To be precise: as of my latest knowledge (April 2026). The most recent major patches for Shadow of the Erdtree have been v1.14 and v1.15 (which focused on balance adjustments, bug fixes, and DLC area tweaks).
FromSoftware has not officially confirmed this as a change. It may be a bug introduced in v1.16 that could be patched out in a hotfix. elden ring shadow of the erdtree update v1 16rune new
Equipment and spell balancing also take center stage in this version. The update specifically targets outliers—both underperforming weapons that lacked a place in the endgame and over-tuned builds that trivialized boss encounters. Several of the new "Great Katana" and "Backhand Blade" weapon arts received frame-data adjustments to ensure they feel responsive while remaining balanced against traditional weapon classes. Furthermore, magic users saw a re-calibration of FP costs for expansion-specific sorceries and incantations, encouraging a wider variety of playstyles beyond the most efficient "meta" spells. To be precise: as of my latest knowledge (April 2026)
A popular YouTuber, SmoughTown , has posited that the “v1.16Rune New” system is actually a lore clue. The Phantom Gravestones appear exclusively where Miquella’s followers were ritually sacrificed. The Echo Runes are not just in-game currency—they represent the residual will of those who failed to reach the Divine Gate. Using them is, thematically, a form of necromancy. It may be a bug introduced in v1