TL;DR
- Multiple endings require separate playthroughs or strategic save management
- Complete specific NPC questlines to unlock alternative endings beyond the default
- Frenzied Flame progression permanently locks out other ending options
- Early game preparation is essential for certain ending requirements
- Underground exploration and boss battles are mandatory for completion
Elden Ring presents players with multiple narrative conclusions that reflect their choices and completed questlines throughout the Lands Between. Unlike linear games, achieving all endings requires either multiple playthroughs or sophisticated save file management strategies. The game’s intricate design means certain conclusions are permanently missable if specific conditions aren’t met at crucial story junctions.
The expansion content, Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree, introduces additional challenges but doesn’t directly affect the base game’s ending variations. For comprehensive assistance with the DLC’s demanding content, consult our Complete Guide covering advanced combat tactics and exploration strategies.
Each ending represents a different philosophical outcome for the game world, with some requiring extensive NPC interaction and hidden location discovery. Proper planning from early gameplay stages ensures you don’t accidentally lock yourself out of desired conclusions.
The Elden Lord, Age of Fracture conclusion serves as the game’s baseline ending, achievable by simply defeating all mandatory bosses without additional side content completion. This makes it ideal for players focusing primarily on the main narrative or those who missed crucial NPC interactions.
Upon defeating the final boss, you’ll find yourself near the Fractured Marika statue. To trigger this ending, simply interact with the statue to claim your role as Elden Lord. This conclusion, along with other Elden Lord variations, unlocks the corresponding achievement. Critical warning: advancing too far in the Lord of Frenzied Flame questline will permanently block access to this and all other endings. Our weapon optimization guide can help ensure you’re properly equipped for these challenging encounters.
Many players unintentionally lock themselves out of this ending by exploring the Subterranean Shunning-Grounds too thoroughly. The point of no return occurs when you accept the Three Fingers’ blessing, which commits your character to the Frenzied Flame path irrevocably without specific countermeasures.
The Age of Duskborn ending revolves around Fia, the Deathbed Companion, and introduces themes of deathblight and Those Who Live in Death. This alternative Elden Lord conclusion requires methodical completion of her multi-stage questline, which spans from early game interactions to late-game underground exploration.
Fia occupies the Roundtable Hold, offering embraces that provide a special consumable while applying a temporary health reduction debuff. Her narrative arc connects deeply with the game’s lore concerning deathblight and the undead.
Initiation requires conversing with Rogier after the Margit confrontation at Stormveil Castle. Navigate to the hidden area beneath the castle to discover the deathroot tree’s origin point. Locate the distinctive bloodstain revealing Rogier’s fatal encounter with deathblight, then return to Roundtable Hold to discuss your findings. While Rogier’s story continues beyond this point, this interaction threshold is essential for progressing Fia’s narrative.
For Fia’s progression, receive multiple embraces. Optimal strategy involves accepting her embrace, immediately using the bestowed blessing, then repeating the process. Eventually, she provides a weathered dagger requesting its return to the rightful owner. Consult D, Hunter of the Dead, at Roundtable Hold; though the blade isn’t his possession, he identifies its proprietor. In the ensuing cinematic, Fia eliminates D—this is scripted narrative progression—after which she departs Roundtable Hold.
Subsequent travel to Nokron, Eternal City is mandatory. After conquering Starscourge Radahn, journey to the meteor impact site in Limgrave and descend underground. Progress through the aqueduct area, defeat the twin boss encounter, then ascend the waterfall to reach Deeproot Depths. The primary boss arena resides in the northeastern sector, accessible via tree branch navigation in the Nameless Eternal City.
Efficiently obtaining all endings demands strategic planning and understanding of game mechanics. Save scumming—creating backup saves before irreversible decisions—enables experiencing multiple conclusions in a single playthrough. The critical decision point occurs just before interacting with Fractured Marika, allowing reloads to explore alternative outcomes.
Common mistakes include progressing the Frenzied Flame questline too early, missing time-sensitive NPC interactions, or failing to complete quest prerequisites before advancing main story progression. Many players overlook the importance of repeatedly interacting with Fia or miss the hidden path to Deeproot Depths.
For optimal character builds supporting these endeavors, our Class Guide provides detailed analysis of optimal stat distributions and equipment choices for different ending requirements.
Advanced players should note that certain endings have additional hidden requirements or alternative completion methods. The journey to Deeproot Depths, for instance, can be accessed through multiple pathways, though the Nokron route remains most reliable for first-time completionists.
Begin your journey to the Subterranean Shunning Grounds by navigating to Leyndell, Capital City and locating the well entrance. Critical insight: Even if Leyndell transforms to ash through story progression, an alternative underground access point remains available. The subterranean area presents a complex labyrinth, but reaching the Underground Roadside Site of Grace provides a reliable navigation point. From this grace location, exit leftward and immediately turn right into the caged ground opening. You’ll descend onto rodent enemies with an escape pipe on your right and Miranda Blooms vegetation to your left. Proceed beyond the flora, ascend the ladder, and continue along the designated route. Upon arrival, instruct the Dung Eater to depart from his imprisonment.
