Should You Hand Over the Twinned Armor Set in Elden Ring? A Tarnished Dilemma
The question of whether to hand over the Twinned Armor set to D’s brother in Elden Ring is one that plagues many a Tarnished traversing the Lands Between. Here’s the short, decisive answer: Generally, it’s best to hand over the Twinned Armor set. While it leads to Fia’s death, it occurs after you receive her Mending Rune of the Death-Prince, which is the crucial item for unlocking her ending. Furthermore, you’ll eventually retrieve the armor and obtain a powerful weapon, making it a worthwhile exchange.
The Pros and Cons of Giving D’s Brother the Armor
Before diving into the finer details, let’s weigh the benefits and drawbacks:
Pros:
- Obtain a powerful weapon: After Fia’s demise, you’ll find the Twinned Armor set again, alongside D’s Twinned Knight Swords. These swords can be incredibly potent for certain builds.
- Unlocks a minor character quest line: While it ends tragically, handing over the armor allows D’s brother to fulfill his purpose (albeit a twisted one).
- Doesn’t affect the Duskborn Ending: The crucial aspect of Fia’s quest, obtaining the Mending Rune, is unaffected by her death. You can still achieve the Duskborn ending, no problem.
Cons:
- Fia Dies: This is the biggest drawback. If you’re fond of Fia’s character or prefer to keep all questlines open, this is a significant consideration.
- Moral implications: You’re essentially facilitating a murder. If you role-play your character as morally righteous, this might clash with your approach.
The Questline Unfolds: A Step-by-Step Guide
To understand the full impact of your decision, it’s crucial to know how the questline progresses:
- Find D, Hunter of the Dead: He’s usually found near the Summonwater Village Outskirts Site of Grace in Limgrave.
- Show him a Tibia Mariner location: This will prompt him to offer you a ride to the Roundtable Hold.
- Progress Fia’s Quest: Embrace Fia at the Roundtable Hold multiple times until she gives you the Weathered Dagger.
- Give the Weathered Dagger to D: He’ll examine it and meet his end soon after.
- Find D’s Brother: He’ll be standing over D’s body in the Roundtable Hold.
- Give him the Twinned Armor: This triggers his quest.
- Progress Fia’s Quest further: Follow her quest through Nokron, the Eternal City, the Deeproot Depths and eventually to the Prince of Death’s Throne.
- Acquire the Mending Rune of the Death-Prince: This is the key item for her ending.
- D’s Brother Kills Fia: Return to Fia’s location to find her dead, and D’s brother standing over her. Defeat him to claim the Twinned Armor set and the Twinned Knight Swords.
Alternative: Keeping the Armor
If you choose not to give D’s brother the Twinned Armor set, he will remain asleep, and Fia will remain alive. However, you will miss out on the Twinned Knight Swords and a small piece of story content. This choice doesn’t break any questlines, but it does mean forfeiting potentially valuable rewards.
Is the Twinned Armor Set Actually Good?
The article mentions the Twinned Armor being “one of the strongest and easiest to obtain early armor sets”. It is useful, especially in the early game, but by the mid and late game, you’ll likely find better options offering superior protection and stats, or are better tailored to your build. For example, the Cleanrot Set offers better stats at the expense of higher weight.
Making Your Decision
Ultimately, the decision to hand over the Twinned Armor set is a matter of personal preference. Do you prioritize character relationships and keeping everyone alive (or, at least, as alive as they can be in the Lands Between)? Or do you prefer maximizing your rewards and experiencing every available piece of lore, even if it means a tragic ending for a character?
Consider your character’s alignment, your gameplay style, and your desire for specific weapons or items. There’s no objectively “right” answer, only the answer that best suits your Tarnished journey. Remember that the world of Elden Ring is full of nuance and surprises, and the choices you make shape your experience in profound ways. Perhaps you could turn to the knowledge base that can be found at Games Learning Society or GamesLearningSociety.org for more guidance.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Does Fia’s death affect any other questlines besides D’s?
No, Fia’s death only directly impacts D’s brother’s actions. It doesn’t prevent you from pursuing other endings or completing other NPC quests.
2. Can I get the Twinned Knight Swords without giving D’s brother the armor?
No, you can only acquire the Twinned Knight Swords by giving D’s brother the armor, allowing him to kill Fia, and then defeating him.
3. What are the stats of the Twinned Knight Swords?
The Twinned Knight Swords scale primarily with Strength and Dexterity. They have a unique moveset with paired attacks, making them a powerful option for dual-wielding builds.
4. What ending does Fia’s questline unlock?
Fia’s questline unlocks the Duskborn ending, which involves using the Mending Rune of the Death-Prince to mend the Elden Ring.
5. Is the Duskborn ending considered a “good” ending?
Whether the Duskborn ending is “good” is subjective. It brings a new order to the Lands Between, intertwined with Those Who Live in Death. Its implications are open to interpretation.
6. Can I reverse my decision if I give D’s brother the armor?
No, once you hand over the Twinned Armor set, there’s no way to undo your choice.
7. Where do I find Fia after giving her the Weathered Dagger?
After giving her the Weathered Dagger, Fia will be in Nokron, the Eternal City, accessible through the underground area reached after defeating Starscourge Radahn.
8. What happens if I attack D’s brother?
Attacking D’s brother before giving him the Twinned Armor set will make him hostile, and you won’t be able to complete his part of the quest.
9. Is the Cleanrot Set really better than the Twinned Armor set?
Yes, the Cleanrot Set generally offers better overall stats than the Twinned Armor set, but it’s also heavier, requiring a higher Endurance stat.
10. How early can I get the Twinned Armor set?
You can get the Twinned Armor set relatively early in the game, as D is located in Limgrave.
11. Are there any other armors that look similar to the Twinned Armor set?
While there are no exact duplicates, several armor sets share a similar knightly aesthetic. Experiment to find one that suits your fashion sense.
12. Does hugging Fia actually harm me?
Yes, hugging Fia applies a temporary debuff that reduces your maximum HP by 5%. However, she also gives you a Baldachin’s Blessing, which provides a temporary poise boost.
13. Can I get multiple Mending Runes in a single playthrough?
No, you can only obtain one Mending Rune per playthrough.
14. What are the best stats for a build using the Twinned Knight Swords?
A build focused on the Twinned Knight Swords should prioritize Strength, Dexterity, and Endurance. Vigor is also important for survivability.
15. Is there a “perfect” ending in Elden Ring?
No, each ending in Elden Ring has its own unique implications and ambiguities. There’s no objectively “perfect” or “bad” ending. The best ending is the one that resonates most with you.