A new patch 1.02.2 for Elden Ring Nightreign has been released ahead of the highly anticipated Deep of Night mode launch on September 11, 2025, bringing bug fixes and gameplay adjustments.

The update introduces extensive balance changes to Nightfarers and Everdark Sovereigns, including increased attack power, stamina, and stagger capabilities, along with rebalancing summoned spirits and enemy reactions.

New penalties for disconnecting or leaving multiplayer sessions are being implemented to discourage rage quitting, especially during the challenging Deep of Night mode.

A Performance Rating system has been introduced, which influences player progression based on win/loss records, affecting starting depths in future runs.

Players will be able to acquire new weapons and relics with powerful effects, but these may come with drawbacks, and progress is measured by descending through increasing depths, with setbacks pushing players back to easier levels.

Red-tier weapons, similar in level to purple-rarity weapons, now feature unique bonuses like lightning summons and shockwaves, exemplified by weapons such as the Jar Cannon and Blade of Calling.

Enemy difficulty has increased, with stronger red-tinged variants, including powerful red Bell Bearing Hunters and mutated enemies that drop rare gear with new abilities.

The Bell Bearing Hunter, a challenging field boss, can now appear as a red variant, intensifying combat encounters.

Revenant spirits have been adjusted to be less obstructive and more team-friendly, improving gameplay flow.

Players gain three additional relic slots exclusive to Deep of Night, enabling new build strategies with relics that may have positive or negative effects.

Weapons in Deep of Night can spawn with multiple affixes, both beneficial and detrimental, adding strategic complexity to gear choices.

Negative relic effects include reductions to Vigor, Arcane, Dexterity, and Faith, along with effects like Madness, Poison, and Blood Loss buildup, especially when taking damage or at low health.

Elden Ring's DLC, Shadow of the Erdtree, has sold over 10 million copies, with the base game surpassing 30 million, underscoring its commercial success.

Gameplay has been made more challenging with increased enemy difficulty, tougher elite enemies, and improved scaling for solo runs, while also making the game more accessible overall.

Early access mods on PC now allow players to unlock Deep of Night mode from the start and choose starting depths, especially when using Seamless Co-op.

The mode features randomized boss encounters and shifting events, requiring players to adapt relic choices and strategies on the fly.

New weapons with unique powers and effects are being introduced, offering fresh combat options but also coming with balancing debuffs.