What Happens After Melina Dies in Elden Ring? A Comprehensive Guide
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So, you’ve witnessed the seemingly inevitable: Melina’s death. It’s a pivotal moment in Elden Ring, laden with consequences and shrouded in mystery. But what actually happens after she dies? The immediate aftermath and long-term impact depend entirely on how and when she dies, dictating your path through the Lands Between.
Here’s the deal: if Melina dies during the storyline sacrifice at the Forge of the Giants to burn the Erdtree (the most common scenario), she technically doesn’t die permanently. She fulfills her purpose, burning herself to fuel the flame that allows you to progress. After this “death,” you continue your quest, eventually becoming Elden Lord (or choosing a different ending). She doesn’t physically reappear in your world, but her actions have shaped the remainder of your journey. However, if you choose the Frenzied Flame path before she burns the Erdtree, she abandons you and vows to deliver Destined Death upon you in the Frenzied Flame ending. If she dies in battle by the Fire’s Deadly Sin incantation exploit, she just reappears.
The Forge of the Giants Sacrifice
This is the most significant “death” for Melina. By sacrificing herself at the Forge of the Giants, Melina imbues the flame with the power to burn the thorns blocking entry to the Erdtree. This action is irreversible and sets you on the path to become Elden Lord (or one of the other standard endings). After this, she is gone as an active presence, although she may reappear during the Frenzied Flame ending cutscene.
- Consequences: You can now enter the Erdtree. The world state changes, moving you closer to the end game.
- What Remains: Her sacrifice is the catalyst for the final act. Her spirit is tied to the burning of the Erdtree.
- Frenzied Flame Exception: If you inherit the Frenzied Flame before reaching the Forge, you can burn the Erdtree yourself, bypassing her sacrifice. This leads to her abandonment and the vow of revenge in the special ending.
The “Fire’s Deadly Sin” Exploit
There used to be an exploit that allowed players to kill Melina using the Fire’s Deadly Sin incantation while resting at a Site of Grace and selecting the “Talk to Melina” option. This glitch caused her to take damage and die. However, this “death” had no impact on the game’s progression. She would reappear at subsequent Sites of Grace as if nothing happened.
- Consequences: None. This was purely a visual glitch.
- What Remains: Nothing. It’s as if it never occurred.
- Currently: This exploit has been largely patched out of the game.
Abandonment due to Frenzied Flame
If you embrace the Frenzied Flame before using Melina to burn the Erdtree, she will abandon you. She sees this act as a betrayal of her purpose and a descent into chaos. She declares you “no longer fit” and leaves your side. This leads to a unique ending cutscene if you choose to embrace the Frenzied Flame and become the Lord of Frenzied Flame.
- Consequences: You lose Melina as a guide and companion. You gain the ability to burn the Erdtree yourself. You open the path to the Frenzied Flame ending.
- What Remains: Her final words, her feeling of betrayal, and the promise of destined death.
- Ending Impact: If you embrace the Frenzied Flame, a cutscene plays where Melina, with her eyes open (a significant visual cue), vows to kill you.
Melina’s Essence
Regardless of how Melina’s presence leaves your journey, her essence and the impact of her choices remains with you. She grants you the ability to level up, provides guidance on your path, and ultimately sacrifices herself for what she believes is right. Even if she abandons you, her warnings and the weight of your actions in defying her wishes affect your journey. Her actions are irreversible and set you on the path to become Elden Lord (or one of the other standard endings).
Melina’s Role
Melina serves as a guide and a Finger Maiden, providing the Tarnished with the ability to turn runes into strength. She also serves as a surrogate for her mother, Queen Marika, and wishes to figure out the purpose that Marika has given her. As a spirit, she is also able to teleport the tarnished across vast distances, allowing them to traverse the world of Elden Ring.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Melina
Here are some common questions players have regarding Melina and her fate in Elden Ring.
