Grim Dawn lets players shut off The Dread in its latest update
Patch 1.3.0.4 also adjusts early-game bosses, adds new boss variants, and changes how evade direction works.
Grim Dawn developer Crate Entertainment has released patch 1.3.0.4, giving players a way to stop The Dread from appearing during Ascendant mode runs. The update also tunes several bosses, adds new difficulty variants, and brings a few control options to the action RPG.
The Dread is a powerful Chthonic enemy that can appear at random in Ascendant mode, the endgame variant introduced with the Fangs of Asterkarn expansion. Crate Entertainment does not plan to reduce its strength, but the studio has added an opt-out for players who would rather not deal with an unexpected high-level fight.
To disable The Dread, visit the Remnant in either Devil’s Crossing or Kurnhold. The choice can be reversed later. Players who enjoy the extra danger can still use the Ascension Altar to increase The Dread’s spawn rate. The full details are available in Crate Entertainment’s update notes.
The patch also revisits Grim Dawn’s early-game boss balance. Crate says the encounters have been moved closer to their pre-v1.3.0 tuning, with special attention paid to lower-level fights and bosses capable of dealing heavy burst damage. Several Fangs of Asterkarn enemies received similar adjustments.
Some bosses now have separate normal and elite versions, including the expansion’s final encounter. These versions are tuned independently from their ultimate and Ascendant counterparts, giving each difficulty level its own balance target.
Movement controls received a useful option as well. Evade can now move toward the cursor instead of following the direction the character faces. The setting is enabled by default, though it can be switched off from the controls menu. A new big cursor option is also available for players using larger displays.
Patch 1.3.0.4 is live as of August 2, 2026. Crate Entertainment described the release as the first step in its post-launch support for Fangs of Asterkarn, with the new toggle offering a middle ground between removing The Dread and leaving its challenge untouched.
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