Introduction to the Lands Between: Navigating Elden Ring Endings
Since its monumental release, FromSoftware’s magnum opus continues to captivate millions of players worldwide. As veterans return and newcomers dive into the treacherous realm of the Lands Between, understanding the Elden Ring endings guide 2025 is more crucial than ever. With various patches, DLC expansions like Shadow of the Erdtree, and a deeply interwoven narrative, the path to becoming the Elden Lord is as complex as it is rewarding.
There are six distinct, primary achievements awaiting you upon defeating the final boss, each altering the fate of the world and your character's legacy. Whether you want to plunge the world into eternal darkness, restore the golden order, or usher in an entirely new age of stars, this comprehensive walkthrough will detail every step required to secure your desired outcome. Prepare your weapons, stock up on starlight shards, and let us dissect the intricate web of quests necessary to unlock every single conclusion.
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Understanding the Core Paths
Before committing to a specific trajectory, it is vital to know that Elden Ring does not lock you into a single path until you interact with the final site of grace or summon a specific entity after the final boss battle. You can complete multiple questlines in a single playthrough, effectively giving you the power to choose your destiny at the very last second, provided you have met the prerequisites.
However, certain choices—like accepting the Flame of Frenzy—will lock you out of other conclusions unless you perform a specific, hidden cleansing ritual. To make the most of your journey, keeping track of NPC dialogue, missable items, and regional triggers is essential. Let us break down each of the main conclusions, starting with the standard routes and moving into the more esoteric secret paths.
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Standard and Mending Rune Endings
These variations branch out from the traditional path of claiming the Elden Ring, but each applies a unique ideological philosophy to the governance of the world through special items called Mending Runes.
The Age of Fracture (Standard Ending)
This is the default conclusion and requires the least amount of side-quest preparation. If you defeat the final bosses without presenting any special Mending Runes or triggering alternative cutscenes, you will claim this route.
To achieve this, simply defeat the final bosses, approach the fractured Marika, and choose the option to repair the Elden Ring. This results in the standard status quo, where the Tarnished sits upon the throne, but the fundamental flaws of the previous era remain largely unaddressed. It is a bittersweet conclusion for players who rushed the main storyline without exploring the rich lore hidden in the side quests.
Age of the Duskborn
Fia, the Deathbed Companion, offers a path that integrates those who live in death into the natural order of the world. By following her intricate questline, which spans from Roundtable Hold to the Deeproot Depths, you can fundamentally alter the lifecycle of the Lands Between.
To unlock this path, you must allow Fia to hold you, progress her dialogue until she gives you the Weathered Dagger, and give it to D, Hunter of the Dead. Eventually, you will find Fia in the Deeproot Depths, where you must defeat Lichdragon Fortissax and acquire the Mending Rune of the Death-Prince. Upon beating the final boss, use this rune at the fractured Marika to usher in an era where undeath is embraced as a natural part of existence.
Age of Order
Corhyn and Goldmask seek to purge the petty whims, flaws, and fickleness of the Outer Gods from the Golden Order itself, creating a rigid, mathematically perfect governance.
Starting at the Altus Plateau, you will guide Brother Corhyn and the masked scholar Goldmask across various locations, including the capital city of Leyndell. You will need to use the Law of Regression incantation at a specific statue riddle to reveal Radagon's true identity. Complete their quests until Goldmask perishes near the Ashen Capital, yielding the Mending Rune of Perfect Order. Presenting this rune after the final battle creates a world governed by absolute, unyielding truth.
The Blessing of Despair
Perhaps the most grim and unsettling choice in the game, the Dung Eater seeks to curse every living soul in the Lands Between for eternity, ensuring that their descendants are likewise cursed and barred from the Erdtree in death.
To secure this dark path, find the Dung Eater in Roundtable Hold, unlock his cell in the Subterranean Shunning-Grounds, and feed him Seedbed Blessing items collected throughout the world. Eventually, he will provide the Mending Rune of the Fell Curse. Using this item upon game completion plunges the world into a horrific, cursed reality, satisfying the twisted desires of one of the game's most depraved characters.
