Much like Dark Souls, Bloodborne, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, and the rest of developer From Software’s output post-2009, Elden Ring is a tough-as-nails action RPG that demands that players cultivate quick wits and sharp reflexes. That said, from jumping to horseback riding, the game introduced a few key innovations which may trip up longtime Soulsborne fans. One unfortunate TikTok user demonstrated just how unwieldy Elden Ring’s new mechanics can be in a crucial moment against a tough early-game boss.
Utilizing a fairly unorthodox ranged build, TikTok user ledif93 was a single hit away from defeating Margit the Fell Omen, the gatekeeper barring players from accessing Stormveil Castle, when tragedy struck. After successfully dodge-rolling away from an attack, ledif93 opted for an additional backward hop to create a bit more space between themselves and the boss, and it ultimately sent them careening into a bottomless pit. Director Hidetaka Miyazaki recently stated that he intended to make death a more enjoyable mechanic in Elden Ring, but there’s clearly no way to infuse any kind of fun in a misfortune such as this.
Of course, ledif93 is far from the only player to encounter misfortune while playing Elden Ring; while exploring Stormveil Castle, one Redditor engaged two enemies on a perilous exterior walkway only to be kicked off. Another player was felled by a torch-bearing enemy whom they accidentally ran into while fighting one of the Night’s Cavalry field bosses, and still another weary player likely endured dozens of defeats while waging a stalwart seven-hour war against Elden Ring'sTree Sentinel, one of the first major bosses encountered in the game.
Perhaps the most unfortunate boss fight mishap to occur thus far in Elden Ring was perpetrated by Twitch streamer and YouTuber McQueeb, who managed to cheese Flying Dragon Greyll but received his just-deserts seconds later when he accidentally plunged himself into a ravine with more than eighty-thousand runes on hand. It all goes to show that Elden Ring’s Lands Between are every bit as treacherous as Dark Souls’ Lordran on Bloodborne’s Yharnam—perhaps even more so.
Director Hidataka Miyazaki also recently offered an apology of sorts to those who found Elden Ring to be too difficult. While it’s unlikely that he’s been browsing Reddit or watching random Twitch streams to gauge the misfortunes of those playing his game, perhaps he’s caught wind of the surprising amount of players dying in hysterically unlucky ways.
Elden Ring is available now for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.