Shadow of the Erdtree builds on Elden Ring’s strengths and keeps surprising even long-time players. Patch v1.16’s rune-related changes refine progression without undoing the expansion’s dark, expansive feel.
Highlights
What changed in v1.16 (rune update) — concise
Strengths
Weaknesses
Verdict Shadow of the Erdtree remains a must-play for fans of Soulslike design — it extends Elden Ring’s best elements and the v1.16 rune update smartly eases progression pain points without trivializing challenge. For both lore hunters and build tinkerers, it delivers weeks of rewarding exploration and punishingly fun combat.
The latest update for Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree, specifically version 1.16, focuses primarily on refining game stability and closing technical loopholes. Released on October 17, 2024, this patch targets critical bug fixes that affected both the base game and the expansive Shadow Realm. Key Fixes in Update v1.16
The core mission of the v1.16 update was to address unintended stat persistence and performance hurdles.
Stat Boost Correction: A major fix addressed a bug where temporary player stat boosts would incorrectly remain active even after a player closed and restarted the game.
Performance Stability: FromSoftware included several "unstable performance fixes," particularly for the PC and PS5 versions.
Ray Tracing Bug (PC): On some PC configurations, Ray Tracing was unintentionally enabling itself, leading to framerate drops. The patch allows players to manually toggle this back to "OFF" in the system menu to regain performance.
"Inappropriate Activity" Error: A common PC bug where players were falsely flagged for cheating (the "Inappropriate activity detected" message) was addressed, with a recommendation to verify the integrity of game files. Rune Farms and v1.16 Adjustments
While the v1.16 notes do not explicitly nerf specific rune farming locations, they continue the trend of fixing "unintended interactions" that often underpin popular glitches. elden ring shadow of the erdtree update v1 16rune updated
Legacy Farms: Popular spots like the Palace Approach Ledge-Road (Mohgwyn Palace) remain the most effective late-game methods, especially when using the Sacred Relic Sword.
DLC Farming: In the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion, players have found efficient spots such as the bridge near the Fire Giant, which can net around 14,000 runes per run.
Patch v1.16.1 Follow-up: Shortly after v1.16, version 1.16.1 was released to further address "tempo buffing" and the "bombbo glitch," ensuring that unintended status ailment applications were completely removed from high-level play. Summary of Platform Details Release Date October 17, 2024 Target Platforms PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Steam (PC) Version Number App Ver. 1.16 / Regulation Ver. 1.16 Required Action
Online play requires the latest regulation files, downloadable via the in-game "LOGIN" screen.
For a full technical breakdown of the changes, you can view the official Bandai Namco Patch Notes.
Elden Ring – Patch Notes Version 1.16 | Bandai Namco Europe Patch Notes. 184. 17/10/2024. Bandai Namco Europe
Elden Ring Update v1.16 and the subsequent were minor stability patches released in late 2024 and 2025, primarily focusing on bug fixes and performance optimization for the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion. Bandai Namco Europe Version 1.16 Key Fixes (October 2024)
This update was relatively small and focused on preventing specific stat glitches and improving game performance. Stat Boost Correction
: Fixed a critical issue where temporary stat boosts (such as those from the Grafted Blade Greatsword
skill) would incorrectly persist after the player closed and restarted the game. Performance Stability
: Recommended players use the "Rebuild Database" option in safe mode to address unstable framerates. : Addressed issues where Ray Tracing
might be unintentionally enabled, causing performance drops. It also tackled the "Inappropriate activity detected" message that appeared for some non-cheating players. Mouse Controls Short review — Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree (v1
: Improved framerate by deactivating third-party applications controlling mouse behavior. Bandai Namco Version 1.16.1 Update (August 2025)
Building on the stability of v1.16, this patch addressed specific weapon and multiplayer bugs. Bandai Namco Europe
Elden Ring – Patch Notes Version 1.16.1 | Bandai Namco Europe 21-Aug-2025 —
Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree , released in October 2024, is
widely praised as a "masterpiece of an expansion" that successfully recaptures the magic of the original game while introducing a high level of endgame challenge . Critics from
both awarded it a perfect 10/10, describing it as an "unmissable tour de force". Key Highlights of Update v1.16
While the v1.16 patch itself was a smaller, focused update primarily for stability, it refined the overall Shadow of the Erdtree experience: Crucial Bug Fixes
: It resolved a significant issue where temporary player stat boosts would incorrectly persist even after restarting the game. Performance Improvements : The update provided specific troubleshooting for
framerate issues (recommending a "Rebuild Database" via safe mode) and
performance, particularly regarding unintentional Ray Tracing activation. Enhanced Build Freedom : The expansion introduces eight new weapon categories
, including light greatswords and hand-to-hand combat styles, offering fresh ways to play. Unique Progression : Players use a new scaling system involving Scadutree Blessing Fragments Revered Spirit Ashes
to increase damage and defense within the Realm of Shadow, rewarding thorough exploration. Review Summary World and atmosphere: The expansion doubles down on
Absolutely. The Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree update v1.16 has successfully revitalized the late-game farming meta. For the first time, the hardest enemies in the DLC actually feel rewarding to defeat, rather than being obstacles you run past.
If you are level 300 or higher, abandon the Albinaurics. The Horned Warriors of Belurat are your new best friends—or your new favorite victims.
Install it – the patch is safe and fixes minor annoyances. If you don’t care about the rune exploit or Abyssal Woods crash, you can skip, but for co-op/PvP players or those stuck on Miquella’s Great Rune, it’s worthwhile.
Next expected update: v1.17 (likely early 2025) – possible minor weapon balancing and Scadutree scaling tweaks, but no major DLC content announced.
Last verified: January 2026 – based on official Bandai Namco patch notes and community testing.
As of April 2026, " Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree " continues to receive updates focused on performance and bug stabilization. While the specific mention of a "1.16 rune update" often refers to community-discovered farming methods following Patch 1.16 (released in late 2024), subsequent updates like Patch 1.16.1 have further refined the experience by addressing major exploits. The 1.16 & 1.16.1 Update: Technical Refinement
Patch 1.16 was primarily a stability update designed to fix issues introduced after the massive Shadow of the Erdtree launch. Key technical fixes included:
Stat Persistence Fix: Addressed a bug where temporary stat boosts remained active after restarting the game.
Performance Optimization: Included safe-mode "Rebuild Database" recommendations for PS5 users experiencing framerate drops and automatic Ray Tracing disabling for PC players.
Weapon Affinity Corrections: Patch 1.16.1 (August 2025) fixed a critical bug where the wrong affinities or status ailments were applied to certain weapons.
Exploit Removal: Fixed a "Bow glitch" (often called "tumble buffing") that allowed players to apply unintended status effects, like Death Blight, to arrows in PvP. "1.16 Rune Updated": Farming in the Shadow Realm
The "rune updated" aspect typically refers to the shift in rune farming meta following these patches. Because many early DLC "out-of-bounds" glitches were patched, players have returned to optimized routes within the Shadow Realm and the base game:
Here’s a draft of content for an Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree update post (e.g., for a patch notes page, forum, or social media), focused on a hypothetical v1.16 “Rune Updated” release.