Introduction to Elden Ring Endings and Community Wisdom
Navigating the vast and unforgiving world of FromSoftware's masterpiece can feel overwhelming, especially when you realize your choices shape the fate of the entire Land Between. If you have ever tumbled down the digital rabbit hole of the best elden ring endings guide reddit, you already know that the community's collective mind is both a blessing and a cursed treasure trove of lore and conflicting advice. Players across the globe have spent countless hours dissecting quests, item descriptions, and hidden dialogue trees to figure out what happens when you finally claim the Elden Ring.
With six distinct conclusions available in the base game, deciding which path to take is no small feat. Some paths are agonizingly convoluted, requiring pixel-hunting and obscure NPC interactions, while others are relatively straightforward if you know what triggers to avoid. In this comprehensive guide, we will break down the absolute best Elden Ring endings according to community consensus, Reddit threads, and lore deep-dives, helping you choose the ultimate narrative conclusion for your Tarnished.
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Understanding the Elden Ring Ending Landscape
Before diving into specific paths, it is helpful to understand how the game categorizes its conclusions. Broadly speaking, the endings fall into three distinct narrative buckets: restoring the status quo with minor variations, plunging the world into chaos, or ushering in an entirely new cosmic age. Reddit threads are perpetually filled with debates about which of these is morally superior, though "superior" is a loose term in a dark fantasy universe crafted by Hidetaka Miyazaki and George R.R. Martin.
Most players on the r/Eldenring subreddit agree that your first playthrough should be organic, but subsequent runs are where the real Elden Ring achievements and unique cutscenes shine. Backing up your save files before the final boss is a common strategy discussed in the community, allowing you to experience multiple conclusions without grinding through a fresh New Game Plus cycle. However, some achievements require specific questlines that span the entirety of the map, making meticulous planning essential.
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The Age of the Stars: The Community Favorite
When you comb through Reddit for the definitive answer to the best ending, one specific path consistently dominates the conversation: Age of the Stars, spearheaded by the enigmatic Ranni the Witch. This conclusion is widely regarded by the community as the most satisfying, narratively rich, and visually breathtaking ending in the game.
To unlock this path, you must embark on one of the longest and most rewarding side quests in gaming history. It takes you from the haunted ruins of Caria Manor deep into the underground Eternal Cities of Nokron and Nokstella, culminating in a dramatic battle against Astel, Naturalborn of the Void, and a summit at the Moonlight Altar.
Why Reddit Loves the Age of the Stars Ending
The r/Eldenring community heavily favors Ranni's path for several reasons. First, it removes the oppressive influence of the Greater Will and the Two Fingers from the world, ushering in an age of the cold, the dark, and the distant—essentially freeing humanity from divine puppetry. Second, your character becomes her consort, ruling alongside her in the cosmos.
Here are the primary highlights of completing Ranni's questline:
- Access to the Moonlight Altar plateau, a unique high-level secret area.
- The legendary Dark Moon Greatsword, a staple weapon for intelligence builds.
- A completely unique cinematic cutscene that changes the skybox of the entire game world.
- A profound sense of closure regarding the tragic fate of the demigods.
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The Lord of Frenzied Flame: The Chaos Route
If benevolence is not your style and you prefer to watch the world burn—literally—then the Lord of Frenzied Flame ending is what you are looking for. Frequently discussed in Reddit threads as the "bad ending" or the "chaotic evil route," this path requires you to drop down a terrifying, multi-layered platforming puzzle deep beneath Leyndell, the Royal Capital, into the Subterranean Shunning-Grounds.
Meeting the Three Fingers completely alters your character's physical appearance, giving your eyes a glowing, demonic yellow-orange hue and leaving burn scars across your body. This ending completely locks you out of all other options unless you go through the immense trouble of using Miquella's Needle in Dragonlord Placidusax's hidden arena to cure the Frenzied Flame before the final boss.
The Lore and Consequences of Frenzied Flame
Reddit lore theorists love the Frenzied Flame because it introduces the concept of the One Great, a primordial state of existence before matter was fractured. By choosing this ending, your Tarnished becomes an avatar of pure destruction, burning away all the pain, suffering, and division in the Land Between until all life melts back into one undifferentiated mass.
If you bring Melina along as your maiden, choosing this path also results in a heartbreaking betrayal. Melina vows to hunt you down to deliver destined death, adding a tragic emotional weight that many players find unforgettable. It is undoubtedly a bleak conclusion, making it a must-watch for anyone deeply invested in the game's darker themes.
