IfElden Ringisn’t your first foray into a FromSoftware game, then you’re familiar with the recurring theme of misfortune following every main character. Your misfortune is significant, but things seem to be even worse for anyone cursed to cross your path on your march toward destiny.
Even if you set out to save the world and help those around you to fulfill their dreams or escape death, things always seem to take a dark turn, especially for the innocent companions and friends you make along the way. These Elden Ring NPCs would have had a much better life – or at leastlived– if you never met them.
This article contains main story and side quest spoilers.
8Millicent
Millicent doesn’t necessarily suffer a horrid fate simply for crossing paths with you, The Tarnished, but depending on your choices during the closing portion of her questline, she might’ve been better off succumbing to the Scarlet Rot.
Healing Millicent and helping her exact her revenge on her treacherous sisters doesn’t seem so bad, but it gets worse.
However, if you choose to challenge Millicent to a duel instead of aiding her in the final battle in the Haligtree, you will have saved her from death and brought her within inches of her destiny, just to cut her down. While the choice is yours, if you decide to betray Millicent’s trust, it’s hard to argue that you did anything but prolong her suffering.
7Patches
If you’re aveteran of the series, then you’re unfortunately familiar with Patchesand his mischievous, backstabbing nature. While you’re not technically supposed to know about Patches' past, those who do will be gunning for some revenge on this thieving trickster. After all, he started it.
Despite what Patches may or may not deserve, there’s no doubt that if you never wandered into Murkwater Cave to find his camp, Patches would be enjoying a good life. Whether you ultimately choose to spare or slay him, the beating you hand to Patches is enough to guarantee he’s worse off for having met you.
6White Mask Varre
White Mask Varre is one of the most infamous Elden Ring NPCs, well-known for taunting you as ‘maidenless’ during your first encounters. Although he continues to disrespect you for a while, and even goes Resident Evil on your hand during the latter part of his questline, does he deserve to die for his actions?
Ok, maybe he does deserve whatever is coming to him, but if you never approach Varre, you can continue along with the game and he’ll be patiently waiting for other Tarnished to wander by and fall victim to his taunts. On second thought, make a beeline for Varre ASAP, even if it’s only toget to Mohgwyn Palace quicker.
5Preceptor Seluvis
Seluvis is one of the few characters who anticipates his downfall, as he kindly, yet sarcastically, asks you not to drag everyone down along with you while you’rehelping Ranni with her quest.While he might have gone on for eternity creating puppets in his weird little dungeon, everything changed when you showed up.
Luckily, Seluvis, much like Patches, arguably deserves a fate worse than the one you’re able to inflict after the inhumane things he did to others, so it’s a good thing you came along and ruined his life when you did.
4Melina
Melina’s fate is tied to yours, and while you can technically help her to fulfill her duty, there’s really no good ending for poor Melina, as she sacrifices herself to aid you on your quest.
If you defy Melina’s wishes and decide to embark on the Lord of Frenzied Flame ending without reversing it, then she’ll be forced to bring Destined Death to you to stop your horrors. While it’s unclear if she’ll succeed, (she probably won’t), all you can do for Melina is make her life harder, or worse.
3Iron Fist Alexander
Iron Fist Alexander’s life was going decently until you came along and turned everything upside down. Even if you encountered him early enough to free him from being stuck in the ground, the rest of his journey is a slow buildup to a potentially bitter end.
While Alexander believes that following and assisting you on your glorious quest will prove his strength and importance, ultimately, you probably just want his shard, which increases Weapon Art damage. Given that the superior version comes from stringing Alexander along until you both reach Crumbling Farum Azula, then fighting the warrior jar, it’s clear that his life is destined for a bitter end at your hands. Maybe his life was just a crock.
2Gideon Offnir
Sir Gideon Offnir might think you’re an excellent field assistant to help him learn more about the Elden Ring and what it takes to become Elden Lord, but the quest he sends you on becomes his undoing.
While you’re busy slaying monsters and collecting Great Runes from the strongest beings in the Lands Between, Gideon is busy studying his books and inflating his ego. So much for all of that knowledge he was poring over in his study; it didn’t help him become strong or wise enough to defeat a lowly Tarnished.
1Gurranq, Beast Clergyman
Witless Tarnished, why covet Destined Death? While it’s impossible to completely avoid Gurranq in a normal playthrough, his bewilderment at your choices always makes us question if we’re really doing the right thing.
Even if you avoid Gurranq’s side quest and neglect to bring him any Deathroot, you’ll still directly cause his death as you progress through the story. If anything, encountering Gurranq before the scripted fight just makes it more heartbreaking when you’re forced to defeat him or die.
