Embarking on a journey through the Lands Between is no small feat. FromSoftware’s masterpiece is massive, punishing, and deeply layered, culminating in choices that drastically alter the fate of the entire world. If you are trying to navigate the complex narrative threads of this open-world epic, finding a reliable Elden Ring endings guide list is essential. With six distinct endings available in the base game, securing your preferred cinematic conclusion requires careful planning, specific item collections, and the completion of intricate NPC questlines.
In this comprehensive guide, we will break down how to effectively use an Elden Ring endings guide list, explore the requirements for every single conclusion, and offer strategic advice on how to save your game progress so you can witness multiple endings in a single playthrough. Whether you are aiming to become the Elden Ring Elden Lord or plunge the world into eternal chaos, this roadmap has you covered.
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Understanding the Structure of an Elden Ring Endings Guide List
Before diving headfirst into the game, it helps to understand how guides are structured. A well-crafted Elden Ring endings guide list typically categorizes outcomes into three main branches: the standard Age of the Fracture ending, the various Mending Rune variations, and the two unique secret endings—Age of the Stars and Lord of Frenzied Flame.
When reading through an Elden Ring endings guide list, you will notice that most paths are locked behind long, winding side quests involving enigmatic characters like Ranni the Witch, Fia the Deathbed Companion, or Goldmask. If you skip a single step in these quests—such as exhausting a dialogue option or failing to meet an NPC at a secondary location—you risk locking yourself out of that specific ending for your current playthrough.
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The Core Categories of Elden Ring Endings
To make the most of your Elden Ring endings guide list, you need to know what you are aiming for. Here is a brief overview of the main paths available to the Tarnished:
- Age of Fracture: The default ending. Requires no special items other than defeating the final bosses and claiming the Elden Ring.
- Age of the Duskborn: Brought about by Fia's questline, resulting in the integration of Death into the Golden Order.
- Age of Order: Achieved by completing Goldmask and Brother Corhyn's quest, fixing the flaws of the gods.
- Age of the Despair: Triggered by giving the Seedbed Curses to Dung Eater, cursing all future generations.
- Age of the Stars: Ranni's famous secret ending, replacing the Golden Order with the reign of the Dark Moon.
- Lord of Frenzied Flame: The chaotic secret ending obtained by inheriting the Three Fingers' flame beneath the Leyndell Sewers.
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Step-by-Step: How to Use an Elden Ring Endings Guide List Effectively
Using a guide for a game as sprawling as Elden Ring requires a strategic approach. It is very easy to accidentally lock yourself out of a questline by progressing the main story too far, such as burning the Erdtree. Here is how you should utilize your chosen Elden Ring endings guide list for maximum success.
Step 1: Choose Your Desired Ending Early
The most critical mistake players make is waiting until the end of the game to look at an Elden Ring endings guide list. By the time you reach the final bosses, many NPC questlines may have already expired because you progressed past specific geographical triggers. Decide early on whether you want to simp for Ranni, purge the world with flame, or mend the Elden Ring.
Step 2: Track NPC Locations and Triggers
NPCs in Elden Ring do not stay in one place. They move dynamically as you rest at Sites of Grace, defeat major shardbearer bosses, or explore new regions. Your Elden Ring endings guide list should serve as a dynamic checklist. Make a habit of checking the guide before entering a new area to ensure you haven't missed an interactive dialogue or a crucial item handover.
Step 3: Pay Attention Point-of-No-Return Warnings
The game features several major progression bottlenecks. Lighting the flame at the Giant's Forge or defeating certain bosses in Crumbling Farum Azula will permanently alter the state of Leyndell, the Royal Capital, causing numerous quests to fail instantly. Your Elden Ring endings guide list will explicitly highlight these thresholds. Heed these warnings carefully.
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Advanced Strategies: How to See Multiple Endings in One Playthrough
Because playing through Elden Ring can easily take anywhere from 60 to 150 hours, most players prefer not to replay the entire game just to see a different cutscene. Fortunately, with a little preparation and save-file management, you can use your Elden Ring endings guide list to unlock and view multiple endings in a single game cycle.
