History EldenRing / TropesFToN

* FateWorseThanDeath: The Seedbed Curse of the [[FluffyTheTerrible Dung Eater]] condemns those afflicted by it to be unable to reincarnate. Their exact fate isn't fully explained but it's hinted to be flat out eternal torment as they are BarredFromTheAfterlife. [[spoiler:In one of the game's endings, this happens to everyone in the entire world.]] The ending where the [[spoiler:[[GodOfChaos Frenzied Flame]] sentences everyone to eternal madness is similar, and also more than qualifies. Thankfully, these endings require the player to [[EarnYourBadEnding actively seek them out]]]].

** '''Death.''' While having the same source of power as the Godskin spells, Death spells instead either use ghostflame (which deals magic damage and can potentially cause Frostbite of all things), inflict the Death Blight status effect, or summon the undead to attack. Notably the ghostflames seem to be made of ''literal'' ghosts, as some spells have damned souls visible in them and a spark of ghostflame will emanate and respawn destroyed skeleton enemies unless stomped out. Used by followers and victims of Death like the Deathbirds and Those Who Live in Death. Include the Death of Rancor, Explosive Ghostflame, Fia's Mist, Rancorcall, and Tibia's Summons sorceries and the Death Flare, Ghostflame Ignition, Ruinous Ghostflame, and Rosus's Summons Ashes of War.

** Destined Death tends to manifest as fire, with a couple of different varieties dependent on its interpretation. The Ghostflame of the Deathbirds is generally considered to be neutral, as its original purpose was to cremate the deceased and have their spirits empower the Outer God of Destined Death. Blackflame is far more malevolent, as it is wielded by the Godskin Cult and their Gloam-Eyed Queen to hunt down and flay the gods of the setting. The ultimate manifestations of Destined Death as wielded by those who have access to a piece of the Rune of Death like the Black Knife Assassins [[spoiler:and Maliketh, the Black Blade]] are similar to Blackflame but with [[RedAndBlackAndEvilAllOver red highlights instead of white]], and was so powerful in its destructive capacity that the Rune of Death was removed from the Elden Ring in its entirety.

* HotterAndSexier: Subverted. Perhaps because of Martin's influence, ''Elden Ring'' has far more sexual references than any of [=FromSoftware's=] previous games, even if none of it is shown. Far from being titillating, they're usually [[RapeIsASpecialKindOfEvil to establish some characters as absolutely disgusting]], with the Dung Eater's storyline in particular having strong implications of sexual horror.

* InUniverseGameClock: The game features a [[VideoGameTime dynamic]] day/night cycle, with the Tarnished also being able to switch between these while resting at graces at their convenience. Some enemies, like [[BatOutOfHell the Giant Bats]], become more aggressive during the night, and a few night-exclusive field bosses start roaming around the map.

* LoopholeAbuse: As a form of AntiRageQuitting, in [=PvP=] you get rewards if your invaders leave, either of their own volition or from their deaths. Cue players finding hard-to-reach hiding spots, calling for both invaders and hunters, and then sitting back to [[LetsYouAndHimFight farm invaders as the hunters they've summoned do the work]], or wait for the invaders to leave out of boredom. You'd also see stories of invaders who discover what their target is doing and devise their own tactics to punish these players, sometimes even collaborating with the hunters to punish the host.

* NonIndicativeName: The Comet Azur spell is one of the most powerful sorceries in the game. It also in no way summons a meteor of any kind as it is actually a giant laser beam.

* NotTheIntendedUse: [=NPCs=] who sell items, such as Nomadic Merchants, will drop a bell bearing if they die. The bell bearing can be turned in to the Twin Maiden Husks at the Roundtable Hold to give you access to their store, so you're never unable to purchase items because of a dead [=NPC=]. With that said though, the Nomadic Merchants are scattered across the map and can be difficult to locate at times. Apart from one merchant being tied to a side quest, it's typically easier and consequence-free to just kill any merchant you come across and turn their bells over at the Roundtable Hold, giving you a one-stop shop for all available merchant inventories.

* NotUsingTheZWord: The game uses the rather verbose term Those Who Live in Death instead of the more conventional Undead, most likely to avoid the associations of the word from the developer's [[VideoGame/DarkSouls previous franchise]].
** It also clarifies the difference between these undead and the Tarnished, described as "ye dead who yet live" during the opening. The opening cinematic also depicts several dead Tarnished (including the player) coming back to life as Grace is returned to them. On top of that, the destruction of the Elden Ring has left most people as [[TechnicallyLivingZombie staggering, nearly-mindless husks.]] These nobles and commoners endlessly wander around, capable of only communicating in wordless groans (or [[MadnessMantra constant mumbled magic chants]]). Even the Lordsworn armies have been reduced to endless patrols and battles, seemingly barely cognizant of anything but combat.