1. Can Melina truly die permanently?
Yes and no. In the context of the main storyline, her sacrifice at the Forge of the Giants is a permanent departure. She doesn’t return as a physical character. However, she can reappear during the Frenzied Flame ending, and her influence is woven into the fabric of your journey. Outside of the intended narrative events, it’s only an temporary inconvenience, due to an exploit that has been largely fixed.
2. Does Melina’s death affect my ability to level up?
No. After her sacrifice, you retain the ability to level up. The Two Fingers or other characters can fill the role that she was previously filling.
3. What happens if I betray Melina and choose the Frenzied Flame ending?
If you embrace the Frenzied Flame before she burns the Erdtree, Melina will abandon you and, in the ending cutscene, vow to bring you Destined Death. This is a significant narrative consequence of your actions.
4. Can I avoid Melina’s sacrifice?
Yes. You can inherit the Frenzied Flame from the Three Fingers. This allows you to burn the Erdtree yourself, sparing Melina.
5. What are the consequences of burning the Erdtree myself with the Frenzied Flame?
The main consequence is Melina’s abandonment and the path to the Lord of Frenzied Flame ending. This ending is considered a “bad” ending by many players, as it involves the destruction of the Lands Between.
6. Is the Lord of Frenzied Flame ending the “canon” ending?
No. There’s no official “canon” ending in Elden Ring. However, many players theorize that the Age of Duskborn ending may be the most likely canon ending, given hints in the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC.
7. Does Melina’s eye have any significance?
Yes. The closed eye is theorized to be tied to the Dark Moon, suggesting a connection to Ranni. When she appears at the Frenzied Flame ending, her eyes are open, indicating a shift in her purpose.
8. Is Melina related to Ranni?
The game implies that Melina is a daughter of Queen Marika, making her a demi-god. She is, therefore, Ranni’s sister.
9. What is Melina’s purpose?
Melina’s purpose, given to her by her mother Queen Marika, is to guide the Tarnished to become Elden Lord. However, this purpose becomes conflicted if you choose paths that deviate from the Greater Will’s plan.
10. Who are the Three Fingers, and why do they want the Frenzied Flame?
The Three Fingers are agents of chaos who represent the Frenzied Flame. They seek to undo the order of the world and return everything to a state of primordial chaos.
11. Is there a way to reverse the Frenzied Flame after accepting it?
Yes. You can complete Millicent’s questline and acquire Miquella’s Needle. This item can be used in Dragonlord Placidusax’s arena to quell the Frenzied Flame.
12. Does Melina have a physical body?
Melina states that her body was burned long ago, leaving her as a spirit. This is why she can freely travel and appear at Sites of Grace.
13. Should I accept Melina’s accord at the beginning of the game?
Yes. Accepting Melina’s accord is essential for progressing in Elden Ring. Without her, you cannot level up or summon Torrent, your spectral steed.
14. What are the different Elden Ring endings and how are they achieved?
The main endings are:
- Elden Lord: Standard ending, achieved by repairing the Elden Ring.
- Age of the Stars: Ranni’s ending, ushering in an age of cold, driven by the dark moon.
- Lord of Frenzied Flame: Destroys the Erdtree and all life, consuming it in the flame of chaos.
- Age of Order: Returns the world to stability and removes the influence of outer gods.
- Age of Duskborn: Introduces a new order guided by the undead.
15. How does Elden Ring use storytelling to teach complex moral and ethical concepts?
Elden Ring presents morally ambiguous choices, forcing players to consider the consequences of their actions. This allows the player to experience the impact of their decisions on a grand scale and learn about complex concepts such as consequence, fate, and the nature of good and evil in a low-stakes environment. This mirrors how educational games, as explored by the Games Learning Society (GamesLearningSociety.org), can be used to impart knowledge and skills through engaging gameplay.
In conclusion, Melina’s “death” is multifaceted and central to the narrative of Elden Ring. Whether she sacrifices herself at the Forge, abandons you due to the Frenzied Flame, or simply fades from the world, her impact on your journey through the Lands Between is undeniable. Her fate, and your choices surrounding it, shape the very ending you will achieve.