FromSoftware has delivered a surprise Elden Ring update, revealing the biggest changes its critically acclaimed action-RPG has gotten in years.
The developer caught fans off-guard with lengthy patch notes today, detailing a list of buffs (and a few nerfs) for different weapons and playstyles across the game. It’s a major update that arrived as FromSoftware prepares for the launch of Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition for Nintendo Switch 2, as well as its accompanying DLC for other platforms.
What we have here is a laundry list of balance adjustments that get under the hood to tweak a variety of PvE and PvP tools. Based on the list of updates available on the Dark Souls developer’s website, the last time we received patch notes of a similar length was back in October 2024, a few months after the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion released. That makes it not only one of the biggest updates the 2022 game-of-the-year winner has received in years, but what could be one of its final ones, too.
Generally, what Elden Ring players have to look forward to is a lot of buffs. The Firespark, Lightning, Chilling, Frenzyflame, and Deadly Poison Perfume Bottles, for example, got increased attack power across the board. The Smithscript Axe and Spear, as well as the Spear of the Impaler, also benefit from reduced stamina use and increased power for thrown attacks.
The August Elden Ring update also comes with increased guard boost and reduced weight for the Lordsworn’s Shield, Briar Greatshield, Spiked Palisade Shield, and more. Others, such as the Wooden Greatshield, Cuckoo Greatshield, Redmane Greatshield, and Crucible Hornshield, also got increased guard boost.
Another big change hits everyone’s favorite FromSoftware mechanic: parries. You’ll now notice improved parry performance across the board, for example, with the developer also explaining it’s reduced the time before certain actions can be performed when using things like Daggers, Curved Swords, and Small Shields post-parry.
The nerfs, meanwhile, hit the Gravitational Missile and Great Katana. The former has been altered so that its projectile will not explode upon impact with terrain, while the latter now suffers from increased damage when hit by other players during an attack. The update also squashed bugs related to the Great Katana weapon, as well as a few PC-exclusive glitches.
For a game that turned four years old back in February, Elden Ring is still going strong. How much juice is left in the tank remains to be seen, though, as FromSoftware is very much staying busy with other projects. The Duskbloods, for example, may be a Switch 2 exclusive, but judging by the reactions to its first network test, it could compete with the studio’s other multiplayer experiences.
Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition will keep the train rolling when it launches tomorrow, August 28, for Switch 2 owners, with all of today’s updates in tow. The Tarnished Pack DLC – which includes the Heavy Knight and Idus Knight starting classes, three Torrent skins, and four new armor sets – will also release for other platforms tomorrow.
Elden Ring Movie Cast
Today’s update is out now for players across PC, PlayStation 4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S. You can check out the full patch notes below. For more, you can read about the Elden Ring movie, which wrapped filming in July. You can also learn about the social media post that had fans hoping to return to the Lands Between for even more content.
Elden Ring – Patch Notes Version 1.17
Patch 1.17 has been released for ELDEN RING. This patch aims to bring support the Tarnished Pack DLC, scheduled for release on Friday, August 28, 2026, and to implement gameplay balance adjustments.
Please apply the latest update before playing.
Targeted Platforms
PlayStation 4 / PlayStation 5 / Xbox One / Xbox Series X|S / Steam
MAIN UPDATE ADDITIONS
Tarnished Pack Additional Content
The following elements will be added upon purchase of the “Tarnished Pack” DLC.
Note: This content is included by default in ELDEN RING Tarnished Edition for Nintendo Switch 2.
- Added Idus Knight and Heavy Knight as new starting classes, selectable during character creation.
- Note: The equipment of each new starting class can also be obtained by purchasing it from merchants in the Lands Between or by finding it in the world.
- Added weapons that can be purchased from merchants or found in the Lands Between.
- Added three types of Spectral Steed Attire that change the appearance of Torrent:
- Tree Sentinel Spectral Steed Attire: Found in Stormveil Castle.
- Silver of Caria Spectral Steed Attire: Found in Liurnia of the Lakes.
- Funereal Night Spectral Steed Attire: Found in Altus Plateau.
