After reaching the Forge of the Fire Giants, Melina will ask you if you want to commit a Cardinal Sin. That sounds like a point of no return, doesn’t it? Are there any alternative choices? Let’s find out!
Should I commit a Cardinal Sin in Elden Ring?
You need to commit a Cardinal Sin in order to progress in the storyline. While the idea of burning the Erdtree may not be very appealing, you need to do it in order to progress in the main story. All the possible endings require you to commit a Cardinal Sin. Committing a Cardinal Sin will lock the side questlines you haven’t completed yet, but won’t lock you out of any major bosses.
For example, can still still get Ranni’s ending. Nevertheless, if you want to strike all the side questlines off your list, you should complete them prior to committing a Cardinal Sin.
Keep in mind that you simply can’t do everything in one playthrough. Elden Ring supports multiple endings depending on the choices you make.
What happens after committing a Cardinal Sin in Elden Ring
- Melina will sacrifice herself to set the Erdtree aflame.
- You’re thrown to Crumbling Farum Azula, a big island with tornadoes everywhere and you’ll face the Godskin duo boss.
- In Azula, you need to defeat six powerful enemies to reach the first Site of Grace. That won’t be easy.
- You won’t miss any bosses.
- You’ll miss the option to change your ending to two of the available ones.
- You can’t get either of the Three Fingers endings.
- While you can still fight the Three Finger questline bosses, you won’t unlock the specific ending.
- All playable content is still open.
And now you know.
Conclusion
Elden Ring gives you no choice but to commit a Cardinal Sin in order to progress in the main story. This will lock the NPC side questlines you haven’t completed yet, but won’t lock you out of any major bosses.
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