Though there are key features that set each entry apart from one another, FromSoftware's long line of action-RPGs haven't been afraid to carry forward some staple features with each new entry. From a healing item that replenishes its charges after resting, to a conniving NPC who uses their charm to lure the player to their doom, there are certain traditions that run throughout FromSoftware's games. A "level-up lady" is one such tradition.
Introduced all the way back in 2009's Demon's Souls, the "level-up lady" trope can be found in just about every FromSoftware action-RPG, from Dark Souls to Elden Ring. These level-up ladies often appear in the game's hub world, allowing the player to use their collected resources to increase their stats. But the best FromSoftware level-up ladies offer a bit more than just a simple stat boost.
S-Tier
The Best Level-Up Ladies In FromSoftware History
- Emerald Herald (Dark Souls 2)
- Melina (Elden Ring)
While every FromSoftware fan has their own favorite level-up lady, certain features result in some NPCs rising above the rest. The Emerald Herald and Melina are the two best examples of that, offering the complete package for FromSoftware fans. Dark Souls 2's Emerald Herald doesn't just provide a few extra tidbits of lore through her dialogue; she's directly tied to the events of the main story.
Created by dragons and men to break the undead curse, the Emerald Herald is there every step of the way in Dark Souls 2's story, directly guiding the player to their next objective and playing a major role in the game's ending. The Emerald Herald also has full functionality, allowing the player to level up using Souls.
Elden Ring's Melina is a very similar case. Much like the Emerald Herald, Melina plays a vital role in Elden Ring's story and even has an entire ending dedicated to her swearing revenge on the player if they follow the path of the Frenzied Flame. Melina is also arguably the most thoroughly fleshed-out FromSoftware level-up lady, with her lore stretching all the way back to the days of Queen Marika and tying in directly with many of Elden Ring's main bosses. Melina is also the source of most of the player's leveling up, and she's even responsible for giving the player the Spectral Steed, Torrent.
A-Tier
FromSoftware Level-Up Ladies With Some Great Lore
- Fire Keeper (Dark Souls 3)
- The Doll (Bloodborne)
Falling just shy of those in the S-Tier, these FromSoftware level-up ladies have some great lore and have full functionality, but they don't quite tie into the main story as overtly as Melina and the Emerald Herald. Dark Souls 3's Fire Keeper is a traditionally stoic FromSoft level-up lady who hearkens back to the developer's roots, but her ability to cure Dark Sigils and her predominant role in one of Dark Souls 3's hidden endings makes her feel like an important part of the game's story and lore.
Bloodborne's Doll is arguably the most iconic FromSoftware level-up lady in terms of design, and her lore offers up some neat world-building, with her being a doll created by Gehrman to satisfy his obsession with Lady Maria. The Doll also has a much closer relationship with the player-character than most FromSoft level-up ladies, giving many fans a more personal connection to her.
B-Tier
Memorable But Limited FromSoftware Level-Up Ladies
- Emma (Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice)
- Maiden in Black (Demon's Souls)
This tier features some great FromSoftware level-up ladies who suffer from just one or two major limitations that stop them from appearing higher on this list. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice's Emma has a well-established background and personality, but her functionality is much more limited than those in higher tiers, only being able to improve the player's Healing Gourd and heal Dragonrot. However, Emma does have a distinct edge over FromSoft's other level-up ladies in that she's a fully-fledged optional boss fight if players choose the violent Shura ending.
Demon's Souls' Maiden in Black is an iconic FromSoftware level-up lady, and she certainly gets points for being the original. However, while the Maiden in Black's lore does tie in with Demon's Souls' main antagonist, her backstory and personality aren't explored too thoroughly.
C-Tier
FromSoftware Level-Up Ladies With Shortcomings
- Anastacia of Astora (Dark Souls 1)
Though many fans have a soft spot for Dark Souls' Anastacia of Astora, she's by far the weakest level-up lady in FromSoftware history. When players first meet Anastacia imprisoned underneath Firelink Shrine, she's unable to talk, with her tongue having been cut out years before she came to the shrine. As Firelink Shrine's Fire Keeper, Anastacia keeps the Bonfire lit, but her in-game abilities aren't nearly as useful as her competition. Anastacia is only able to upgrade the player's Estus Flask.
While Knight Lautrec's murder of Anastacia kicks off a compelling questline, she unfortunately doesn't play too much of a role in it, with Lautrec's motivations for killing the Fire Keeper being unclear. Very little is known about Dark Souls' Anastacia, and even after the player revives her with a Fire Keeper Soul and restores her ability to speak, she says little and doesn't shed much light on her own backstory or the world of Lordran.
Elden Ring
-
OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 95 /100 Critics Rec: 98%
- Released
- February 25, 2022
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence
- Developer(s)
- From Software
- Publisher(s)
- Bandai Namco Entertainment, From Software
WHERE TO PLAY
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.
- Engine
- Proprietary
- Multiplayer
- Online Co-Op, Online Multiplayer
- Cross-Platform Play
- PS4 & PS5 and Xbox One & Xbox Series X|S
- Cross Save
- no
- Steam Deck Compatibility
- yes
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X
- How Long To Beat
- 58 Hours
- PS Plus Availability
- N/A