The Save Scumming Technique
If you are playing on PC, PlayStation, or Xbox, you can back up your save file right before making the final choice at the Elden Ring. Here is how the process works in practice:
- Complete all necessary questlines and acquire all required items (such as Mending Runes or Ranni's Dark Moon).
- Defeat the final bosses and reach the final Site of Grace before interacting with the fractured Marika or the summoning sign on the ground.
- Quit the game and manually back up your save file to the cloud or a USB flash drive (depending on your platform).
- Load back into the game, interact with Marika or the summon sign, and watch your first ending.
- After the credits roll and you return to the title screen (or if you close the game before starting NG+), restore your backed-up save file.
- Repeat the process to choose a different option from your Elden Ring endings guide list.
Note: The only exception to this method is the Lord of Frenzied Flame ending. If you inherit the Frenzied Flame, it brands your character and locks you into that ending unless you complete the grueling Millennium-long questline involving Malenia's needle to cleanse it.
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Common Pitfalls to Avoid When Following an Endings Guide
Even with the best Elden Ring endings guide list by your side, things can still go wrong. Being aware of common stumbling blocks will save you massive headaches down the line.
One common issue is accidentally killing friendly NPCs. If you swing your sword too close to a merchant or quest-giver, they may become hostile. While you can sometimes use celestial dew at the Church of Vows to absolve your sins, some actions permanently break a questline. Always review your surroundings before unleashing heavy area-of-effect spells.
Another pitfall is relying on outdated information. FromSoftware frequently patches quests, adds new steps, or adjusts NPC behaviors. Always ensure the Elden Ring endings guide list you are referencing is updated to the latest game patch and includes any relevant expansion-related adjustments.
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Conclusion
Mastering the intricate narrative paths of FromSoftware's masterpiece is immensely rewarding. By utilizing a comprehensive Elden Ring endings guide list, you take control of your destiny in the Lands Between, ensuring that your preferred vision for the world becomes a reality. Whether you choose to usher in an age of cosmic mystery, fiery destruction, or restored order, careful planning and vigilant quest tracking will make all the difference. Prepare your Tarnished, follow the steps closely, and claim your rightful place as the ruler of the fractured realm.
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Q: What is the easiest ending to get in Elden Ring?
A: The easiest ending to get is the default Age of the Fracture ending. It requires no complex side quests, special items, or moral choices. You simply need to defeat the final bosses of the main story and interact with Queen Marika at the end of the game.
Q: Can I get all Elden Ring endings in one single playthrough?
A: Yes, you can view multiple endings in a single playthrough by using save-file backup techniques (often called save scumming) right before making the final choice. However, certain endings like the Lord of Frenzied Flame require special steps to reverse if you wish to view other standard variations.
Q: How many endings are there in Elden Ring?
A: There are six distinct endings in the base game of Elden Ring. These include four variations of mending the Elden Ring using specific runes, and two completely unique secret endings (Age of the Stars and Lord of Frenzied Flame).
Q: Which Elden Ring ending is considered the true or best ending?
A: FromSoftware games do not feature a definitive "canon" or "true" ending, leaving interpretation up to the player. However, Ranni's ending (Age of the Stars) is widely considered by the community to be the "best" or most satisfying ending due to its extensive questline and dramatic impact on the world's lore.
Q: What happens if I inherit the Frenzied Flame by accident?
A: Inheriting the Frenzied Flame locks you into the Lord of Frenzied Flame ending and prevents you from choosing any other path. To reverse this, you must complete Millicent's exceptionally long and challenging questline, defeat a secret boss in Crumbling Farum Azula to get Miquella's Needle, and use it inside Dragonlord Placidusax's arena.
Q: Do I need to finish NPC questlines to beat the game?
A: No, you do not need to finish any side quests to complete the main story of Elden Ring. You only need to defeat specific mandatory bosses and progress the critical path. Side quests are strictly optional and are only required if you want to unlock alternative endings or specific gear.
Q: What is the most complicated ending to unlock in Elden Ring?
A: The Age of the Stars (Ranni's ending) and the Lord of Frenzied Flame endings are generally considered the most complex and hidden. They require deep exploration, intricate puzzle-solving, defeating secret bosses, and navigating obscure hidden areas like the Deeproot Depths or the subterranean Shunning-Grounds beneath Leyndell.
