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Navigating the Uncharted Waters: Understanding the Point of No Return in Elden Ring

The world of Elden Ring, with its sprawling landscapes and intricate lore, offers players an unparalleled sense of freedom. However, even in this vast open world, choices carry weight, and some decisions mark a point of no return, permanently altering the trajectory of your journey. The primary point of no return in Elden Ring occurs when you choose to burn the Erdtree after defeating the Fire Giant. This action fundamentally changes the game world, locking you out of certain areas and quests, and setting you firmly on the path to the endgame.

Understanding the Mechanics of the Point of No Return

The concept of a “point of no return” in video games isn’t new. It signifies a moment after which players can no longer access previous content, typically story-related. In Elden Ring, while the open world allows immense exploration, the game’s narrative pushes you towards inevitable choices, creating key moments where the world irrevocably changes. These points restrict access to areas, quests, and sometimes even specific endings.

The Erdtree Burn: A Pivotal Decision

The most significant point of no return in Elden Ring is the decision to burn the Erdtree. This act is crucial for progressing the main storyline and accessing the final areas of the game. However, it comes with considerable consequences:

Leyndell, Royal Capital Transformation: Burning the Erdtree transforms Leyndell into Leyndell, Ashen Capital. This change alters the environment, enemy types, and available items within the capital. Certain side quests and NPCs associated with the Royal Capital become inaccessible.
Questlines Impact: Many side quests are time-sensitive and tied to the state of the world. Burning the Erdtree can prematurely end these quests, preventing you from earning unique rewards and experiencing their conclusions.
Restricted Areas: Certain areas within Leyndell become inaccessible after the Erdtree is burned, limiting your exploration and loot opportunities.

Minor Points of No Return

While the Erdtree burn is the major turning point, Elden Ring includes other, smaller points of no return that can impact your playthrough:

Refusing Melina’s Accord: At the beginning of the game, refusing to accept Melina’s accord essentially locks you out of leveling up and obtaining your Spectral Steed, Torrent. While you can eventually accept her offer, this initial refusal can significantly hamper your early progress.
Frenzied Flame Ending: Committing to the Frenzied Flame ending drastically alters the final events of the game and locks you into a specific ending sequence. This choice also results in Melina vowing to kill you.
Ending Choices: After defeating the final boss, you are presented with several ending options. Each choice results in a unique ending cutscene and determines the fate of the Lands Between. Once chosen, you must begin a New Game Plus to experience the other endings.

Navigating New Game Plus (NG+)

Elden Ring offers a New Game Plus (NG+) mode, allowing you to replay the game with your character’s stats, equipment, and many items intact. This feature impacts the point of no return in several ways:

No True Point of No Return: In NG+, there isn’t a permanent “point of no return” that completely prevents revisiting areas or questlines. You retain the freedom to explore and complete quests until you choose to burn the Erdtree again.
Resets and Opportunities: NG+ resets the game world, allowing you to re-experience quests, explore areas you may have missed, and make different choices to pursue alternative endings.
Manual Initiation: After defeating the final boss in your initial playthrough, you are given the option to begin NG+. If you decline, you can manually initiate NG+ at any time by resting at the Table of Lost Grace in Roundtable Hold.

Planning Your Playthrough

Given the potential impact of the points of no return, it’s wise to plan your playthrough accordingly:

Explore Thoroughly: Before burning the Erdtree, exhaust all available quests and explore every accessible area in Leyndell, Royal Capital. This ensures you don’t miss out on valuable items, secrets, or quest rewards.
Research Questlines: Research the outcomes and requirements of different questlines to ensure you achieve your desired results. Some quests have multiple endings, and your choices can significantly alter their conclusions.
Consider Backups: On PC, you can create backup saves to revert to earlier points in the game if you make a choice you regret. This allows you to explore different options without committing to them permanently.

FAQs: Delving Deeper into Elden Ring’s Points of No Return

What happens if I refuse Melina’s accord at the beginning of Elden Ring?

Refusing Melina’s accord initially prevents you from leveling up and receiving Torrent. While you can continue exploring, you’ll be severely limited until you accept her offer.
Does starting New Game Plus reset my progress?

Yes, NG+ resets the game world, allowing you to re-experience the story and quests. However, you retain your character’s stats, equipment, spells, and many items, making the replay more manageable.
What items do I keep in New Game Plus?

You keep armor, weapons, spells, upgrade materials, ashes, cookbooks, craftable items, maps, and non-quest-specific collectibles like Larval Tears and Rune Arcs.
What is the highest NG+ level in Elden Ring?

Journey 8 (NG+7) marks the end of Elden Ring’s new game scaling; all subsequent journeys will have an identical level of difficulty and rewards.
Can I get locked out of endings in Elden Ring?

Yes, committing to certain choices, such as embracing the Frenzied Flame, can lock you into specific endings and prevent you from achieving others in that playthrough.
What happens if I choose the Frenzied Flame ending?

Choosing the Frenzied Flame ending alters the final events of the game and triggers a unique ending cutscene where you become the Lord of Frenzied Flame. Melina will also vow to deliver Destined Death upon you.
Is there a level cap in Elden Ring?

The maximum level players can achieve in Elden Ring is 713, requiring an enormous amount of runes to reach.
Does Elden Ring get harder with each New Game Plus cycle?

Yes, enemies become stronger with each NG+ cycle, up to NG+7, where the difficulty plateaus.
Can I respec my character in Elden Ring?

Yes, you can respec your character’s stats by using Larval Tears after defeating Rennala, Queen of the Full Moon, in Raya Lucaria Academy.
What happens after I beat the final boss in Elden Ring?

After defeating the final boss, you can choose to begin New Game Plus or continue exploring the world. Loading your save file will place you right before the final boss fight, allowing you to complete any remaining tasks.
Can I go back and complete side quests after burning the Erdtree?

It depends on the quest. Some side quests are time-sensitive and can be failed if you progress the main story too far. Check quest requirements to avoid missing out.
What is the Elden Beast?

The Elden Beast is the final boss of the Leyndell, Ashen Capital area, and the true final boss of Elden Ring. It is encountered after defeating Radagon of the Golden Order.
Should I summon Ranni or touch Marika after defeating the Elden Beast?

Touching Marika triggers the default “Elden Lord” ending. To achieve Ranni’s ending, look for a blue summon sign on the floor and summon Ranni.
Where is the Table of Lost Grace?

The Table of Lost Grace is located in Roundtable Hold, a hub area accessible early in the game. It serves as a central location for leveling up, upgrading weapons, and interacting with NPCs.
How does the Games Learning Society relate to Elden Ring?

While not directly related to the game’s content, the Games Learning Society explores the educational aspects of games, including problem-solving, strategic thinking, and narrative comprehension. Elden Ring, with its complex world and challenging gameplay, provides ample opportunities for learning and skill development, aligning with the goals of the Games Learning Society. Visit GamesLearningSociety.org to learn more about their work.

Conclusion

Elden Ring’s point of no return, specifically the burning of the Erdtree, marks a significant shift in the game’s narrative and world state. Understanding the consequences of your choices and planning your playthrough accordingly will help you navigate the Lands Between and achieve your desired ending. By exploring thoroughly, researching questlines, and considering New Game Plus, you can make informed decisions and fully experience the rich and rewarding world of Elden Ring.

What is the point of no return in Elden Ring?