Return to Roundtable Hold and revisit the chamber previously occupied by Dung Eater. A new message will appear directing you to the “Outer Moat” – specifically Leyndell’s defensive water barrier. Travel to the Capital Rampart Site of Grace and move northwest to encounter his invasion zone. This location also marks the reappearance of the Blackguard, who provides an additional Seabed Curse. Strategic note: You require five total curses, so plan your resource collection accordingly. After vanquishing Dung Eater’s invading form, revisit Roundtable Hold for dialogue. He’ll request implantation of Seabed Curses into his physical form located in the Subterranean Shunning Grounds. Critical warning: Never eliminate him permanently before delivering all five curses, as this irrevocably breaks the questline.
Upon successful completion of the curse implantation process, you’ll receive the Mending Rune of the Fell Curse. This powerful artifact becomes usable at Marika’s final location to activate this specific narrative conclusion. Pro tip: Consider farming additional curses early to avoid backtracking later in your playthrough.
The Age of Order Elden Lord conclusion demands completion of Brother Corhyn and Goldmask’s intertwined narrative arcs. Important caution: This questline contains multiple permanent lockout points if you advance the primary storyline excessively. The most critical lockout occurs when Melina ignites the Erdtree, but additional progression thresholds exist. For optimal safety, execute these objectives during early to mid-game phases to prevent accidental exclusion.
Your initial encounter with Brother Corhyn happens at Roundtable Hold, where he functions as a divine merchant offering incantations. After conquering the Academy of Raya Lucaria, subsequent conversations reveal his departure intention to seek Goldmask. Corhyn’s next appearance occurs in Altus Plateau, specifically north of Altus Highway Junction Site of Grace, following the pathway leading to the regional map fragment. Engage in dialogue then locate Goldmask positioned on the fractured great bridge within this territory. Access him through the teleportation gate situated at the bridge’s northern extremity.
Goldmask maintains complete silence during interactions, but returning to Corhyn prompts his relocation to Goldmask’s position. You must converse with both characters to progress, requiring possession of at least two Great Runes as a prerequisite. Their subsequent location shifts to Lyendell, Capital City, near a precipice adjacent to the coliseum structure. Following this dialogue exchange, navigate to Radagon’s statue, accessible after defeating Godfrey, the First Elden Lord’s spectral manifestation.
The statue puzzle necessitates casting Law of Regression in its proximity to advance the quest. This specialized spell originates from the Golden Order Principia Prayerbook, located atop the chamber where you battle Godfrey. Reach this elevated area by exiting the main arena and performing precise rooftop traversal maneuvers. After securing the prayerbook, you must deliver it to an appropriate NPC such as the Turtle Pope to learn the spell. Essential requirement: Law of Regression demands 37 Intelligence attribute points, so ensure your character build meets this threshold beforehand.
Following this sequence, locate Corhyn and Goldmask in Mountaintops of the Giants, positioned on the bridge south of Stargazer Ruins. Subsequently, complete the Crumbling Farum Azula region and defeat its narrative boss. Post-completion, Lyendell transforms to ash and you’ll discover Goldmask deceased near the previously visited coliseum. Retrieve the Rune of Perfect Order from his remains, then utilize this rune at Marika’s location to achieve this ending variant.
The Age of Stars conclusion becomes accessible through alliance with Ranni the Witch. Having explored all Elden Lord ending variations, this path introduces entirely new narrative territory. Distinctive feature: This conclusion exclusively grants the “Age of Stars” achievement, making it unique among all possible endings. Advantageous characteristic: This questline contains no irreversible commitment points and doesn’t preclude pursuing alternative endings simultaneously.
The primary requirement involves completing Ranni the Witch’s extensive questline. For comprehensive guidance, consult our Complete Guide for detailed walkthroughs. Essential summary: You’ll need to assist her through multiple zones, defeat specific bosses aligned with her interests, and ultimately choose her path during the finale. Practical benefit: You can maintain progress toward multiple endings concurrently while focusing on Ranni’s objectives.
Among Elden Ring’s multiple conclusions, the Lord of the Frenzied Flame stands apart as the most consequential choice. This path grants its own distinct achievement but carries significant ramifications, permanently eliminating access to alternative endings unless players undertake substantial additional effort. The critical distinction lies in its binding nature—once embraced, this chaotic destiny overrides all other potential outcomes.
The distinctive Frenzied Flame entrance.
What makes this conclusion particularly noteworthy is its accessibility timeline. Unlike many game events that become unavailable after specific story progressions, the entrance to the Subterranean Shunning Grounds beneath Leyndell remains accessible even following the capital’s transformation to ash. This design provides flexibility but doesn’t mitigate the ending’s permanent consequences once activated.
Your journey to embrace chaos begins beneath the capital in the extensive underground network. Navigate through the maze-like tunnels to reach the deepest chamber where Mohg, the Omen awaits—a less powerful iteration of the shardbearer encountered later. Upon defeating this boss, investigate the altar in his arena carefully, as striking it reveals a concealed passageway.
