Elden Ring's easy mode just got even easier

techradar.com:

Elden Ring’s latest update makes big changes to the action RPGs magic system, introducing a range of weapon rebalances and spell buffs that make what some players have jokingly called the game’s easy mode even easier.

The bumper 1.04 update includes a massive selection of rebalances for Elden Ring’s incantations and sorcery spells, largely improving their combat effectiveness. Crystal Barrage’s cast speed has been increased, Ranni’s Dark Moon now has a lower recovery time, Explosive Ghostflame requires fewer focus points, and Bloodboon’s damage has been bumped up.

That’s only a handful of the three dozen or so spells that have been buffed. Glance across the patch notes, and you’ll find every spell mentioned has had its cast speed increased, FP or Stamina cost reduced, damage bumped, or had some other stat improved. That’ll make spell-slinging Faith builds a lot more potent against Elden Ring’s bosses and fellow Tarnished in the game’s PvP Invasions.

Since the game’s release, some players have provocatively said playing Elden Ring with a magic-focused character is akin to playing the game on easy mode – the idea being that incantations are disproportionately powerful, letting you take advantage of generous healing spells and powerful weapons that scale with your Faith.

It’s not a perspective that’s shared by the entire community. Many late-game enemies can effectively counter the long casting times of sorceries and incantations, while the damage output of spells caps out earlier than many melee and ranged builds. Pick any playstyle, though, and you’re more than likely to find at least someone claiming it’s too easy.

Even so, the buffs introduced in this update certainly go some way in powering-up magic. While being a