In the Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree DLC, many fans were left pondering the absence of certain key characters, particularly Melina. Surprisingly, the character does appear in the Land of Shadow, but only under very specific circumstances.
While she doesn’t appear directly, there are specific conditions under which her dialogue can be triggered. While some players stumbled upon her by chance, others have tested different scenarios to understand the conditions required for her appearance.
Melina is “in” Shadow of The Erdtree, Just Not How You Think
Several players have reported encountering Melina’s dialogue at various sites of grace, but this isn’t new content. It’s the same dialogue from the base game, specifically related to burning the Erdtree.
For instance, after discussing the burning of the Erdtree with Enia, visiting specific sites of grace can prompt a familiar conversation from the base game.
These interactions do not add new content but rather recycle old dialogues, creating a sense of déjà vu without offering new insights or story developments.
This sparked discussions among the community, with some expressing disappointment over the missed opportunities for Melina to comment on the Land of Shadow. Aside from this and the complaints regarding the difficulty, it’s a pretty perfect DLC.
The DLC includes new bosses, weapons, puzzles and so much more. And while it has been widely praised for its content, it feels somewhat disconnected from the main game.
This is highlighted by the fact that there are no new dialogues or interactions with other key characters like Gideon or the Finger Crone, even after significant achievements in the DLC.
Shadow of The Erdtree Seems To Have Nothing To Do With The Base Game
This separation of the DLC from the main game has drawn mixed reactions. On one hand, it allows the Shadow of the Erdtree to stand on its own, with unique lore and challenges. On the other hand, it feels disconnected from the intricate narrative of Elden Ring. Though there are some valid reasons for this, as one player mentioned in a Reddit comment.
Players who hoped for deeper integration and new interactions with familiar characters might find this aspect lacking, as the DLC’s events do not influence relationships or dialogues in the base game. But this doesn’t mean that it doesn’t add to the base game’s lore or intrigue as fans keep finding new connections between the two.
The standalone nature of the DLC is reminiscent of other games that have previously managed to balance separate stories within the main lore and story of the base game’s world.
You could compare it to DLCs for old games such as The Witcher 3: Blood & Wine and Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty expansions, which integrate their expansions into the main game world more fluidly.
Shadow of the Erdtree, while exceptional in its content, falls short in this aspect, making it feel like a missed opportunity for richer storytelling. Despite this, the expansion is still a must-play for fans. Did you get this feeling in the DLC? Let us know in the comments below!
