Elden Ring Patch 1.12: Shadow of the Erdtree Prep & New Features

Last Updated: October 23, 2025

FromSoftware has officially deployed the landmark Patch 1.12 for Elden Ring, a foundational update that prepared the Lands Between for the arrival of the colossal Shadow of the Erdtree expansion. Following a scheduled maintenance period, servers are back online across all platforms, allowing players to dive into a host of significant gameplay refinements, quality-of-life upgrades, and crucial balance changes.

This comprehensive patch underscores FromSoftware's commitment to evolving the core experience, addressing long-standing community feedback, and ensuring a seamless launch for what is now one of gaming's most critically acclaimed DLCs.

The update, which went live just ahead of the expansion's release, is a universal deployment for PlayStation, Xbox, and PC, ensuring the entire community experiences the same polished and updated version of the game. Such major patches are vital for the health of massive online titles, not only implementing new features but also fixing bugs, improving stability, and laying the groundwork for future content. The swift return of the servers highlighted the studio's efficiency, allowing players to immediately explore the significant adjustments made to the base game before venturing into the Land of Shadow.

Refining an Epic Finale: Torrent Arrives for the Elden Beast

One of the most celebrated changes in Patch 1.12 is a direct response to a request players have had since Elden Ring's launch: the Spectral Steed, Torrent, can now be summoned during the final boss battle against the Elden Beast. FromSoftware is renowned for its demanding boss encounters, but the sheer size of the Elden Beast's arena and its tendency to create vast distances often made the fight a test of marathon running rather than skill.

This adjustment fundamentally transforms the encounter. Rather than spending precious seconds sprinting across the cosmic battlefield to close the gap, players can now use Torrent’s speed and agility to swiftly navigate, dodge large area-of-effect attacks like the Elden Stars, and position themselves for crucial openings. This change doesn't trivialize the fight; it refines it, removing a major source of frustration and allowing the battle's cinematic scale and mechanical challenge to shine through. It’s a prime example of FromSoftware listening to its community to improve an already iconic moment. Furthermore, subsequent hotfixes have continued this trend by making balance adjustments to the final bosses within the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion itself, showing a commitment to fine-tuning difficulty based on player data.

New Features, Deeper Customization, and Sweeping Balances

Beyond boss encounters, the update introduced several highly-requested quality-of-life features that enhance the overall player experience. The inventory system has received a significant upgrade: newly acquired items are now marked with an exclamation point, and a "Recent Items" tab has been added, making it far easier to track and manage loot picked up during long exploration sessions. For players who utilize Spirit Ashes, Summoned Spirits that are in the process of being summoned can now be consumed from the quick-access pouch, adding tactical flexibility.

Character customization has also been expanded with the addition of five new hairstyles, offering players more ways to personalize their Tarnished. These new cosmetic options are available both during character creation and at the Roundtable Hold via the clouded mirror.

For the PvP community, Patch 1.12 implemented sweeping, PvP-exclusive balance adjustments. This means that weapon damage, status effect build-up, and poise damage can be tuned separately for player-versus-player combat without affecting the player-versus-environment (PvE) experience. This crucial change allows the development team to carefully manage the competitive meta, addressing overpowered builds or underused weapon classes in PvP, while preserving the intended balance and power fantasy for players tackling the game's main story and expansion.

FromSoftware's Unwavering Commitment

The release of a massive patch like 1.12, followed by the launch of the universally praised Shadow of the Erdtree expansion and subsequent rapid-fire hotfixes, is a powerful testament to FromSoftware's ongoing dedication to Elden Ring. For a game of this magnitude, continuous post-launch support is essential. These updates demonstrate that the studio is actively monitoring player feedback and data to address pain points, refine mechanics, and expand upon their creation long after its initial release.

This iterative approach fosters a healthy and engaged community, assuring players that their investment in the world is valued. It ensures the game's longevity by keeping the experience fresh, stable, and balanced. For Elden Ring, this commitment means the journey through the Lands Between—and now the Land of Shadow—will continue to be meticulously maintained and improved, solidifying its place as a landmark title for years to come.

Conclusion: A Masterpiece Refined

Patch 1.12 and the subsequent updates for Elden Ring are more than just a prelude to an expansion; they are a thoughtful and significant enhancement of the entire game. By making the Elden Beast fight more dynamic, overhauling inventory management, and implementing sophisticated PvP balancing, FromSoftware has polished its masterpiece to a brilliant shine. These changes create a more enjoyable and accessible journey for new players and seasoned veterans alike. As millions of Tarnished now venture into the daunting world of Shadow of the Erdtree, they do so with a base game that is more refined, responsive, and rewarding than ever before.