What Happens If You Reject Melina in Elden Ring? A Tarnished’s Dilemma
Rejecting Melina in Elden Ring essentially locks you out of the core progression of the game. You won’t be able to level up, rendering you increasingly vulnerable as you venture further into the Lands Between. More critically, you cannot acquire Torrent, the spectral steed, severely limiting your exploration and combat mobility. You’ll be unable to progress beyond certain early-game areas and will ultimately be stuck, unable to challenge the major bosses required to complete the game. Melina’s acceptance is the key that unlocks the majority of Elden Ring’s expansive world and character development. Refusing her offer throws that key away.
The Consequences of Refusal
No Leveling
The most immediate and impactful consequence is the inability to level up. Melina provides the Tarnished with the ability to channel runes collected from defeated enemies and use them to increase their stats. Without her, you are stuck with your starting attributes, making even early-game encounters exponentially harder. Elden Ring is a challenging game even with consistent leveling; attempting it without this vital mechanic is a self-imposed, near-impossible challenge.
No Torrent
Torrent, the spectral steed, is arguably even more important than leveling up. This spirit horse grants unparalleled mobility, allowing you to traverse the vast open world quickly, escape dangerous situations, and engage in mounted combat. Access to many areas is predicated on having Torrent; certain jumps are impossible without his double jump, and some boss fights are designed with mounted combat in mind. Rejecting Melina means forgoing Torrent, severely crippling your exploration and combat capabilities.
Progression Blocked
Melina serves as a crucial guide and key to unlocking later areas of the game. She is essential for progressing the story and providing the necessary items to reach certain areas. She provides access to the Roundtable Hold, a safe haven for Tarnished and a hub for questlines and services. She also provides a crucial item needed to activate The Grand Lift of Rold, which is necessary to access areas needed to finish the game. Without these tools, you’re essentially stuck in the early game areas.
Abandoning the Golden Order
Rejecting Melina can be interpreted as rejecting your purpose as a Tarnished seeking the Elden Ring. While alternative paths exist within the game that diverge from the Golden Order, Melina’s guidance is fundamentally tied to the established narrative and lore of Elden Ring. This choice limits your exposure to the game’s rich backstory and significantly alters your experience.
FAQs: Deep Diving into the Melina Dilemma
1. Can you technically start Elden Ring if you refuse Melina?
Yes, you can start the game. You can explore the opening areas of Limgrave and even venture into some early dungeons. However, your progress will be severely limited, as you will be unable to level up or acquire Torrent, making further progression extremely difficult, if not impossible.
2. Is there any benefit to refusing Melina initially?
No, there is no tangible benefit to refusing Melina initially. Some players might do it purely for the sake of experimentation or to see what happens, but it provides no in-game advantage or secret reward.
3. Can you change your mind after refusing Melina?
Yes, you can. After refusing her offer, Melina will reappear at a subsequent Site of Grace and offer her accord again. You can then accept her offer and continue the game normally. This gives players a chance to see the initial consequences without permanently locking themselves out of the main progression.
4. What happens if you kill Melina?
You cannot directly kill Melina. She is an ethereal being who appears at Sites of Grace. She will temporarily disappear if she “dies” during certain scripted events, such as the Morgott fight, but she will always reappear.
5. Does refusing Melina affect which endings you can achieve?
Refusing Melina initially does not affect which endings you can ultimately achieve. As long as you accept her offer at some point, you will be able to pursue any of the game’s multiple endings based on your subsequent choices and actions. Your initial rejection is inconsequential to the ending you achieve.
6. Is Melina a Finger Maiden?
The article claims that Melina is not a Finger Maiden, but fulfils most of the duties of the title’s duties in incredible fashion. This is because Finger Maidens are meant to guide and empower Tarnished, helping them interpret the guidance of the Two Fingers and channel runes into strength. While she carries out many of their tasks, her true nature is more mysterious.
7. How does Melina’s role connect to the Elden Ring lore?
Melina’s role is deeply intertwined with the fate of the Elden Ring and the Erdtree. She seeks to guide the Tarnished to become Elden Lord, restoring order to the Lands Between. Her connection to Marika, the shattering of the Elden Ring, and the Greater Will’s influence all contribute to her complex and pivotal role in the overarching narrative. Understanding her motivations is crucial to understanding the core themes of Elden Ring.
8. Does Melina ever betray the player?
Under most circumstances, Melina remains loyal to the player. However, if you choose to embrace the Frenzied Flame and become the Lord of Chaos, Melina will abandon you and vow to deliver “Destined Death” upon you, viewing you as a threat to the world’s order.
9. Is Melina related to other characters in Elden Ring, like Ranni?
The article mentions theories suggesting a connection between Melina and Ranni, possibly as sisters or related spirits. While there is no definitive confirmation of this relationship within the game, their shared traits, such as their connection to Marika and their unique eyes, lend credence to these theories. Further exploration of the lore may reveal more concrete connections.
10. What are Melina’s motivations in Elden Ring?
Melina’s primary motivation is to fulfill her purpose: to guide a worthy Tarnished to become Elden Lord and restore order to the Lands Between. She is driven by a sense of duty and a desire to see the Elden Ring repaired. She’s compelled to ignite herself at the Forge of the Giants to burn the Erdtree, allowing the Tarnished to enter Leyndell.
11. Can you summon Melina for boss fights?
Yes, Melina can be summoned for certain boss fights, most notably the fight against Morgott, the Omen King. Her presence can provide valuable support in combat, making these challenging encounters slightly more manageable.
12. What happens if Melina dies in a boss fight?
If Melina dies during a boss fight, she will leave behind a shining, golden tree that replenishes your health. She will then reappear as if nothing happened.
13. Is there a secret ending related to Melina?
The article refers to the Elden Ring Melina ending, where you have to defeat at least two of the demi-gods, Morgott, the Fire Giant, claim the giant’s fire to burn the thorns blocking your path, defeat Malekith in Farum Azula, and then beat the final bosses in Leyndell, Ashen Capital. However, it also mentions the Frenzied Flame ending where you have to betray her.
14. What is the Lord of Frenzied Flame ending and how does it affect Melina?
The Lord of Frenzied Flame ending is a chaotic and destructive ending where the player embraces the power of the Three Fingers and seeks to burn the world to ashes. If you pursue this path, Melina will abandon you, viewing you as a threat to the world’s order, and vow to kill you.
15. How does accepting or refusing Melina connect to broader game-based learning principles?
The decision to accept or refuse Melina highlights fundamental game-based learning principles such as choice and consequence. The game provides a clear, albeit implicit, tutorial on the importance of Melina. Refusing Melina serves as a powerful lesson, demonstrating how choices can significantly impact progression and shape the player’s experience. This mirrors real-world scenarios where decisions have tangible outcomes. Learning how complex games like Elden Ring teach these kinds of lessons can be explored further at the Games Learning Society website, GamesLearningSociety.org.
In conclusion, while you can technically reject Melina’s initial offer, doing so effectively kneecaps your entire Elden Ring experience. It’s a choice that highlights the importance of guidance, support, and embracing the intended path (at least initially) in a complex and unforgiving world. Accept Melina’s accord, Tarnished, and begin your journey towards becoming Elden Lord.