ELDEN RING Tarnished Edition
Explore the Lands Between on Nintendo Switch 2 with the base game, Shadow of the Erdtree, new armor, new origins, Torrent customization, and launch-ready guides.
Elden Ring Tarnished Edition Resources
Everything you need for release day, Switch 2 performance, Tarnished Pack DLC, builds, weapons, bosses, and quests
Latest Updates
Discover the newest guides, tips, and content
Elden Ring Tarnished Edition Switch 2 FPS: Tips & Fixes
Track the current Elden Ring Tarnished Edition Switch 2 FPS outlook, from early 15 FPS reports to a steadier 30 FPS demo in 2026.
Elden Ring Tarnished Edition: Release Date & Steam Status
Track the official 2026 launch date, confirmed platform details, edition contents, and the current Steam status for Elden Ring Tarnished Edition.
Elden Ring Tarnished Edition Cost: Pricing Status Guide
A practical pricing-status guide to Elden Ring Tarnished Edition, what the bundle includes, and how to evaluate regional cost before preorder.
Elden Ring Tarnished Edition Price: Edition Contents
Compare the Tarnished Edition contents, preorder bonuses, and buying factors so you can judge value before checkout.
Elden Ring Tarnished Edition vs normal: What Changes
Compare Elden Ring Tarnished Edition vs normal, including extra content, performance, physical format, and the best buy for each player.
Elden Ring Tarnished Edition Release Date: August 28, 2026
Elden Ring Tarnished Edition release date, platform details, included content, and launch prep for the 2026 Switch 2 release.
Elden Ring Tarnished Edition Switch 2 Digital: Setup Guide
A practical setup guide for Elden Ring Tarnished Edition switch 2 digital, covering the official listing, download prep, and first-play tips.
Elden Ring Tarnished Edition cross save: Status & Limits
Check whether Elden Ring Tarnished Edition cross save is available, what save transfer options exist, and how to plan a second-platform run.
Elden Ring Tarnished Edition hollowslayer greatsword: Guide
A practical guide to the Hollowslayer Greatsword in Elden Ring Tarnished Edition, with move notes, build priorities, and test tips.
Elden Ring Tarnished Edition Game Key Card: Status Guide
Learn what the Elden Ring Tarnished Edition game key card format means, how to verify listings, and who should buy it in 2026.
Elden Ring Tarnished Edition walkthrough: Early Game Route
A practical early-game walkthrough for Elden Ring Tarnished Edition, covering class choice, Limgrave routing, leveling priorities, and key pickups.
Elden Ring Tarnished Edition classes: Best Starting Picks
A class-focused guide to Elden Ring Tarnished Edition classes, comparing Heavy Knight and Idus Knight for strength and hybrid builds.
Elden Ring Tarnished Edition Release Date
Elden Ring Tarnished Edition launches globally on August 28, 2026. The release brings the complete Elden Ring package to Nintendo Switch 2 while also making the new Tarnished Pack content available on existing platforms.
Global Release Date
Elden Ring Tarnished Edition launches worldwide on August 28, 2026, with pre-orders available ahead of release.
Nintendo Switch 2
Nintendo Switch 2 receives the complete package containing Elden Ring, Shadow of the Erdtree, and the Tarnished Pack.
PlayStation, Xbox & PC
Existing Elden Ring players on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC can obtain the new Tarnished Pack content without buying the complete Switch 2 package.
Pre-Order Bonus
Pre-orders include The Ring and Ring of Miquella gestures. These gestures can also be obtained later through normal gameplay.
What Unlocks at Launch
Launch day activates the Nintendo Switch 2 edition and releases the Tarnished Pack content for supported existing platforms.
Not Elden Ring Nightreign
Tarnished Edition is an expanded package of the original Elden Ring, while Elden Ring Nightreign is a separate game with its own gameplay structure.
Pre-Order Tips
- Pre-order any edition to secure The Ring and Ring of Miquella gestures.
- The gestures are also obtainable through normal gameplay after launch.
- Watch for preload availability so you can play the moment servers unlock.
