Elden Ring has multiple endings and many memorable NPCs but unfortunately, they’re unlikely to have much of an impact in the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC.
A standard part of the FromSoftware experience is meeting creepy but loveable NPCs and leading them to their tragic death. Sometimes it’s helping Ostrava of Bolletaria visit his dad. Other times, it’s helping out a local business by buying spells from Big Hat Logan. On occasion, it’s helping Greirat the Thief commit suicide by treasure hunt. Regardless, a sad ending is guaranteed.
Elden Ring is no different. Sorceress Sellen, Iron Fist Alexander, Seamster Boc, and everyone else the foul Tarnished comes across has their own unique charm. They also tend to die a horrible death. Some might hope that their favorite NPC will get a second chance in the upcoming DLC but that doesn’t seem like it’s going to be the case.
Will Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree bring back NPCs from the base game?
Elden Ring director Hidetaka Miyazaki stated that established NPCs will not be returning in the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC.
Players might be desperate for more hugs from Fia, but they’re not going to get them even after Shadow of the Erdtree gets released. In an interview with Game Bonfire, Miyazaki was asked about which NPCs will return in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree. He gave a blunt answer on the matter, much to the chagrin of some fans.
“Generally, NPCs that appear [in the base game] will not return in the DLC. This is because, if we designed them to appear, there may be instances where the player kills the NPC in their game, resulting in them not being able to appear in the DLC’s story,” Miyazaki said.
While Elden Ring’s NPC questlines were similar to other FromSoftware outings in that they typically end sadly, a key difference is that some of their stories are simply unresolved.
The biggest example is Lady Tanith, who seemingly had a next chapter to her questline involving Patches. Patches’ questline sees him give the Tarnished the Dancer’s Castanets to hand off to Tanith, but doing so has no effect. Alas, it seems that will go unresolved.
Does the Elden Ring ending matter for the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC?
The Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree DLC will be unaffected by the ending chosen by the player.
“The DLC is separate, so the player’s choice [regarding the ending] will not affect the story. As for the ending, there is actually no so-called “end” or “finish.” Of course, the DLC will not have as many endings as the main game, but players will still have to make some ‘choices’ during their play,” Miyazaki said.
As with the NPCs, not having any sort of follow-up to certain Elden Ring endings in Shadow of the Erdtree may be disappointing. The Lord of Frenzied Flame ending in particular closes with Melina vowing to kill the player. While there are hints of Melina being a boss or potentially a Shardbearer, the player never gets the chance to fight her. That isn’t going to change.
While there won’t be any follow-up to the NPC questlines or endings from the base game in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree, the DLC is still set to offer players many new mountains to climb. With players’ characters being reset beforehand, it’s guaranteed to be a challenge.
