After being delayed from last year, Elden Ring Tarnished Edition is finally set to launch on Nintendo Switch 2 on August 28, bringing FromSoftware’s acclaimed open-world RPG and its major expansion to Nintendo’s latest console. GamingBolt’s video provides 15 things you need to know before you buy.
Base Game and Shadow of the Erdtree
For $79.99, Tarnished Edition includes both the original Elden Ring and its Shadow of the Erdtree expansion. The base game takes players across the Lands Between, beginning in Limgrave and eventually leading them through Legacy Dungeons, powerful bosses, and the quest to restore the Elden Ring.
One of the game’s biggest strengths is its freedom. Players don’t have to follow a fixed path, and some major story bosses can even be skipped. Exploration is a major part of progression, with hidden caves, field bosses, treasure chests, mysterious NPCs, and countless secrets waiting to be discovered.
Shadow of the Erdtree expands the adventure into the Land of Shadow. The expansion features a highly vertical world filled with secrets and challenging bosses. It also introduces Shadow Realm Blessings, which can increase damage dealt and reduce damage taken, although players can ignore these upgrades for an additional challenge.
Huge Build Variety
Beyond collecting Runes to level up, players can discover hundreds of Elden Ring items, including weapons, spells, crafting recipes, armor pieces, Talismans, and consumables. Players looking for specific gear can also buy Elden Ring items to complement their builds and experiment with different playstyles.
Whether you prefer a heavily armored melee character, a powerful spellcaster, or something in between, Elden Ring offers enormous freedom when creating a build.
Spirit Ashes add another layer to combat. These AI companions can be summoned when you have enough FP, and each has its own abilities and fighting style. From the poison-inflicting Spirit Jellyfish to powerful summons such as Black Knife Tiche, choosing the right Spirit Ash can make a major difference during difficult encounters.
Challenging Bosses
As expected from a FromSoftware game, Elden Ring is packed with memorable boss encounters. Many bosses feature fast attacks, long combos, and spectacular designs, with some of the toughest encounters appearing in Shadow of the Erdtree.
Not every boss is mandatory, however, giving players plenty of opportunities to explore, level up, and return later with a stronger build.
Co-op and PvP
Players can also team up with friends through the game’s multiplayer system. Using a Furlcalling Finger Remedy reveals summoning signs, allowing you to bring up to two other players into your world. Boss health scales when additional players join, so cooperative battles remain challenging.
PvP is also available through invasions, while the dedicated Colosseum provides structured multiplayer battles. Players can participate in 1v1 fights, 3v3 matches, or six-player free-for-alls, with different rules across the arenas.
New Starting Classes
Tarnished Edition introduces two new starting classes: the Heavy Knight and the Idus Knight.
The Heavy Knight focuses on strength and endurance, while the Idus Knight has a higher Dexterity stat and appears to use a light greatsword, a weapon type introduced in Shadow of the Erdtree.
New Armor, Weapons, and Torrent Skins
The edition also adds new equipment and customization options. Additional armor and weapons include items inspired by the Dark Souls series, such as the Lucatiel set, Mirror’s set, and the Hollowslayer Greatsword.
Torrent, your spectral horse, also receives new customization options. These include skins inspired by the Knight’s Cavalry, giving players a new way to personalize their mount.
Tarnished Edition owners receive these additions as part of the package, while existing players can purchase the Tarnished Pack separately for $4.99.
Physical Release and Performance
The physical version of Tarnished Edition uses a Game-Key Card rather than containing the entire game on the card. A Nintendo UK listing indicates a download of around 41 GB, although the final download size could be larger.
On Nintendo Switch 2, the game is reported to target 30 FPS and 1080p resolution in handheld mode. The additional development time appears to have improved performance compared with earlier hands-on impressions, although the frame rate may not remain completely stable at all times.
How Long Is Elden Ring Tarnished Edition?
There’s plenty of content to keep players busy. The base game takes around 101 hours for players pursuing the main quest and side content, while Shadow of the Erdtree takes roughly 39 hours.
Completionists can spend close to 190 hours across the base game and expansion, without even counting additional New Game Plus playthroughs.
Final Thoughts
For Nintendo Switch 2 owners who have never experienced FromSoftware’s open-world masterpiece, Elden Ring Tarnished Edition offers a massive package combining the base game, Shadow of the Erdtree, new classes, equipment, Torrent customization, and a huge amount of exploration and combat content. With its August 28 release, it could be one of the most substantial RPG experiences available on Nintendo’s new console.
