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Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Yes, in a limited sense: Elden Ring’s June 26, 2024 calibration update 1.12.2 made early Scadutree Blessing upgrades more rewarding, increasing their effects on attack and damage negation. It did not announce a blanket reduction to the DLC’s enemies or quantify an overall change in difficulty. A later update, version 1.14, separately adjusted selected attacks by the expansion’s final boss.
What changed in patch 1.12.2?
Bandai Namco’s June 26, 2024 patch notes describe a change to the Scadutree Blessing effect curve. Scadutree Blessings, gained by collecting Scadutree Fragments, improve attack power and damage negation in the Shadow Realm. After the update, those benefits increased more across the first half of the available upgrade levels. Gains became more gradual in the second half, while the effect at the final level was slightly increased.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Elden Ring (PS5) (European Version) | $34.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Elden Ring, 1 PS5-Blu-ray Disc | $74.03 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Elden Ring: Nightreign - Seekers Edition /PS5 | $43.95 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Bandai Namco Entertainment Elden Ring (PS5) | $40.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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Elden Ring - PlayStation 5 | $39.99 | Buy on Amazon |
In practical terms, players could get more benefit from early Blessing upgrades than before. The notes do not give before-and-after damage figures or a percentage reduction in difficulty, so the change should not be described as a measured overall nerf to the DLC.
Was the whole DLC made easier?
Not according to the 1.12.2 notes. They specify an adjustment to Scadutree Blessing scaling, not a general reduction to enemy stats or a uniform weakening of the expansion’s encounters. The adjustment can make progression feel more forgiving as players collect early upgrades, but the official description does not establish how much easier the DLC became overall or how it changed player success rates.
#1 Best Overall
- Collaborating with George R.R. Martin to create the ELDEN RING mythos has been a genuinely delightful experience and a source of wonderful inspiration. The team is working hard to ensure that the world of ELDEN RING will be a fascinating place for players to explore, filled with peril and wonder from its furthest reaches to its lowest depths. This is a FromSoftware title through and through, rich in fantasy and RPG action. We sincerely hope you look forward to it.
- Building the world of ELDEN RING with Miyazaki-san and his team was a treat! The graphics, mythos, and action-RPG gameplay will deliver an unforgettable experience. I can’t wait for people to see what ELDEN RING has in store for them.” Said George R.R. Martin.
How the final-boss update differs
Shadow of the Erdtree received a separate final-boss adjustment in app version 1.14, with regulation version 1.14.1, distributed September 11, 2024. The official update notice lists several targeted changes: it altered the boss’s opening action pattern, adjusted some attacks, reduced attack and stamina damage for some attacks, reduced the range of some non-weapon attacks, and improved the visibility of some effects. These are selected changes, not a statement that every attack was weakened.
So the two updates address different things: 1.12.2 changed the player’s Scadutree Blessing progression, while 1.14 made specific adjustments to the final boss.
Rank #3
- Elden Ring: Nightreign - Seekers Edition /PS5
Patch timeline and version check
- June 2024, base-game version 1.12: Added Shadow of the Erdtree support and included other changes. Its notes distinguish PvP-only adjustments from general balance changes affecting both PvE and PvP; those changes should not all be attributed to DLC difficulty. See Bandai Namco’s version 1.12 notes.
- June 26, 2024, calibration version 1.12.2: Adjusted the Scadutree Blessing curve. The official notes say the calibration update can be applied by logging into the multiplayer server and advise checking the calibration version on the title screen.
- September 11, 2024, app version 1.14 / regulation 1.14.1: Made targeted changes to the Shadow of the Erdtree final boss.
If you are checking whether the 1.12.2 balance adjustment is active, look at the calibration version shown on the title screen; the app version and calibration version are distinct labels.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Does Shadow of the Erdtree require Elden Ring?
Yes. The expansion requires the Elden Ring base game. FromSoftware’s DLC announcement lists PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and Steam among the platforms. The available package editions and platforms vary by region; the official product information describes game-and-DLC packages for PS5 and PS4. The patch adjustments do not require buying a special edition.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- ELDEN RING, developed by FromSoftware Inc. and produced by BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Inc., is a fantasy action-RPG and FromSoftware's largest game to date, set within a world full of mystery and peril
- Journey through the Lands Between, a new fantasy world created by Hidetaka Miyazaki, creator of the influential DARK SOULS video game series, and George R. R. Martin, author of The New York Times best-selling fantasy series, A Song of Ice and Fire
- Traverse the breathtaking world on foot or on horseback, alone or online with other players, and fully immerse yourself in the grassy plains, suffocating swamps, spiraling mountains, and foreboding castles
- Create your character in FromSoftware’s refi ned action-RPG and defi ne your playstyle by experimenting with a wide variety of weapons, magical abilities, and skills found throughout the world
- Charge into battle, pick off enemies one-by-one using stealth, or even call upon allies for aid - many options are at your disposal as you decide how to approach exploration and combat
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