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Unveiling the Secrets: What Does Killing Rykard Unlock in Elden Ring?

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Defeating Rykard, Lord of Blasphemy, is a pivotal moment in any Tarnished’s journey through the Lands Between. Beyond the satisfaction of felling this formidable foe, Rykard’s demise unlocks a cascade of content, story progression, and gameplay opportunities. The most immediate rewards include Rykard’s Great Rune and the Remembrance of the Blasphemous, which can be traded for powerful items. However, the true scope of what Rykard’s death unlocks extends far beyond these initial spoils, impacting questlines, altering the Volcano Manor’s landscape, and paving the way for progression towards the game’s conclusion. The implications are significant, so let’s delve into the specifics.

Immediate Rewards and Unlockables

Upon successfully slaying Rykard, you’re granted several immediate rewards:

Rykard’s Great Rune: This Great Rune, once activated at the Divine Tower of West Altus, provides a significant boost to HP upon defeating enemies, offering sustain during exploration and tough encounters.
Remembrance of the Blasphemous: This Remembrance can be exchanged with Finger Reader Enia at the Roundtable Hold for either the Blasphemous Blade (a powerful greatsword with a unique skill) or the Rykard’s Rancor sorcery (a gravity-based sorcery that deals significant damage).
100,000 Runes: A substantial sum of Runes that can be used to level up, purchase items, or upgrade equipment.

Questline Implications

Rykard’s death significantly affects several questlines associated with Volcano Manor.

Volcano Manor Quests Termination: Killing Rykard prematurely will automatically end the Volcano Manor assassination quests. This means you’ll miss out on rewards tied to completing those contracts, including armor sets and unique weapons.
Diallos’ Questline: If you haven’t progressed Diallos’ questline before defeating Rykard, it will become impossible to complete, as everyone will leave Volcano Manor.
Rya’s Questline: Similarly, if you haven’t spoken to Rya in her room inside the dungeon, she will disappear, making her quest inaccessible.
Tanith’s Departure: After slaying Rykard, Tanith will declare that Rykard was weak and intends to leave Volcano Manor, marking the end of her primary role in the story.

Environmental and NPC Changes

The world itself changes as a direct result of Rykard’s defeat.

Volcano Manor Evacuation: Most of the NPCs within Volcano Manor will leave, changing the atmosphere and potentially closing off opportunities to purchase specific items or engage in certain dialogues.
Tanith’s Consumption: You’ll find Tanith in the Rykard boss area, consuming his corpse in an attempt to inherit his power. This opens up the option to kill her and obtain her armor set and face off against Tanith’s Knight.
Patches’ Departure or Dialogue Shift: Patches will move to his “goodbye” dialogue, potentially preventing you from receiving the Magma Whip Candlestick until NG+.
Progression towards Leyndell: Defeating Rykard essentially funnels you towards Leyndell, Royal Capital, a key area in the game’s progression. If Rykard was one of your first Great Rune bearers defeated, you’ll need to acquire another Great Rune before being allowed access to the capital.

Impact on Gameplay

Beyond the immediate rewards and questline alterations, defeating Rykard affects the overall gameplay experience.

Access to New Areas: While Rykard himself isn’t directly blocking access to any major areas, his defeat solidifies your progression towards the latter stages of the game and encourages exploration of new areas.
The Great Rune’s Benefits: Rykard’s Great Rune offers increased survivability through increased HP recovery after enemy defeat. This can be invaluable for tackling challenging areas or bosses.
The Blasphemous Blade: The Blasphemous Blade is a fantastic weapon that heals the user on hit. It can be a powerful and versatile option for many builds.

In essence, killing Rykard unlocks a chain of events that propel you further into the narrative and gameplay loop of Elden Ring. While the immediate rewards are valuable, the impact on questlines, NPC interactions, and the overall world state is what truly defines the significance of this pivotal moment. Weigh the pros and cons of tackling Rykard early, especially concerning Volcano Manor’s quests, to make the most informed decision for your playthrough.

Is There a “Correct” Time to Kill Rykard?

There’s no objectively “correct” time to kill Rykard. It depends entirely on your priorities. If you’re keen on experiencing the Volcano Manor’s questline and reaping its associated rewards, postpone the fight until you’ve completed all available contracts. If you’re more focused on progressing the main story or acquiring Rykard’s Great Rune and Remembrance of the Blasphemous, then tackling him earlier is a viable option.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are 15 frequently asked questions related to killing Rykard in Elden Ring, offering further insights into the consequences and possibilities:

What exactly do I get for killing Rykard? You get Rykard’s Great Rune, the Remembrance of the Blasphemous, and 100,000 Runes. You also unlock progression towards Leyndell and alter the state of Volcano Manor.
If I kill Rykard too early, what do I miss out on? You’ll miss out on any unfinished Volcano Manor assassination quests, potentially locking you out of armor sets, weapons, and unique items. You may also miss out on completing Diallos and Rya’s questlines.
Can I still access Volcano Manor after killing Rykard? Yes, you can still access Volcano Manor, but most of the NPCs will have left, so you won’t be able to complete any unfinished quests there.
What should I do with the Remembrance of the Blasphemous? You can trade it with Finger Reader Enia at the Roundtable Hold for either the Blasphemous Blade or Rykard’s Rancor sorcery. Choose based on your preferred build and playstyle.
How do I activate Rykard’s Great Rune? You need to visit the Divine Tower of West Altus and interact with the Two Fingers corpse at the top.
Does killing Rykard affect the ending I get? No, killing Rykard doesn’t directly influence which ending you’ll receive.
Should I kill Tanith after killing Rykard? Killing Tanith allows you to acquire her armor set and face her Crucible Knight. However, it has no significant impact on the story or ending.
What happens if I give Tanith the Dancer’s Castanets? Giving Tanith the Dancer’s Castanets while she is consuming Rykard’s flesh has no real effect. It’s just a bit of flavor text.
Where does everyone go after I kill Rykard? Most of the inhabitants of Volcano Manor will depart, either leaving the area entirely or moving to new locations within the Lands Between.
Is Rykard’s fight required to complete the game? No, you don’t need to kill Rykard to complete the game, but it’s advisable since you gain access to his Great Rune and the Blasphemous Blade.
Can I fight Rykard without doing any of the Volcano Manor quests? Yes, you can go straight to Rykard without doing any quests. You just need to find the way through Volcano Manor.
How do I trigger the Rykard boss fight? After reaching Volcano Manor, navigate through the manor to find the boss door leading to Rykard.
Is Rykard weak to any specific type of damage? Rykard is massively weak to the Serpent-Hunter weapon, which is specifically designed for this fight.
What is the lore behind Tanith eating Rykard? The lore suggests that Tanith is trying to absorb Rykard’s essence in hopes of him being reborn through her. Rykard himself implies he can’t truly die, but needs a vessel.
What happens if I kill Rykard before meeting Patches? Patches will automatically move into his “goodbye” dialogue, and you will be unable to receive the Magma Whip Candlestick until NG+.

This concludes our exploration of what killing Rykard unlocks in Elden Ring. Remember to carefully consider the consequences before engaging this formidable foe. Good luck, Tarnished!