Elden Ring patch 1.03 adds a new NPC, quests, and balance changes

Bandai Namco, FromSoftware released the patch 1.03 Elden Ring, and it’s a biggie.

Headline changes include map tracking for characters you’ve met, new questlines, a new NPC, and a slew of balance adjustments — including what appears to be a nerf for the all-powerful Mimic Tear ash — and bug fixes.

You’ll now be able to record an icon and the name of any NPC you meet on the map as soon as you encounter them, which should help keep track of your adventure. Jar-Bairn will be the name of this new NPC. Elden Ring Wiki has some notes on this character already, if you don’t mind the spoilers.

New questlines are available for characters Diallos and Nepheli Loux as well as Kenneth Haight and Gatekeeper Gostoc.

Vague as ever, FromSoftware also notes that it has “added some summonable NPCs in multiple situations.”

The bug fixes that deal with the most serious bugs are perhaps those which address Elden Ring’s widely reported problems with stat scaling on some weapons. Although performance improvements have been claimed, they are not specific; we hope that this will make things easier for PC gamers.

Smithing Stones are now easier to obtain due to a higher drop rate and greater availability in early-game shops. Shields, several sorceries, and offensive cracked pot items have all been buffed, while there are nerfs to the spirit summoned with Mimic Tear Ash and to speedrunners’ favorite skill, Ash of War, Hoarfrost’s Stomp.

The update targets all platforms and, naturally, you’ll have to apply it before playing online.

The complete patch notes can be found below.

Additional Elements

• New function that records the icon and name of NPCs on the map, when they are encountered.
• Jar-Bairn NPC added
• New quest phases added for the following NPCs.
• In multiple cases, some NPCs can now be summoned.
• Increased the number of patterns of objects player can imitate when using Mimic’s Veil.
• For open fields, you can add night music to the background.

Bug fixed

• Fixes a bug which prevented NPCs summoned from taking damage during boss battles.
• Fixes a bug which prevented some players from purchasing items following boss battles.
• A bug was fixed that caused dialogue to skip when speaking to NPCs or using customized key configurations.
• Fixed an issue that made it possible for the rider’s hand to stop when they were riding.
• Corrected a bug that made arcane not scale correctly for certain weapons.
• When the player can’t get more than two talisman pockets, they may add another talisman pouch at Twin Maiden Husks.
• Fixes a bug which prevented users from warping from the map to places of grace at the end.
• Fixes a bug which prevented players from moving on to the next area following a battle with Fire Giant.
• Corrected a bug that caused some weapons not to scale correctly after they were strengthened.
• This bug was corrected and some weapons are now unable to scale stats.
• Certain occasions may have fixed hang-ups
• A bug that incorrectly displayed the multiplayer boundary online was fixed.
• Fixed a bug that allows player to activate Erdtree Greatshield’s weapon skill without absorbing an attack using a special combination of item and incantation.
• Fixed a bug which causes Fire’s Deadly Sin incantation to have different effect.
• Fixed a bug with the Ash of War, Determination and Royal Knight’s Resolve, where the damage buff will also apply to other weapons without that skill.
• The visual effects of Unseen Form spell were adjusted.
• Removed Ragged Armor Set from game. It was incorrectly available in an earlier patch.
• A bug was fixed that allowed some NPCs to drop Furlcalling Finger Remedy.
• A bug was fixed that could cause an incorrect sound effect in certain circumstances.
• A bug was fixed that causes hitboxes and visual animation to not display correctly on maps.
• Fixed bugs that cause incorrect behavior and visual effects for certain enemies.
• Corrected a bug that caused incorrect stat parameters for certain armor.
• Text fix.
• Performance improvements and bug fixes.

Changes in Balance

• Some enemies have seen an increase in the rate at which Smithing Stone is dropped.
• Smithing Stone was added to the early game shop line-up.
• Increased shield’s effectiveness.
• All of the offensive cracked pot items have been subject to an increase in damage.
• The following items have suffered increased damage: Spark Aromatic/Poison spraymist.
• The effect duration of the following products has been increased: Ironjar Aromatic/ Uplifting Aromatic.
• You can get a higher HP for your Torrent by using these items: Frozen Raisin/ Sweet Raisin/ Rowa Rasin
• The following sorceries were less prone to FP abuse and more damaging: Glintstone Cometshard/ Comet/ Night Comet
• The following spells have increased the damage: Gravity Well/ Collapsing Stars/ Crystal Barrage
• Decreased FP consumption of the following sorceries: 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/ Shard Spiral
• Great Glintstone Shard: Increased projectile speed and greater range
• Decreased Ash of War, Hoarfrost Stomp’s damage and increase cast time.
• Increased Ash of War, Bloody Slash’s self-inflict damage while slightly lowering the damage and increasing the cast time.
• Decreased weapon skill, Sword of Night and Flame’s damage.
• Increased FP intake and shorter duration of Ash of War, Barricade Shield.
• Changed FP consumption timing of Ash of War, Prelate’s Charge.
• Decreased the damage of spirit summoned when using the item Mimic Tear Ash and changed the spirit’s behavior pattern.
• Changes in weapon and enemy balance