Elden Ring is one of the highest-rated video games ever made, but that doesn't mean it's perfect. FromSoftware has released multiple updates for Elden Ring since launch, addressing fan feedback, fixing bugs, and even adding new content. Most recently, FromSoftware released Elden Ring update 1.04, which makes a number of important changes to the game.

Elden Ring update 1.04 has extensive patch notes, but some changes are bigger and more important than others. The update has also caused some new issues that will need to be fixed at some point, so fans should keep that in mind as well.

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Here are the biggest changes fans should know about in Elden Ring update 1.04.

Malenia is Now a Lot Harder to Beat

Elden Ring Malenia

If one were to make a list of the hardest Elden Ring bosses, Malenia would likely be at the top. Malenia is devilishly fast and able to unleash devastating attacks that can kill unprepared players in a single blow. To make matters worse, Malenia has two phases for players to deal with, and she heals herself whenever she lands a successful hit. Malenia is not someone that Elden Ring players want to mess with, and after update 1.04, she's even more of a handful.

Elden Ring update 1.04 has made the Malenia boss fight more difficult by nerfing a popular cheese strategy that players used to defeat the boss. Prior to the update, Elden Ring players had been using the Swarm of Flies to make the battle a little easier, but now it's not nearly as effective since its blood loss buildup has been reduced. But while this particular change made the Malenia boss fight harder on purpose, another issue that's come about after the update has made the battle harder unintentionally.

After downloading the latest Elden Ring update, players may notice that Malenia is healing even when her hits aren't connecting. This seemingly has something to do with online connectivity issues, and so it is a problem that's primarily impacting those playing in co-op. It's likely FromSoftware will fix this problem sooner rather than later, though no timetable has been announced at the time of this writing.

Patches Has a New Quest Phase

elden ring patches murkwater cave

Previous Elden Ring updates have added new NPCs and quest phases for existing NPCs, and update 1.04 is no exception. FromSoftware has used update 1.04 to expand on Patches' questline in Elden Ring, giving it a proper conclusion whereas before he would simply disappear from the Lands Between.

Patches is a recurring character in FromSoftware games. In Elden Ring, he is a tricky merchant who likes to grief players by sending them to areas with high-powered enemies or by booting them off cliffs. As Elden Ring players progress through the game, Patches comes along for the ride, appearing in various spots along the way. Players are even able to complete a Volcano Manor quest for Patches, and they can snag a special item if they speak to him at the Shaded Castle.

Prior to update 1.04, Patches would disappear after the interaction at the Shaded Castle, but after downloading the new update, Elden Ring players will find that he's returned to his starting area Murkwater Cave. After a brief altercation, Patches returns to his role as a merchant, with Elden Ring players able to pay him a visit whenever they'd like.

2 Major Elden Ring Glitches Have Been Fixed

elden ring volcano manor tanith

The Elden Ring update 1.04 patch notes point out a wide variety of bugs that have been squashed in the latest update, but two are particularly notable. Elden Ring players had been tormented by bugged bleed dogs that were capable of one-shotting even the highest level players, but after downloading the update, these dogs should be dishing out their normal damage.

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The other major bug that was fixed in Elden Ring update 1.04 has to do with unintentional illusory walls. Elden Ring players discovered some illusory walls in the game that would only open after hitting them upwards of 50 times, when they should only take a single hit. As it turns out, FromSoftware did not intend for these illusory walls to be in the game, and as such, they have been removed.

Cerulean Hidden Tear Isn't As Useful

Elden Ring spells, Ashes of War, and other actions are governed by FP, and so it's ideal for players to have a large FP bar, depending on their build. Players can also replenish their FP by drinking from their Flask of Cerulean Tears, but others may prefer to have as many Flask of Crimson Tears charges instead so that they can heal more often.

One way Elden Ring fans have made the most out of their FP bar is by utilizing the Cerulean Hidden Tear. Obtained at Mt. Gelmir, Elden Ring players can mix the Cerulean Hidden Tear in their Wondrous Physick to temporarily remove all FP consumption. Unfortunately, Elden Ring update 1.04 has shortened the duration of this effect, making the Cerulean Hidden Tear significantly less useful.

