Tarnished Pack
The Tarnished Pack adds two new classes, four armor sets, four weapons and three Torrent skins to ELDEN RING on Switch 2 — what is inside and how to use it.
Introduction
The Tarnished Pack is the Switch 2 edition's exclusive content bundle, bundled free with ELDEN RING Tarnished Edition and also sold separately for around €4.99. It adds two brand-new starting classes — the Heavy Knight and the Idus Knight — each with their own exclusive armor set and starting weapon, plus two more armor sets and two weapons discovered in-game, and three customization skins for your spectral steed Torrent. It is the first time ELDEN RING has offered Torrent cosmetics, and it marks the first Switch-exclusive content for the series. This section breaks down exactly what is in the pack, how the new classes play, how to obtain the in-game gear, how the Torrent skins work, and whether the pack is worth buying on its own or as part of the Tarnished Edition bundle.
Tarnished Pack Contents Reference
| Content | Type | How To Get |
|---|---|---|
| Heavy Knight | Starting Class | Available at character creation |
| Idus Knight | Starting Class | Available at character creation |
| Heavy Knight Armor | Armor Set | Starter set for the Heavy Knight |
| Idus Knight Armor | Armor Set | Starter set for the Idus Knight |
| 2 More Armor Sets | Armor Sets | Discovered in-game |
| 4 Weapons | Weapons | 2 starter + 2 in-game |
| 3 Torrent Skins | Cosmetics | Equip from the inventory menu |
Pack Contents Deep Dive
Heavy Knight Class
The Switch 2 exclusive Strength tank
Idus Knight Class
The balanced armored fighter
Torrent Skins
The series' first Torrent customization
In-Game Armor & Weapons
The pack's gear you have to find yourself
Value Assessment
Is the pack worth your money?
Heavy Knight Armor Set
The exclusive heavy plate set of the Switch 2 edition
Idus Knight Armor Set
The balanced plate set for the Idus Knight
Core Mechanics
The Tarnished Pack works by injecting new content into the existing game systems rather than adding new mechanics. The Heavy Knight and Idus Knight are full starting classes — they appear in the character creator with their own stat spreads, starting gear and exclusive armor sets, and they play exactly like the base game's classes but with their own identity. The four weapons are regular weapons that scale and upgrade like any other: the two starter weapons come equipped on the new classes, and the two in-game weapons are found through exploration. The Torrent skins are cosmetic customizations — once obtained, you can change Torrent's appearance from the inventory menu, and they do not affect gameplay at all. Everything in the pack integrates seamlessly with the base game and the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC, so a Heavy Knight can journey all the way from Limgrave into the Land of Shadow.
Advantages
The Tarnished Pack section is valuable because the pack's contents are easy to misunderstand. It clarifies that the pack is not a pay-to-win power bump — the new classes are balanced against the originals, and the exclusive gear is competitive but not overpowered. The guide breaks down each new class's playstyle so you can decide whether starting as the Heavy Knight or the Idus Knight fits your build plans, and it explains exactly how to obtain the in-game armor sets and weapons so nothing is missed. For Switch 2 owners, the section also confirms the pack's value: included free in Tarnished Edition, it adds a meaningful amount of new content for returning players who have already mastered the base game, while remaining a reasonable standalone purchase at €4.99 for those who bought the game elsewhere.
Challenges
The Tarnished Pack is a relatively small content drop, and its main limitation is that it does not change the core game. The two new classes are remixes of existing archetypes rather than radically new playstyles, the four weapons are competitive but not meta-defining, and the Torrent skins are purely cosmetic. Official details are also sparse — Bandai Namco has confirmed the contents and quantities, but specific item names and exact stat comparisons for the in-game armor and weapons are still being catalogued by the community after launch, so some entries in this guide reflect early player reports. Finally, if you already own ELDEN RING on another platform, the pack's €4.99 standalone price buys you only a modest amount of new content — its real value comes bundled with the Tarnished Edition.
Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly is in the Tarnished Pack?+
Are the Tarnished Pack classes worth playing?+
How do Torrent skins work?+
Quick Tips
Start as the Heavy Knight for the easiest possible opening. Its exclusive heavy armor gives you high poise and physical negation from level 1, which makes the early game dramatically more forgiving — you can trade hits with Margit and Godrick instead of getting one-shot. It is the best new-player experience in the entire Tarnished Pack.
Buy the pack as part of Tarnished Edition, not separately, if you are still deciding. The Tarnished Edition bundles the pack free with the base game and the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC at $79.99 — the same price the base game launched at. Buying the pack separately at €4.99 only makes sense if you already own ELDEN RING on another platform.
Do not skip the in-game armor and weapons. Two of the pack's four armor sets and two of its four weapons are found through exploration, and they are easy to miss if you assume everything is given at the start. Keep an eye out for chests and corpses in the early regions — the in-game gear is well-hidden but worth collecting.
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