Introduction to Elden Ring Endings on PC
Welcome to the ultimate free elden ring endings guide for pc, designed to help you navigate the complex narrative web crafted by FromSoftware and George R.R. Martin. Elden Ring is a masterpiece of modern gaming, offering players a vast open world filled with lore, danger, and multiple paths to the ultimate conclusion. If you are playing on a PC, you have the unique advantage of managing your save files, allowing you to experience all the major conclusions without needing to replay the entire 100-hour campaign from scratch.
Understanding how to unlock every single conclusion in the Lands Between can be overwhelming. With numerous NPCs, convoluted questlines, and hidden items scattered across Limgrave, Caelid, and beyond, it is very easy to accidentally lock yourself out of a specific route. This comprehensive walkthrough will break down every major path, provide actionable steps, and share essential PC save-scumming tips so you can see every cinematic the game has to offer.
---
Understanding the Elden Ring Narrative Structure
Before diving into the specific paths, it is important to understand how the Lands Between handles its narrative progression. Unlike traditional linear RPGs, Elden Ring features multiple conclusions that are tied directly to the completion of specific non-player character (NPC) questlines. Your choice at the very end of the game will determine the fate of the world, altering the state of the Erdtree and the ruling power structure.
There are generally three categories of conclusions: the Standard Endings, the Mending Rune Endings, and the Unique/Secret Endings. Each requires specific items obtained by traversing dungeons, defeating demigods, and making moral choices that impact the future of the realm. Whether you are aiming for a traditional playthrough or seeking to manipulate your game files on your personal computer, knowing the requirements is half the battle.
---
How to Back Up Your PC Save Files for Multiple Endings
One of the greatest perks of playing on a computer is the ability to manipulate your local save data. If you want to view every conclusion in a single playthrough without spending hundreds of hours grinding New Game Plus, you need to master the art of save-scumming. This free elden ring endings guide for pc wouldn't be complete without a step-by-step tutorial on how to safely back up your game progress.
By default, your saved game files are located in your AppData folder. Here is how you can isolate your saves and copy them before making your final choice:
- Press the Windows Key + R on your keyboard to open the Run dialog box.
- Type `%appdata%\EldenRing` and press Enter to open the game directory.
- Inside this folder, you will see a folder with a long string of numbers, which represents your Steam ID. Open it.
- Copy all the files inside this folder (usually named `ER0000.sl2` and associated backup files) and paste them into a separate backup folder on your desktop.
- Once you achieve one conclusion, quit the game, take your saved files from your desktop, and paste them back into the original directory to revert your progress right before the final decision.
---
The Standard Path: Age of Fracture
The Age of Fracture is considered the default conclusion of the game. If you manage to defeat the final bosses without completing any major optional NPC questlines, this is the path the game will default to. It does not require any special Mending Runes, making it the most straightforward route for first-time players.
To achieve this, simply defeat the final boss, interact with the fractured Marika, and choose the option to touch the broken statue. The cinematic shows your character sitting upon the Elden Throne, restoring the status quo of the Golden Order, albeit in a fractured and damaged state. While it lacks the dramatic world transformations of other paths, it is a crucial milestone for completionists.
---
The Mending Rune Variations
If you want to alter the fundamental laws of the Golden Order, you will need to seek out specific Mending Runes. These unique items are earned by following the deep and tragic stories of key characters throughout the continent. Here are the three distinct variations you can unlock and execute on your PC:
Age of the Duskborn
This path is tied to the questline of Fia, the Deathbed Companion, and involves the enigmatic D, Hunter of the Dead. By collecting the Cursemark of Death at the Divine Tower of Liurnia and giving it to Fia in the Deeproot Depths, you will eventually receive the Mending Rune of the Death-Prince. Choosing this at the end introduces the concept of Living in Death into the order of the world, forever altering how death is perceived in the Lands Between.
Age of Order
To unlock this path, you must aid Goldmask and Brother Corhyn in their theological quest. By traveling across the map, solving the puzzle regarding Queen Marika's true identity using the Law of Regression incantation, and finding Goldmask in the mountains, you will acquire the Mending Rune of Perfect Order. This path removes the petty flaws and prejudices of the gods from the Golden Order, establishing a rigid, infallible system of divine rule.