Anyone worried that this was an intentional Cerulean Hidden Tear nerf on the part of FromSoftware can rest easy. The developer has confirmed that this was an unintentional change, and there are already plans to fix it in a future patch. An exact release date for this patch has not been announced at the time of this writing, but it's said to be coming in the "near future" and will be a "minor patch," as opposed to the relatively large 1.04.

Colossal Weapons Got a Big Buff

Elden Ring update 1.04 had unintentional nerfs, but it also had purposeful buffs. FromSoftware made a wide-range of balance changes across the board, but some of the most notable center around colossal weapons. Now Elden Ring strength build players will be able to get a lot more out of any colossal weapons they're using, as their attack speed has been increased and recovery time lowered. Those wielding colossal weapons with two hands will also enjoy a damage increase, not to mention they will be able to block incoming attacks better as well.

New Tutorial Message

elden ring tutorial cave of knowledge

Elden Ring is a notoriously difficult game, but it's also one of the most accessible FromSoftware games to date. Elden Ring certainly doesn't hold players' hands, but it does make more of an effort to explain how everything works when compared to previous FromSoftware titles. This is apparent with the optional tutorial dungeon that players can complete at the start of the game, but it seems many players were skipping over it.

To access the Elden Ring tutorial dungeon, players have to fall off a small cliff and enter the Cave of Knowledge. It's understandable that they may be hesitant to do this and instead just proceed into the Lands Between open world. To address this, FromSoftware has added a new tutorial message in Elden Ring to help players find the tutorial dungeon easier when they first start up the game.

Here are the full Elden Ring update 1.04 patch notes:

Major Changes Included in the Latest Update

Additional Elements Added

  • Added an option to turn camera auto rotate function ON/OFF
  • Added some event phases for the NPC “Patches”

Balance adjustments

  • Increased Colossal Swords/Colossal weapons attack speed and lowered their recovery time. Jump attack not included.
  • Increased the two-handed attack damage of Colossal Swords/Colossal Weapons. Jump attack not included.
  • Increased physical block rate and guard boost of the Colossal Sword, Colossal Weapons, Great Sword, Great Hammer, Great Axe, Great Spear, and Halberd weapon classes.
  • Increased the damage of Grafted Blade Greatsword.
  • Increased the damage of Devourer’s Scepter.
  • Decreased the scaling of status effect build-up from spells and incantations of Albinauric Staff and Dragon Communion Seal.
  • Decreased the effect of Greatshield Talisman for weapons with high block rate.
  • Shortened the length of the madness afflicted animation.
  • Lowered the speed of madness buildup recovery.
  • Slightly increased FP and Stamina growth rate at lower levels*

*Players will need to perform any of the following actions for the changes to be reflected. This is required only once. New characters created after this update will not require this action.

  • Level up
  • Activate Godrick’s Great Rune
  • Re-equipping any equipment (armor, talisman) which grants bonus stat to either Strength, Dexterity, Vigor, Endurance, Intelligence, Faith or Arcane

