What is the Snowgrave Route in Deltarune?
The Snowgrave Route is a significant, alternate storyline within Deltarune Chapter 2 that drastically alters the game’s narrative and character relationships. Unlike the main route, often dubbed the “Pacifist” route, the Snowgrave route is characterized by manipulation, violence, and a disturbing descent into darkness. This path is not explicitly presented to the player; instead, it requires specific actions to be triggered, making it a hidden and morally ambiguous option. Crucially, it undermines the idea that “your choices don’t matter” as heavily suggested earlier in the game, revealing that player decisions can have profound and unsettling consequences. The route culminates in a unique final boss fight and leaves lasting impacts on the game’s world and characters.
Unveiling the Snowgrave Path: A Step-by-Step Breakdown
The Snowgrave Route doesn’t initiate until Noelle joins the party in Cyber City. Prior to this point, actions don’t directly influence the route’s progression. However, players can perform optional preparatory steps that might make it easier, such as obtaining specific items, though these are not mandatory to start the route itself.
Triggering the Route: A Disturbing Departure
The actual start of the Snowgrave Route involves the player deliberately going against the intended path. This means backtracking to the Trash Field, the first area encountered in Cyber City. This is where Noelle will start to question your actions, commenting on how you are going the wrong way. Ignoring her concerns is the crucial initial step. From this point onwards, the player is forced to repeatedly use the “Snowgrave” spell with Noelle. The route is not about killing enemies head-on; it is about a systematic, manipulative strategy of exploiting Noelle’s powers and her trust in Kris.
Manipulation and Control
As the route unfolds, the narrative takes a darker turn. Kris, controlled by the player, actively manipulates Noelle. The player uses Noelle’s magical abilities, primarily the spell “Snowgrave,” to freeze enemies solid in combat, often against her will or her better judgment. This pattern of freezing enemies, alongside specific dialogue choices that subtly urge her down a darker path, solidifies the player’s commitment to the Snowgrave Route. The culmination of this manipulation occurs when the player forces Noelle to use Snowgrave on Berdly, encasing him in a large prism of ice and effectively removing him from the rest of the adventure.
The Final Confrontation: Spamton NEO
The route’s conclusion sees a unique boss fight against Spamton NEO. Unlike the regular path where Spamton’s motivations are a bit more ambiguous, in this scenario, he is explicitly shown as an eager participant. He gleefully helps Kris by aiding in the manipulation of Noelle, all to achieve his own twisted ambition of gaining control of the castle after sealing the fountain. Spamton sees the Snowgrave route as his opportunity to rise to power. In short, he becomes a villain that is actively helping you. This is in stark contrast to his role if you had followed the normal route, where he’s typically fought for resisting sealing the fountain. He explains that sealing the fountain would ruin his rise to glory. This fight serves as the ultimate test of your chosen path’s impact and highlights the significant ways in which the Snowgrave route diverges from the core narrative.
Snowgrave Route: 15 Frequently Asked Questions
Here are 15 frequently asked questions about the Snowgrave Route to further illuminate its intricacies:
1. When should I start the Snowgrave Route?
The Snowgrave route begins when Noelle joins your party in Cyber City. Actions before this point are irrelevant to starting the route.
2. Can you abort the Snowgrave Route?
Yes, aborting the Snowgrave Route is possible. If you refresh the room by moving to a different screen, all areas return to normal as if the route never happened, and all frozen enemies will disappear. However, certain items, like the Freeze Ring and Thorn Ring, do not disappear, allowing you to access content such as reactions from Susie and Ralsei to the Thorn Ring, which is exclusive to the Snowgrave route.
3. Is Spamton NEO in the Snowgrave Route?
Yes, Spamton NEO is the final boss of the Snowgrave Route, his motivations and intentions being significantly different compared to the normal path. He actively participates in the manipulation and sees the route as his path to power.
4. How do I initiate the Snowgrave Route?
Initiate the Snowgrave Route by backtracking to the Trash Field in Cyber City. Continue against Noelle’s protests, and then the route is triggered by use of the “Snowgrave” spell on enemies.
5. What happens to Berdly in the Snowgrave Route?
In the Snowgrave Route, Kris convinces Noelle to use the Snowgrave spell on Berdly, encasing him in a large prism of ice. He does not appear for the remainder of the adventure in the Cyber World.
6. Does Spamton know about Jevil?
During a Fangamer FAQ at the Spamton Sweepstakes event, Spamton implied that he has known Jevil in the past.
7. Is the Snowgrave Route a genocide route?
The Snowgrave Route is often referred to as the Genocide Route, or sometimes the Weird or Pipis Route, because of its morally questionable nature and focus on violence and manipulation.
8. Does killing matter in Deltarune?
While the game presents the idea that “your choices don’t matter,” the Snowgrave Route demonstrates that choices can have a drastic effect on the narrative. Choices do matter when attempting to trigger the Snowgrave route.
9. Can you find Sans in Deltarune?
Yes, Sans is a recurring character in Deltarune and runs a self-titled grocery store in Hometown as the “janitor.”
10. How is Spamton NEO formed in the Snowgrave Route?
In this route, Spamton actively participates in the manipulation of Noelle, to make her stronger. He does so for his own gain, becoming Spamton NEO as he sees this route as an opportunity to take over the castle.
11. How many kills are needed to get the Snowgrave Route?
The Snowgrave route isn’t based on a count of kills but rather the consistent use of the “Snowgrave” spell and the specific dialogue choices that lead Noelle down a darker path.
12. Does Frisk exist in Deltarune?
No, Frisk does not exist in Deltarune. Deltarune is a separate universe from Undertale, and characters are unrelated.
13. What happens if you name yourself Chara in Deltarune?
Naming yourself “Chara” simply acknowledges that as the name of the first fallen human from Undertale. It has no specific gameplay impact in Deltarune.
14. What is Ralsei’s reaction to the Thorn Ring?
You can witness Ralsei’s reaction to the Thorn Ring if you abort the Snowgrave Route. This interaction is exclusive to aborting a Snowgrave run and the resulting dialogue is unique to this.
15. How is the Snowgrave Route different from the normal route?
The Snowgrave Route is defined by its manipulation of Noelle, the frequent use of Snowgrave, the fight against Spamton NEO as a final boss, the absence of Berdly and the shift towards a dark narrative, contrasting with the more traditional pacifist themes of the normal route.
Conclusion
The Snowgrave Route in Deltarune is a chilling exploration of player agency and the potential for moral corruption. It serves as a potent reminder that choices, even those seemingly inconsequential, can have lasting and devastating consequences. This path, requiring a deliberate descent into manipulation, offers a unique experience that challenges the very core tenets of the game. By understanding its mechanics and implications, players can gain a deeper appreciation for the complexities of Deltarune‘s narrative and the impact of their choices within its world.