working elden ring endings guide guide

Embarking on a journey through the Lands Between is no small feat. From software masterpieces demand dedication, resilience, and a keen eye for detail, especially when you are aiming to see all of the Elden Ring endings. With multiple paths leading to vastly different conclusions for the world and its inhabitants, understanding how to achieve each one is essential for completionists and lore enthusiasts alike.

This comprehensive working elden ring endings guide will walk you through the prerequisites, questlines, and final choices required to unlock every single achievement and conclusion in FromSoftware's acclaimed title. Whether you want to plunge the world into perpetual darkness, usher in a new age of order, or simply mend the Elden Ring as it was, your choices truly matter.

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Understanding Elden Ring Endings

Before diving into the specifics of each path, it is important to understand how the ending system works in this game. Unlike previous titles, Elden Ring allows you to unlock almost every ending in a single playthrough if you manage your save files correctly—a technique often referred to as save scumming. However, experiencing them organically across multiple New Game Plus cycles offers a deeper appreciation for the intricate web of quests designed by Hidetaka Miyazaki and George R.R. Martin.

At its core, the conclusion of the game is triggered after defeating the final boss and interacting with a specific object or summoning a specific NPC. Most paths require you to obtain a Mending Rune or complete a specific NPC questline, while others require you to embrace outer gods or reject the Greater Will entirely.

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1. The Age of Fracture (Standard Ending)

The Age of Fracture is the default and most straightforward ending of the game. If you do not fulfill the requirements for any of the special mending runes or alternate paths, interacting with the fractured Marika will automatically trigger this conclusion.

To achieve this, simply defeat the final boss, approach the glowing figure of Queen Marika, and choose the prompt to interact. Your character will touch the queen, and the Elden Ring will be repaired in its most basic form, bringing a return to the status quo under the guidance of the Erdtree.


  • No complex questlines required.

  • Serves as the fallback option for players who miss optional content.

  • Restores the Elden Ring without any external alterations.


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2. The Age of the Duskborn (Fia’s Ending)

If you prefer a world where those who live in death are accepted rather than persecuted, you will want to pursue the Age of the Duskborn. This ending is tied to the enigmatic Deathbed Companion, Fia.

To unlock this path, you must embark on Fia’s extensive questline. It begins at the Roundtable Hold, where she asks to hold you. Eventually, you will need to give her the Cursemark of Death, which is found at the top of the Divine Tower of Liurnia. This requires you to complete Ranni's questline up to a certain point to acquire the Carian Inverted Statue.

Once Fia is relocated to the Deeproot Depths, you must defeat Lichdragon Fortissax to acquire the Mending Rune of the Death-Prince. After defeating the final boss of the game, use this rune at Marika's remains to trigger the Duskborn cinematic.

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3. The Blessing of Despair (Dung Eater’s Ending)

For players who want to inflict ultimate suffering upon the Lands Between and curse every soul for eternity, the Blessing of Despair is the darkest path available. This gruesome ending is locked behind the vile Dung Eater's questline.

You will first encounter the Dung Eater in the Roundtable Hold as a phantom. Once you reach the Altus Plateau, his physical body appears in the Shaded Castle, leaving behind the Seedbed Curse. To advance his quest, you must find and consume five Seedbed Curses scattered across the capital city of Leyndell and Volcano Manor.

Upon giving him the final curse, he will give you the Mending Rune of the Fell Curse. Using this item upon completing the game results in a bleak, curse-ridden world where every inhabitant is branded with the same foul affliction.

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4. The Order of the Goldmask (Goldmask’s Ending)

If you seek perfection, structure, and the eradication of the emotional whims of the gods, the Goldmask’s Ending—known as the Age of Order—is the intellectual choice. This path requires you to aid Brother Corhyn and the mysterious Goldmask in their theological research.

You will track Goldmask across the Altus Plateau and Leyndell, solving a major environmental puzzle using the spell Law of Regression (which requires 37 Intelligence) to reveal that Radagon is Marika. After discovering this truth, you will find Goldmask in the Ruins of Zamor in the Mountaintops of the Giants, and finally beneath the Colosseum in Leyndell.