・Other enemy and weapon balance changes

Sorcery/Incantation

Upward adjustments

  • Crystal Barrage - Increased cast speed and decreased recovery time
  • Gavel of Haima - Increased cast speed and decreased recovery time. Allows caster to more easily withstand enemies’ attack while casting
  • Shatter Earth - Increased cast speed and decrease recovery time. Allows caster to more easily withstand enemies’ attack while casting
  • Rock Blaster - Decreased recovery time. Allows caster to more easily withstand enemies’ attack while casting
  • Thop’s Barrier - Increased area of effect and slightly increase effect duration
  • Rennala’s Full Moon - Increased cast speed and decreased recovery time.
  • Ranni’s Dark Moon - Increased cast speed and decreased recovery time.
  • Carian Greatsword - Increased cast speed at lower dexterity
  • Magma Shot - Decreased FP cost and increased cast speed
  • Roiling Magma - Increased cast speed and decreased time until magma explodes
  • Gelmir’s Fury - Slightly decreased the random nature of projectile’s range and increased the damage of lava pool. Increased the hitbox
  • Rykard’s Rancor - Decreased FP cost
  • Oracle Bubbles - Increased cast speed and decreased recovery time.
  • Great Oracular Bubble - Increased cast speed and decreased recovery time.
  • Briars of Sin - Decreased recovery time. Increased blood loss buildup on enemy
  • Briars of Punishment - Decreased recovery time. Increased blood loss buildup on enemy
  • Explosive Ghostflame - Decreased FP cost and recovery time
  • Tibia’s Summon - Increased damage and cast speed
  • Aspects of the Crucible: Tail - Decreased FP and Stamina cost
  • Aspects of the Crucible: Horns - Decreased FP and Stamina cost, Increase cast speed. Increased the distance traveled when not charged and made it easier to cause enemies to flinch when charged
  • Elden Stars - Increased cast speed and decreased recovery time
  • Black Blade - Decreased Stamina consumption and decreased recovery time
  • Discus of Light - Decreased FP cost. Increased damage and cast speed
  • Triple Rings of Light - Increased damage
  • Radagon’s Rings of Light - Decreased FP cost. Increased damage and cast speed. Decreased recovery time.
  • Lightning Strike - Decreased Stamina cost. Increased cast speed and decreased recovery time.
  • Honed Bolt - Increased cast speed and decreased recovery time.
  • Ancient Dragons’ Lightning Spear - Decreased FP and Stamina cost. Increased cast speed and decreased recovery time. Allows caster to more easily withstand enemy attacks while casting.
  • Ancient Dragons’ Lightning Strike - Decreased recovery time
  • Lansseax’s Glaive - Decreased FP and Stamina cost. Increased cast speed and decreased recovery time. Allows caster to more easily withstand enemy’ attacks while casting.
  • Fortissax's Lightning Spear - Decreased FP and Stamina cost. Increased cast speed and decreased recovery time. Allows caster to withstand enemy attack while casting more easily.
  • Frozen Lightning Spear - Decreased Stamina cost. Increased cast speed and decreased recovery time. Allows caster to more easily withstand enemy attack while casting.
  • Death Lightning - Decreased FP cost, Increased the duration of death-accumulating smoke
  • O, Flame! - Increased damage
  • Giantsflame Take Thee - Decreased Stamina Cost
  • Flame of the Fell God - Decreased FP cost and increased damage
  • Whirl, O Flame! - Increased damage, decreased recovery time
  • Burn, O Flame! - Increased cast speed and decreased recovery time.
  • Black Flame - Increase damage and the spell can break enemy’s guard more easily.
  • Scouring Black Flame - Decreased FP cost and recovery time. Increased attack range and area of effect.
  • Black Flame Ritual - Reduced FP cost and increased damage.
  • Gurranq's Beast Claw - Increased damage and decreased recovery time.
  • Bloodflame Talons - Decreased FP cost and increased cast speed. Decreased recovery time.
  • Bloodboon - Increased damage. Increased cast speed and decreased effect start-up time, decreased recovery time.
  • Pest Threads - Decreased Stamina cost.
  • Scarlet Aeonia - Increased cast speed and decreased recovery time. Allows caster to more easily withstand enemy attacks while casting.
  • Unendurable Frenzy - Increased cast speed and decreased recovery time. Decreased the random nature of projectile’s range and increased Madness buildup on enemies.
  • Inescapable Frenzy - Increased cast speed.
  • Placidusax's Ruin - Decreased FP, Stamina cost and recovery time.
  • Dragonclaw - Decreased FP, Stamina cost and recovery time and made it easier to cause enemies to flinch when charged.
  • Dragonmaw - Decreased FP, stamina cost, recovery time and increased cast speed and made it easier to cause enemies to flinch when charged.
  • Greyoll's Roar - Decreased FP, Stamina cost and recovery time.

Upward and downward adjustments

  • Adula's Moonblade - Decreased the power of single cast and improved performance so that the blades and frost hit more consistently and continuously. Increased cast speed at lower dexterity.
  • Flame, Fall Upon Them - Decreased the damage of single cast and improved the performance so that it hits the enemy multiple times. Decreased FP cost.
  • Howl of Shabriri - Decreased the madness buildup on the enemy. Increased cast speed and decreased recovery time.

