Elden Ring update 1.04 is stacked with weapon and sorcery balance tweaks

It’s a kind of magic

Are you still playing Elden Ring? You probably are. It seems that most of our dear community has truly been bitten by the Elden Ring bug, probably one that has seven legs and ninety eyes. Well, there’s big news today, as FromSoftware has released a new Elden Ring update on all platforms, bringing fixes, tweaks, and balance changes.

Perhaps the centerpiece of Version 1.04, for that is what it is called, is an incredible laundry list of boosts and nerfs to Elden Ring‘s massive arsenal of weaponry, both physical and verbal. From its cavalcade of swords, spears, and axes, to its many spells, curses, and incantations, the development team has attempted to further fine-tune the player’s offensive and defensive capabilities when out on the battlefield — maybe it will help you, maybe it will hinder you. Either way, adaptation is key.

Away from game balancing, the new update contains a litany of fixes for various bugs as they pertain to Elden Ring‘s audio/visuals, quest markers, NPCs, and text. Elden Ring is already a fairly well-polished title, but any and all glitch fixes are welcome. For full details on all of the new changes now live in Elden Ring, be sure to visit the official patch notes over on the Bandai Namco website.

Elden Ring update 1.04

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*

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.

And a bug fix of particular note: “Fixed a bug that allowed unauthorized items to be passed to other players.”

Elden Ring is available now on PlayStation, PC, and Xbox platforms.

Chris Moyse

Senior Editor – Chris has been playing video games since the 1980s. Former Saturday Night Slam Master. Graduated from Galaxy High with honors. Twitter: @ChrisxMoyse