Introduction to Elden Ring Endings
FromSoftware's masterpiece, Elden Ring, is a sprawling epic that leaves players in absolute awe. With its deep lore, challenging bosses, and countless secrets hidden across the Lands Between, it is a game that demands multiple playthroughs. One of the most fascinating aspects of this massive open-world RPG is that it features multiple distinct conclusions. If you are looking for the best elden ring endings guide working in the current game patch, you have come to the right place. Navigating the complex questlines required to unlock these varying fates can be overwhelming, but understanding how they work is the key to mastering your journey as the Elden Lord.
The path you choose determines the ultimate fate of the world. Will you maintain the current golden order, plunge the lands into despair, bring about an age of stars, or heal the world of its lingering sickness? Each conclusion requires specific items, intricate quest chains involving memorable NPCs, and often defeating some of the most punishing bosses in gaming history. In this comprehensive guide, we will break down every major path, detail the requirements, and help you decide which conclusion fits your roleplaying vision best.
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Understanding How Elden Ring Endings Work
Before diving into the specific conclusions, it is vital to understand the underlying mechanics of how these paths operate. Unlike some RPGs where your ending is locked in by a dialogue choice right before the final boss, Elden Ring uses a key-item system. Throughout your adventure, you will collect specific Mending Runes or align yourself with outer gods. Upon defeating the final boss, you are presented with an interactive prompt. Depending on the items in your inventory and the quests you have completed, you will have several options on how to interact with the fractured Marika.
It is entirely possible to complete almost all prerequisite quests in a single playthrough and save a backup of your save file right before the final decision. This allows you to experience multiple conclusions without grinding through a brand-new New Game Plus cycle every single time. However, be warned: certain actions, such as inheriting the Three Fingers, can lock you out of other paths unless you specifically cleanse yourself using Miquella's Needle at Dragonlord Placidusax's arena. Keeping track of your active quests using our best elden ring endings guide working will save you countless hours of backtracking.
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The Standard Paths: Age of Fracture and Default Options
Let us begin with the baseline conclusion that most players stumble upon naturally if they ignore the side content.
Age of Fracture
The Age of Fracture is considered the default conclusion of the game. If you defeat the final boss without having any special Mending Runes in your inventory and without interacting with Ranni or the Three Fingers, this is the path you will take.
- Approach the fractured Marika and select the option to touch her.
- Repair the Elden Ring using standard means.
- Watch as the Erdtree remains largely unchanged, and your character sits upon the throne as the new Elden Lord, maintaining the status quo.
While this path lacks the cinematic flair and deep thematic changes of the secret conclusions, it is a stable baseline for players who simply want to conquer the base game and move on.
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The Mending Rune Paths (Standard Variations)
If you want to alter the fundamental laws of the Golden Order rather than just fixing it, you must seek out specific Mending Runes. These are tied to some of the most emotionally resonant and tragic character arcs in the Lands Between.
Age of the Duskborn
Championed by the enigmatic Fia, the Deathbed Companion, the Age of the Duskborn integrates those who live in death back into the natural order of the world. To achieve this, you must follow Fia's questline across the Roundtable Hold and deep into the subterranean depths of Deeproot Depths.
- Collect the Cursemark of Death from the top of the Divine Tower of Liurnia (requires progressing Ranni's questline).
- Give the Cursemark to Fia in the Deeproot Depths while she rests near Prince Deathroot.
- Reload the area and enter her dream to defeat Lichdragon Fortissax.
- Obtain the Mending Rune of the Death-Prince and use it upon the final boss interaction.
Age of Order
Brought to you by the pious Goldmask and Corhyn, the Age of Order aims to fix the fickle and flawed nature of the Greater Will by establishing absolute, unshakeable truths.
- Meet Goldmask and Corhyn in Altus Plateau and relay the secret truth about Radagon and Marika found via the Law of Regression incantation.
- Follow their journey down to the capital outskirts and eventually to the Mountaintops of the Giants.
- Discover Goldmask resting near the bridge in Leyndell, Ashen Capital, and claim the Mending Rune of Perfect Order from his body.
Blessing of Despair
For those who wish to inflict maximum suffering upon the Lands Between, the Dung Eater provides a truly dark alternative. This path results in the Blessing of Despair, where every single living being is cursed for eternity, ensuring their souls cannot return to the Erdtree.
- Feed the Dung Eater Seedbed Curses found throughout Leyndell and Subterranean Shunning-Grounds.
- Obtain the Mending Rune of the Fell Curse and use it upon completing the game. This yields one of the most chilling cinematic conclusions available.