Downward adjustments

  • Swarm of Flies - Decreased blood loss buildup on enemy.
  • The Flame of Frenzy - Decreased madness buildup on enemy.
  • Frenzied Burst - Decreased madness buildup on enemy.

Weapon Skill

Upward adjustments

  • Lion's Claw - Increased cast speed and decreased recovery time.
  • Kick - Increased cast speed.
  • Hoarah Loux's Earthshaker - Increased cast speed. Increased cast speed on follow up input, decreased recovery time.
  • Troll’s Roar - Decreased Stamina Cost. Increased cast speed on follow up input, increased distance traveled.
  • Giant Hunt - Decreased recovery time.
  • Storm Assault - Decreased recovery time.
  • Carian Greatsword - Increased cast speed and decreased recovery time. Increased the damage when charged and made it easier to cause enemies to flinch.
  • Carian Grandeur - Increased cast speed and decreased recovery time. Increased the damage when charge and made it easier to cause enemies to flinch.
  • Gravitas - Increased cast speed.
  • Flaming Strike - Increased the travel distance of a stepping cleave in a strong attack.
  • Black Flame Tornado - Added hitbox to weapon when spinning, and added a window to roll during the attack to cancel the animation.
  • Lightning Slash - Increased cast speed. Added a hitbox to the stomp animation.
  • Sacred Blade - Increased cast speed.
  • Sacred Ring of Light - Increased cast speed.
  • Poisonous Mist - Increased cast speed.
  • Poison Moth Flight - Increased cast speed and decreased recovery time.
  • Ice Spear - Added a hitbox to the weapon’s spinning animation.
  • Chilling Mist - Increased cast speed.
  • Assassin's Gambit - Increased cast speed.
  • Shield Bash - Increased cast speed.
  • Shield Crash - Decreased Stamina cost. Increased cast speed.
  • Blade of Gold - Decreased Stamina cost. Increased cast speed and decreased recovery time.
  • Blade of Death - Increased cast speed and decreased recovery time.
  • Golden Tempering - Decreased FP cost and increased cast speed. Increased effect duration.
  • Last Rites - Increased cast speed.
  • Mists of Slumber - Increased cast speed.
  • Eochaid's Dancing Blade - Increased travel distance, added a window to roll during the attack to cancel the animation.
  • Unblockable Blade - Increased cast speed with the weapon Coded Sword.
  • Alabaster Lords' Pull - Increased cast speed and decreased recovery time. Added a window to roll during the attack to cancel the animation.
  • Establish Order - Decreased recovery time and increased cast speed on follow up input. Increased damage. Made it easier to cause enemies to flinch.
  • Moonlight Greatsword - Decreased FP cost. Increased cast speed and decreased recovery time. Increased the frost buildup effect during the skill duration.
  • Wave of Gold - Decreased FP cost. Increased cast speed and decreased recovery time.
  • Wolf’s Assault - Increased cast speed and decreased recovery time.
  • The Queen’s Black Flame - Increased cast speed. Added a window to roll during the attack to cancel the animation.
  • Dynast's Finesse - Decreased Stamina cost.
  • Flowing Form - Decreased Stamina cost.
  • Death Flare - Increased cast speed.
  • Onyx Lord's Repulsion - Increased cast speed and decreased recovery time. Added a window to roll during the attack to cancel the animation.
  • Magma Guillotine - Decreased Stamina cost, Increased cast speed. Decreased recovery time on follow up input.
  • Cursed-Blood Slice - Increased cast speed and decreased recovery time.
  • Ice Lightning Sword - Increased cast speed. Added a hitbox to the stomp animation.
  • Rosus’ Summons - Decreased recovery time.
  • I Command Thee, Kneel! - Increased cast speed including follow up input. Added a window to roll during the attack to cancel the animation.
  • Gold Breaker - Decreased FP cost. Increased cast speed and decreased recovery time.
  • Familial Rancor - Added a window to roll during the attack to cancel the animation.
  • Nebula - Increased cast speed and decreased recovery time with the weapon Bastard's Stars.
  • Regal Beastclaw - Increased cast speed.
  • Devourer of Worlds - Increased cast speed.
  • Regal Roar - Decreased recovery time.
  • Spearcall Ritual - Decreased recovery time.
  • Ancient Lightning Spear - Decreased FP cost and increased cast speed. Allows player to more easily withstand enemies’ attacks while casting.
  • Great-Serpent Hunt - Decreased recovery time and increased damage. Allows player to more easily withstand attacks from enemies.
  • Frenzyflame Thrust - Decreased FP cost, decreased recovery time. Decreased madness buildup on self.
  • Bloodboon Ritual - Increased cast speed.
  • Miquella's Ring of Light - Increased cast speed.
  • Sea of Magma - Increased cast speed and decreased recovery time. Added a window to roll during the attack to cancel the animation.
  • Flame Dance - Decreased Stamina cost, decreased recovery time. Added a window to roll during the attack to cancel the animation.
  • Storm Kick - Decreased Stamina cost.
  • Bear Witness! - Increased cast speed.