Here, you will loot the Mending Rune of Perfect Order from his deceased body. Presenting this rune at the end of the game creates an era ruled by absolute logic, removing the fallibility of the Golden Order's deities.

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5. Lord of Frenzied Flame (The Flame of Frenzy)

The Lord of Frenzied Flame is arguably the most dramatic and terrifying ending in Elden Ring. Choosing this path means rejecting the Greater Will entirely and burning the entire world down to ashes so that all may be "melted back into one."

To unlock this ending, you must locate the Three Fingers hidden deep beneath the Subterranean Shunning-Grounds in Leyndell, Royal Capital. To pass their seal, you must strip off all your armor and equipment. Once embraced by the Three Fingers, your character's body becomes scarred, and your eyes turn glowing yellow, locking you into this ending unless you complete a massive redemption quest involving Miquella’s Needle at Dragonlord Placidusax’s arena.


  • Completely locks you out of all other standard endings unless cleansed.

  • Alters the final cinematic drastically, featuring Melina swearing vengeance against you.

  • Incinerates the Erdtree in a wave of chaotic yellow fire.


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6. Age of the Stars (Ranni’s Ending)

Widely considered by the community to be the "true" or best ending due to its extensive depth and rewarding narrative, the Age of the Stars is tied to Lunar Princess Ranni. This path removes the influence of the Greater Will and the Golden Order from the Lands Between, ushering in a cold, distant, and free age under the moon.

Ranni’s questline is massive, taking you from Laria to Nokron, the Eternal City, the Ainsel River, the Lake of Rot, and finally the Moonlight Altar. You will need to defeat Astel, Naturalborn of the Void, and claim the Dark Moon Ring.

At the very end of the game, do not interact with Marika. Instead, look for a blue summon sign on the floor near her remains. Summoning Ranni triggers one of the most cinematic and satisfying conclusions in gaming history.

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Tips for Managing Your Endings

Planning your playthrough efficiently can save you dozens of hours. Here are a few expert tips to keep in mind:


  • Backup Your Save: If you are playing on PC or PlayStation, you can back up your save file right before interacting with the final area's grace. This allows you to experience multiple endings without playing the entire game four or five times.

  • Prioritize Side Quests: Many ending items require the completion of long, winding NPC questlines. Check your quest logs and talk to NPCs frequently to avoid missing crucial triggers.

  • Watch Out for Lockouts: Embracing the Frenzied Flame will override almost every other ending. Make sure you complete Ranni or Goldmask's quests before meeting the Three Fingers, or be prepared to use Miquella's Needle.


By following this working elden ring endings guide, you are now fully equipped to conquer the Lands Between and claim whichever throne—or lack thereof—your heart desires.

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FAQ

Q: Can I get all endings in a single playthrough of Elden Ring?

A: Yes, you can achieve all endings in one playthrough if you use the save-scumming method on PC or console. By backing up your save file to the cloud or a USB drive right before the final decision, you can reload your game after viewing each ending.

Q: How do I undo the Frenzied Flame ending if I accidentally touched the Three Fingers?

A: To remove the Frenzied Flame, you must complete Millicent's questline, defeat Malenia, use the Unalloyed Gold Needle to acquire Miquella's Needle, and then defeat the optional boss Dragonlord Placidusax in Crumbling Farum Azula to use the item within his arena.

Q: Which Elden Ring ending is considered the best?

A: While subjective, the "Age of the Stars" (Ranni's ending) is widely considered the best and most satisfying ending by the community due to its extensive questline, unique lore implications, and beautiful cinematic conclusion.

Q: Do I need to start New Game Plus to get alternate endings?

A: No, you do not need to start New Game Plus. As long as you have fulfilled the requirements for a specific mending rune or unlocked Ranni's summon sign, you can choose whichever path you prefer upon defeating the final boss.

Q: What is the difference between the Age of Fracture and the Mending Rune endings?

A: The Age of Fracture is the baseline ending with no ideological alterations to the world. The Mending Rune endings (Duskborn, Order, and Despair) introduce specific philosophical or systemic changes to how the Lands Between operates under the repaired Elden Ring.