The Lands Between are getting another major shake-up, Tarnished. FromSoftware has officially released ELDEN RING Version 1.17, and this is not one of those tiny patches you download, ignore, and then immediately get flattened by a boss anyway. The update brings support for the paid Tarnished Pack DLC, alongside a huge batch of weapon buffs, sorcery and Incantation changes, PvP tweaks, shield improvements and several long-awaited bug fixes.

Patch 1.17 arrived on August 27, 2026, while the Tarnished Pack content launches on Friday, August 28. Available across PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S and Steam, the update changes the game to App Ver. 1.17 / Regulation Ver. 1.17 and is required for anyone planning to continue playing online.

And honestly, there is a lot happening here. New classes are entering character creation, throwing weapons are getting stronger, shields are receiving an absurd amount of love, parry players are eating well, magic builds have new reasons to celebrate, and PvP players have another fresh balance patch to argue about.

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The Tarnished Pack Brings New Classes, Weapons and Some Seriously Important Torrent Fashion

The biggest headline addition is, naturally, the paid Tarnished Pack DLC.

Players who purchase it will gain access to two new starting classes during character creation:

• Idus Knight
• Heavy Knight

The good news for players who already have a fully developed Tarnished is that you do not need to start an entirely new adventure just to get your hands on the new gear. Equipment belonging to both starting classes can also be obtained later by purchasing it from merchants throughout the Lands Between or discovering it while exploring.

The Tarnished Pack also introduces new weapons, which can likewise be purchased from merchants or found across the world.

But let’s be real for a second. New weapons are great. New classes are great. Yet one of the most entertaining additions in this update might be the fact that Torrent is finally getting a wardrobe.

Three new types of Spectral Steed Attire have been added, allowing players to change the appearance of their trusty spectral horse:

• 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

After obtaining any Spectral Steed Attire, players will unlock a new option in the Site of Grace menu that allows them to change the appearance of their spectral steed.

Because apparently defeating demigods, surviving rot swamps and being repeatedly launched off cliffs was not enough. Torrent now needs drip too.

The DLC also adds two new NPC invasion events:

• An NPC invasion event in Caelid
• An NPC invasion event in Leyndell, Royal Capital

There is one important limitation for the Leyndell invasion, however. The event will not occur once the area has changed into Leyndell, Ashen Capital.

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When Does the Elden Ring Tarnished Pack Release?

The Tarnished Pack launches on Friday, August 28.

PlayStation and Xbox:
12:00 a.m. local time

Steam:
7:00 a.m. JST / 12:00 a.m. CEST / 3:00 p.m. PDT

The Tarnished Pack content is also included by default with ELDEN RING Tarnished Edition for Nintendo Switch 2.

More From FromSoftware While Tarnished are gearing up for new DLC, FromSoftware’s next original title has already introduced a character nobody saw coming: an armored, blood-drinking oddity straight out of a fever dream. For more, read our story on The Duskbloods’ Zork Explained: Meet FromSoftware’s Armored Sea Chicken Who Drinks Blood Like a Mosquito.

The Realm of Shadow Is Quietly Getting Better Loot

Patch 1.17 is not only setting up the new DLC.

FromSoftware has also adjusted certain items found in the field or obtained after defeating specific powerful enemies in the Realm of Shadow. Some of these rewards have been upgraded to higher-tier items, while others have been replaced with different treasures.

There is one major catch, though.

Items that players have already obtained will not be changed.

So players should not expect the game to suddenly revisit their inventory and hand out upgraded versions of previously collected loot. Once something has already been found, the update will not retroactively replace it.

Basically, the Lands Between are improving their treasure game, but they are not sending compensation packages to your inventory.

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Weapon Buffs Are Coming in Hot

Patch 1.17 brings a surprisingly broad collection of weapon balance changes, and several weapon categories are getting noticeable improvements.

Smithscript Weapons Are Stronger Now

A number of Smithscript weapons have received buffs.

Smithscript Dagger and Rellana’s Twin Blades now have increased critical hit power.

Meanwhile, the following weapons receive improvements to their weapon-throwing attacks:

• Smithscript Axe
• Smithscript Spear
• Spear of the Impaler

Their weapon-throwing attacks now consume less stamina and deal increased damage.

