Elden Ringplayers are debating which faction they would join if theDark SoulsCovenant system was brought into The Lands Between. Covenants have been a staple in theDark Soulsseries since the franchise made its debut in 2011, with the system even making an appearance in the PlayStation-exclusiveBloodborne. However, Covenants were notably absent fromElden Ring, and more than a few longtime fans of developer FromSoftware have since expressed their desire to see the feature return in a future update or sequel.
For context,Covenants areDark Souls' version of in-game factions, wherein players can join, level, and gain points in exchange for items or ability buffs. Covenants are also tied to the player’s multiplayer experience, with groups typically favoring either invading or helping other players. As an example, players who joinedDark Souls 3’s Way of the Blue would automatically summon other members to help fend off an invader during an online playthrough. In contrast,Dark Souls' Blade of the Dark Moon was a PvP-focused faction, which often tasked members with assassinating players who abandoned their Covenants.
While the Covenant system was excluded inElden Ringand partly replaced by several of the in-game factions, it hasn’t stopped fans from pondering which groups appealed the most to their personal tastes. One Reddit thread from r/Eldenring recently opened the topic once more, with the original poster asking other users which factions they would join if the Covenant system had been implemented into the critically acclaimed open-world Soulslike RPG.
Some players were influenced by their personal experience with theDark Soulsfranchise, drawing comparisons between severalElden Ringfactions and Covenants. Others based their answer on the group that they empathized with the most during their playthrough, with several users expressing interest in agroup dedicated to Miquella’s Haligtree.
Elden Ring Does Not Feature Covenants
Unfortunately, it’s unlikely the Covenant system will be added post-launch toElden Ring. FromSoftware director Hidetaka Miyazaki previously stated there were no plans to implement the feature, explaining how the developers wanted to minimize the barriers to the game’s multiplayer as much as possible. With that said, theCovenant system might still return to the world ofElden Ringin future entries, if there are any.
Though the Covenant system was not included, players were still amazed by the amount of content included inElden Ring’s base game, which could easily take hundreds of hours to fully experience. Players can also look forward toElden Ring’s expansion, with theShadows of the Erdtree DLC promising a new antagonist, unique weapons, and an expansive map to explore and conquer.
Elden Ring
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ELDEN RING, developed by FromSoftware, Inc. and BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Inc., is a fantasy action-RPG adventure set within a world created by Hidetaka Miyazaki and George R.R. Martin. Danger and discovery lurk around every corner in FromSoftware’s largest game to date. Hidetaka Miyazaki - President and Game Director of FromSoftware Inc. Known for directing critically-acclaimed games in beloved franchises including Armored Core and Dark Souls.George R.R. Martin is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of many novels, including the acclaimed series A Song of Ice and Fire - A Game of Thrones, A Clash of Kings, A Storm of Swords, A Feast For Crows, and A Dance with Dragons. As a writer-producer, he has worked on The Twilight Zone, Beauty and the Beast, and various feature films and pilots that were never made. He lives with the lovely Parris in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
