Deleted Elden Ring Cutscene Surfaces 4 Years After Launch

A deleted Elden Ring cutscene depicting Miquella planting the Haligtree has emerged 4 years after the game’s original release. While the Haligtree is an optional location in Elden Ring, it’s infamous for being one of the toughest locations in the game, complete with the incredibly difficult boss, Melania, Blade of Miquella. Now, fans can get a look at an unused cutscene that adds a bit more context to Miquella’s relation to the Haligtree than the final game provides.

Miquella’s Haligtree is a massive tree that towers over the Consecrated Snowfields far to the north of Elden Ring‘s map of The Lands Between. To access the Haligtree, Elden Ring players have to travel to Ordina, Liturgical Town and solve a puzzle that involves entering a nearby Evergaol and lighting all the unlit candles to access a Waygate that takes the player to the top of the Haligtree. Once there, players will have to make the treacherous journey down the Haligtree’s branches, eventually reaching Elphael, Brace of the Haligtree at its roots where Malenia can be fought.

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Newly Discovered Elden Ring Cutscene Showcases the Planting of Miquella’s Haligtree

YouTuber Lance McDonald shared a video that depicts an unused map file containing a very different version of Malenia’ boss arena at the base of the Haligtree. In this version of the arena, players will find a small sprout of a Haligtree located in the center. Additionally, a video file exists for an unused cutscene that takes place within this map file, which shows Miquella planting the sapling Haligtree that would later grow into the sprawling environment Elden Ring players will need to traverse.

McDonald notes in this video that this cutscene seemingly would have been triggered after receiving the Left Dectus Medallion from Sir Gideon Ofnir in Roundtable Hold. In the final version of the game, the Left Dectus Medallion is obtained from a chest in Fort Haight, making this cutscene inaccessible in a typical playthrough. However, the video file for the cutscene still exists within the game’s data.

Although this newly uncovered cutscene isn’t the most lengthy, it does give players an interesting look at Miquella’s background with the Haligtree. In the lore of Elden Ring, Miquella created the Haligtree as a place where he could grow into godhood, and it served as a refuge for those without grace, such as the Albinaurics. However, before the Haligtree was fully grown, Miquella was kidnapped by Mohg and taken to Mohgwyn Palace.

What’s That Weapon?

Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.

What’s That Weapon?

Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.

Easy (7.5s)Medium (5.0s)Hard (2.5s)Permadeath (2.5s)

The true intentions of Miquella, known as The Kindly, were revealed to be much more sinister than he led on in the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC. As such, it’s hard to believe everything that is said about Miquella in the base game, since he hid his true nature from the majority of those in The Lands Between. However, the discovery of this cutscene proves that Miquella did in fact plant the Haligtree, even if his quest to achieve godhood ended up destroying the lives of those who believed themselves to be his allies in the process. Potentially even more interesting is the fact that more cut content from Elden Ring is being discovered even 4 years after the game’s release, showing just how deep the game’s lore goes and how much planning went into crafting its world.