Last updated: 10 August 2026
Elden Ring Tarnished Edition & Tarnished Pack Explained
Bandai Namco confirmed two related but distinct releases for Elden Ring in August 2026: a full Nintendo Switch 2 port called Tarnished Edition, and a small paid DLC called the Tarnished Pack that brings the same new cosmetic content to players who already own the game elsewhere. It's easy to mix the two up, so here's exactly what each one is, what's in it, and who needs which.
Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition is a new Nintendo Switch 2 release, out August 28, 2026, bundling the base game and the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion with new content: two starting classes (Heavy Knight and Idus Knight), four new armor sets with matching weapons, and cosmetic customization options for Torrent. That same new content is also sold separately as the Tarnished Pack DLC for existing PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC owners, priced at €4.99 in Europe (regional USD pricing varies by storefront). Neither release adds new bosses, areas, or story content — it's cosmetic and character-creation additions layered onto the existing game.
01Tarnished Edition: The Switch 2 Release
Tarnished Edition is Elden Ring's first release on Nintendo Switch 2, launching August 28, 2026. It bundles the 2022 base game together with the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion in a single package, so it's a complete, up-to-date copy of the game rather than a base-game-only port.
On top of the base game and DLC, Tarnished Edition adds new content exclusive to this bundle at launch: two new starting classes, four new armor sets, and new cosmetic customization options for Torrent, the player's spectral steed. None of this new content changes existing bosses, areas, or the story — it's new character-creation and cosmetic options layered on top of the same world.
02Tarnished Pack: The Same New Content, Sold Separately
Players who already own Elden Ring on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, or PC don't need to buy Tarnished Edition to get the new content — Bandai Namco is also releasing it as a standalone paid DLC called the Tarnished Pack, on the same date, August 28, 2026.
The Tarnished Pack is priced at €4.99 in Europe; check your platform's storefront for the exact price in your local currency, since regional USD pricing has varied between early listings. It requires the base game (and, for some content, Shadow of the Erdtree) already installed — it isn't a standalone product.
03What's Actually in the New Content
Both Tarnished Edition and the Tarnished Pack add the same three pieces of new content:
- Two new starting classes. The Heavy Knight is a Strength- and Vigor-leaning build that starts with heavy plate armor and a curved greatsword, built around slow, hard-hitting melee pressure. The Idus Knight is a Dexterity-leaning counterpart, starting with lighter armor, a light greatsword, and a matching shield.
- Four new armor sets, each paired with a matching melee weapon, available to any character — not locked to the two new classes.
- Three new Torrent customization skins — the first time Torrent's appearance has been customizable since the game launched in 2022.
There are no new bosses, areas, quests, or story beats in either release. If you're looking for genuinely new content to fight through, that's still exclusive to the paid Shadow of the Erdtree expansion, not this update.
04Which One Do You Need?
If you're playing on Nintendo Switch 2 for the first time, buy Tarnished Edition — it's the only way to get Elden Ring on that platform, and it includes everything (base game, Shadow of the Erdtree, and the new content) in one purchase.
If you already own Elden Ring and Shadow of the Erdtree on PS4, PS5, Xbox, or PC, you don't need to buy anything new to keep playing what you have — the Tarnished Pack is purely optional and only adds the two classes, four armor sets, and Torrent skins listed above. Skipping it changes nothing about the core game.
FAQ
What is Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition?
A Nintendo Switch 2 release of Elden Ring, out August 28, 2026, bundling the base game and the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion together with new bonus content: two starting classes, four armor sets, and Torrent customization skins.
What is the Tarnished Pack DLC?
A standalone paid DLC, released the same day as Tarnished Edition (August 28, 2026), that adds the same new content — two starting classes, four armor sets, and Torrent skins — to existing Elden Ring owners on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. It's priced at €4.99 in Europe.
Do I need Tarnished Edition if I already own Elden Ring on PC or PS5?
No. Buy the Tarnished Pack DLC instead — it adds the same new classes, armor sets, and Torrent skins to your existing copy without requiring you to rebuy the base game or Shadow of the Erdtree.
Does the Tarnished Pack add new bosses or areas?
No. It only adds two starting classes, four armor sets with matching weapons, and Torrent cosmetic skins. There's no new story, boss, or area content — that remains exclusive to the paid Shadow of the Erdtree expansion.
What are the new starting classes in the Tarnished Pack?
The Heavy Knight (Strength/Vigor build with heavy plate armor and a curved greatsword) and the Idus Knight (Dexterity build with lighter armor, a light greatsword, and a shield).
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