A massive Dark Souls 2 patch has just gone live, and along with a long list of changes and refinements comes the news that Health Recovery Items can no longer be used during any PvP . What this means is that you can t chug Estus mid duel, which is a change the Dark Souls 2 community has been requesting for a long time. After all, a duel should be an honorable fight to the death, right? Right.
The update notes are as long as my arm. A huge selection of weapons have been buffed, a small selection have been handicapped, while a selection of armor sets now have increased durability but lower defense. Judging by the list it looks like no build will go unaffected, albeit in potentially unnoticeable ways.
Check out the full patch notes below. Maybe prepare a cup of tea first, because there's a lot to digest. It comes just in time for the release of the first Dark Souls 2 DLC pack, which you can read about how to access here.
Bug fixes, changes and refinements:
Fixed abnormal amounts of damage being caused by certain weapons
An upper limit has been set to the number of Souls a player can earn when fighting off invading players
Fixed the phenomenon where the player is not able to talk to Licia of Lindeldt
Fixed the progression-stopping phenomenon at Heide's Tower when the host falls off right before the Dragonrider Boss Fight
Fixed the phenomenon in Majula where the door does not open even after moved by Licia of Lindeldt
Fixed the progression-stopping phenomenon when the player talks to Laddersmith Gilligan in Earthen Peak
Fixed the phenomenon when the poison pond does not disappear when the windmill is burned down and immobilized
Fixed the phenomenon when that the poison pond returns after the windmill is burned down and immobilized, and the player is summoned into another world as a Blue Savior then returned to their own world
Fixed the loading screen issue when you lose a deathmatch in the Undead Purgatory
Fixed the issue where saved data cannot be reloaded if the game is shut down right after the player is caught by the Darksucker, in an oil puddle in Black Gulch
Fixed the phenomenon where items do not disappear from inventory if they are thrown away while they are also being used
Fixed the ability to use parry while back-stepping
Fixed the ability to use parry while invincible
Fixed the phenomenon where the player floats in the air if attacked while hanging onto a rope
Fixed the phenomenon in Brightstone Cove Tseldora when the Duke's Dear Freja stops moving after defeating a summoned player in a NG+ playthrough
Fixed the phenomenon where the Tseldora Den Key cannot be acquired after the confrontational event between Mild-mannered Pate and Creighton the Wanderer in Brightstone Cove Tseldora
Fixed the phenomenon where sound effects volume does not comply with the optional settings during the fight with the Looking Glass Knight
Fixed the jumping shortcut at the Shrine of Winter
Fixed the phenomenon where a summoning signature can be written near a bonfire in Belfry Sol Approach
Fixed the phenomenon where the floor trap in the Iron Keep is displayed differently on host and client worlds during multi-play
Fixed the phenomenon where the resume point is different from where the game was forced-quit after the player died
Fixed the issue where the selected message for deletion is not deleted, but a different message is deleted
Fixed the Halberd weapons sound effects that sometimes do not play when the weapon is swung
Adjusted the sound made when the Silver Eagle Kite Shield is hit
Fixed the issue where the player holding thrusting swords in both hands can cause continuous damage until the opponent's stamina runs out
Fixed the phenomenon where the player dual-wields whips and only the Right-hand weapon hits the enemy
Adjustments were made so players can get out of the continuous attacks from Syan's Halberd
Adjustments were made so players can get out of the continuous attacks from a player who is dual-wielding with a Straight Sword and with the Red Rust Sword in their left hand
Defender Greatsword can be enchanted
Fixed the phenomenon where a heavy attack while holding Pate's Spear with both hands produces only one hit
Adjusted the Strong Attack of the Spider's Silk when Dual-Wielding
Lucerne Strong Attack will penetrate shields
Adjusted the attack element type for the King's Ultra Greatsword
Adjusted the attack element type for the Drakekeeper's Warpick
Corrected the description of the attack type for the Archdrake Mace
Corrected the description of the attack type for Drakekeeper's Warpick
Fixed the Symbol Markings of "Galib, God of Disease" and "Caitha, Goddess of Tears" on the Name-Engraved Ring
Fixed the issue where the Information text sometimes does not display properly
Correction to the amount of damage inflicted against other players and enemies
