If you play Elden Ring on PC, you might just want to download the free Reforged mod, especially after its last big update.
That’s because the latest Elden Ring Reforged update added a full bestiary to the game. That’s right; an extensive list of all types of enemies and bosses found in the Lands Between is now available and researched in the Codex of the Knowing One. Updating the mod to the latest version spawns a chest in the Roundtable Hold center where you can get the codex (thanks, Wccftech (opens in a new tab)).
Like many of the best Elden Ring mods, the Reforged bestiary update goes beyond that and actively encourages players to complete it. According Nexus mod page (opens in a new tab) for Reforged, you can craft a consumable item called “Mark of the Knowing”. This marks an enemy and enters them into the bestiary when defeated.
This is just the latest in a long list of Elden Ring Reforged updates. But if this is your first time hearing about a lauded fad, you might be wondering what it is. The point is that Reforged remixes the gameplay elements of Elden Ring.
This includes re-arranging items, the ability to resurrect defeated bosses, the addition of Fortune items that can permanently buff your character in certain aspects, and even difficulty adjustment options, just to name a few of the upgrades that Reforged brings.
The mod brings a lot of fantastic quality of life updates, but I’m a big fan of its remixed elements in particular. This is no different from the “Second Quest” systems found in many Zelda games, which typically rearrange enemies and items as well as shift dungeon layouts.
A new life in the Lands Between
Elden Ring is a brilliant game, but one that’s hard to come back to to replay. This is largely due to the sheer scale of the game, and having your steps traced through a huge open world is not the most pleasant proposition. The relatively linear nature of earlier FromSoftware games like Dark Souls 3 and Bloodborne makes New Game Plus much easier to play.
That’s why mods like Elden Ring Reforged are welcome. Transformational mods like this are able to breathe new life into experiences you’ve played over and over again. At best, it may feel like you’re playing a brand new game.
I certainly found that to be the case when I recently used a mod to randomize items in Dark Souls Remastered. I’ve played Dark Souls enough times that I can map out most item locations from memory. But thanks to the randomizer, I really have no idea what I’ll find in many nooks and crannies of Lordran. It puts the emphasis back on exploration, not just tearing your way through the game looking for all the best pickups.
I certainly loved spending time finishing Elden Ring, but I know that if I’m going to recreate such a huge game from scratch, it will be with a top-notch mod like Reforged.