Summary
This article covers Elden Ring Tarnished Edition's Tarnished Pack DLC, introducing two new starting classes, unique‑moveset weapons, fresh armor sets, and three customizable Torrent spectral steed skins scattered across the Lands Between. Most gear is obtained via NPC invasions, world loot or merchants. Sufficient Elden Ring Runes are needed for purchases and upgrades; some players buy Elden Ring Runes to skip tedious farming. The update enriches build diversity and fashion while keeping the game's original core gameplay intact.
Elden Ring continues to captivate players years after its original release. The recent Tarnished Edition, along with the associated Tarnished Pack DLC, introduces fresh starting classes, weapons, armor, and customization options for Torrent. These additions expand build possibilities, fashion choices, and exploration rewards across the Lands Between. This article examines the key new elements in detail.
New Starting Classes and Their Gear
The Tarnished Pack adds two new starting classes: the Idus Knight and the Heavy Knight. These provide alternative ways to begin a journey through the Lands Between.
The Idus Knight leans toward lighter, more agile play. It comes equipped with the Idus Sword, a light greatsword, and the Silver Grooved armor set. This gear emphasizes mobility and fashion. The armor can also be purchased from a Nomadic Merchant north of Bellum Church in Liurnia of the Lakes. The Idus Sword itself sits on a corpse near a tree northwest of the Liurnia Lake Shore Site of Grace.
The Heavy Knight offers a bulkier option. It features heavier steel armor and a large scimitar-style weapon known as the Hefty Scimitar. Players can buy pieces of this set from merchants, such as the Isolated Merchant's Shack in the Weeping Peninsula. These classes give both newcomers and veterans new starting points without forcing a full restart for existing characters.
Standout Weapons and Their Unique Movesets
Several weapons stand out in the new content. One favorite is Leontiel's Greatsword. This greatsword combines elements of the Claymore and Banished Knight Greatsword movesets. It features a solid poke on heavy attacks, crouch attacks, and a distinctive Ash of War stance. The stance offers both light and heavy follow-ups, with the charged heavy capable of catching rolls. It scales primarily with Dexterity and cannot be infused, making it ideal for pure Dexterity builds.
To obtain Leontiel's Greatsword and matching armor, head to the Starscourge Radahn Site of Grace after defeating the boss. Travel north in the arena to trigger an invasion by Knight Leontiel. Defeating this NPC yields the gear. The weapon shows strong range on longer attacks and decent hyper armor, though optimizing poise remains important for greatsword play.
Another highlight is the Golden Order Flail, paired with the Golden Tattoo armor set (also called the Noble Broken Mask set). Each piece of the armor boosts Faith while lowering Focus. The mask enhances incantations and skills that harness causality. The flail's Ash of War, Causality's Wrath, grows stronger the more hits the user takes. At higher levels, the area-of-effect becomes massive and deals solid damage, especially useful in chaotic invasion scenarios.
Find this set by traveling to the Erdtree Sanctuary Site of Grace in Leyndell, Royal Capital (before it becomes the Ashen Capital). Head west, take the elevator down, and use Law of Regression on the appropriate statue to trigger the invasion by the Noble Broken Mask NPC.
Additional Weapons for Variety and Early Access
The update also brings weapons from later or DLC-style classes into the base game earlier. The Reverse-Bladed Sword belongs to the backhand blade class. Its moveset matches the standard for that type. On cold infusions, it outperforms the original Backhand Blade in damage on certain builds, making it excellent for applying frostbite through multi-hit attacks. Purchase it from the Twin Maiden Husks at the Roundtable Hold for a modest cost in Elden Ring Runes.
The Ritual Thrusting Shield functions similarly to the Dueling Shield but with slightly lower guard boost and base damage on some builds. It still offers the classic thrusting shield moveset and serves as an accessible option without requiring the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion. Locate it near the Deep Siofra Well or related paths in Caelid, heading west past potential magic golem threats toward a giant pot and doorway.
Other additions include the Reed Great Katana, found on a corpse atop a rock formation near Fort Faroth in Caelid, and various shields like the Silver Grooved Shield with solid physical blocking for its weight. These weapons expand build options significantly, especially for players who want DLC-inspired tools earlier in their playthrough.
Armor Sets and Fashion Opportunities
Beyond the starting class sets, the Leontiel armor and Golden Tattoo/Noble Broken Mask pieces expand fashion choices. The Silver Grooved set offers a slender, stylish look with decent elemental defenses, though poise is limited even with talismans. The Steel set from the Heavy Knight prioritizes physical protection.
Many pieces can be bought from merchants or found in the world. This accessibility means players do not need to start fresh characters solely for the new looks. Fashion remains a core part of the experience, and these sets deliver strong visual appeal alongside functional stats.
Customizing Torrent with New Spectral Steed Attire
For the first time, players can change Torrent's appearance. Three new Spectral Steed Attire options are available: Tree Sentinel, Silver of Caria, and Funereal Night.
The Tree Sentinel attire is found in Stormveil Castle near Godrick the Grafted's Site of Grace-head toward the doorway, turn right into a corridor, and open the chest. The Silver of Caria version sits in a chest near Ranni's Rise. The Funereal Night attire requires travel from the Hermit Merchant's Shack Site of Grace in Altus Plateau, following a specific path past rock formations to a sword marker.
Once any attire is obtained, a new option appears in the Site of Grace menu to switch appearances. These changes let players match their steed to specific armor themes or simply enjoy the variety during exploration.
Performance in Combat and Practical Tips
These items show strong potential in both player-versus-environment and invasion scenarios. Leontiel's Greatsword shines with mix-ups and range. The Golden Order Flail rewards aggressive play that absorbs hits to power up its skill. Backhand-style weapons maintain pressure with forward momentum, while thrusting shields excel at close-range poking and blocking.
Players should experiment with talismans, physicks, and infusions where available. Some weapons favor specific stats-Dexterity for the greatsword, Faith for the flail, or hybrid setups for others. Early access to certain tools helps with progression, especially when farming or purchasing items requires a healthy stock of Elden Ring Runes. In cases where grinding feels lengthy, some players look for efficient ways to buy Elden Ring Runes to accelerate access to new gear and upgrades, though legitimate in-game farming remains the recommended path for most.
Why This Update Matters
The Tarnished Pack and Edition refresh Elden Ring without overhauling its core identity. New classes lower the barrier for alternative playstyles. Weapons and armor expand creative builds and fashion. Torrent customization adds a welcome personal touch. NPC invasions tied to specific locations encourage revisiting familiar areas with fresh challenges.
Whether starting a new character or continuing an existing one, these additions reward exploration and experimentation. The Lands Between still hold surprises, and this content ensures players have more tools-and more reasons-to keep returning. From stylish armor sets to weapons with inventive Ashes of War, the Tarnished additions keep the spirit of discovery alive.