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The Secret and Fan-Favorite Paths
Two paths stand out above all others in terms of community love, lore significance, and sheer cinematic beauty.
Age of the Stars
Widely regarded by the community as the best elden ring endings guide working focus, the Age of the Stars is tied to Witch Ranni. This path removes the Greater Will and the Golden Order entirely from the Lands Between, ushering in a cold, dark, but free night ruled by the Moon.
- Meet Ranni at Ranni's Rise in Liurnia and join her service.
- Retrieve the Fingerslayer Blade from Nokron, Eternal City.
- Navigate Ainsel River and Lake of Rot, defeat Astel, Naturalborn of the Void, and obtain the Dark Moon Ring.
- Place the ring upon Ranni's finger inside the Cathedral of Manus Celes.
- Summon Ranni using the blue summon sign on the floor after defeating the final boss.
Lord of Frenzied Flame
If you prefer utter chaos and wish to burn the entire world to ash, the Lord of Frenzied Flame is for you. This path unlocks a completely unique, fiery cinematic and alters the final boss cutscene dramatically.
- Descend deep beneath the capital into the Subterranean Shunning-Grounds past Mohg, the Omen.
- Find the hidden wall behind the altar and navigate the harrowing platforming puzzle.
- Open the sealed door naked to commune with the Three Fingers, granting you the Frenzied Flame.
- Note: This locks you out of all other paths unless you use Miquella's Needle at Dragonlord Placidusax’s boss arena to purge the flame.
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Tips for Managing Multiple Endings in One Playthrough
Maximizing your time in Elden Ring requires strategic save management. Because FromSoftware games store save data locally on PC and via cloud backups on consoles, you can easily copy your save file right before triggering the final interaction.
- Step One: Complete all prerequisite side quests for Ranni, Fia, Goldmask, and the Dung Eater.
- Step Two: Defeat the final boss of the game, but do not touch Marika yet.
- Step Three: Exit to the main menu and back up your save file to cloud storage or a USB drive.
- Step Four: Load back in, choose one path, watch the credits, and reload your backup to experience the others.
By following this method alongside our trusted best elden ring endings guide working, you can see every single cinematic without needing to replay the entire game four or five times.
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Conclusion
Elden Ring is a monumental achievement in game design, and experiencing its various conclusions adds incredible depth to the lore and world-building. Whether you choose to free the world under the moonlight with Ranni, bring absolute order with Goldmask, or burn it all down with the Frenzied Flame, your journey through the Lands Between is entirely your own. Use this comprehensive guide to ensure your quests are properly tracked and your save files are protected, and claim your rightful place as a legend among the tarnished.
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FAQ
Q: How many total endings are there in Elden Ring?
A:There are six distinct conclusions available in the base game. These include the Age of Fracture (default), Age of the Duskborn, Age of Order, Blessing of Despair, Age of the Stars, and the Lord of Frenzied Flame.
Q: Can I get multiple endings in a single playthrough?
A:Yes, you can experience all of them in one playthrough by utilizing the save backup method. Right before interacting with Marika after defeating the final boss, exit the game and back up your save file. After viewing one conclusion, restore your save to choose another.
Q: How do I lock myself out of the other endings?
A:Accepting the Frenzied Flame from the Three Fingers locks you out of all other conclusions unless you reverse the process by using Miquella's Needle inside Crumbling Farum Azula after defeating Dragonlord Placidusax.
Q: Which ending is considered the best or true ending?
A:There is no officially designated "true" ending, but the Age of the Stars (Ranni's questline) is widely considered by the community to be the most satisfying and expansive alternative conclusion in the game.
Q: Do Elden Ring DLC or future updates add new endings?
A:The Shadow of the Erdtree expansion adds massive amounts of lore, weapons, and bosses, but it does not introduce a brand-new primary game conclusion; rather, it deepens the context of the existing narrative.
Q: What items do I need for Ranni's ending?
A:You will need the Fingerslayer Blade, the Carian Inverted Statue, the Cursemark of Death, and the Dark Moon Ring to fully complete Ranni's questline and summon her at the end of the game.
Q: Where can I find the Mending Rune of the Death-Prince?
A:You obtain this item by completing Fia's questline, which involves giving her the Cursemark of Death in the Deeproot Depths and defeating Lichdragon Fortissax in her dream.
Q: Is it possible to revert the Frenzied Flame?
A:Yes, by completing Millicent's questline, acquiring Miquella's Needle, and defeating the secret boss Dragonlord Placidusax in Crumbling Farum Azula, you can use the needle to cleanse yourself of the frenzied flame and unlock other paths.