Blessing of Despair
Often considered the darkest path in the game, this conclusion is unlocked by following the abhorrent questline of the Dung Eater. By feeding him Seedbed Bairds found in the capital and other locations, you will obtain the Mending Rune of the Fell Curse. Using this item plunges the entire world into a perpetual curse, trapping every future generation in a cycle of torment and defilement. It is a grim choice, but essential for achievement hunters.
---
The Secret and Unique Paths
Beyond the standard and mending rune routes, Elden Ring features two massive, sprawling secret paths that completely change the visual landscape and lore implications of the game's finale.
Lord of Frenzied Flame
If you seek absolute chaos and wish to burn away the entire world to melt it back into a singular mass, you must find the Three Fingers deep beneath the capital in the Subterranean Shunning-Grounds. To access this path, you must strip off all your armor and open the sealed door, accepting the frenzied flame into your body. This overrides all other conclusions, locking you into a fiery cinematic where Melina vows to hunt you down to the ends of the earth.
Note that if you take this path accidentally, you can reverse it by completing the lengthy questline of Millicent and using the Miquella's Needle inside Dragonlord Placidusax's arena in Crumbling Farum Azula.
Age of the Stars
Widely regarded as one of the best and most satisfying conclusions in the game, the Age of the Stars is tied to the sprawling quest of Witch Ranni. By aiding her in the Eternal City of Nokron, traversing the Lake of Rot, and defeating Astel, you will obtain the Dark Moon Ring. At the very end of the game, after defeating the final boss, you can summon Ranni via a blue summon sign on the floor rather than touching Marika. This initiates a starry night sky over the Lands Between, ushering in an age of cold, freedom, and the unknown as Ranni takes her place as the new god.
---
Tips for Managing Multiple Playthroughs on PC
Playing on a computer offers amazing quality-of-life benefits that can make hunting down all these conclusions much faster and more enjoyable. Here are some expert tips to keep in mind:
- Utilize Nexus Mods (responsibly) for performance enhancements, ultrawide fixes, or save organizers if you are playing strictly offline to avoid anti-cheat bans.
- Always keep a master save file right before entering the Capital of Leyndell or defeating Malikith, as these events can permanently alter NPC availability and lock you out of certain questlines.
- Double-check NPC locations before progressing the main story, as resting at certain sites of grace or advancing too far can cause characters to move or perish prematurely.
By following this comprehensive guide, you will easily master every path the game has to offer. Whether you want to plunge the world into despair or gaze into the starry cosmos with Ranni, your PC experience is bound to be unforgettable.
---
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I get all Elden Ring endings in one playthrough on PC?
A: Yes, absolutely! Because you are playing on a PC, you can use the save-scumming method by backing up your save files from the AppData folder. This allows you to reload your progress right before the final choice and experience every single conclusion without starting a New Game Plus.
Q: Do I need to complete every side quest to finish the game?
A: No, side quests are entirely optional for the base game completion. However, if you want to unlock unique paths like the Age of the Stars, Age of Order, or the Blessing of Despair, you must complete the specific questlines associated with Ranni, Goldmask, or the Dung Eater respectively.
Q: How do I reverse the Lord of Frenzied Flame ending if I accidentally triggered it?
A: To undo the Frenzied Flame path, you must complete Millicent's questline to acquire Miquella's Needle. Then, you must defeat the secret boss Dragonlord Placidusax in Crumbling Farum Azula and use the needle within his arena to cleanse yourself before the final battle.
Q: Where are the Elden Ring PC save files located?
A: Your local save files can be found by pressing Windows Key + R, typing `%appdata%\EldenRing`, and pressing Enter. Inside that directory, open the folder named after your unique Steam ID to find your `.sl2` save files.
Q: Which ending is considered the canonical or best one?
A: FromSoftware games do not have a strictly official canonical conclusion, leaving interpretation up to the player. However, the Age of the Stars (Ranni's path) and the Age of Fracture are widely considered the most fleshed-out and narratively satisfying routes by the community.
Q: Will using save backup files get me banned on Steam?
A: Backing up your local save files for offline single-player progression management generally does not trigger bans. However, you should always ensure you are not modifying game memory, injecting unauthorized software, or tampering with save data while connected to online multiplayer servers to stay safe.
