FromSoftware released a major new patch for Elden Ring on Friday, August 28, 2026, the same day the game launched on Nintendo Switch 2 alongside new downloadable content. The Tarnished Pack DLC arrived on all platforms and is included with the Elden Ring Tarnished Edition on Switch 2. Gamers on Xbox, PlayStation and PC will need to purchase it to enjoy the extra content.
The update includes a host of free balancing changes to the original game, including buffs to shields, throwing weapons and parrying. Some attacks causing chaos in PvP mode have also been nerfed, and fans have reacted with delight.
Fan reactions to the update
One fan took to Reddit to say: “Perfumers finally got buffed along with the smithscript daggers. I thought I’d never see the day.”
Another added: “Nobody talking about gravitational missile getting absolutely gutted. Oh my god, the spell has been destroyed.”
A third Reddit user said: “Throwing weapons and greatshields buffed across the board? Perfumes and Founding Rain of Stars might be useful now? Parrying buffed? Didn't expect to be getting these in 2026, but: nice.”
Elden Ring update v1.17 - patch notes in full
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: Increased attack power.
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: Increased guard boost.
Haligtree Crest Greatshield: Reduced weight.
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: Increased power.
Carian Retaliation: Increased power.
Meteorite: Reduced casting time.
Meteorite of Astel: Reduced casting time.
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: Increased power.
O, Flame!: Expanded attack range.
Rain of Fire: Increased power.
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.