- Tarnished Edition is the complete package; Nightreign is a separate standalone game.
Elden Ring Tarnished Edition Editions Compared
Compare the main Elden Ring packages and see exactly where Tarnished Edition fits. Existing owners generally only need the Tarnished Pack if they already own the required Elden Ring content.
| Edition | Base Game | Shadow of the Erdtree | Tarnished Pack | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elden Ring | Included | Not included | Not included | Players who only want the original 2022 game. |
| Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree Edition | Included | Included | Not included | Players who want the original game and its major expansion. |
| Elden Ring Tarnished Edition | Included | Included | Included | New players who want the complete package, including the new 2026 content. |
| Tarnished Pack | Not included | Not included | Included | Existing PlayStation, Xbox, or PC players who only need the new Tarnished content. |
Elden Ring Tarnished Edition on Nintendo Switch 2
Tarnished Edition marks Elden Ring's debut on Nintendo hardware. The Switch 2 release packages the base game, Shadow of the Erdtree, and the new Tarnished Pack together, launching on August 28, 2026 and requiring roughly 41 GB of storage.
Release Date
The Nintendo Switch 2 version launches alongside the wider Tarnished Edition release.
Base Game
The complete original Elden Ring adventure and Lands Between open world are part of the Switch 2 package.
Shadow of the Erdtree
The major expansion featuring the Realm of Shadow is bundled with Tarnished Edition.
Tarnished Pack
The new armor sets, character-start options, and Torrent appearance customizations are included.
Storage
Players should reserve about 41 GB of storage space for the Nintendo Switch 2 release.
Online Multiplayer
The Switch 2 release retains Elden Ring's online features, including cooperative play and competitive multiplayer systems.
Nintendo Debut
Tarnished Edition brings Elden Ring to Nintendo hardware for the first time.
Pre-Order Bonus
Pre-orders include The Ring and Ring of Miquella gestures, which can also be earned later in the game.
What's Included in the Elden Ring Tarnished Pack
The Tarnished Pack adds new customization content to Elden Ring, including armor, new starting character options, and Torrent appearances. Existing PlayStation, Xbox, and PC players can obtain the pack separately.
New Armor Sets
The Tarnished Pack introduces four additional armor sets for character customization.
New Starting Options
Two additional character origins expand the choices available when creating a new Tarnished.
Torrent Customization
Players can customize Torrent with three new appearance options.
PlayStation Availability
Existing PlayStation Elden Ring players can obtain the new Tarnished Pack without purchasing the complete Nintendo Switch 2 edition.
Xbox Availability
Existing Xbox players can add the Tarnished Pack content to their Elden Ring installation.
PC Availability
PC players who already own Elden Ring can obtain the Tarnished Pack as an additional content package.
Nintendo Switch 2
Switch 2 players receive Tarnished Pack content as part of the complete Tarnished Edition package.
Shadow of the Erdtree
The Tarnished Pack adds customization content and does not replace Shadow of the Erdtree, which remains Elden Ring's major story expansion.
Ownership Tips
- Existing owners only need the Tarnished Pack; the complete edition is for new players.
- The pack is customization content, not a second story expansion.
- Switch 2 players get the pack automatically inside Tarnished Edition.
- Shadow of the Erdtree remains the major expansion for story content.
Best Elden Ring Tarnished Edition Builds
Strong build archetypes for Strength, Dexterity, Intelligence, Faith, and hybrid characters. Prioritize Vigor first, meet the requirements for your main weapon or casting tool, and then invest heavily in the offensive stat that provides your build's best scaling.
Heavy melee, stance breaking, guard counters, and high single-hit damage
Weapons
Greatsword, Giant-Crusher, Great Stars, Ruins Greatsword
Armor
Banished Knight Set, Veteran's Set, Solitude Set
Skills
Lion's Claw, Cragblade, Royal Knight's Resolve
Raise Vigor for survivability, reach the Strength requirement of your preferred weapon, add enough Endurance for your equipment load, then push Strength toward its higher scaling breakpoints.