The Smithscript Greathammer also receives increased power for its weapon-throwing attacks.

So yes, throwing weapons just became a little more attractive for players looking to turn combat encounters into a long-distance problem.

Carian Sorcery Sword Gets a Major Scaling Adjustment

The Carian Sorcery Sword has received an Intelligence scaling change.

Its Intelligence scaling now increases the attack power of all damage types.

For builds using the weapon, that is a meaningful change to how Intelligence investment contributes to its overall damage output.

Golem Fist Can Punch From Even Farther Away

The Golem Fist has received increased range for its fist-launching heavy attack.

Sometimes your opponent is simply standing too far away to punch normally. Patch 1.17 appears to have solved that problem.

Perfume Bottles Get a Damage Boost

Several Perfume Bottles now deal increased attack damage:

• Firespark Perfume Bottle
• Lightning Perfume Bottle
• Chilling Perfume Bottle
• Frenzyflame Perfume Bottle
• Deadly Poison Perfume Bottle

Players who have been experimenting with perfume-based builds now have another reason to bring them back into the rotation.

More Showcase News Weapon reveals aside, plenty of other announcements dropped this week too: Gamescom’s Opening Night Live packed its own lineup of confirmed titles worth catching up on. For more, check our article on Gamescom Opening Night Live 2026: 8 Confirmed Games, The Witcher 3, Final Fantasy VII Revelation and More.

Shields Just Won the Patch Notes Lottery

One of the biggest recurring themes in Elden Ring Patch 1.17 is shield love.

A large number of shields have received improvements, with several greatshields gaining increased guard boost and reduced weight at the same time.

The following shields receive increased guard boost and reduced weight:

• 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

Another group of shields receives increased guard boost:

• Wooden Greatshield
• Cuckoo Greatshield
• Redmane Greatshield
• Golden Greatshield
• Crucible Hornshield
• Dragonclaw Shield
• Eclipse Crest Greatshield
• Jellyfish Shield
• One-Eyed Shield

And finally, the Haligtree Crest Greatshield receives reduced weight.

That is a serious amount of shield attention in one update. Players who enjoy blocking attacks instead of panic-rolling through every encounter might have plenty of reasons to revisit their builds.

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Rakshasa’s Great Katana Gets a New Follow-Up Window

Rakshasa’s Great Katana has also received a gameplay adjustment.

The update increases the amount of time before an attack can be performed with a right-hand weapon immediately after attacking with Rakshasa’s Great Katana while it is equipped in the left hand.

However, that is not the only adjustment made to the weapon.

FromSoftware has also applied a separate PvP-specific change, and that one is considerably less friendly.

More GTA 6 Coverage Timing windows and precise adjustments aren’t just an Elden Ring thing right now: the hunt for whoever’s been leaking GTA 6 footage early is still very much active. Our story covers GTA 6 CyberLeek Leaks Continue as Take-Two Hunts for the Mystery Leaker (Updated).

Parry Players, This Might Be Your Moment

Players who love responding to incoming attacks with a perfectly timed parry have some good news.

The standard Parry skill has received improved parry performance. The update also reduces the time before various actions can be performed after activation when Parry is used with:

• Daggers
• Curved Swords
• Small Shields

Two additional parry-related skills have also been improved.

Storm Wall now:

• No longer consumes FP when used
• Has improved parry performance

Thops’s Barrier also receives improved parry performance.

So for every player whose preferred combat strategy involves looking directly at an incoming attack and saying, “Absolutely not,” Patch 1.17 has something waiting for you.

More Strategy & Mystery Magic builds aren’t the only thing getting a mechanical shake-up worth speculating about: a different upcoming strategy title has fans debating a hidden roster slot. For more, read our breakdown of Star Wars Zero Company’s Mystery Character: Who Could Be the Fourth Exotic Specialization?.

Sorceries Are Getting Stronger and Faster

Several Sorceries have received adjustments.

Founding Rain of Stars

Power has been increased.

Carian Retaliation

Power has been increased.

Meteorite

Casting time has been reduced.

Meteorite of Astel

Casting time has been reduced.