- Note: After obtaining any Spectral Steed Attire, the option to change the spectral steed’s appearance will be added to the Site of Grace menu.
- Added an NPC invasion event in Caelid.
- Added an NPC invasion event in Leyndell, Royal Capital.
- Note: This event will not occur after the area has changed to Leyndell, Ashen Capital.
The “Tarnished Pack” release times are as follows:
- PlayStation / Xbox: Friday, August 28 at 0:00 a.m local time.
- Steam: Friday, August 28 at 7:00 JST | 00:00 CEST | 15:00 PDT.
Balance Adjustments
- Changed certain items found in the field or obtained by defeating certain powerful enemies in the Realm of Shadow to higher-tier items or other treasures.
- Note: Items already that were already found will not be changed.
Weapons
- Smithscript Dagger / Rellana’s Twin Blades
- Increased critical hit power.
- Smithscript Axe / Smithscript Spear / Spear of the Impaler
- Reduced the stamina consumption of weapon-throwing attacks.
- Increased the power of weapon-throwing attacks.
- Carian Sorcery Sword
- Changed Intelligence scaling so that it now increases the attack power of all damage types.
- Smithscript Greathammer
- Increased the power of weapon-throwing attacks.
- Golem Fist
- Increased the range of the fist-launching heavy attack.
- Firespark Perfume Bottle / Lightning Perfume Bottle / Chilling Perfume Bottle / Frenzyflame Perfume Bottle / Deadly Poison Perfume Bottle
- Lordsworn’s Shield / Briar Greatshield / Spiked Palisade Shield / Icon Shield / Golden Beast Crest Shield / Manor Towershield / Crossed-Tree Towershield / Inverted Hawk Towershield / Dragon Towershield / Distinguished Greatshield / Gilded Greatshield / Black Steel Greatshield / Ant’s Skull Plate / Erdtree Greatshield
- Increased guard boost.
- Reduced weight.
- Wooden Greatshield / Cuckoo Greatshield / Redmane Greatshield / Golden Greatshield / Crucible Hornshield / Dragonclaw Shield / Eclipse Crest Greatshield / Jellyfish Shield / One-Eyed Shield
- Haligtree Crest Greatshield
- Rakshasa’s Great Katana
- Increased the time before an attack can be performed with a right-hand weapon immediately after attacking with this weapon equipped in the left hand.
Skills
- Parry
- Improved parry performance.
- Reduced the time before various actions can be performed after activation when used with Daggers, Curved Swords, or Small Shields.
- Storm Wall
- Changed the skill so that it no longer consumes FP when used.
- Improved parry performance.
- Thops’s Barrier
- Improved parry performance.
Sorceries
- Founding Rain of Stars
- Carian Retaliation
- Meteorite
- Meteorite of Astel
- Gravitational Missile
- Changed the spell so that the gravity projectile does not explode immediately upon striking terrain such as the ground or a wall.
Incantations
- Feather of the Divine Bird
- O, Flame!
- Rain of Fire
PvP-Exclusive Balance Adjustments
Weapons
- Rakshasa’s Great Katana
- Increased damage taken from attacks by other players while attacking.
Incantations
- Rugalea’s Roar
- Reduced power against other players.
- Rotten Breath / Ekzykes’s Decay
- Reduced the amount of time other player characters are unable to move from hit reactions when struck by these incantations.
Bug Fixes
- Fixed a bug where critical hits dealt with Great Katana weapon types had lower-than-expected power against large enemies.
- Fixed a bug where jumping attacks with Great Katana weapon types could be parried.
PC-Only Bug Fixes
- Fixed a bug that prevented camera control with the mouse during NPC dialogue when using keyboard and mouse controls
- Fixed a bug in the “Keyboard/Mouse Settings” section of the system menu in which selecting the reset option did not restore various settings to their defaults
The version number shown in the lower-right corner of the title screen after applying this update will be as follows:
App Ver. 1.17
Regulation Ver. 1.17
This update is required for online play.
We will continue to make improvements so that you can enjoy ELDEN RING more comfortably.
Thank you for your continued support.
Michael Cripe is a freelance writer with IGN. He’s best known for his work at sites like The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. Be sure to give him a follow on Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).