The new patch increases player strength in Elden Ring's Shadow of the Erdtree expansion by buffing the Scadutree Blessings. Attack and damage negation have been increased for the first half of the Blessing enhancements, making them more effective earlier in the game. This change should make the expansion easier for players overall, as they can now withstand more damage and deal more damage to enemies.
FromSoft may have issued the patch to address player complaints about the game's difficulty and to improve player retention. By buffing players through Scadutree Blessings, the game becomes easier, which could encourage more players to continue playing and potentially lead to better sales and overall reception for the expansion.
The game's difficulty is heavily reliant on the Scadutree system, as it significantly increases your power in the Shadow Realm. It is estimated that around 70% of the difficulty in the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion is reliant on the Scadutree system, as it provides essential boosts to both offensive and defensive capabilities.