Elden Ring Reforged Update 2.0 launched on November 10, 2025, bringing what the developers call their most significant update yet to one of the most ambitious fan-made overhauls in recent memory. Since launching in 2022, the mod has been downloaded nearly one million times, and this latest version gives players compelling new reasons to return.
What Is Elden Ring Reforged?
So, you thought you were done with the Lands Between? Not so fast, Tarnished.
Before we explore what Update 2.0 adds, let’s establish what makes this modification special. The project’s philosophy centers on three goals: providing genuine incentives to engage with the game world, enabling players to build characters that match their creative vision through thoughtful balance, and deepening combat through meaningful tactical decisions.
Rather than dramatically reimagining the game, Reforged implements thousands of careful adjustments designed to unlock the world’s full potential. The development team has spent years refining everything from stat scaling to enemy behavior, all while attempting to honor FromSoftware’s original design philosophy.
The intended playstyle favors thorough exploration that treats the world as fresh territory, deliberately steering players away from the usual optimization routes and power-leveling shortcuts found in guides. In other words, you’re going to actually play the game this time instead of following a checklist to the meta build.
The Headline Feature: Full Multiplayer
The addition generating the most excitement is straightforward but transformative: Update 2.0 delivers complete online functionality including message systems, cooperative summoning, invasions, and dueling.
This isn’t just basic co-op tacked onto a single-player mod. The functionality operates on a dedicated custom server with its own player-matching infrastructure, creating a distinct community of Reforged players. You’re no longer exploring an isolated, modified version of the Lands Between – there’s an entire ecosystem of fellow mod users to interact with.
The update also includes enhanced seamless cooperative functionality, perfect for those wanting to adventure with friends without the constant disconnections that plague the base game’s co-op system. You can now experience the full Reforged overhaul alongside other players without technical frustrations interrupting the journey.
New Locations to Explore
Update 2.0 introduces entirely fresh areas that didn’t exist in previous mod versions.
The Serpentine Depths
Mount Gelmir now conceals a completely new dungeon called The Serpentine Depths, populated with unique enemies. The developers tease that “ancient heresies are awakening” beneath the volcano.
This dungeon specifically explores Praetor Rykard’s backstory – the demigod who infamously merged with a serpent to gain forbidden power. If you’re familiar with Mount Gelmir from the original game, you know it’s already one of the most atmospherically unsettling regions, home to the twisted Volcano Manor and its cult of assassins. This new dungeon lets you uncover the dark experiments and heretical ambitions that led to Rykard’s monstrous transformation.
Expanded Arsenal
The update adds new weapons to discover throughout your journey. While the exact number isn’t specified in available sources, these additions provide fresh options for building your character.
Three new spells have been added to the Prince of Death’s school of magic. For players drawn to Elden Ring’s darker, necromantic magic systems, this represents a meaningful expansion. The Prince of Death spells typically feature ghostflame effects and death-themed aesthetics, letting you embody the reaper fantasy more completely.
The update also introduces new Spirit Ashes for summoning spectral backup during difficult encounters. These provide additional tactical options when you need assistance against tough enemies or overwhelming situations.
Fresh Challenges
Update 2.0 includes new bosses and regular enemies scattered throughout the world. These additions ensure you’ll encounter unfamiliar challenges even in areas you thought you knew intimately. The development team hasn’t just added content to new dungeons – they’ve enriched the entire map with surprises.
Quality of Life Refinements
Beyond new content, Update 2.0 includes numerous improvements to the overall experience.
Codex Expansion
The in-game bestiary that catalogues defeated enemies has been enhanced and refined specifically for the 2.0 release. This system, which lets you track and review information about enemies you’ve conquered, has received additional polish and features. For completionists who enjoy documenting every encounter, this provides more satisfying tracking of your conquests.
Camera Improvements
Camera behavior has been refined, with particular attention paid to encounters against massive enemies. Anyone who’s struggled with the camera during Fire Giant or Elden Beast fights will appreciate this adjustment. Large boss fights should feel less like wrestling with the camera and more like actual combat.
