Echoes of Aincrad v1.0.5 patch now available, new harder difficulty level teased in a future update
Bandai Namco has released a new update patch for Echoes of Aincrad. This patch brings the game's version up to v1.0.5. It mostly features adjustments to the gameplay and weapon balances, although it also adds a new option that lets the player toggle the severing kill camera effect in regular battles.
In the same announcement, the company also teased that they will add a new difficulty level that will be even harder than the current hardest level (Very Hard). The new difficulty does not come with this patch, but it is slated to appear in another update patch that will be released within this year.
You can also find a copy of the v1.0.5 patch notes right below. Echoes of Aincrad is presently available worldwide on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and PC via Steam.
■Purpose of Balance Adjustments
Thank you for playing Echoes of Aincrad. We, as the development team, deeply appreciate and are filled with joy as we watch various strategies and enthusiastic adventures produced by each user from the title release onward. We provide balance adjustment at this update with the purpose of drawing out an appeal of "various types of weapons", so that both new players and those who have already completed the game can enjoy fresh experiences.
In addition, we are planning to add a new additional difficulty level which is beyond Very Hard within 2026.
*Please note that balance adjustments are also planned to be implemented when a new difficulty level is added.
The gameplay experiences will significantly change not only with the Death Game Mode but by changing difficulty settings.
Please try varying gameplay and enjoy journeys through Aincrad with your unique playstyle.
We hope to deliver deeper and more exciting exploration experiences to all of you.
■Feature Additions
Added an ON/OFF feature for the Severing Kill Animation.
Changed so that slow motion/camera effects can be ON/OFF when defeating enemies with disconnect attacks by selecting the Game Play Setting tab in the Main Menu's Settings.
■Balance Adjustments
〇 Adjusted difficulty levels
Adjusted the enemy strength and the number of enemies appearing for the Story to Hard difficulty levels, which had an extremely lower difficulty than the Very Hard level, so that players can enjoy more challenging and engaging combat.
▶ Parameters
Enhanced enemy HP and attack power for the Normal and Hard difficulty levels.
▶ Adjustment of the number of enemies appearing
Increased the number of enemies appearing for the Story, Normal and Hard difficulty levels.
▶ Some enemies' multi-hit settings are relaxed.
Relaxed attack damage amount from some enemies when using a Sword Skill's Super Armor.
▶ Quests
- Increased the number of Healing Potions provided as starting equipment for the main quest "Summons", and newly granted a Bombstone.
- Enhanced some quest bosses' HP and attack power.
○ Partners
- Argo
Reduced the Support SP Increased and the additional damage correction value, as the high buff effectiveness of the Support Skill 《Analyze》 had narrowed partner choices.
- Adjustment for the SP gauge recovery rate per weapon.
Adjusted the gained SP amount per weapon when Normal Attacks and Heavy Attacks hit enemies.
Adjusted the gained SP amount appropriately for weapons with high-speed motion and high hit counts.
Increased the gained SP amount for weapons with slow-speed motion and low hit counts.
Upward adjustments
- Two-Handed Swords/Two-Handed Axes
Downward adjustments
- Swords/Rapiers/Daggers/Maces
○ Individual Weapon Adjustment
- Swords: the unique mod for the Dress Swords 《Sword Barrier》.
Reduced the granted barrier value and extended cooldown.
- Daggers: the unique mod for the Mournflower 《Supreme Shooter》.
Reduced additional Damage Multiplier and cooldown for throwing Sword Skills.
○ Sword Skill Adjustments
Improved general gameplay performance and implemented downward adjustments of some Sword Skills.
[Swords]
▲Upward adjustments
《Horizontal Square》
Enhanced the Sword Skill motion speed and shortened duration from the move startup to its completion.
[Daggers]
▲Upward adjustments
《Single Shoot》
Enhanced the Sword Skill motion speed and shortened duration from the move startup to its completion.
《Kaynine》
Enhanced the Sword Skill motion speed and shortened duration from the move startup to its completion.
《Rapid Bite》
Enhanced the Sword Skill motion speed and shortened duration from the move startup to its completion.