The subsequent platforming sequence demands precision and patience. Descend carefully through the crumbling architecture until reaching the bottom, where you’ll discover a Site of Grace alongside an imposing golden door adorned with ocular imagery. This juncture represents the definitive commitment threshold, eliminating alternative conclusions unless substantial additional measures are pursued. Before proceeding, completely remove all equipped armor to meet the door’s requirements. Beyond lies the Three Fingers, who will impart their branding. From this moment forward, interacting with Marika at the game’s climax will exclusively trigger the Lord of the Frenzied Flame conclusion.
To purge the Frenzied Flame’s mark, you must undertake Millicent’s elaborate questline. Locate her initially in Caelid’s rot-scarred landscape, where Sage Gowry endeavors to treat her Scarlet Rot affliction. Both characters reside near Selia, Town of Sorcery. After initial interactions, your objective shifts to defeating Commander O’Neil at the swamp’s heart adjacent to the settlement. Victory yields the Unalloyed Golden Needle, which should be delivered to Gowry before resting.
Return to find the needle prepared for Millicent’s use. Journey to the Cathedral of the Plague perched on the cliffs above Selia, administer the treatment, and exhaust her dialogue. She subsequently relocates to Gowry’s Shack for further conversation.
Progress next to Altus Plateau’s northern region, targeting the Shaded Castle visible on your map as structures within exceptionally verdant terrain. This fortress sits within toxic wetlands teeming with Scarlet Rot adversaries. Secure the Valkyrie Prosthesis from the castle’s peak, then travel southward to the Erdtree-Gazing Site of Grace to bestow the prosthetic arm upon Millicent. Exhaust her dialogue completely before advancing to Dominula, Windmill Village in the plateau’s northern sector. Ascend to the settlement’s summit, conquer the Godskin Apostle, and utilize the newly appeared Site of Grace. Millicent manifests nearby, requiring additional dialogue engagement.
Her trajectory continues to the Mountaintops of the Giants, specifically the Ancient Snow Valley Ruins Site of Grace. Following further conversation, she progresses to Miquella’s Haligtree. After securing the concealed medallion, activate it at the Grand Lift of Rold, proceeding north to Ordina, Liturgical Town. Resolve the area’s puzzle to unlock the translocation gate accessing the Haligtree. Traverse this challenging region until encountering Millicent at the Prayer Room Site of Grace, again engaging in exhaustive dialogue.
Continue downward to the Drainage Channel Site of Grace. From this point, ascend through the blighted tree previously occupied by an ulcerated tree spirit. Ground-level summon signs present the critical decision: assault Millicent or protect her. Aiding her against her siblings unlocks another Site of Grace. Converse with Millicent, depart, then return to discover her deceased form. Retrieve the Unalloyed Gold Needle from her remains. Your next challenge involves defeating Malenia deep within the Haligtree. Upon victory, apply the needle to the floral remnant from her body, obtaining Miquella’s Needle.
Now direct your path to Crumbling Farum Azula, advancing comprehensively until attaining the Beside the Great Bridge Site of Grace. Retrace your route down the elevator, proceeding past adversaries until reaching a precipice. Carefully descend the floating platforms until encountering an opportunity to “rest” on one structure. A cinematic sequence transports you to Dragonlord Placidusax’s arena—the exclusive location for Frenzied Flame purification. Defeating the boss isn’t mandatory, though considering the needle’s single-use nature, victory enables future fast travel convenience. Employing the needle definitively excludes the Frenzied Flame conclusion from your options.
Strategic preparation significantly impacts your success rate. For the platforming sections, equip light gear to improve mobility and consider the Cat Ring for reduced fall damage. When facing Mohg, the Omen, utilize fire resistance gear and spells, as his bloodflame attacks pose the primary threat. Throughout Millicent’s questline, maintain meticulous tracking of her locations, as missing a single dialogue exchange can halt progression entirely.
Common errors include attempting the Three Fingers encounter with armor still equipped, underestimating the platforming difficulty, and inadequate preparation for the mandatory boss fights. Allocate approximately 8-12 hours for the complete reversal process, accounting for exploration, combat, and potential setbacks. For comprehensive character development guidance, consult our Class Guide to optimize your build for these challenges.
Action Checklist
- Create backup saves before final boss and critical decision points
- Complete Fia’s embrace ritual multiple times until receiving the weathered dagger
- Defeat Starscourge Radahn to access Nokron, Eternal City
- Navigate through Deeproot Depths to reach Fia’s champion
- Avoid Three Fingers interaction until ready to commit to Frenzied Flame ending
- Collect five Seabed Curses before confronting Dung Eater’s physical form
- Complete Goldmask questline before Melina burns Erdtree
- Achieve 37 Intelligence for Law of Regression spell
- Secure two Great Runes before advancing Goldmask narrative
- Pursue Ranni’s questline simultaneously with other endings
- Navigate Leyndell sewers to defeat Mohg, the Omen and discover hidden passage
- Complete precise platforming descent and remove all armor before Three Fingers
- Initiate Millicent’s quest in Caelid, defeat Commander O’Neil for Golden Needle
- Follow Millicent through all locations culminating in Haligtree decision
- Defeat Malenia, obtain Miquella’s Needle from her flower
- Navigate to Dragonlord Placidusax’s arena and use needle for cleansing
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