Do You Have to Read the Messages in Elden Ring? A Comprehensive Guide
The short answer is no, you absolutely do not have to read the messages in Elden Ring. While these player-written notes are a defining feature of FromSoftware’s Souls-like games, including Elden Ring, they are entirely optional. You can absolutely play the game from start to finish without ever engaging with a single message left behind by other players. However, understanding what these messages are and the impact they can have on your game experience might make you reconsider ignoring them completely. Let’s delve deeper into the world of Elden Ring messages.
The Importance and Impact of Player Messages in Elden Ring
Elden Ring’s message system is a unique way for players to interact indirectly with each other. These messages, scribbled on the ground using templates and keywords, can range from helpful advice and warnings to hilarious (and often misleading) gags. They’re an integral part of the asynchronous multiplayer experience, where you’re aware of other players’ presence and experiences without directly interacting with them in real-time.
The Good, The Bad, and The Hilarious
The messages can offer invaluable tips for navigating treacherous areas, locating hidden paths, and identifying difficult enemies. You might find a message that warns you about an upcoming trap or hints at a weak point in a powerful boss’s armor. These can be genuinely life-saving.
However, not all messages are created equal. Some are intentionally misleading, designed to lure unsuspecting players into ambushes or off cliffs. Others are simply jokes, often referencing popular internet memes or humorous observations about the game’s world. Sorting through these messages to discern what’s helpful and what’s not is part of the fun (and sometimes frustration) of the Elden Ring experience.
The Benefits of Engaging
- Health Restoration: When another player rates your message as “Good,” you receive a small but crucial health boost in the form of one Flask of Crimson Tears’ worth of health. This can be a lifesaver in a tight spot, especially during difficult boss encounters.
- Community Engagement: Interacting with messages provides a sense of connection to other players. It’s a way of sharing your journey, both in success and in failure. The game’s asynchronous multiplayer thrives on this communal aspect.
- Discovering Secrets: Some messages point to hidden items, shortcuts, or even entire dungeons that you might have missed otherwise.
The Detriments of Ignoring
While you can certainly play without reading them, choosing to do so means you might miss out on:
- Helpful Tips: Valuable advice from other players that can significantly ease your progress.
- Community Fun: The humor and shared experience that comes with the message system.
- Potential Health Boosts: The health restoration you get from well-received messages.
Ultimately, the choice to engage with the message system is entirely yours. However, the system is designed to enhance the game, not hinder it. It offers a unique layer to the Elden Ring experience that is worth considering.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Messages in Elden Ring
1. Can I turn off the messages in Elden Ring?
Unfortunately, you cannot turn off messages in Elden Ring. The game is designed around the presence of these messages. The only way to avoid them is to play completely offline, which will also prevent you from summoning other players or seeing bloodstains.
2. How do I interact with messages?
You can interact with a message by approaching it and pressing the corresponding button (usually X/Square). You will then have the option to rate it as “Good” or “Bad,” which is known as an Appraisal.
3. What happens when someone likes my message?
When a player rates your message as “Good”, you instantly receive a health boost equal to one Flask of Crimson Tears. This can be crucial when you’re low on health or in the middle of a difficult encounter.
4. How long do messages stay in Elden Ring?
Messages don’t really have a set time limit to disappear. A message that receives a good amount of “Good” appraisals will often remain active for a long time. However, messages that receive “Bad” appraisals or no ratings may disappear over time.
5. How many active messages can I have?
The maximum number of messages a player can have active at a time is 10. Applying protection to a message prevents it from being automatically deleted whenever you place a new one, once you’ve hit the maximum.
6. Can messages be misleading?
Yes, absolutely. Many players leave messages that are intentionally misleading or humorous. This adds another layer of challenge, requiring players to be discerning and not blindly trust every message they see.
7. What are some famous or common Elden Ring messages?
Some of the common messages in Elden Ring include phrases like “Try finger, but hole”, “Praise the dog!”, “Amazing chest ahead,” and “Be wary of liar”. These messages are often comical or intended to misdirect.
8. What is a Bloodstain, and is it similar to a message?
Bloodstains are visual representations of how other players died in the game. Interacting with them will briefly show you the player’s final moments, which can serve as a warning or a learning experience. While they serve a similar purpose to messages (offering context from other players’ experiences), they’re not the same as player-written notes.
9. Are messages helpful for beginner players?
Yes, messages can be very helpful for beginners. They can offer tips on combat, point out hidden paths, and warn of dangerous enemies. However, beginner players should be aware that not all messages can be trusted.
10. What does it mean when a message says “Try Finger But Hole”?
This is a deliberately mischievous and often repeated message in Elden Ring and other Souls games. It usually refers to interacting with objects in the environment, sometimes in a sexual innuendo manner, or it could be used to imply a hidden path or secret nearby. It should be approached cautiously.
11. Is there a way to filter out misleading messages?
There isn’t a direct filter, but you can use your own judgment, watch other players’ bloodstains, and try to discern which messages are genuine based on the environment. Over time you’ll develop a sense of which messages can be trusted and which are more suspect.
12. Should I leave messages for other players?
Yes! Leaving messages can be a fun way to engage with the game’s community and potentially help other players. Just try to strike a balance between helpful advice and silly jokes.
13. Do messages affect the gameplay experience?
Yes, in a unique way. They add a layer of interaction that’s unlike traditional multiplayer. They make you feel a sense of communal presence even when you’re not directly playing alongside other people.
14. Are there any downsides to reading messages?
The primary downside is that you can be misled, sometimes into dangerous situations. However, this is all part of the game’s charm and a risk that can lead to fun and unexpected outcomes.
15. Can messages help with boss fights?
Yes, messages can certainly help with boss fights, offering tips on weaknesses, attack patterns, and even pointing out areas to take cover during the fight. However, you have to consider the fact that some may be incorrect, so tread carefully.
Final Thoughts
While reading messages in Elden Ring isn’t mandatory, it’s a feature that significantly enhances the overall experience. It connects you to the larger community of players, offering both assistance and a touch of humor. Whether you heed every warning or laugh at every ludicrous suggestion, the choice is yours. Embrace the messages, use them wisely, and they will undoubtedly add an enriching layer to your time in The Lands Between.