What Do You Get If You Betray Sellen?
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If you betray Sorceress Sellen in Elden Ring, siding with Witch-Hunter Jerren at the end of her questline, you receive the Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone as a reward. While this may seem appealing, betraying Sellen ultimately closes off access to her unique sorceries and armor set, and arguably leads to a less satisfying ending to her character arc.
Understanding Sellen’s Questline and the Choice You Face
Sellen’s quest is one of the most complex and rewarding in Elden Ring, allowing players to delve deeper into the lore of sorcery and the dangers of unchecked ambition. This intricate storyline involves finding and freeing various Primeval Sorcerers, each contributing to Sellen’s ultimate goal: to rediscover the primal essence of sorcery. The quest culminates in Raya Lucarian Grand Library where you’ll encounter two summoning signs: one to assist Sellen and another to assist Witch-Hunter Jerren. This is where the choice to betray Sellen arises.
Choosing to assist Witch-Hunter Jerren effectively ends Sellen’s questline prematurely. Jerren will kill Sellen in her new, somewhat monstrous form, and reward you with the Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone. This stone is invaluable for upgrading armaments to their maximum level (+25 for standard weapons and +10 for special weapons), providing a significant boost to your combat capabilities. However, this immediate reward comes at a significant cost.
The Cost of Betrayal: What You Lose by Siding with Jerren
While the Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone is a powerful reward, betraying Sellen prevents you from obtaining several valuable items and experiences:
- Sellen’s Primal Glintstone Crown: This unique helmet boosts Intelligence while slightly reducing FP. It’s a staple for many sorcery-focused builds.
- Lusat’s Set: Completing Sellen’s quest allows you to access Lusat’s armor set after she moves from the Raya Lucarian Grand Library.
- Azur’s Set: Similar to Lusat’s Set, you gain access to Azur’s armor set after she moves from the Raya Lucarian Grand Library.
- Shining Horned Headband: After you defeat Rennala Queen of the Full Moon in Raya Lucaria Academy, you can find Sellen’s original body in Witchbane Ruins and obtain her Shining Horned Headband.
- Unique Sorceries: Sellen sells a range of powerful sorceries, some of which are exclusive to her inventory. Betraying her means losing access to these spells.
- A More Fulfilling Narrative Outcome: Many players find Sellen’s “good” ending (assisting her) to be more thematically compelling and emotionally satisfying than her “bad” ending (betraying her).
Essentially, you trade long-term power and story satisfaction for a single, albeit powerful, upgrade material. For most players, especially those focusing on sorcery builds, the loss of the armor sets, unique sorceries, and the narrative closure outweighs the benefit of the Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone.
Is Betraying Sellen Ever the Right Choice?
While generally not recommended for sorcery builds, there are a few scenarios where betraying Sellen might be considered:
- Early Game Upgrade Rush: If you desperately need to upgrade a specific weapon early in the game and lack other Ancient Dragon Smithing Stones, betraying Sellen provides a quick solution. However, remember that other stones can be found throughout the world.
- Completionist Run with Multiple Characters: On a completionist run where you plan to experience all aspects of the game, betraying Sellen on one character allows you to see the alternative outcome and obtain the Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone while still experiencing Sellen’s “good” ending on another character.
- Roleplaying a Witch-Hunter: If you are roleplaying a character specifically opposed to sorcery and aligned with the Witch-Hunters, siding with Jerren is a thematically appropriate choice.
Ultimately, the decision is yours, but understanding the full consequences of your choice is crucial.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Sellen and Her Quest
1. Can I undo my decision if I betray Sellen?
No, once you’ve chosen to side with Witch-Hunter Jerren and killed Sellen, the decision is permanent for that playthrough. There’s no way to revert the outcome. You’ll need to start a New Game Plus to experience the other side of the quest.
2. Where do I find Witch-Hunter Jerren to trigger the final stage of Sellen’s quest?
After completing the previous steps of Sellen’s quest, including freeing her from the Weeping Peninsula and finding the various Primeval Sorcerers, Witch-Hunter Jerren will appear in Raya Lucarian Grand Library. Look for the summoning signs near Rennala’s arena.
3. Can I still get the Lusat’s and Azur’s armor sets if I betray Sellen?
No, obtaining the Lusat’s and Azur’s armor sets is contingent on completing Sellen’s quest by assisting her. Betraying her locks you out of accessing these sets.
4. What exactly is Sellen trying to achieve with her quest?
Sellen is seeking to rediscover the Primeval Current, a powerful source of sorcery from a bygone era. She believes this knowledge will elevate sorcery to new heights.
5. What are the benefits of siding with Sellen?
Siding with Sellen grants you access to Sellen’s unique sorceries, the Primal Glintstone Crown, Lusat’s Set, Azur’s Set, and a more narratively satisfying conclusion to her quest.
6. Is the Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone the only reason to betray Sellen?
For most players, yes. The Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone is the primary tangible reward for betraying Sellen. The alternative might be thematic consistency for certain character roleplays.
7. Where can I find other Ancient Dragon Smithing Stones in Elden Ring?
Ancient Dragon Smithing Stones are relatively rare but can be found in various locations, including:
- Hidden areas within late-game dungeons.
- As rewards for defeating certain challenging bosses.
- Inside chests in difficult-to-reach locations.
- Given as rewards in some questlines.
8. Does Sellen’s quest affect any other characters in the game?
Yes, Sellen’s quest directly involves Primeval Sorcerer Azur, Primeval Sorcerer Lusat, and Witch-Hunter Jerren. Their fates are intertwined with Sellen’s.
9. What are the prerequisites for starting Sellen’s questline?
To start Sellen’s quest, you need to find her imprisoned body in Witchbane Ruins and learn sorceries from her. She is initially found in Limgrave, but that Sellen is not actually Sellen, so interacting with her will not trigger the quest.
10. Is Sellen evil?
Whether Sellen is “evil” is a matter of perspective and interpretation. She is undeniably ambitious and willing to experiment with dangerous magic, but her motivations are rooted in a desire to advance the field of sorcery. Her methods and disregard for potential consequences are what make her morally ambiguous.
11. Can I respec my character if I regret betraying Sellen and want to try a sorcery build?
Yes, you can respec your character’s stats using Larval Tears after defeating Rennala, Queen of the Full Moon, in the Raya Lucaria Academy. However, respeccing won’t grant you access to the missed sorceries or armor sets if you betrayed Sellen.
12. Does betraying Sellen affect any trophies or achievements?
No, betraying Sellen does not affect any specific trophies or achievements in Elden Ring. The game rewards completing different storylines, but there aren’t specific trophies tied to Sellen’s quest outcome.
13. What happens to Witch-Hunter Jerren after I side with him?
After siding with Witch-Hunter Jerren and killing Sellen, he will disappear from the Raya Lucarian Grand Library and reappear back at Redmane Castle, near where you fought Starscourage Radahn. Talking to him there will exhaust his dialogue.
14. Is there a “true” ending to Sellen’s questline?
The concept of a “true” ending is subjective. Siding with Sellen is generally considered the more fulfilling and “canon” ending by many players, but both outcomes are valid within the game’s narrative.
15. Can I access the Sellen NPC summon for the Rennala boss fight, if I betray Sellen during her quest?
No, betraying Sellen eliminates the availability of her summon sign for the Rennala boss fight, as you have effectively chosen to side against her overall goal and the narrative progression that would have led to that summoning opportunity.
By understanding the consequences of your choice, you can make an informed decision about whether to betray Sorceress Sellen in Elden Ring. Weigh the immediate reward against the long-term benefits and narrative satisfaction to determine the best path for your character.