Summary
Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtreeis a massive expansion to the base game, but players looking to experience all that it has to offer need to be careful of a hidden point of no return. A lot of games will heavily imply, if not directly tell the player that they are about to enter a section of the game that will prevent them from completing certain quests. However,Elden Ring’s new DLCdoesn’t give the player the same courtesy.
[Warning: Spoilers for Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree.]
While there isn’t really an issue withElden Ring’s hidden point of no return, it is something players will likely want to be aware of. Otherwise, they may not be able to complete certain questlines and experience certain parts of the DLC’s story. Players will need to ensure theywrap up any lingering quests before this part of the game.
Even The Best Elden Ring Players Are Getting Destroyed By Shadow Of The Erdtree
Elden Ring players took to social media to discuss the unexpected, yet unsurprising difficulty of the game’s crushing Shadow of the Erdtree DLC.
When Elden Ring: Shadow Of The Erdtree’s Point Of No Return Happens
A Shift In The DLC’s Narrative
Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree’s point of no return happens when players advance the main quest too far. This means, players should focus on completing side content while they can, to avoid missing out on their chance to do those quests.Players will know they are approaching the point of no return after they havebeaten Messmer the Impaler, a major boss battle in Shadow Keep.
After defeating Messmer, players will get his kindling that they will then use to set the Sealing Tree on fire. However,burning the Sealing Tree is the catalystforShadow of the Erdtree’s point of no return. Once players do so, they will lose access to certain quests, and their relationships with certain NPCs will be changed.
What Does Shadow Of The Erdtree’s Point Of No Return Affect?
Players Will No Longer Be Able To Interact With Certain NPCs
Shadow of the Erdtree’s point of no return isn’t as all-encompassing as these moments can be in other games.Players aren’t locked into an end-game scenario after setting fire to the Sealing Tree, nor are they ejected from theexpansive Land of Shadow. However, it does change how players are able to interact with certain NPCs.
Many of the NPCs inShadow of the Erdtreeare followers of Miquella. Earlier in the DLC, the player can talk to these NPCs and receive quests from them. However, once the player burns the Sealing Tree,these same NPCs will see the player as their enemy. These NPCs will no longer appear where they previously did, and their questlines will no longer be available. Some even come back as enemies once the player has advanced far enough intoShadows of the Erdtree.
Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtreeis still an enjoyable experience, even if players accidentally trigger this point of no return too quickly. That said, a lot of players want to experience everything a game has to offer, without having to start a second playthrough. This is especially true in a massive game likeElden Ring. Even if sharing moments like this may have some minor spoilers for games, it is still good for players to let each other know when a game might be hiding a point of no return like this.
Players venture into the shadowed realm of the Land of Shadow to confront new biomes, dungeons, and formidable bosses. Guided by the enigmatic Miquella, they face the terrifying Messmer the Impaler and uncover the dark secrets shrouded beneath the Erdtree’s influence, featuring new weapons, magic, and challenges.
