You’ve finally done it. Morgott is a memory, the golden barriers have shattered, and you’ve climbed the freezing, wind-whipped peaks of the Mountaintops of the Giants. Now, standing before you is this massive, rusted chain stretching across a literal abyss. It leads to a bowl the size of a city. This is the Elden Ring Forge of the Giants, and honestly, it’s the point of no return that most players aren't actually prepared for.
The first time I saw it, I just stood there. It’s haunting. The scale of the Mountaintops is already ridiculous, but the Forge feels like it belongs to a different game entirely—something older and more primal. It’s the graveyard of a civilization, the last remnant of the Fire Giants who dared to challenge the Erdtree. If you’re here, you’re looking for a way to burn the thorns blocking the entrance to the Elden Throne. But there is a lot of mechanical and narrative baggage attached to this location that the game doesn't exactly spell out for you in a manual.
Why the Forge of the Giants Is the True Turning Point
A lot of people think the game ends at Leyndell. It doesn't. Not even close. Reaching the Elden Ring Forge of the Giants marks the transition into the "endgame" proper. Once you rest at the Site of Grace on the rim of that giant cauldron, the world state changes. Forever.
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If you haven't finished your chores in Leyndell, the Royal Capital, stop right now. Seriously.
When you trigger the cutscene at the Forge, the Erdtree starts to burn. This eventually leads to the "Ashen Capital" state. If you missed the Bolt of Gransax or specific prayerbooks tucked away in the city's alleyways, they are gone. Poof. Deleted from your current playthrough. The Forge isn't just a landmark; it's a giant "Delete" button for the world you’ve spent the last 60 hours exploring.
There's also the Melina factor. Depending on your choices, this is where her journey ends—or where yours takes a very dark turn. If you’ve inherited the Frenzied Flame from the Three Fingers deep beneath the capital, the interaction here changes completely. You don't need Melina to burn the tree; you become the kindling yourself. It’s a brutal, visually stunning sequence that sets you on the path to the "Lord of Frenzied Flame" ending. If you haven't done that, Melina fulfills her "purpose," and the emotional weight of that sacrifice is usually what sticks with players the most.
Surviving the Fire Giant: The Gatekeeper
You can’t just walk into the Elden Ring Forge of the Giants. You have to kill the last of its guardians first. The Fire Giant is notorious. He’s huge, he’s clunky, and his hitboxes are... well, they’re a choice.
Most people struggle with this fight because they try to play it like a standard Dark Souls boss. You can't. In the first phase, you have to stay glued to his left ankle. Look for the braid wrapped around it. Break it. He’ll go into a transition where he starts rolling around like a caffeinated boulder. It’s annoying. It’s meant to be.
Phase Two Strategy
Once he rips his own leg off—which is metal as hell, let’s be real—the fight changes. He stops being a foot-stabbing simulator and starts becoming a fire-spewing nightmare.
- Don't use fire. Obvious, right? He has 80% fire resistance. If you’re a pyromancer, I’m sorry. Switch to literally anything else.
- Bleed is king. Because his health pool is basically an ocean, percentage-based damage like Hemorrhage (Bleed) or Black Flame is the only way to keep the fight from lasting twenty minutes.
- The Eye. In the second phase, his chest opens up. That eye is his weak spot. If you’re a ranged player, aim there. If you’re melee, stay behind him and chip away at his remaining foot or his hands when he slams them down.
The Lore of the Fell God
Why is this forge here? Why did Marika leave one giant alive? The lore suggests that the Flame of Ruin inside the Elden Ring Forge of the Giants is the only thing capable of burning the Erdtree. It’s a direct threat to the Golden Order. Marika defeated the giants, but she couldn't extinguish the fire itself. It’s eternal.
So, she cursed the last giant to tend the flame forever. He’s a janitor for a cosmic heater that could destroy his conqueror. It’s incredibly bleak. When you kill him, you aren't just progressing the plot; you’re ending the sentence of a creature that has been lonely for eras.