Long-range sorcery backed by powerful Intelligence-scaling melee weapons
Weapons
Moonveil, Dark Moon Greatsword, Wing of Astel
Armor
Carian Knight Set, Snow Witch Set
Spells
Carian Slicer, Night Comet, Ranni's Dark Moon, Shard Spiral
Build enough Vigor to survive close-range pressure, increase Mind to support repeated casting, and make Intelligence the primary damage stat once weapon and spell requirements are met.
Fast attacks, status buildup, aggressive dodging, and repeated multi-hit pressure
Weapons
Nagakiba, Uchigatana, Rivers of Blood, Eleonora's Poleblade
Armor
White Mask, Raptor's Black Feathers
Skills
Blood Blade, Double Slash, Bloody Slash
Secure comfortable Vigor first, meet Dexterity and Arcane requirements, then improve the scaling stat used by your chosen weapon while maintaining enough Endurance for sustained attacking and dodging.
Incantations, elemental damage, buffs, healing, and flexible melee support
Weapons
Blasphemous Blade, Coded Sword, Sacred Relic Sword
Armor
Haligtree Knight Set, Tree Sentinel Set
Spells
Golden Vow, Flame, Grant Me Strength, Black Flame, Ancient Dragons' Lightning Strike
Reach the Faith requirements for your main incantations and weapon, keep Vigor competitive with the current region, and increase Mind only as much as your casting frequency requires.
Heavy melee combined with buffs, ranged incantations, and strong elemental weapon skills
Weapons
Blasphemous Blade, Ordovis's Greatsword, Maliketh's Black Blade, Siluria's Tree
Armor
Crucible Axe Set, Tree Sentinel Set
Spells
Golden Vow, Flame, Grant Me Strength, Bestial Vitality, Stone of Gurranq
Use Strength for reliable melee damage while raising Faith to unlock buffs and incantations. Add Endurance as heavier weapons and armor begin to push the build toward Heavy Load.
Elden Ring Tarnished Edition Best Weapons
A practical tier list of standout weapons from Elden Ring and Shadow of the Erdtree. Rankings favor strong damage, useful weapon skills, build synergy, and effectiveness across difficult encounters. Unique weapons typically require Somber Smithing Stones, while standard weapons provide more freedom through affinities and interchangeable Ashes of War.
Blasphemous Blade
Greatsword · Skill: Taker's Flames
Requirements: STR 22 / DEX 15 / FTH 21
Best for: Strength/Faith and Faith-focused builds
Powerful fire damage, long-range weapon skill, strong stagger potential, and HP recovery make it especially effective for sustained progression.
Dark Moon Greatsword
Greatsword · Skill: Moonlight Greatsword
Requirements: STR 16 / DEX 11 / INT 38
Best for: Intelligence melee and spellblade builds
Its buffed heavy attacks launch frost-inflicting magical projectiles, giving Intelligence builds excellent ranged pressure without relying entirely on FP-heavy sorcery.
Bloodfiend's Arm
Colossal Weapon · Skill: Endure
Requirements: STR 28 / DEX 11 / ARC 16
Best for: Heavy bleed and stance-breaking builds
Powerful charged heavy attacks and strong status potential make it effective against large targets that can be repeatedly pressured.
Moonveil
Katana · Skill: Transient Moonlight
Requirements: STR 12 / DEX 18 / INT 23
Best for: Dexterity/Intelligence spellblade builds
Fast attacks, innate blood loss buildup, magic damage, and a quick ranged weapon skill provide strong versatility.
Greatsword
Colossal Sword · Skill: Stamp (Upward Cut)
Requirements: STR 31 / DEX 12
Best for: Pure Strength and heavy melee builds
Excellent physical damage, reach, stagger pressure, and compatibility with many Ashes of War and affinities.
Nagakiba
Katana · Skill: Unsheathe
Requirements: STR 18 / DEX 22
Best for: Dexterity, bleed, and status builds
Exceptional katana reach, innate blood loss buildup, and flexible affinity and Ash of War options.