《Fad Edge》
Enhanced the Sword Skill motion speed and shortened duration from the move startup to its completion.
《Spiral Riser》
Enhanced the Sword Skill motion speed and shortened duration from the move startup to its completion.
▼Downward adjustments
《Strike Rain》
Reduced damage and ATK correction value and increased cooldown and SP Cost.
《Hornet Swarm》
Reduced damage and ATK correction value.
[Two-Handed Axes]
▲Upward adjustments
《Roaring Jolt》
Reduced SP Cost at low Sword Skill levels.
Enhanced the Sword Skill motion speed and shortened duration from the move startup to its completion.
《Whirlwind》
Reduced SP Cost at low Sword Skill levels.
Enhanced the Sword Skill motion speed and shortened duration from the move startup to its completion.
《Fierce Shock》
Reduced SP Cost at low Sword Skill levels.
《Chain Angler》
Reduced SP Cost at low Sword Skill levels.
Enhanced the Sword Skill motion speed and shortened duration from the move startup to its completion.
《Volcano》
Reduced SP Cost at low Sword Skill levels.
《Rockfang》
Reduced SP Cost at low Sword Skill levels.
Enhanced the Sword Skill motion speed and shortened duration from the move startup to its completion.
《Gravity》
Implemented upward adjustments for ATK correction value.
[Maces]
▲Upward Adjustments
《Riot Smash》
Enhanced the Sword Skill motion speed and shortened duration from the move startup to its completion.
《Double Cleave》
Enhanced the Sword Skill motion speed and shortened duration from the move startup to its completion.
《Tri-Horn Medley》
Enhanced the Sword Skill motion speed and shortened duration from the move startup to its completion.
《Spiritfall》
Enhanced the Sword Skill motion speed and shortened duration from the move startup to its completion.
《Clashbang》
Enhanced the Sword Skill motion speed and shortened duration from the move startup to its completion.
▼Downward Adjustments
《Absorbing Strike》
Implemented downward adjustments for ATK correction value and cooldown.
[Two-Handed Swords]
▲Upward Adjustments
《Cascade》
Reduced SP Cost at low Sword Skill levels.
Reduced charge time and shortened duration from the move startup to its completion.
《Piercing Blast》
Reduced SP Cost at low Sword Skill levels.
Enhanced the Sword Skill motion speed and shortened duration from the move startup to its completion.
《Backlash》
Reduced SP Cost at low Sword Skill levels.
Reduced charge time and shortened duration from the move startup to its completion.
《Blade Torrent》
Reduced SP Cost at low Sword Skill levels.
Reduced charge time and shortened duration from the move startup to its completion.
《Brave Leep》
Reduced SP Cost at low Sword Skill levels.
Reduced charge time and shortened duration from the move startup to its completion.
《Cyclone》
Implemented upward adjustments for damage and ATK correction value.
《Vertical Buster》
Reduced charge time and shortened duration from the move startup to its completion.
■Fixes for the confirmed issues
- Fixed an issue where, after unlocking the boss area's barrier on the "Summons" quest, gameplay rarely progresses while the blackout persists following enemies' appearing effects.
- Fixed an issue where the players rarely became invincible during quests.
- Fixed an issue where, in some quests, players could enter boss areas without accessing the Magical Seals before encountering the quest bosses.
- Fixed an issue where the orange hit-effect persisted when defeating close range enemies with Daggers' Sword Skill 《Single Shoot》 and 《Strike Rain》.
- Fixed an issue where the number of items decreased in the Inventory during quests when activating the bonus mod "Items Carried + 1" with INT at 30 through the effect of the unique mod "Armor of Wisdom" of Tops "Soulforce Robe".
- Fixed an issue where an undefeatable enemy could be defeated, and it caused gameplay progression to stop, when using the unique mod "Soul Bite" of the Sword "Death's Salvation".
- Fixed other minor issues.
■Future Plans
The entire development team will continue to provide balance adjustments, etc., at the timing of DLC and other distribution so that more users can enjoy the game experiences.
As mentioned earlier, we are planning to add a new additional difficulty level which is beyond the Very Hard within 2026. Please wait for the updates.
Thank you for your continued support of Echoes of Aincrad.