Elden Ring 1.03 patch notes - NPC markers, new quest phases, weapon balancing, and more

FromSoftware's latest title release, Elden Ring, has turned out to be a massive success both critically and commercially. The game's publisher, Bandai Namco, recently announced that Elden Ring sold 12 million copies in the first two weeks.

While the game has received high honour with master class Metacritic reviews, there are some things that Elden Ring didn't get quite right. Noteworthy were its low FPS performance issues at launch, lacking quality-of-life features and balance issues, which many believe could have benefitted its audience, especially newcomers.

Thankfully, Bandai Namco has stealth-dropped Elden Ring patch 1.03, addressing a menu of issues that have plagued the game since its launch.

Aside from notable performance fixes, major changes include the addition of NPC markers on the map, a new NPC Jar-Bairn, new quest phases for certain NPCs, night background music for some open-world regions, and more.

Elden Ring patch 1.03 notes and details

Below you will find the complete Elden Ring version 1.03 patch notes.

Additional Elements Added

• Added a function to record an icon and the name of an NPC on the map when you encounter that NPC.
• Added NPC Jar-Bairn.
• Added new quest phases for the following NPCs: Diallos/ Nepheli Loux/ Kenneth Haight/ Gatekeeper Gostoc.
• Added some summonable NPCs in multiple situations.
• Increased the number of patterns of objects player can imitate when using Mimic’s Veil.
• Added night background music for some open field area.

Bug Fixes

• Fixed a bug that prevented summoned NPCs from taking damage in some boss battles.Fixed a bug that causes dialogue to be skipped when talking to NPCs and using custom key configurations.
• Fixed a bug that causes the player to freeze when riding.
• Fixed a bug that causes arcane to scale incorrectly for some weapons.
• In situation where the player cannot obtain more than 2 talisman pouches, added talisman pouch to Twin Maiden Husks shop line up.
• Fixed a bug that prevented the user from warping to sites of grace from the map at the end of the game.
• Fixed a bug that prevented the player from moving to the next area after the battle with the Fire Giant.
• Fixed a bug which causes some weapons to have incorrect scaling after strengthening.
• Fixed a bug that sometime prevented the player from obtaining item after boss battle.
• Fixed a bug which causes some weapons to not use stat scaling.
• Fixed hang-ups in certain occasions.
• Fixed a bug which incorrectly displays multiplayer area boundary when playing online.
• 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.
• Adjusted the visual effect of Unseen Form spell.
• Deleted the Ragged armor set from the game which was mistakenly obtainable in previous patch.
• Fixed a bug that causes some hostile NPCs to drop Furlcalling Finger Remedy.
• Fixed a bug that causes incorrect sound effect to play in some situations.
• Fixed a bug that causes visual animation and hitboxes to not be displayed correctly on some maps.
• Fixed bugs which causes incorrect visual and behavior for some enemies.
• Fixed a bug that causes incorrect stat parameter for some armor.
• Text fixes.
• Other performance improvement and bug fixes.

Balance Changes

• Increased the drop rate of Smithing Stone for some enemies.
• Added Smithing Stone to some early game shop line up.
• Increased shield’s effectiveness.
• Increased the damage for all offensive cracked pot items.
• Increased the damage for the following items: Spark Aromatic/Poison Spraymist.
• Increased the effect duration for the following items: Uplifting Aromatic/ Ironjar Aromatic.
• Increased HP healing for Torrent when using the following items: Rowa Raisin/ Sweet Raisin/ Frozen Raisin
• Reduced FP consumption and increased the damage of the following sorceries: Glintstone Cometshard/ Comet/ Night Comet
• Increased the damage of the following sorceries: 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
• Raised projectile speed and range of Great Glintstone Shard
• 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 consumption and lower 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.
• Other enemy and weapon balance changes

That's all the changes coming with Elden Ring's patch 1.03. Check our dedicated Elden Ring section for more news, guides, and features, or any of our recently featured articles and guides listed below.

• How to use Elden Ring Summoning Pools and MP items
• Elden Ring Carian Study Hall guide – How to beat and location
• Where to find Brother Corhyn in Elden Ring?
• Elden Ring Sorceress Sellen guide – How to beat and location

Featured image courtesy of FromSoftware.