Elden Ring: What Does the Cardinal Sin Do?

Committing a cardinal sin is always a negative thing, and Elden Ring is no exception. However, the game is a little hazy about what you'll be doing and what the consequences will be if you commit the cardinal sin. It would appear that rushing around and killing anybody who gets in your way is a cardinal offense, but Elden Ring thinks it's fine. In fact, you'll be rewarded for your efforts with fantastic weapons and armor. Let's take a look at what occurs in Elden Ring after you commit the cardinal sin.

What Does the Cardinal Sin do in Elden Ring

To begin with, what is the cardinal sin that the game is urging you to commit? Burning down the big Erdtree is the cardinal sin you must commit. You'll notice that it reads "have to commit" since you'll need to do this to reach any of the game's endings.

The magnificent and majestic Erdtree is being burned down as part of the main story, and it will not stop until you do. So the cardinal sin's objective isn't whether you should do it, but rather what happens if you do.

So, once you've burned down the tree, you won't be able to access any sidequests. This means you won't be able to work with Dung Eater, but you will still be able to obtain Ranni's ending. However, it's advisable to play it safe and finish any sidequests you desire before bringing the Elden Ring's closing section.

Even if you miss out on a sidequest you really wanted to accomplish, there's always a new game+ to play once you've completed the game. Of course, you'll return to the beginning of the game, where everything will be far more powerful than it is today. You will still have all of your current gear and equipment, so you will not need to regrind everything. It's similar to rebirth, except the world resets instead of you.

It's simply a shame you don't have a choice about whether or not you burn down the Erdtree. The only option you have is to wait until it happens. Check out our other Elden Ring guides if you need any additional assistance.