Do You Really Have to Let Melina Burn in Elden Ring? A Deep Dive
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.
The short answer, Tarnished, is no, you do not have to let Melina burn in Elden Ring. There are alternative paths, fraught with their own consequences, that allow you to ignite the Erdtree without sacrificing her. However, the implications of those choices are significant, impacting not just Melina, but the entire fate of the Lands Between. Let’s unpack this pivotal decision and explore the alternatives.
Understanding Melina’s Role and the Burning of the Erdtree
Melina is more than just your Finger Maiden; she’s a guiding force, intrinsically linked to the Erdtree and the Elden Ring itself. Her purpose, as she understands it, is to guide a worthy Tarnished to become Elden Lord. When the thorns block your path to the Erdtree, she offers the ultimate sacrifice: to burn herself at the Forge of the Giants, using the Flame of Ruin to clear the way. This act, she believes, is necessary to restore order to a world shattered by Marika’s actions.
However, the game provides another route. If you embrace the Frenzied Flame, offered by the Three Fingers deep beneath Leyndell, you can inherit the power to burn the Erdtree yourself. This allows you to spare Melina’s life, but at a terrible cost: embracing chaos and becoming the Lord of Frenzied Flame.
The Consequences of Choice
The beauty (and brutality) of Elden Ring lies in the weight of your decisions. Choosing to burn the Erdtree yourself, via the Frenzied Flame, is not a simple “get out of jail free” card for Melina. She is deeply opposed to the Frenzied Flame, viewing it as anathema to her purpose and the natural order of the world.
By accepting the Frenzied Flame, you betray Melina’s trust. She will leave your side, and if you proceed to become the Lord of Frenzied Flame, she will appear after the ending to vow revenge, promising to deliver Destined Death upon you.
The Alternate Path: The Flame of Frenzy
This path is tempting because it spares Melina from the sacrifice. However, the Frenzied Flame ending leads to a vastly different outcome for the Lands Between. You essentially become a destructive force, ushering in an age of chaos and madness.
Can You Redeem Yourself?
The crucial point is that you can acquire the Frenzied Flame and then purge it. This is done by completing Millicent’s questline and obtaining the Unalloyed Gold Needle. After defeating Malenia, Blade of Miquella, you can use the needle in her arena to receive Miquella’s Needle. You can then use the needle to quell the Frenzied Flame within Dragonlord Placidusax’s arena in Crumbling Farum Azula. Doing this will allow you to avoid the Frenzied Flame ending after you use it to burn the Erdtree, so you can still choose a different ending and save Melina.
Choosing Your Destiny
Ultimately, the decision of whether or not to let Melina burn is a deeply personal one, tied to your understanding of the lore and your desired ending for the game. Are you willing to sacrifice her for a chance at a “good” ending, or are you willing to embrace chaos to spare her life?
Explore the world, uncover its secrets, and weigh the consequences of your actions carefully. The fate of the Lands Between, and Melina, rests in your hands.
To learn more about the complexities of games and their impact, visit the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some frequently asked questions to help you further navigate the decision of whether or not to let Melina burn.
1. Can you avoid burning Melina entirely?
Yes, by inheriting the Frenzied Flame, you can burn the Erdtree yourself. However, this is not without consequence. You must then decide if you are going to proceed with the Frenzied Flame ending or try to reverse it.
2. What happens if you burn the Erdtree yourself without quelling the Frenzied Flame?
You become the Lord of Frenzied Flame, ushering in an age of chaos and destruction. Melina, having abandoned you, vows to deliver Destined Death upon you.
3. How do I quell the Frenzied Flame?
Complete Millicent’s questline, defeat Malenia, use the Unalloyed Gold Needle to acquire Miquella’s Needle, and then use Miquella’s Needle within Dragonlord Placidusax’s arena in Crumbling Farum Azula.
4. Does Melina come back after burning the Erdtree?
- If she burns the Erdtree, she is gone permanently if you did not inherit the Frenzied Flame.
- If you burn the Erdtree with the Frenzied Flame and do not quell it, she appears after the ending to threaten you.
- If you burn the Erdtree with the Frenzied Flame and then quell it, you can get a different ending, thus saving Melina.
5. Is Melina a Finger Maiden?
While not officially a Finger Maiden in the traditional sense, Melina fulfills many of the duties associated with the role, such as guiding the Tarnished and providing them with the ability to level up.
6. What is the best ending in Elden Ring in relation to Melina?
This is subjective and depends on your values. However, many consider the standard Elden Lord ending to be the most aligned with Melina’s goals. While she dies to achieve it, she seems to see this as a worthwhile sacrifice.
7. How do I get to Crumbling Farum Azula?
You are automatically transported to Crumbling Farum Azula after burning the Erdtree, regardless of whether Melina does it or you do it with the Frenzied Flame.
8. What is the theory behind Melina’s closed eye?
The theory is that it represents a loss of part of her soul or purpose, possibly related to the shattering of the Elden Ring or a connection to a previous age.
9. Are Melina and Ranni connected?
There are theories suggesting a connection between Melina and Ranni, possibly as sisters or through shared lineage connected to Marika. They are both Empyreans.
10. What ending would Melina want?
Melina’s desired ending is likely the standard Elden Lord ending, where the Tarnished mends the Elden Ring and restores order to the Lands Between.
11. Why is Melina so set on burning the Erdtree?
She believes it’s the only way to break the impasse and allow a worthy Tarnished to become Elden Lord and bring about a new age. She is fulfilling her purpose as a Kindling Maiden to provide the flame to burn the Erdtree.
12. Does sacrificing Melina end the game?
No, sacrificing Melina does not end the game. It allows you to progress to the final stages and choose your ending.
13. Is there any reward for saving Melina from burning?
The reward for saving Melina is that she will not perish, and you are able to achieve a different ending than Lord of Frenzied Flame.
14. Can I fight Melina?
While you don’t directly fight Melina as a boss, you can summon her to aid you in certain boss fights. This allows you to see some of her combat abilities.
15. Is Melina good or bad?
Melina is generally considered to be a “good” character, acting in what she believes to be the best interests of the Lands Between and the Tarnished. However, her methods and the consequences of her actions can be debated.