Enhanced Interface
The user interface has been redesigned to provide information more clearly and appealingly. This includes improved readability and new iconography, making the game’s systems easier to understand and navigate.
Difficulty Options
Players can now adjust difficulty settings to match their preferences, with the developers accommodating both casual players and hardcore challenge-seekers. Whether you want a gentler introduction to the mod’s changes or an experience that makes the base game look forgiving, Update 2.0 lets you calibrate exactly how punishing you want your journey to be.
Platform Support
Update 2.0 includes enhanced compatibility for Linux users, benefiting Steam Deck owners and the Linux gaming community. The mod has included native Linux and Steam Deck support since earlier versions, but Update 2.0 brings further improvements to this functionality.
Exploration That Matters
While this feature existed in earlier Reforged versions, it remains central to the 2.0 experience: the development team has hand-placed thousands of items and rewards throughout the world, ensuring that completing dungeons, discovering secrets, and defeating enemies provides meaningful payoffs.
The modification fundamentally restructures the world, introducing updated locations and entirely new areas throughout the map. You won’t find your 47th identical crafting material in a hidden chest anymore. The Reforged team wants every discovery to feel consequential – that tricky platforming section actually has worthwhile loot now, and that obscure cave is genuinely worth investigating.
What Update 2.0 Builds Upon
It’s worth noting what Update 2.0 enhances rather than introduces. The mod has always featured extensive combat rebalancing, stat system reworks, new progression mechanics like Runeforging and Shadowed Curios, expanded character customization, defensive mechanics for all weapon types, and numerous other features. Update 2.0 represents the latest evolution of this already comprehensive overhaul, adding the multiplayer infrastructure and new content that takes it to the next level.
Installation and Requirements
Installation remains straightforward by Souls modding standards – the download includes a launcher that automates the technical setup. You’ll need a legitimate copy of Elden Ring on PC. The base mod doesn’t require Shadow of the Erdtree, though accessing DLC-specific content naturally requires owning the expansion.
The Reforged Philosophy
What distinguishes Reforged from other major modifications is its fundamental approach. The changes run so deep that knowledge of vanilla balance becomes largely irrelevant – the developers want you experiencing this as something fresh, not merely “Elden Ring with adjustments.”
The team aims for cohesion where new elements feel like natural extensions of the base game rather than jarring additions. This isn’t about flashy mechanics for their own sake – it’s about enhancing what already exists while respecting FromSoftware’s artistic vision.
Who Should Try Update 2.0?
This modification suits players who appreciate Elden Ring’s world design and want to experience its full potential, value cohesive additions that feel natural, enjoy combat that rewards engagement over avoidance, want freedom from following optimal strategies or rushing to meta weapons, enjoy crafting unique character builds from diverse options, and seek longer, more thorough playthroughs.
If you’ve completed multiple Elden Ring runs and feel you’ve exhausted the vanilla content, Update 2.0 deserves your attention. The addition of full multiplayer alone transforms the experience – now you can tackle the Reforged overhaul cooperatively or test your PvP skills against other mod users.
A Living Project
Elden Ring Reforged represents an enormous undertaking, with modifications so numerous and comprehensive they defy complete documentation. The team has continued updating the mod since its 2022 launch, with Update 2.0 arriving in November 2025 as proof of their ongoing commitment.
With complete multiplayer infrastructure, entirely new dungeons exploring major lore figures, expanded magical schools, fresh bosses and enemies, and numerous refinements, Update 2.0 represents an ideal time to experience or return to this ambitious project.
For players seeking an experience that builds on Elden Ring’s strengths while maintaining fidelity to the original vision, Reforged continues delivering better than ever.
Whether you’re a veteran Tarnished seeking fresh challenges or someone curious about experiencing Elden Ring through a different lens, Update 2.0 offers a substantially enhanced experience that respects the original while boldly expanding it.
The modification is currently available as a free download from Nexus Mods. Those ancient heresies beneath Mount Gelmir won’t investigate themselves.
May your death be legendary, Tarnished – but before dying, don’t forget to check out our Elden Ring Guides & Tips first.
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