No Direct Damage

Can you beat Elden Ring without ever dealing direct damage?

This mod turns off every source of direct damage you can deal: weapons, spells, incantations, consumables, and Spirit Ashes. Every hit you land does 0. The only ways to kill enemies are status effects and damage-over-time: Bleed, Poison, Frost, Scarlet Rot, and Black Flame.

Every boss becomes a puzzle. You have to learn which status effects work on them and build your character entirely around making them proc. Enemies and invaders still hit you at full strength.

I created this challenge for my own run on Twitch (NomALlama), and now you can try it too.

Installation instructions

• []Install me3 (Mod Engine 3) if you don't have it: download the Windows installer from https://github.com/garyttierney/me3/releases and run it. You only need to do this once.[/]

  []Download and unzip this mod's folder anywhere (your Desktop is fine).[/]

  []Double-click NoDirectDamage.me3.[/]

  []Start a NEW character.[/]

Your game files are never touched. To play normal Elden Ring again, just launch it from Steam like usual.

To uninstall, delete the folder.

Main features

• []Zero direct damage: weapons, arrows, sorceries, incantations, throwables, other items, ripostes, backstabs, and critical hits all deal 0 damage. [/]

  []Spirit Ashes deal no damage either, so no letting Mimic Tear carry you. (Ashes can still apply effects such as bleed)[/]

  []Status effects still work: Bleed, Poison, Frost, Scarlet Rot, and Black Flame are your only weapons.[/]

  []Enemies and invaders deal normal damage. The challenge only affects you.[/]

  []The Indy Rekt talisman starts equipped and enforces the challenge. Leave it on.[/]

  []A Talisman Pouch just outside of the Chapel of Anticipation. For your convenience, and to keep things fair since Indy Rekt takes up a slot, grab it before you leave.[/]

  []A separate save file. The mod uses its own save (NoDirectDamage.sl2), so your normal characters are safe.[/]

  []Offline play with anti-cheat off. The mod never connects to online servers. [/]

  []Includes Shadow of the Erdtree.[/]

Tip: Some bosses are immune to status buildup. Black Flame's damage-over-time gets around that, so plan ahead for the endgame.

Requirements

• []Elden Ring on Steam, version 1. 17. 1[/]

  []Shadow of the Erdtree DLC[/]

  []me3 (Mod Engine 3), a free mod launcher (see installation instructions)[/]

Note: This mod runs offline only. A future Elden Ring patch may break it until I release an update.