Elden Ring Players Put Tarnished Edition DLC Gear to the Test

Following the release of FromSoftware's Tarnished Edition—a five-dollar DLC pack featuring new starting classes, armor sets, and horse armor—players of the legendary action RPG have spent the last few days experimenting and crunching numbers to see how the new gear stacks up. Although FromSoftware initially hid the new additions in unexpected locations, players have now tracked down the content, including several unannounced minor additions, and kicked off extensive testing.

By far the most popular new weapon discovered in the expansion is a greatsword obtained by dueling a new NPC. Leontiel's Greatsword, which references a character from Dark Souls 2, features a unique move called the Muleta skill that mimics a matador. The animation allows the character to hold out a red cloth, step around the target, and thrusting the sword into their back. Players have wasted no time putting this slick animation to work against tough adversaries. Reddit user SaxSlaveGael utilized the weapon against the bull-like boss Gaius in the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC, while another user, Ilamahradeys, took the sword for a spin against the Full-Grown Fallingstar Beast in Mt. Gelmir, resulting in a swift stagger and massive health reduction.

Beyond weapon testing, the community has also embraced the cosmetic side of the update, prioritizing "fashion souls" alongside practical defense. Players have gravitated toward the shiny new chestpiece from the Idus starting class, using it for custom cosmetic cosplays such as Casca from Berserk. Meanwhile, players focused on efficiency and optimal builds have been evaluating the viability of the heavy armor class for extended playthroughs. Reports from the community indicate that the new heavy armor class features boosted vigor and strength stats, helping melee-focused characters shine during mid-to-late game encounters against demanding bosses.

While the Tarnished Edition is a modest expansion rather than a massive, game-changing package, it provides enough fresh equipment and options to encourage players to launch new playthroughs and experiment with alternative builds. The community continues to uncover subtle details as the post-launch testing phase moves forward.