Can You Become Elden Lord Without Killing Melina? A Deep Dive into Elden Ring Endings
Fast answer first. Then use the tabs or video for more detail.
- Watch the video explanation below for a faster overview.
- Game mechanics may change with updates or patches.
- Use this block to get the short answer without scrolling the whole page.
- Read the FAQ section if the article has one.
- Use the table of contents to jump straight to the detailed section you need.
- Watch the video first, then skim the article for specifics.
Yes, absolutely! You can become Elden Lord without sacrificing Melina. Elden Ring offers multiple endings, and a key gameplay mechanic – the Frenzied Flame – presents a choice that seemingly forces you to sacrifice her. However, by carefully managing quest lines, utilizing specific items, and making crucial decisions, you can indeed claim the title of Elden Lord while sparing Melina from her fiery fate. This article will guide you through the process and answer all your burning questions about this complex and fascinating aspect of the game.
Understanding the Frenzied Flame and Melina’s Role
The Frenzied Flame is a destructive power offered to the Tarnished by the Three Fingers. Accepting this power allows you to bypass the traditional method of burning the Erdtree, which normally requires Melina to sacrifice herself. With the Frenzied Flame, you can burn the Erdtree directly. However, this path comes with a heavy cost: the “Lord of Frenzied Flame” ending, which essentially plunges the Lands Between into chaos.
Melina’s role is crucial. She serves as your Maiden, guiding you on your journey, allowing you to level up, and ultimately intending to sacrifice herself to burn the thorns blocking entry to the Erdtree. She sees this as her purpose and a necessary step towards becoming Elden Lord.
The Key to Sparing Melina: Miquella’s Needle
The way to avoid Melina’s sacrifice lies in completing Millicent’s questline. This long and challenging quest eventually rewards you with Miquella’s Needle. This needle is crucial because it allows you to cure yourself of the Frenzied Flame, essentially undoing your pact with the Three Fingers and opening up other ending possibilities.
Here’s the process:
- Accept the Frenzied Flame: You must initially accept the Frenzied Flame from the Three Fingers deep beneath Leyndell, Royal Capital. This is necessary to trigger Melina’s departure and unlock certain dialogues. Don’t worry, you won’t be stuck with it forever.
- Complete Millicent’s Questline: This involves a series of steps, including finding her, giving her the Unalloyed Gold Needle, helping her fight off invaders, and making a crucial choice at the end of her quest. Be sure to choose to assist Millicent to get the Unalloyed Gold Needle.
- Defeat Malenia: The Unalloyed Gold Needle can be altered to Miquella’s Needle, and it can only be used within Dragonlord Placidusax’s arena in Crumbling Farum Azula, which requires defeating the optional boss Malenia, Blade of Miquella.
- Use Miquella’s Needle: After defeating Placidusax, use Miquella’s Needle within the arena to suppress the Frenzied Flame. This removes the Frenzied Flame ending from your possible outcomes.
- Choose a Different Ending: With the Frenzied Flame gone, you’re free to pursue one of the other endings, such as the Elden Lord ending through mending the Elden Ring or the Age of Stars ending by summoning Ranni.
Choosing Your Path to Become Elden Lord
Once you’ve used Miquella’s Needle, you can proceed to defeat the final boss and choose one of the other endings. There are several options:
- Elden Lord Endings: These involve mending the Elden Ring in different ways, depending on which NPC questlines you’ve completed. Each mending alters the rules and affects the Lands Between in unique ways.
- Age of Stars Ending: Completing Ranni’s questline allows you to summon her after defeating the final boss, initiating the Age of Stars ending. This involves Ranni becoming the new god and you becoming her consort.
By completing the necessary steps, players can experience the narrative complexity and strategic depth that Elden Ring offers. Find out more about how games can foster these skills at the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What happens if I accept the Frenzied Flame too early?
It doesn’t matter when you accept the Frenzied Flame, but accepting it is required in order to get rid of it. As long as you use Miquella’s Needle before the final boss fight, you’ll be able to avoid the “Lord of Frenzied Flame” ending and spare Melina.
2. Can I still level up if Melina leaves me?
Yes. Melina will leave you after you accept the Frenzied Flame, but you can level up with the Frenzied Flame powers. Once you get rid of the Frenzied Flame with Miquella’s Needle, Melina will never return, but you can still level up with the Roundtable Hold people.
3. Does removing the Frenzied Flame bring Melina back?
No, unfortunately, Melina will not return after you use Miquella’s Needle. She leaves after you accept the Frenzied Flame and her departure is permanent even if you cure yourself later.
4. Do I have to fight Melania to get Miquella’s Needle?
Yes, in a way. You don’t directly get Miquella’s Needle from her, but to use the Unalloyed Gold Needle to gain Miquella’s Needle you need to be in Dragonlord Placidusax’s arena. You need to defeat Malenia, Blade of Miquella, in order to progress Millicent’s questline far enough to get Miquella’s Needle, which is required to access Placidusax’s arena.
5. What happens if I refuse Melina at the beginning of Elden Ring?
If you refuse Melina at the beginning, you won’t be able to level up or summon Torrent. However, you can reconsider at any time by resting at a Site of Grace. She’ll eventually offer her accord again.
6. Who is the hardest boss in Elden Ring?
Many consider Malenia, Blade of Miquella to be the hardest boss in Elden Ring. Her aggressive fighting style and ability to heal with every attack make her a formidable opponent.
7. Are Melina and Ranni the same person?
This is a popular theory, but it is unconfirmed. Both share connections to Marika and have mysterious origins. However, there’s no definitive proof that they are the same.
8. Is Melania the Gloam-Eyed Queen?
The identity of the Gloam-Eyed Queen is largely speculated, and while unconfirmed, some believe it to be Melina. This is based on her connection to the Erdtree and her potential role in the past conflicts of the Lands Between.
9. Can you speak to Melina after curing the Frenzied Flame?
No, once you cure yourself of the Frenzied Flame, Melina will not appear again. Her role in your journey is concluded once you’ve chosen to either embrace or reject the Frenzied Flame.
10. What is the point of becoming Elden Lord?
Becoming Elden Lord signifies the restoration of order to the Lands Between after the shattering of the Elden Ring. It’s a position of immense power and responsibility, influencing the future of the world.
11. What level should I be for the Elden Lord final boss fight?
A recommended level for Godfrey, First Elden Lord (Golden Shade), is around 72-75. For the final Elden Beast fight, being around level 120-150 is generally recommended.
12. How many hours does it take to become Elden Lord?
On average, focusing on the main objectives takes around 58 hours. Completing all aspects of the game for 100% completion can take upwards of 133 hours.
13. Is Melina a Finger Maiden?
While Melina fulfills many of the duties associated with a Finger Maiden, she is not explicitly stated to be one. She guides the Tarnished, facilitates leveling up, and provides access to Torrent, all typical roles of a Finger Maiden.
14. Should I summon Ranni or touch Marika for the ending?
This depends on which ending you desire. Summoning Ranni initiates the Age of Stars ending, while touching Marika allows you to choose one of the Elden Lord endings.
15. Why does Melina have one eye closed?
Theorists suggest that Melina’s closed eye symbolizes a part of her being lost, possibly related to her connection with Marika and the shattering of the Elden Ring.