Backhand Blade
Backhand Blade · Skill: Blind Spot
Requirements: STR 10 / DEX 13
Best for: Fast Dexterity builds in Shadow of the Erdtree
Rapid attacks and an evasive signature skill allow aggressive players to reposition while maintaining offensive pressure.
Great Katana
Great Katana · Skill: Overhead Stance
Requirements: STR 14 / DEX 18
Best for: Quality, Dexterity, and bleed-oriented builds
Combines the reach and impact of a larger weapon with innate blood loss buildup and flexible Ash of War customization.
Rivers of Blood
Katana · Skill: Corpse Piler
Requirements: STR 12 / DEX 18 / ARC 20
Best for: Dexterity/Arcane bleed builds
Fast multi-hit attacks and strong blood loss application remain useful against enemies that are vulnerable to hemorrhage.
Giant-Crusher
Colossal Weapon · Skill: Endure
Requirements: STR 60
Best for: Maximum-Strength charged attack builds
Extremely high physical damage and stance damage reward players who can safely commit to slow, heavy attacks.
Elden Ring Tarnished Edition Bosses Guide
Prepare for major bosses across the Lands Between and the Realm of Shadow. Weapon upgrades, Vigor, appropriate damage negation, Spirit Ashes, and Shadow Realm Blessings can have a major impact on difficulty.
Elden Ring Tarnished Edition Quest Guide
Follow major NPC questlines without losing track of important progression points. Exhaust dialogue when meeting important characters, revisit Roundtable Hold regularly, and complete sensitive NPC interactions before advancing major world-state events.
Ranni the Witch
Major questline and ending pathRegion: Liurnia, Nokron, Ainsel River and Moonlight Altar
1. Meet Ranni at Ranni's Rise
After reaching Three Sisters beyond Caria Manor, speak with Ranni and agree to serve her.
2. Work with Ranni's allies
Speak with Blaidd, Iji and Seluvis, then follow the investigation that leads toward Starscourge Radahn.
3. Defeat Starscourge Radahn
Radahn's defeat causes a star to fall into Limgrave and opens the route to Nokron, Eternal City.
4. Retrieve the Fingerslayer Blade
Explore Nokron and obtain the Fingerslayer Blade, then return it to Ranni.
5. Continue through Ainsel River
Use the newly accessible route associated with Renna's Rise, find the Miniature Ranni, and repeatedly speak to it at the relevant Site of Grace.
6. Defeat the Baleful Shadow
Continue through Nokstella and defeat the Baleful Shadow to receive the Discarded Palace Key.
7. Obtain the Dark Moon Ring
Use the key on the locked chest near Rennala in the Raya Lucaria Grand Library.
8. Reach Moonlight Altar
Cross the Lake of Rot, defeat Astel, Naturalborn of the Void, and proceed to the Cathedral of Manus Celes.
Completing the quest makes Ranni's summon sign available after the final boss, but the player still chooses whether to use that ending.
Millicent
Long NPC quest with two late-game branchesRegion: Caelid, Altus Plateau and Miquella's Haligtree
1. Speak with Gowry
Find Gowry's Shack in Caelid and accept his request concerning Millicent.
2. Obtain the Unalloyed Gold Needle
Defeat Commander O'Neil in the Swamp of Aeonia and return the needle to Gowry for repair.
3. Help Millicent at the Church of the Plague
Give Millicent the repaired needle, rest or reload the area, and continue speaking with her.
4. Find the Valkyrie's Prosthesis
Retrieve the prosthesis from the Shaded Castle and give it to Millicent when she moves to the Altus Plateau.
5. Follow Millicent north
Continue her encounters through Dominula and later regions until she reaches the Haligtree.
6. Defeat the Ulcerated Tree Spirit
Near the Drainage Channel in Elphael, defeat the nearby Ulcerated Tree Spirit to make the final summon signs appear.
7. Choose Millicent's final branch
Use the gold summon sign to assist Millicent or the red summon sign to challenge her.
The final summon-sign choice changes the quest reward. Assisting Millicent also allows the needle route to continue after defeating Malenia.
