As of 2026, players who have long since conquered the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC and seek new challenges within The Lands Between often turn to the game's PvP coliseums. Introduced as a free update that finally gave substance to pre-launch rumors, these arenas were designed as the ultimate test of buildcraft and skill between Tarnished. However, in recent years, this competitive space has been persistently plagued by a significant and damaging cheating problem, casting a long shadow over the multiplayer experience and frustrating the dedicated community. While the core gameplay loop of testing one's mettle against other players remains compelling, the integrity of these encounters is frequently undermined.
The nature of cheating in Elden Ring's PvP has evolved beyond simple stat manipulation or unintended ability use. A particularly destructive category of cheaters employs hacks that can directly compromise the game experience and, in extreme cases, the save files of their opponents. As reported by players on community forums like Reddit, one notorious exploit involves cheaters using external programs to forcibly clip other players out of the game world's bounds. The victim is then trapped in an infinite fall state, a glitch that persists even after respawning. This malicious act is not just an instant, dishonorable win for the cheater; it poses a tangible risk of corrupting or ruining the victim's entire save file, potentially erasing hundreds of hours of progress. Instances of encountering such cheaters back-to-back have been documented, indicating the method's unfortunate prevalence. The community's advice has been stark: if you see the telltale gray screen indicating the hack is initiating, force-quitting the game as fast as possible might be the only way to save your file.
This situation has led to widespread concern and nostalgia within the player base. Many veterans of FromSoftware's titles frequently compare the current state of Elden Ring's PvP unfavorably to the more stable and secure online environment of Dark Souls 3. Comments from the community reflect a deep-seated worry: "This really seems to be getting out of hand," remarked one player, echoing a common sentiment. Others openly wonder if the developers might be forced to take drastic measures, reminiscent of the steps taken years ago with the Dark Souls trilogy, where online functionality was temporarily disabled for months to address rampant hacking issues. The fear is that without consistent and effective countermeasures, the PvP ecosystem could degrade further.
Despite these challenges, the PvP community has shown remarkable resilience. Players have developed various strategies to cope and continue enjoying duels and invasions:
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Community Policing & Reporting: Organized groups and forums actively share the names and profiles of known cheaters, warning others to avoid matchmaking with them.
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Off-Meta Dueling Hotspots: Some players have informally designated specific, lesser-used in-game locations for honorable duels, operating on a gentlemens' agreement system outside the official coliseum matchmaking.
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Password-Protected Fight Clubs: Dedicated groups host private sessions using password matching, creating a controlled environment where participants are vetted to minimize the risk of encountering cheaters.
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Focus on Co-op & Invasions: Many have shifted focus back to the unpredictable, organic PvP of invasions and co-op helper roles, where the chaotic nature of the open world can sometimes mitigate the impact of a single cheater.
| Aspect of PvP | State in 2026 | Community Sentiment |
|---|---|---|
| Coliseum Integrity | High risk of disruptive cheaters | 😠 Frustrated, cautious |
| Save File Safety | Perceived as vulnerable to exploits | 😨 Anxious, protective |
| Community Activity | Strong but fragmented into safer niches | 🤝 Resilient, adaptive |
| Developer Response | Perceived as slow or insufficient | 😓 Hopeful but impatient |
The persistence of these issues years after the coliseums' launch highlights the ongoing difficulty in securing a peer-to-peer multiplayer system against determined bad actors. While the promised lands of a potential "Nightreign" or future expansions remain speculative, the present reality for PvP enthusiasts is one of navigating a landscape where glorious, skill-based victories can be instantly soured by unfair and destructive interference. The core appeal of mastering Elden Ring's complex combat against another human mind remains potent—this is what keeps players returning to the coliseums despite the risks. Yet, the experience is now inherently tempered by a layer of caution and the collective memory of lost progress. The community's enduring passion is the mode's greatest strength, but its long-term health in 2026 and beyond likely depends on a more robust and visible defense against those who seek to break the game rather than triumph within its rules. The duel between honorable Tarnished and malicious cheaters continues, not just in the arenas, but in the very sustainability of this beloved aspect of the Elden Ring experience.