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The Rusty Sword Glitch Killing Your Elden Ring Run? Here's The Fix pops up in mid playthroughs when upgrades suddenly stop. Players notice their weapon stays at basic damage instead of scaling.
The Rusty Sword Glitch Killing Your Elden Ring Run? Here's The Fix is a bug where a weapon stays rusty, locking upgrade materials. Studies indicate this happens when item flags misalign during transfers or quick saves. Essentially, the game fails to mark the weapon as usable.
Another Angle: Scoping Out The Soft Lock
Some see this as a silent progress killer, wasting grind time. Research shows it often follows PC port patches or mod conflicts. Soft locks emerge when leveling menus can no longer apply stats. Keep an eye on weapon status after loading.
Quick Behavior Check
If attack numbers never rise, open the armament menu. You should see upgrade materials consumed but no level gain. This mismatch points straight to the glitch, not player skill.
Straight Talk Remedy
Reload an earlier save before the first upgrade attempt.
Straight Talk Remedy
Replicate the upgrade steps exactly and watch the weapon spark.
One Line Takeaway
Always save before smithing, then reload if the upgrade fails once.
Q: Will replaying the upgrade fix it?
Usually yes; redo the ritual from bonfire to blacksmith.
Q: Does this only happen on PC?
It appears more on PC, though console players can still encounter it.
