Elden Ring Tarnished Edition gear tested
Players are testing the new $5 DLC's gear, with Leontiel's Greatsword and new armor sets getting the most attention for their style and power.
Elden Ring players are testing new gear from the Tarnished Edition DLC released last week. The $5 pack adds new starting classes, armor sets, and horse armor.
FromSoftware hid the new items in unexpected places. Now that players have found them all, including some unannounced additions, the community is experimenting to see how they perform.
Leontiel's Greatsword Dominates
By far the most popular new weapon is Leontiel's Greatsword. Players can steal it from a new NPC who appears for a duel. The sword references a Dark Souls 2 character and has a powerful move mimicking a real bullfighter, or matador. The animation shows your character holding out a red cloth, stepping around a target, and thrusting the sword into their back.
Reddit user SaxSlaveGael used it on the bull-like boss Gaius from the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC. They titled their post "There's Only One Boss that truly deserves the Matador Treatment". The sword's Muleta skill worked like a real taunt. Gaius' boar was not ready for the feint and follow-up backstab. It is not the most efficient way to win, but players call it the sickest.
Another user, Ilamahradeys, tried the sword against the Full-Grown Fallingstar Beast in Mt. Gelmir. Their character was likely over-leveled. One jab knocked off almost the entire health bar and instantly staggered the creature. Watching the resilient boss get defeated with style was satisfying.
New Armor for Fashion and Function
You might think players only use armor for practical reasons in a challenging game. For many, "fashion souls" is more important than pure defense. These players love the shiny new chestpiece from the Idus starting class. It is a svelte, polished chestplate that blends with many other sets. One player uses it to cosplay Casca from Berserk. Another is distracted by the buff it seems to give to your character's physique.
Elden Ring also attracts tryhards who need to know how viable new gear is for repeat playthroughs. One Reddit user blasted through the game as the new heavy armor class. They say it is a sturdy class that takes time to fully come into its own. Its boosted vigor and strength stats help it shine in the mid-to-late game against the nastiest bosses. For more on character builds, check our stats page.
All this testing has some players excited to start a new playthrough. The Tarnished Edition is not a game-changing DLC, but it offers enough new toys to mess around with. It is a neat package for only $5, potentially keeping players busy until the flood of September games begins. For a list of other grand adventures, see our best RPGs guide.