Fia
Major lore quest and alternate ending routeRegion: Roundtable Hold, Deeproot Depths and Prince of Death's Throne
1. Speak with Fia at Roundtable Hold
Interact with Fia during repeated visits and continue her dialogue as the main story advances.
2. Progress D's storyline
Fia's quest intersects with D, Hunter of the Dead, and eventually causes major changes to both characters at Roundtable Hold.
3. Reach Deeproot Depths
Travel into Deeproot Depths and find Fia near the Prince of Death's Throne.
4. Acquire the Cursemark of Death
Progress Ranni's quest far enough to access the Divine Tower of Liurnia and retrieve the Cursemark.
5. Give the Cursemark to Fia
Return to Fia, continue her dialogue, and reload or rest as necessary.
6. Enter Fia's dream
Interact with Fia after the quest advances to fight Lichdragon Fortissax.
The Mending Rune unlocks the Age of the Duskborn ending option after the final boss without automatically selecting it.
Goldmask and Brother Corhyn
Golden Order quest and alternate ending routeRegion: Altus Plateau, Leyndell and Mountaintops of the Giants
1. Advance Brother Corhyn's journey
After reaching Altus Plateau, Corhyn eventually leaves Roundtable Hold to search for Goldmask.
2. Find Goldmask
Locate Goldmask on the broken bridge in Altus Plateau and report his location to Corhyn.
3. Meet them in Leyndell
Continue to their later location in the capital and investigate the mystery they are attempting to solve.
4. Use Law of Regression
Cast Law of Regression at the appropriate message near the Erdtree Sanctuary to reveal the key Golden Order secret.
5. Report the discovery
Return to Goldmask and provide the answer revealed by Law of Regression.
6. Continue after the capital changes
Follow the quest through later regions and return to Leyndell after its world-state transition.
The Mending Rune of Perfect Order provides another selectable Elden Lord ending after defeating the final boss.
Needle Knight Leda and Miquella's Followers
Central Shadow of the Erdtree NPC quest networkRegion: Realm of Shadow
1. Meet Miquella's followers
Speak with Leda, Hornsent, Thiollier, Ansbach, Freyja and other followers as you explore the early Realm of Shadow.
2. Revisit NPCs after Miquella's charm breaks
A major story event causes the followers to regain their independent motivations. Return to each NPC and exhaust their new dialogue before advancing too far.
3. Resolve Leda's suspicions
Leda begins evaluating other followers and can present invasion or assistance choices involving characters such as Hornsent and Ansbach.
4. Advance Ansbach and Freyja
Their questlines intersect in Shadow Keep. Finding and exchanging the relevant information can move both stories forward.
5. Complete Thiollier's path
Thiollier's storyline connects to St. Trina and requires repeated dialogue and progression in the southern areas of the Realm of Shadow.
6. Prepare for the Enir-Ilim confrontation
Earlier NPC choices affect which characters can appear as allies or opponents during the late-game confrontation involving Leda and her companions.
Several follower quests intersect, so invasion, assistance, and dialogue choices can change later encounters and rewards.
Thiollier and St. Trina
Major Shadow of the Erdtree side questRegion: Cerulean Coast and Stone Coffin Fissure
1. Meet Thiollier
Find Thiollier early in the Realm of Shadow and exhaust his dialogue.
2. Progress until Miquella's charm breaks
Return to Thiollier after the major story event changes the followers' behavior and continue discussing St. Trina.
3. Reach the Stone Coffin Fissure
Explore the Cerulean Coast and descend through the fissure once access becomes available.
4. Defeat the Putrescent Knight
Defeat the remembrance boss guarding the deeper area and proceed to the Garden of Deep Purple.
5. Interact with St. Trina
Repeatedly imbibe St. Trina's nectar and return to Thiollier with the information obtained through the encounters.
6. Complete Thiollier's confrontation
Continue resting and speaking with the characters until Thiollier's invasion and subsequent dialogue stages are resolved.
Completing the quest before the late-game Enir-Ilim sequence is important for obtaining Thiollier's full quest progression and summon availability.