Quick answer
Balance Patch 1 buffed five named Tarstones
Parasitic Stone, Grudge Stone, Bulwark Stone, Clerik's Stone, and Squall Stone were buffed. The official notes only describe Bulwark's change in more detail, saying its damage reduction increased significantly. Exact new values for the other four were not published.
Balance Patch 1 Tarstone changes
| Tarstone | Official change | What is confirmed |
|---|---|---|
| Parasitic Stone | Buffed | The official notes confirm the direction of the change but publish no new value. |
| Grudge Stone | Buffed | The official notes confirm the direction of the change but publish no new value. |
| Bulwark Stone | Damage reduction increased significantly | The notes describe a substantial defensive increase without giving a percentage. |
| Clerik's Stone | Buffed | The official notes confirm the direction of the change but publish no new value. |
| Squall Stone | Buffed | The official notes confirm the direction of the change but publish no new value. |
“Buffed” proves the direction of a change, not its magnitude or its final place in a tier list. Compare the live in-game description and test the effect before spending limited Tarcores.
What the patch changes for builds
Bulwark Stone is a clearer defensive candidate after its named damage-reduction increase. The other four may also be stronger, but the public notes do not justify assigning new percentages or automatic S-tier rankings. Enemy health, weapon damage, tracking, and the economy changed at the same time, so a build that feels stronger may be benefiting from several systems.
Platform rollout
The August 20 developer post announced Balance Patch 1 as live on PC and coming shortly to PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series. Community rollout reports followed for PlayStation 5 on August 22, 2026 and Xbox Series on August 23, 2026. Because those console dates are player-reported rather than a separate official release notice, check the version shown by your game before comparing results.
Known Tarstone issues reported after the patch
Some players report that fully tempered Tarstones still display a “ready to level up” notification. A developer replied in the Steam bug forum and recorded the report, but the available thread does not establish Balance Patch 1 as the cause or provide a universal fix.
What has not been confirmed
- No exact new value was published for Parasitic, Grudge, Clerik's, or Squall Stone.
- No official change to Tarstone XP, Tarcore rewards, or Level 3 costs was listed.
- The notes do not say whether every upgrade level received the same buff.
- Future Tarstone extensions were mentioned, but no feature list or release date was announced.
Frequently asked questions
Which Tarstones were buffed in Balance Patch 1?
Parasitic Stone, Grudge Stone, Bulwark Stone, Clerik's Stone, and Squall Stone.
Did the patch change Tarstone XP or Tarcore costs?
No such change appears in the published Balance Patch 1 notes.
What is the best Tarstone after Balance Patch 1?
The notes are not detailed enough to establish a universal winner. Choose by weapon, Shell, slot competition, and the effect your build can trigger consistently.
Sources checked
- Developer-posted Balance Patch 1 notes on Steam — named Tarstone, weapon, economy, and original rollout announcement.
- PS5 and Xbox community rollout reports — player-reported console availability dates.
- Steam Tarstone notification bug report — player reports and developer acknowledgement.