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Secret and Alternative Endings
Beyond the Mending Runes lie two monumental, fully cinematic conclusions that completely redefine the thematic core of FromSoftware's masterpiece.
Age of the Stars
Widely regarded by the community as the "true" or most satisfying narrative conclusion, the Age of the Stars is tied to the sprawling, multi-tiered questline of Witch Ranni. This path removes the influence of the Greater Will entirely, ushering in a dark, cold, but ultimately liberating era of the moon and stars.
To achieve this, you must meet Ranni at Ranni's Rise in Liurnia, join her service, and travel through the Siofra River, Nokron Eternal City, Lake of Rot, and Moonlight Altar. You will acquire the Dark Moon Greatsword and the Ring of Oaths. Upon defeating the final boss, do not interact with Marika. Instead, summon Ranni using the blue summoning sign on the floor. This triggers one of the most iconic cinematic sequences in gaming history.
Lord of Frenzied Flame
If you believe that the world of the Lands Between is too broken, corrupt, and full of suffering to be saved, you can choose to burn it all away. Guided by the Three Fingers deep beneath the capital, your character becomes the vessel for pure, destructive chaos.
To unlock this path, navigate the perilous platforming puzzle beneath the Subterranean Shunning-Grounds and embrace the Three Fingers naked. This brands your character with the Frenzied Flame, altering your physical appearance and locking you out of Ranni's path. If you beat the game while branded, you will trigger the apocalyptic Lord of Frenzied Flame ending, where Melina vows to hunt you down across the cosmos to deliver destined death.
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How to Reverse the Frenzied Flame
Because the Lord of Frenzied Flame path overrides almost all other choices, many players accidentally lock themselves out of alternative conclusions. Fortunately, there is a legendary, hidden fail-safe built into the game's world.
By completing Millicent's questline and defeating Malenia, Blade of Miquella, you will acquire Miquella's Needle. Taking this needle to Dragonlord Placidusax's hidden arena in Crumbling Farum Azula allows you to use the item, purging the Frenzied Flame from your body. This restores your freedom of choice, letting you claim Ranni's ending or any of the Mending Rune conclusions instead.
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Tips for Managing Multiple Endings in 2025
With countless hours required to see everything the game has to offer, modern players often utilize save-scumming techniques to view multiple conclusions in a single playthrough without replaying the entire campaign from scratch.
- Cloud Save Backup: On PC, PlayStation, and Xbox, you can manually upload or back up your save data immediately before interacting with the final boss or summoning mechanism.
- Quest Order: Always complete NPC side quests before triggering the burning of the Erdtree, as several key NPCs can perish or move locations, permanently failing their respective paths.
- Checklist Tracking: Utilize digital checklists to ensure you do not miss hidden items like Seedbed Blessings or Deathroot.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I get multiple endings in a single playthrough of Elden Ring?
A: Yes, through save-file backups (save scumming), you can back up your game right before the final choice, view an ending, reload your save, and choose another path, provided you have unlocked their prerequisites.
Q: Which Elden Ring ending is considered the best?
A: The "Age of the Stars" (Ranni's ending) is widely considered the best and most comprehensive by the community due to its extensive questline, unique rewards, and liberating thematic resolution.
Q: How do I remove the Frenzied Flame branding?
A: You must complete Millicent's questline, defeat Malenia to get Miquella's Needle, and use the needle inside the secret arena of Dragonlord Placidusax in Crumbling Farum Azula.
Q: Do I need to play the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC to get the main endings?
A: No, the expansion content is entirely separate from the base game's primary conclusions, though it enriches the overall lore surrounding Miquella, Marika, and the outer gods.
Q: What happens if I accept the Three Fingers early?
A: Accepting the Three Fingers locks you into the Lord of Frenzied Flame path and causes Melina to abandon you, though the status can be reversed later using Miquella's Needle.
Q: Which ending gives the most achievements/trophies?
A: There are three specific achievement-linked endings: Age of Fracture (or any Mending Rune variant), Age of the Stars, and Lord of Frenzied Flame. You need to see these three to 100% the game's achievements.