Shortened the amount of time stunned when taking damage from multiple attacks
Adjustments that will be made with Regulation 1.08 (all following changes):
Health Recovery Items can no longer be used during any PvP
Increased the matching range for users in online play
Over-all balance adjustments made to weapons, armors, accessories and spells
Description of the modifications made to the main components and spells:
Increased the durability and lowered the defense levels of the following armor sets (Helm, Armor, Gauntlets, Leggings)
Steel Armor Set
Havel's Armor Set
Gyrm Warrior Armor Set
Ironclad Armor Set
Old Ironclad Armor Set
Smelter Demon Armor Set
Alonne Knight Armor Set
Vengarl's Armor Set
Mastodon Armor Set
Rusted Mastodon Armor Set
Old Knight Armor Set
Drakekeeper Armor Set
Velstadt's Armor Set
Looking Glass Armor Set
Imperious Armor Set
Dragonrider Armor Set
Infantry Axe
Decreased the amount of attack power of the following weapons
Drangleic Sword
Defender Greatsword
Large Club (Strong Attack only)
Pickaxe (Strong Attack only)
Great Club (Strong Attack only)
Gyrm Great Hammer (Strong Attack only)
Increased the status values of the following weapons
Shotel
Monastery Scimitar
Curved Dragon Greatsword
Chaos Blade
Flamberge
Key to the Embedded
Drangleic Sword
Defender Greatsword
Greatsword
Hand Axe
Infantry Axe
Butcher's Knife
Giant Stone Axe
Gyrm Greataxe
Morning Star
Reinforced Club
Craftsman's Hammer
Blacksmith's Hammer
Gyrm Great Hammer
Spear
Winged Spear
Pike
Partizan
Stone Soldier Spear
Spitfire Spear
Channeler's Trident
Gargoyle Bident
Full Moon Sickle
Helix Halberd
Blue Knight's Halberd
Old Knight Halberd
Work Hook
Decreased the durability of the Defender Greatsword and Watcher Greatsword
Increased the enchantment statistics Defender Greatsword and Watcher Greatsword
Increased the weight of the Defender Greatsword
Decrease the weight of the Butcher's Knife and Old Knight Halberd
Status value added to the Handmaid's Ladle
Decrease the amount of damage for the following weapons
Malformed Skull (Strong Attack only)
Giant Warrior Club (Strong Attack only)
Old Knight Hammer (Strong Attack only)
Drakekeeper's Great Hammer (Strong Attack only) oDragon Tooth (Strong Attack only)
Malformed Shell (Strong Attack only)
Archdrake Mace (Strong Attack only)
Channeler's Trident (Strong Attack and Dual-wielding)
Helix Halberd (Strong Attack and Dual-wielding)
Drakekeeper's Warpick (Strong Attack and Dual-wielding)
Increased the amount of self-inflicted damage when using the Chaos Blade
Adjusted the hit detection for the Scythe of Want (Strong Attack only)
Increased the physical cut rate of the Shield Crossbow
Changes were made to the point of explosion and Blast area of the Old Sun Ring Changes made to the effect of the Gower's Ring of Protection - does not negate damage anymore, will reduce damage received
Improvements made to the penetrability of Soul Speak and Crystal Soul Spear
Improvements made to the tracking of the following Spells, Hexes, Pyromancy and Miracles
Soul Bolt
Soul Shower
Shockwave
Soul Spear Barrage
Blinding Bolt
Perseverance
Caressing Prayer
Heavenly Thunder
Fireball
Fire Orb
Great Fireball
Great Chaos Fireball
Lingering Flame
Dark Orb
Dark Hail
Resonant Soul
Decreased the amount of stamina consumed for the following Spells, Hexes, Pyromancy and Miracles
Soul Bolt
Soul Shower
Fire Orb
Great Fireball
Great Chaos Fireball
Lingering Flame
Iron Flesh
Increased spell usage for the following Spell and Miracle
Cast Light
Unveil
Improvements to the durability damage for the following Spells
Shockwave
Soul Spear Barrage
Decrease the number of multi-hits to the following Spells, Hexes and Pyromancy
Soul Vortex
Firestorm
Fire Tempest
Chaos Storm
Scraps of Life
Lifedrain Patch
Darkstorm
Decrease the attack power of the following Miracle
Blinding Bolt
Decreased the number of attunement slots required for the following Miracle and Pyromancy
Unveil
Immolation
Decrease the number of uses for the following Miracles and Hexes
Lightning Spear
Great Lightning Spear
Sunlight Spear
Emit Force
Soul Appease
Great Resonant Soul
Profound Still
Increase the damage for the following Miracle through correction to status values
Lightning Spear
Great Lightning Spear
Sunlight Spear
Emit Force
Increase the hit radius for the Miracle Force
Increase the effectiveness of the following Pyromancy and Hex
Iron Flesh
Whisper of Despair (duration and effect)
Decrease the self-inflicted damage of Immolation
Increase the speed of chanting the following Hexes
Repel
Twisted Barricade
Decrease to the amount of durability damage done from Dark Hail
Increase the attacking power of Great Resonant Soul
Decrease character mobility while using the following items
Amber Herb
Twilight Herb
Wilted Dusk Herb