Gravitational Missile

This spell has received a mechanical change. Its gravity projectile will no longer explode immediately after striking terrain, including surfaces such as the ground or walls.

That change should alter how the spell behaves in situations where terrain previously caused the projectile to detonate too early.

More Industry News While Incantations are getting stronger, one studio just took back something even bigger: full creative control over its own games. Check our article on Double Fine Reclaims Its Game IP and Publishing Rights From Xbox After Seven Years.

Incantation Builds Are Eating Well Too

Three Incantations also receive improvements in Patch 1.17.

Feather of the Divine Bird
→ Increased power

O, Flame!
→ Expanded attack range

Rain of Fire
→ Increased power

The overall message from the patch notes is pretty clear: several magical tools just became more dangerous.

PvP Gets Its Own Separate Balance Pass

Of course, FromSoftware was never going to release a major balance update and leave PvP completely untouched.

Patch 1.17 includes several adjustments that specifically apply to player-versus-player combat.

Rakshasa’s Great Katana

Players using Rakshasa’s Great Katana in PvP will now take increased damage from attacks by other players while they are in the middle of attacking.

In simple terms, players swinging the weapon are now more vulnerable to punishment from opponents during their attacks.

Rugalea’s Roar

The Incantation’s power against other players has been reduced.

Rotten Breath and Ekzykes’s Decay

The update reduces the amount of time other player characters are unable to move because of hit reactions caused by these Incantations.

Players who have spent an unpleasant amount of time trapped in extended Rotten Breath situations can probably appreciate that adjustment.

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Two Great Katana Bugs Have Finally Been Fixed

Patch 1.17 also fixes two specific problems involving Great Katana weapon types.

FromSoftware has corrected:

• A bug where critical hits with Great Katana weapon types had lower-than-expected power against large enemies
• A bug where jumping attacks with Great Katana weapon types could be parried

That second fix could be particularly interesting for players who have built their combat style around turning every possible encounter into a jumping-attack situation.

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PC Players Also Get Some Quality-of-Life Fixes

Keyboard and mouse players have not been forgotten.

Patch 1.17 fixes a problem that prevented players from controlling the camera with the mouse during NPC dialogue while using keyboard and mouse controls.

The update also fixes an issue in the Keyboard/Mouse Settings section of the system menu where selecting the reset option failed to restore various settings to their default values.

These might sound like smaller fixes compared with weapon buffs and new DLC content, but anyone who has spent hundreds of hours in the Lands Between knows exactly how annoying little control problems can become over time.

More PlayStation News Patch notes aren’t the only thing PlayStation owners have been reacting to lately: a wave of fans staged a very different, very public statement against Sony this month. For more, read our article on PlayStation Blackout Begins as Fans Unplug Consoles in Week-Long Protest Against Sony’s Digital-Only Future.

Elden Ring Patch 1.17 Is Required for Online Play

After installing the update, players should see the following version numbers on the title screen:

App Ver. 1.17
Regulation Ver. 1.17

The update is available on:

• PlayStation 4
• PlayStation 5
• Xbox One
• Xbox Series X|S
• Steam

Installing Patch 1.17 is also required for online play.

With the Tarnished Pack launching on August 28, the update effectively lays the foundation for Elden Ring’s next batch of content while simultaneously shaking up combat, magic, shields, weapons and PvP.

And FromSoftware says it is not done yet.

The developer stated that it “will continue to make improvements so that you can enjoy ELDEN RING more comfortably.”

For an Elden Ring player, though, “comfortably” probably still means surviving long enough before getting hit by something you did not even see coming.

Disclaimer

This article is based on the official ELDEN RING Version 1.17 patch notes and the information supplied for this report. DLC availability, release timing and gameplay features may vary by platform or region. Balance changes and mechanics described above are subject to further updates by FromSoftware. The Tarnished Pack is paid content unless otherwise included with ELDEN RING Tarnished Edition for Nintendo Switch 2.

Sources

• Bandai Namco Europe — ELDEN RING Patch Notes Version 1.17
• Steam — ELDEN RING Patch Notes Version 1.17
• FromSoftware Official Japanese Site — Update File Distribution Notice (2026.08.27)