FromSoftware has released a number of patches for Elden Ring since its release in late February, but the newest, v1.03, is its biggest yet. The new update for Elden Ring includes much-awaited bug fixes and balance changes, as well as quality of life improvements to NPCs and quests. It has also added a new NPC, Jar-Bairn, who s Alexander as another of Elden Ring's charismatic (but occasionally menacing) Living Jars.

Elden Ring was released to wide acclaim in February and has quickly become FromSoftware's fastest-selling game of all time. Despite its strong reception, however, there have been some notable performance issues on both PC and consoles. Bugs have also been a regular fixture while exploring Elden Ring's Lands Between, although nowhere near the scale of other more recent AAA releases like Battlefield 2042. FromSoftware has introduced several patches following Elden Ring's release to address the more problematic bugs, but this most recent update is the first to add new content.

Related: Where to Find The Moonveil Katana in Elden Ring

As detailed on the official Elden Ring's broken Hoarfrost Stomp Ash of War, have been nerfed, while spirit summons like the Mimic Tear have also had their effectiveness reduced. This should prevent Tarnished from relying too heavily on one particular ability to fell great enemies, as well as bring improved balance to PvP encounters in multiplayer, although it appears as if the overpowered Moonveil Katana lives to fight another day, as it goes unmentioned in the patch notes.

What's New In Elden Ring's v1.03 Patch

Elden Ring New Update Patch Jar Bairn

The new additions introduced by FromSoftware in the v1.03 patch are all mostly NPC-related and should make navigating their respective questlines easier than it was shortly after release. The newly added ability to display NPC locations on Elden Ring's map once encountered should enable players to focus on specific questlines they're particularly engrossed in. The addition of more summonable encounters is also a plus, as fighting alongside a particular character can help make the experience of tackling a boss a little less daunting. Given how fun Living Jar Alexander was to interact with, the addition of Jar-Bairn to Elden Ring's NPCs could also be a great one. Here's every new feature included in Elden Ring's new v1.03 update:

  • Players can now record the name and location of an encountered NPC on the map once encountered.
  • New Living Jar NPC Jar-Bairn has been introduced.
  • New quest phases for NPCs, including Diallos, Nepheli Loux, Kenneth Haight, and Gatekeeper Gostoc.
  • More summonable NPC locations.
  • The Mimic's Veil can now impersonate more objects.
  • Night background music introduced for specific open areas.

Everything Elden Ring Fixes & Changes In Patch V1.03

elden ring prepare to die mod

Some of the nerfs and balance tweaks introduced in the v1.03 patch should make certain moves and sorcery abilities in Elden Ring less effective than they were at release, which may lead to some Tarnished respeccing their abilities to compensate. Higher FP costs for certain sorceries and the weakening of the Hoarfrost Stomp and Mimic Tear are the most significant balance changes, but it may have the positive effect of encouraging more players to try out different summons, abilities, and even playstyles. Bug fixes, meanwhile, should also improve the overall gameplay experience. Here's every balance tweak and bug fix introduced in the new v1.03 update:

  • Fixed a bug that prevented summoned NPCs from taking damage during certain boss battles.
  • Fixed a bug that sometimes prevented players from acquiring an item after a boss battle.
  • Fixed a bug that caused dialogue to be skipped when talking to NPCs while using custom key configurations.
  • Fixed an issue where the player would freeze while riding Torrent.
  • Bug fix for an issue that caused arcane to scale incorrectly on certain weapons.
  • Added talisman pouch to Twin Maiden Husks shop where players are unable to acquire two talisman pouches.

Related: Who Elden Ring's Twin Maiden Husks Actually Are

  • Fixed a bug that stopped the Tarnished from fast-traveling to sites of grace from the map in Elden Ring's endgame.
  • Fixed the glitch that prevented the player from moving to the next area after fighting the Fire Giant.
  • Fixed incorrect scaling after strengthening weapon bug.
  • Fixed an issue where some weapons did not use stat scaling.
  • Fixed a bug that incorrectly displayed area boundaries when playing with a summoned player in Elden Ring multiplayer.
  • Fixed a bug that enabled players to activate Erdtree Greatshield’s weapon skill without absorbing an attack.
  • Fixed a glitch that caused the Fire’s Deadly Sin incantation to have an incorrect effect.
  • The Determination and Royal Knight's Resolve Ashes of War damage buff glitch has been fixed.
  • Changed visuals for the Unseen Form spell.
  • The Ragged armor set has been deleted, as it wasn't originally meant to be obtainable in the release version of Elden Ring.
  • Hostile NPCs will no longer drop a Furlcalling Finger Remedy.
  • Fixed incorrect sound effect bug.
  • Visual animation and hitbox display error fixed.
  • Various text fixes and performance boosts.
  • Smithing stone drop rate increased for Elden Ring enemies.
  • Smithing stone added to shops in the early game.
  • Shield effectiveness has been raised.
  • Offensive cracked pot items have received a damage buff.
  • Spark Aromatic and Poison Spraymist now have increased damage.
  • Uplifting Aromatic and Ironjar Aromatic effect duration raised.
  • Rowa Raisin, Sweet Raisin, and Frozen Raisin now heal Torrent more effectively.
  • Glintstone Cometshard, Comet, and Night Comet now have increased damage, but cost more FP.
  • Gravity Well, Collapsing Stars, and Crystal Barrage have all received damage buffs.
  • Now costs less FP to cast Star Shower, Rock Blaster, Gavel of Haima, Founding Rain of Stars, Stars of Ruin, Greatblade Phalanx, Magic Downpour, Loretta’s Greatbow, Loretta’s Mastery, Carian Greatsword, Carian Piercer, and Shard Spiral.
  • Elden Ring's Great Glintstone Shard now has better range and speed.
  • Hoarfrost Stomp has been nerfed, now doing less damage and having an increased cast time.
  • Bloody Slash Ash of War now does increased damage to the player and less damage to enemies. Its cast time has also been increased.
  • Sword of Night and Flame weapon skill damage has been nerfed.
  • The Barricade Shield Ash of War now costs more FP to cast, and its duration has been lowered.
  • Prelate's Charge Ash of War has had its FP consumption time changed.
  • Mimic Tear Ash now does less damage and has had its behavior changed.
  • Miscalenious weapon and enemy balance changes.

Although there are still aspects of Elden Ring that could probably still benefit from being tweaked, these balance changes and bug fixes are welcome. PvP invasions in Elden Ring should be made more interesting now that invading players won't be able to rely on certain Ash of War or sorcery combinations at least, and there's always the chance that it may encourage players to branch out their playstyle in single-player. The new NPC additions, meanwhile, should make it easier to keep track of all the various active questlines a Tarnished has encountered during their journey in the Lands Between. Either way, it's likely that FromSoftware will continue to introduce bug fixes and balance tweaks in Elden Ring as more player data comes in.

Next: Elden Ring Has "Easy Modes" You Aren't Actually Using

Source: Bandai Namco Entertainment