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The Standard Mending Runes: Variations on a Theme
For players who prefer to fix the existing system rather than tear it down or abandon it, there are several standard endings achieved by using different Mending Runes during the final moments of the game. These are often debated on Reddit regarding their long-term viability for the citizens of the Lands Between.
Age of Order (Goldmask's Ending)
By following the complex and often obscure questline of Brother Corhyn and the golden-masked prophet Goldmask, you discover that the Golden Order is flawed because the gods themselves are fickle and emotional. The Mending Rune of Perfect Order removes the petty emotions of the gods from the equation, creating a rigid, absolute, but potentially stable society.Blessing of the Despair (The Dung Eater's Ending)
Often cited on Reddit as the most horrifying and disturbing conclusion, this path involves supporting the vile Dung Eater. By using the Mending Rune of the Fell Curse, you curse every single living being in the Lands Between—and all their descendants—so that their souls are forever trapped and unable to return to the Erdtree. Most players do this once just for the achievement and never look back.Age of the Duskborn (Fia's Ending)
If you prefer a world where the undead and those living in death are accepted rather than persecuted, Fia, the Deathbed Companion, offers a fascinating path. By completing her quest, which involves fighting Lichdragon Fortissax, you create the Mending Rune of the Death-Prince. This integrates death naturally back into the cycle of life, offering a melancholic yet compassionate resolution.---
Standard Elden Ring Ending: Age of Fracture
If you reach the end of the game without completing any major side quests involving Ranni, Goldmask, Fia, or the Dung Eater, you will automatically trigger the default ending: the Age of Fracture.
Reddit communities generally view this as the "neutral" or "default" outcome. You simply mend the Elden Ring as it was, becoming the Elden Lord under the watchful eye of the Erdtree and the remaining Golden Order. While it lacks the dramatic flair of the cosmic exodus or the fiery annihilation, it is a clean slate that leaves the future of the realm open to interpretation.
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Tips from Reddit on Planning Your Ending Run
Navigating these complex paths requires strategy. Here are some of the best tips gathered from seasoned veterans on the r/Eldenring subreddit to help you secure your desired conclusion without locking yourself out of content.
- Check Quest Log Milestones: Many NPCs will move or die if you progress too far in the main story, particularly after defeating Maliketh in Crumbling Farum Azula. Always clear out side quests beforehand.
- Save Backup Copies: On PC and PlayStation, you can save your game to the cloud or a USB drive right before interacting with the final site of grace, allowing you to reload and watch multiple endings in one playthrough.
- Pay Attention to Dialogue: NPCs in Elden Ring rarely tell you what to do directly. Read every item description and listen to repeated dialogue lines to avoid missing subtle progression cues.
- Embrace the Community: If you get stuck on a cryptic step—like finding where Ranni went or how to trigger Goldmask's final location—do not hesitate to search specific Reddit threads for up-to-date walkthroughs.
Ultimately, the "best" ending is entirely subjective. Whether you want to plunge the world into cosmic freedom with Ranni, burn it all away with the Frenzied Flame, or establish a new order of gold and reason, Elden Ring offers a narrative canvas that rewards exploration and personal choice.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is considered the true or best ending in Elden Ring according to Reddit?
A:The consensus on Reddit heavily favors the "Age of the Stars" ending featuring Ranni the Witch. Players love it for its deep lore, extensive questline, unique cinematic, and the fact that it frees the world from the oppressive control of the Greater Will.
Q: Can I get multiple endings in a single playthrough of Elden Ring?
A:Yes, by utilizing cloud saves or USB backups right before making the final choice at the end of the game. However, if you trigger the Frenzied Flame, you will be locked into that path unless you use Miquella's Needle to reverse it.
Q: How do I lock myself out of Ranni's ending?
A:You generally will not lock yourself out unless you actively betray Ranni or accidentally trigger the Frenzied Flame ending by interacting with the Three Fingers without curing it beforehand. However, missing certain NPC triggers early in her quest can temporarily stall your progress.
Q: Is the Dung Eater ending worth doing?
A:From a moral standpoint, the Dung Eater's ending is widely considered the most evil and horrific choice in the game. Most players only complete it once to earn the achievement and witness the unique cutscene.
Q: Do Elden Ring endings change the gameplay or just the cutscene?
A:The endings change the final cinematic cutscene, the post-credits world state, and the skybox of the game (such as the eerie dark moon in Ranni's ending or the fiery orange glow of the Frenzied Flame). They do not grant passive gameplay buffs for future playthroughs.
