Can You Level Up After Melina Dies in Elden Ring? A Comprehensive Guide
Yes, you can level up after Melina dies in Elden Ring. While her sacrifice is a pivotal moment in the story, it does not prevent you from increasing your stats and becoming a more powerful Tarnished. The ability to level up is tied to your access to Sites of Grace and the availability of runes, not Melina’s physical presence. This is a relief, considering how crucial leveling is to progressing through the Lands Between.
Melina’s Role and Leveling Mechanics
Melina serves as your Finger Maiden and, more importantly, your guide. She offers you the Accord, which is essential to start your journey and to interact with Sites of Grace to convert runes into stats. While she’s the one who facilitates the leveling process initially, the ability to level up becomes an inherent part of the player’s character. Her eventual departure doesn’t invalidate this established function.
Once Melina has fulfilled her purpose, specifically if you choose to inherit the Frenzied Flame, she leaves you, but the mechanics she enabled remain. So, even though she won’t be there at Sites of Grace to level you up, you can still access the leveling menu, although that function changes depending on certain player choices. It is a misconception that her departure ends your ability to level up.
Understanding the Frenzied Flame Ending
The major caveat to Melina’s involvement and leveling up arises with the Frenzied Flame ending. By embracing the Frenzied Flame, you choose a path that directly opposes Melina’s goals. This leads her to abandon you, vowing to deliver Destined Death to you in the new world you are about to create.
However, even in this scenario, you can still level up. What changes is the interface and maybe the character that assists you with leveling. The Frenzied Flame ending is a distinct path that does have consequences but doesn’t cripple your character’s growth by preventing leveling.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Melina and Leveling
1. What happens if I decline Melina’s Accord at the beginning of Elden Ring?
You cannot progress without accepting Melina’s Accord. Declining her offer prevents you from leveling up, summoning Torrent, and accessing the Roundtable Hold. It’s essentially a soft lock, forcing you to accept her assistance to continue the game.
2. Is there a way to avoid Melina’s sacrifice at the Forge of the Giants?
Yes, there is. By embracing the Frenzied Flame and later using Millicent’s Unalloyed Gold Needle to purge yourself of it within Placidusax’s arena, you can avoid sacrificing Melina to burn the Erdtree. This allows you to choose a different ending that doesn’t involve her death.
3. Can I still access the Roundtable Hold after Melina leaves?
Yes, you can. The Roundtable Hold remains accessible, regardless of Melina’s presence. Once you’ve gained access, you can always teleport there, allowing you to interact with the NPCs residing within.
4. What are the consequences of embracing the Frenzied Flame?
Embracing the Frenzied Flame leads to the Lord of Frenzied Flame ending, where you become the vessel for the Frenzied Flame and intend to burn the world and all the inhabitants. Melina also leaves you, vowing to deliver Destined Death. Other than this and the changed interface, not much else happens to prevent you from further progression.
5. Is Melina Ranni’s sister?
The game heavily implies a connection between Melina, Ranni, and Queen Marika, but the exact nature of their relationship is intentionally vague. Many theories suggest they are related, possibly as sisters or daughters of Marika, but there isn’t definitive confirmation within the game.
6. What is the significance of Melina’s closed eye?
The closed eye is one of the most discussed mysteries surrounding Melina’s character. One prominent theory suggests that it represents the loss of a Great Rune or a part of her soul, possibly linked to the Gloam-Eyed Queen or Destined Death.
7. Can I summon Melina for boss fights?
Yes, you can summon Melina for the Morgott fight. This is one of the few instances where she directly participates in combat alongside the player.
8. How does Melina die?
Melina sacrifices herself at the Forge of the Giants to burn the Erdtree, if you choose the path that leads you there. This is the only route that leads to her actual death, unless you force her abandonment with the Frenzied Flame ending, in which case she survives after becoming your enemy.
9. What happens if Melina dies before the Forge of the Giants?
If Melina dies in a previous encounter, she simply respawns at the next Site of Grace, allowing you to continue your journey. Her true sacrifice only occurs at the Forge of the Giants.
10. Is Melina a Finger Maiden?
Melina technically isn’t a traditional Finger Maiden, but she fulfills the role by guiding the Tarnished, assisting with leveling up, and introducing them to the Two Fingers.
11. What is the alternate way to burn the Erdtree without sacrificing Melina?
As mentioned earlier, you can embrace the Frenzied Flame, then use Millicent’s Unalloyed Gold Needle to rid yourself of the Flame. This allows you to burn the Erdtree without Melina’s sacrifice.
12. Does Melina have an ulterior motive? Is she good or evil?
Unlike many characters in Elden Ring, Melina appears to be genuinely dedicated to her purpose of guiding the Tarnished to become Elden Lord. She doesn’t seem to have hidden agendas, making her one of the more trustworthy figures in the game.
13. What ending keeps Melina alive?
The ending achieved by embracing the Frenzied Flame, then ridding yourself of it using Millicent’s Unalloyed Gold Needle, will ultimately result in Melina’s survival.
14. Are Melina and Ranni connected to the Gloam-Eyed Queen?
The possibility of Melina’s connection to the Gloam-Eyed Queen is a popular theory, largely due to her closed eye and its murky blue hue, which is reminiscent of the Gloam-Eyed Queen’s description. Ranni is less connected, but the eyes are a strong point of connection in many theories.
15. Why do Melina and Ranni have closed eyes?
The exact reason for their closed eyes is open to interpretation. Some theories suggest it signifies the loss of a Great Rune or a part of their soul, while others link it to their connection with different Outer Gods or forces within the Lands Between. Regardless, the closed eyes are symbolic of the characters’ intricate and mysterious backstories. Learning more about the lore and design of video games can be a worthwhile endeavor. One excellent resource for this type of research is the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org.
In conclusion, while Melina’s role in Elden Ring is significant, her death or departure does not impede your ability to level up. You will still be able to access the stat-boosting functions via the Sites of Grace, ensuring that you can become powerful enough to face the challenges ahead and claim the title of Elden Lord.