Elden Ring Sleeping Dragon Consequences

Okay, fellow Tarnished, let's talk dragons. Specifically, that big ol' sleeping dragon in Elden Ring. You know the one. The one you totally cheesed to get a bunch of runes early on. Don't lie, we all did it... right?

The Great Rune Heist

We approach this slumbering ancient beast, Elder Dragon Greyoll, hoping for a quick buck. Bash its tail while it snoozes, grab the sweet, sweet runes, and run. Zero risk, maximum reward, right? Wrong! (Maybe.)

Here's my controversial opinion: killing that sleeping dragon early... isn't that bad! Fight me in the comments. But seriously, hear me out.

Level Up, Buttercup

First, let’s address the giant rune elephant in the room. We all love to level up. Grinding for hours against weak enemies? Nope. One sleeping dragon equals almost instant level-up. Sounds good, right? Leveling up is fun. I said it.

This level boost gives you a head start. You can equip that cooler weapon you wanted. Maybe finally survive one hit from those annoying dogs. It's a power trip, and who doesn’t love a little power trip?

Suddenly, Stormveil Castle doesn't seem quite so daunting. Maybe you can actually survive Margit. That's a win in my book.

The "Honor" Argument

Some people say it’s dishonorable. That you should "git gud" and earn your levels. That skipping the grind diminishes the accomplishment. Look, I get it. I really do.

But Elden Ring is a massive game. There's no right way to play. If cheesing a sleeping dragon gets you enjoying the game more? Who cares about "honor"? It's a single-player experience!

Plus, let's be real. Are we really roleplaying as honorable knights? Or are we just trying to survive in a hostile world? I'm leaning towards the latter.

The World Keeps Turning

And here's the thing: killing that dragon doesn't break the game. The story doesn't fundamentally change. The world doesn't end (ironically, you're trying to prevent that). You just get a little stronger. The game still gives you plenty of opportunities to prove yourself.

Think about it: Did anyone actually need that dragon? Did killing it remove a vital piece of lore? Did it change the questline? No, no, and absolutely no! It's just a massive, rune-filled pinata.

The Alternative? Grinding

What's the alternative? Spending hours fighting the same weak enemies over and over? That sounds way more boring. Time is precious! Especially when you're trying to navigate the Lands Between.

Instead of grinding, you are exploring. You can learn new areas, uncover secrets, and fight interesting bosses. All because you skipped a tiny, insignificant hurdle by giving a big dragon a headache.

Plus, the time you save not grinding is time you can spend dying to Malenia. Progress!

But, What About The Challenge?

Okay, okay, I know what you're thinking. "You're ruining the challenge!" To which I say: Elden Ring provides its own challenge. It’s more than capable of making you feel incredibly small and weak. Even at level 100. Trust me on this one.

A few extra levels doesn't make you invincible. You'll still die. A lot. You will still get wrecked by random enemies. You might just survive one extra hit. Is that really a bad thing?

Embrace The Cheese!

My point is this: don't feel guilty about cheesing the sleeping dragon. If it makes the game more enjoyable for you, do it. Elden Ring is a tough game. A little boost never hurt anyone (except maybe that dragon).

It’s not that serious. Play the game how you want. Have fun! Besides, you'll probably regret it later when you hit a wall. Every advantage counts, am I right?

So, embrace the cheese! Go forth, Tarnished, and conquer the Lands Between. Just don't wake the neighbors while you're at it. And maybe say a little prayer for that poor, sleepy dragon. Okay, maybe not.

I'm just kidding...mostly.