The Forge itself is a physical manifestation of the "Old Gods" that existed before the Greater Will showed up. It’s a remnant of a time when the world was much more elemental and chaotic. By using it, the Tarnished is essentially using an ancient, "illegal" power to rewrite the rules of the current world. It’s a poetic bit of game design.
Technical Check: What to Do Before You Leap
Before you talk to Melina (or the Flame) at the Forge, go through this mental checklist. I’ve seen too many people regret clicking "Yes" too early.
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- Check your weapons. Do you have the materials to get to +25 or +10? Some of the best late-game upgrade materials are found right after this area in Crumbling Farum Azula, but you want to be sitting at +22 or +9 at the minimum before you commit.
- Collect the Legendary Armaments. Specifically the Bolt of Gransax in Leyndell. If you want the Platinum trophy or all achievements, this is your last chance for this run.
- Finish Goldmask's Quest. If you’re aiming for the Age of Order ending, you need to have done the "Regression" puzzle in Leyndell before the city turns to ash.
- Sewers. The Subterranean Shunning-Grounds are still accessible after the Forge, but they’re much easier to navigate while the city is still standing.
Navigating the Rim
Actually getting to the Site of Grace at the Elden Ring Forge of the Giants is a bit of a platforming test. You have to walk along the massive chain. Don't run. The wind effects can actually nudge your character model, and falling is an embarrassing way to die after beating a literal god-giant.
Once you’re on the rim, head left. Follow the curve until you see the Grace. Sit down. Talk to Melina. This is the moment the game shifts gears from "Exploration" to "The Final Stretch."
After the cutscene, you will be automatically transported to Crumbling Farum Azula. This is a "legacy dungeon" that exists outside of time. You cannot fast travel out of it immediately. You have to find the first Site of Grace in Farum Azula before you can head back to the rest of the Lands Between. Don't panic when you look at your map and see nothing but clouds.
Myths and Misconceptions
I’ve seen a few rumors floating around on Reddit and Discord about the Forge. Let's clear some up.
- Can you save Melina? Yes, by taking the Frenzied Flame before the Forge. But if you want to avoid the "bad" ending, you then have to complete Millicent’s entire questline, defeat Malenia (the hardest boss in the game), and use Miquella’s Needle in a specific boss arena in Farum Azula. It’s a lot of work for a thankless task.
- Does the Forge heal you? No. It’s just a set piece for a cutscene.
- Can you skip the Fire Giant? Not without glitches. He is a mandatory "bottleneck" boss.
Moving Forward After the Flame
Once the Elden Ring Forge of the Giants has done its job, your priority shifts. You are now an outlaw in the eyes of the world. The Erdtree is burning, and the final bosses are waiting.
Take a breath. Farum Azula is a massive jump in difficulty. The beastmen there hit like trucks, and the environmental hazards are constant. If you find yourself struggling, head back to the Consecrated Snowfield or Miquella’s Haligtree to level up. You'll want to be around level 120 to 150 for the content that follows the Forge.
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To get the most out of your post-Forge experience:
- Respec if needed. Renalla is still at the Academy. If the Fire Giant fight showed you that your build is too squishy, go fix it now.
- Upgrade Spirits. Mimic Tear or Black Knife Tiche should be +10. The enemies in Farum Azula and the final boss gauntlet do not play fair.
- Explore the Ashen Capital. Once you finish Farum Azula, Leyndell changes. There are new items there, including a very important Talisman (Erdtree's Favor +2) that only appears once the city is covered in ash.
The Forge is the end of the beginning. Everything after this is a sprint toward the Elden Throne. Enjoy the view from the rim of the cauldron while you can; the Lands Between will never look the same again.
Next Steps for the Tarnished
To prepare for the challenges immediately following the Forge, ensure you have located the Smithing-Stone Miner's Bell Bearings [3] and [4]. These allow you to buy infinite upgrade materials from the Twin Maiden Husks at Roundtable Hold, which is essential because the weapon scaling requirements for the final three bosses are unforgiving. Additionally, if you plan on reversing the Frenzied Flame, ensure you have progressed Millicent's quest to the Drainage Channel in the Haligtree before defeating the final boss of Farum Azula.