Elden Ring Nightreign Patch 1.01.3: Madness, Revival Fixes, and Missing Shifting Earth Changes

When Patch 1.01.3 arrived for Elden Ring Nightreign, the Nightfarers did not get a sweeping overhaul. They got a handful of targeted adjustments, a few bug fixes, and one balance change that immediately sparked conversation across the community. The update went live on all platforms, and while its bullet points were modest, many players found them meaningful. The patch addressed long-standing frustrations, sharpened a niche build path, and left at least one major request untouched. For a game that thrives on chaotic co-op expeditions and brutal Nightlord battles, even small changes can ripple through every run. 🌙

A Madness Buff That Split the Community 🔥

The only balance adjustment in Patch 1.01.3 was simple on paper: the chance of obtaining weapons with the Madness status ailment was increased. Madness is a status effect that builds up on enemies and, when fully triggered, deals significant damage and causes flames to spill from their eyes. It is a dramatic, almost theatrical affliction, and it has a devoted following among players who enjoy status-focused builds.

The change seemed aimed at one specific target: Libra, one of the pursuable Nightlords, who is weak to Madness. For hunters trying to take down the goat demon, more Madness weapons sounded like a gift. Yet the r/Nightreign subreddit responded with skepticism rather than celebration. Players pointed out that very few weapons actually carry Madness in the first place. The effect is mostly limited to incantation seals and Vyke's Spear. On top of that, not every enemy can be afflicted with Madness. Compared to other status effects or elements, the pool of susceptible foes is relatively small.

One user explained that they had found an incantation once, but that was it. They hoped the patch meant regular weapons could now roll Madness, even if only from Madness camps. Since the game already allows the same weapon to appear with different statuses or elements, they argued that Madness should not remain so rare when it is mainly useful against one specific boss. The buff, then, was welcome but uncertain. It was a step, not a solution.

The Revival Bug That Felt Like Psychological Horror 💀

For many players, the most exciting part of Patch 1.01.3 was not the Madness change at all. It was a bug fix: the game no longer causes players to lose a battle after being revived from near death against a Nightlord or other Night bosses. This issue had caused real grief. Revival effects were supposed to be a second chance, a dramatic comeback mechanic. Instead, they sometimes became a cruel joke. A player would claw back from the brink, only to watch the battle end in defeat anyway.

One player said it happened to them around twenty times. They described it as psychological horror. That phrase captured the mood well. Nightreign is already a game of pressure, timing, and fragile teamwork. A bug that punishes revival undermines one of the few merciful systems in the experience. Fixing it may not look flashy in patch notes, but for the Nightfarers who suffered through it, the change was enormous.

Quality-of-Life Fixes and Hidden Adjustments 🛠️

Patch 1.01.3 also included a series of smaller fixes. They were not headline-grabbing, but they smoothed out rough edges that had annoyed dedicated players. The Whirlwind skill effect visibility was adjusted when the Relic Effect [Guardian] Increased duration for Character Skill is active. The Demon Merchant no longer spawns near the Night's Tide when the Demon Merchant curse event is encountered. Damage dealt to some enemies when destroying weak points created by Ironeye's Marking skill was corrected. Lightning damage received from enemies is no longer nullified by the Passive Effect Power of the Great Ancient Dragon on the Bolt of Gransax weapon. The Ultimate Art gauge no longer fills more than expected when attacking certain enemies. The Relic Effect Switching Weapons Adds an Affinity Attack now properly reflects the attribute when applied to Bows and Crossbows. The amount of Runes needed to purchase Uncommon weapons from merchants was fixed. In some multiplayer battles against a Nightlord, the camera now displays at the correct angle when not targeting an enemy. Lingering character phantoms now appear in Limveld. Staff information was added to the game's credits. The game should also freeze less often in certain environments.

The Shifting Earth Request Remains Unanswered 🗺️

Despite the positive reception, one in-demand request went unaddressed. Players who have cleared the final boss are still hoping for a fix to Shifting Earth events. These events can appear randomly and alter parts of the usual Nightreign map, adding new mini-dungeons to explore and treasure to plunge for. They are also part of earning trophies. Many players have expressed frustration that Shifting Earth events can become exceedingly rare after clearing the game. For completionists, that rarity turns a fun surprise into a source of anxiety. Patch 1.01.3 did not touch it, and the community noticed.

At the time, FromSoftware also cryptically teased that enhanced versions of the current Nightlord roster would arrive sometime that month. That promise added another layer of anticipation. In 2026, the Nightreign community still looks back on Patch 1.01.3 as a small but meaningful tune-up. It fixed a revival bug that had felt like psychological horror, nudged Madness builds forward, and polished several quality-of-life details. Yet it also reminded players that some wishes, especially around Shifting Earth events, remain on the long road ahead. 🐐

The following breakdown is based on resources from Rock Paper Shotgun, a long-running PC gaming outlet known for careful patch-note context and hands-on reporting; viewed through that lens, Nightreign’s 1.01.3 update reads like a “small changes, big ripples” release—tightening co-op reliability by eliminating the revival-triggered auto-loss, while the Madness drop-rate bump functions more as a targeted nudge for Libra-focused runs than a true build renaissance given the limited Madness weapon ecosystem and enemy susceptibility.