Upward and downward adjustments

・Thundercloud Form - Decreased damage when activated with a short button press. Decreased FP cost. Increased cast speed and decreased recovery time.

Bug Fixes

  • Fixed a bug where the damage of Inescapable Frenzy was affected by right hand weapon.
  • Fixed a bug where the damage of the weapon arts "Carian retaliation" was increased by weapon and status, and the effect was not displayed correctly during online multiplay.
  • Fixed a bug where the animation when inflicted with blood loss and frostbite was bigger than originally planned.
  • Fixed a bug during character appearance change menu in which some parameter changes were sometime not reflected.
  • Fixed a bug that prevented a dialog from appearing when executing "Leave" on some items.
  • Fixed a bug that allowed unauthorized items to be passed to other players.
  • Fixed a bug in multiplayer that prevented grace to be registered on the map if it was found just before the player is summoned.
  • Fixed a bug that sometime prevented the mechanic of Rennala Queen Of The Full Moon fight from working properly during cooperative multiplayer.
  • Fixed a bug that sometime prevented the player from entering the boss area after defeating Morgott, the Omen King.
  • Fixed a bug that prevented "Edgar the Revenger" and "Festering Fingerprint Vyke" from invading after defeating all the bosses in Liurnia of the Lake.
  • The item Tonic of Forgetfulness can now be obtained at the Volcano Manor if the player wasn’t able to obtain it due to quest progression.
  • Fixed a bug that caused the reduction of runes due to NPC "Gostoc" when player died in "Stormveil Castle" to occur at an unintended timing.
  • Added a protective barrier to Millicent after helping her at Miquella’s Haligtree so she cannot be unintentionally killed.
  • Fixed a bug that sometime prevented the player from obtaining the reward after defeating the Dung Eater.
  • Fixed a bug that sometime prevented the player from progress Diallos’ questline.
  • Fixed a bug that sometime prevented player from duplicating remembrance at the Walking Mausoleum.
  • Fixed a bug that prevented player from inputting consecutive attacks when dual wielding thrusting sword.
  • Fixed a bug that causes scythe to lose blood loss effect if poison affinity is applied to the weapon.
  • Fixed a bug where the damage of the Iron Greatsword was lower than expected when an affinity is applied.
  • Fixed a bug that caused FP consumption to increase when the player cast Night Comet with charge.
  • Fixed a bug that causes he default key setting on keyboard for weapon skill (Left Ctrl) to not be set (on PC only).
  • Fixed a bug in the Steam version where the history of players who played multiplayer was not displayed correctly under certain circumstances.
  • Increased online multiplayer stability.
  • Fixed a bug that caused incorrect sounds to be played under certain circumstances.
  • Fixed a bug that caused some places on the map to have incorrect visual and hitbox.
  • Fixed a bug that causes some enemies to have incorrect visual and behavior.
  • Fixed a bug that causes some armor to have incorrect stats.
  • Text fix.
  • Other performance improvements and bug fixes.

The version number of this update shown at the lower right corner of the Title Screen will be as follows:

App Ver. 1.04 - Regulation Ver. 1.04.1

Online play requires the player to apply this update.

Please note: This patch mistakenly included an update to the duration of the Cerulean Hidden Tear, shortening it. This unintentional change will be reverted with a minor patch in the near future. Our apologies for any inconvenience this may have caused.

Elden Ring is out now for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.

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