FromSoftware has always been known for their unique and cryptic mysteries, a game play feature all gaming communities find appealing. The newest puzzler from Elden Ring Nightreign involves a cord end item that is very rare, causing players to think that they are on the verge of something big.
The Cord End Is Almost Unbelievably Rare
This mysterious item has an almost impossible drop rate of 0.035%. Which means, it is 7
times more likely to drop in every 20,000 drop attempts. To put this in perspective, die-hard players with 60 hours plus of game time have never seen this drop. They’ve spent more than enough hours in random-generated churches, where it is meant to appear.
Many people wonder if the item serves a purpose that we don’t know about owing to its amazing rarity. Players think anything that is so hard to get must unlock something really special.
Current Known Function: An Underground Cave
The Cord End has a peculiar privilege of a unique known use. Those who obtain this special treasure unlock a door in the central castle. The secret entrance ultimately leads to a cave with three Sacrificial Twig items. Their functionality is useful, but not game-breaking, as you drop the runes upon death.
The reward itself has sparked debate within the community. Some believe that such a ridiculously rare item just for unlocking a few mildly useful consumables (that can be found in gameplay) is just not worth it. The difference between what’s rare and what’s rewarded has led to theories about unknown mechanics hidden in the game.
Community Theories and Speculation
The gaming community has allegedly formed theories about its true potential. Some players believe the cave find is just the first step in a greater mystery that plays out across the entire game.
The two main pieces of evidence include the Cord End’s item description and the crypts of Roundtable Hold, which mention a “cutting-gifted tribe.” In the crypts are two messages which read “bestow branches to those who wander and roam”. Some interpret this as instructions for the Sacrificial Twigs from the secret cave.
Alternative theories state that the Cord End could have some function in Nightreign’s last area, although the item is so rare that attempting to test this is nearly impossible through standard gameplay.
The Challenge of Investigation
Mystery hunters’ biggest hurdle is the Cord End’s extremely unavailability. This item is unique as its drop rate makes it difficult to systematically check, unlike other FromSoftware puzzles. Certain theorists suggest that game modification might be the only way to make any meaningful progress, which raises the question of how the developers intended us to make any discoveries.
Drawing Parallels to Past FromSoftware Mysteries
FromSoftware has a long tradition of featuring enigmatic items that engage their players. The creator of the previous titles featured objects that had no apparent use, but instead turned out to have some hidden value or, in any case, were added to play with the community heads.
It is difficult to ascertain whether the Cord End is a genuine puzzle or merely an elaborate red herring that is designed to cause precisely the community engagement it is currently generating, given this precedent.
The Role of Data Mining
Some community members now looking through the files of Nightreign’s game for extra clues. However, this was so far unsuccessful in revealing any mechanics beyond the cave access already known. The ‘hidden content’ in the game may not be obvious, apparently either the mystery is solved or the other game secrets are well-hidden.
The Thrill of the Unknown
The Cord End may be hiding more secrets, but as of now, it has certainly generated modern gaming’s biggest mystery. The extreme rarity, associations with lore, and small payouts often seen create the perfect storm for the community to speculate and investigate.
The current search reminds players of everything they love about how FromSoftware approaches the design of its games. Anything is possible and there might be some amazing secrets hidden just below the surface — they just need the right amount of luck, guesswork and work to unlock said secret.
The gaming society is baffled with the cord end and whether or not it is a true part. Either way, it is creating an stir in the gaming community. What’s your take on the cord end that arose from FFXIV Raid? With the game’s secrets usually datamined and spoiled mere hours after a game releases, the Cord End is a great reminder of just how refreshing it can be when a game’s secrets stay a mystery.