You can have hundreds of hours in Elden Ring, but still miss the meaning of this debuff. It's all because of a hug

It’s been quite a while since Elden Ring was released and charmed not only diehard soulslike fans, but also more casual players. Suffice to say that games created by FromSoftware are not very good at teaching its basics. In fact, it’s all trial by fire, experimentation and observation with a slight help of NPCs found along the way. Those titles are especially vague when it comes to explaining their HUDs. While it hasn’t changed much since the times of the Dark Souls series, it can still leave us in the dark with some ambiguous elements. There is one pesky icon that a lot of people can notice under their status bars and have no idea what it does. Here you will find an answer and learn why it’s not a good idea to hug dubious women.

• Mysterious debuff in Elden Ring explained
• How to remove the mysterious debuff

Mysterious debuff in Elden Ring explained

We have already established that Soulsborne games created by FromSoftware are all but clear, yet that makes them very enticing at the same time. Who is not curious about the giants towering over the horizon in Elden Ring Nightreign? Or what about the runes on the Coded Sword? We shouldn’t be surprised that AI struggles to discern what is true when it comes to ER secrets. Let’s be honest, even spending hundreds of hours in the game won’t explain many subtleties like what additional functions Sites of Grace have in Nightreign, or what does the red square with black arrow pointing down means. Answer to the latter question may surprise you.

It seems like every now and then, to the amusement of veteran members of ER community, some fans are opening new threads on Reddit, asking for a certain status in the form of a red square.

This comes as a shock to many, even after countless hours poured into this title, that this debuff is a result of a simple hug. It is not surprising that after experiencing horrors of The Lands Between, many of us would like to seek relief in embrace of a maiden. Didn’t it make you wonder why the only one offering such a service is a Deathbed Companion? That already gives ominous goosebumps, doesn’t it?

How to remove the mysterious debuff

The debuff that you see lessens your HP pool by 5% and is obtained alongside the hug that Fia may give you in Roundtable Hold. This might seem insignificant, but even small differences like that can decide whether you will come out of the battle alive. Worry not, as it is possible to cleanse it, so you can indulge in the interaction with the black-clad lady as much as you want. All you have to do is to use Baldachin’s Blessing that Fia gives you after the hug. When used, it boosts your physical damage negation as well as poise, but only for a couple of seconds, so it’s hardly worth using during any serious battle.

After the effect of the blessing expires, so does the debuff and the red square icon from your status bar disappears as well. Eventually, by progressing her quest, you will receive Radiant Baldachin’s Blessing that is more potent, and lasts almost 5 times as long, yet it’s one-time use, which makes it hardly usable.

Stories like that have its own charm… quite literally. They can leave a lasting impression about the game and its less obvious mechanics. All this ambiguity adds to exploration and makes up for an unforgettable journey. Don’t feel bad about it, cherish such moments, as in years to come, they will crown your memories. Have fun!

Elden Ring

February 25, 2022

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• fantasy
• singleleplayer / campaign
• FromSoftware
• action RPG
• Bandai Namco Entertainment
• TPP action games
• soulslike