Elden Ring features exactly six distinct endings that determine the ultimate fate of the Lands Between and the role the Tarnished plays in the new world order. While the game presents a vast, non-linear journey, these conclusions are meticulously tied to specific NPC questlines and the acquisition of unique "Mending Runes." Although there are six narrative paths, they are categorized into three primary types for the purpose of platform achievements and trophies: the Elden Lord, the Age of Stars, and the Lord of Frenzied Flame.

Understanding these endings requires a deep dive into the complex web of allegiances found within the game. Achieving a specific outcome is rarely as simple as making a choice at the very end; instead, it often involves dozens of hours of preparation, traveling to hidden subterranean cities, and defeating some of the most challenging bosses in the history of the genre.

The Four Variations of the Elden Lord Ending

The "Elden Lord" outcome is considered the standard conclusion of the game. Within this category, there are four sub-endings. All four grant the same "Elden Lord" achievement, but they differ significantly in the lore-based tone they set for the future. These variations depend on whether a Mending Rune was used during the final interaction with the Fractured Marika.

Age of Fracture: The Default Path

The Age of Fracture is the baseline ending of Elden Ring. It occurs if the player completes the game without finishing the specific long-form questlines associated with other Mending Runes or Outer Gods. After defeating the final boss, the Tarnished simply chooses to "Mend the Elden Ring."

In this scenario, the Tarnished becomes the next Elden Lord, maintaining the existing Golden Order established by Queen Marika and the Greater Will. While it brings a sense of temporary stability to a broken world, many players view this as the "status quo" ending, as it fails to address the underlying systemic flaws that led to the Shattering in the first place.

Age of Order: The Perfection of the Golden Order

To achieve the Age of Order, the player must complete the intricate questline of Brother Corhyn and the Noble Goldmask. This path focuses on the intellectual and theological perfection of the world's governing laws.

The pivotal moment in this questline involves solving a riddle in Leyndell, Royal Capital. Players must have a high Intelligence stat (or use gear/flasks to boost it to 37) to cast the "Law of Regression" incantation in front of a specific statue. This reveals a secret about Radagon that changes the course of the quest. Upon completion at the end of the game's timeline in the Ashen Capital, Goldmask rewards the player with the Mending Rune of Perfect Order.

In our experience, this is one of the more difficult endings to track because Brother Corhyn can easily die or disappear if the player progresses too far into the Mountaintops of the Giants before finishing his steps in the capital. The resulting ending depicts a world where the "fickleness of the gods" is removed, creating a rigid, unwavering stability.

Age of the Duskborn: Embracing Those Who Live in Death

The Age of the Duskborn is tied to Fia, the Deathbed Companion. Her quest is a haunting journey that leads the player into the Deeproot Depths, a hidden area beneath the earth. To progress, the player must acquire the Cursemark of Death from the Divine Tower of Liurnia—a task that requires first progressing Ranni the Witch's questline to obtain the Carian Inverted Statue.

The climax of Fia’s journey involves a dream-sequence battle against Lichdragon Fortissax. Defeating the dragon allows Fia to produce the Mending Rune of the Death-Prince. By using this rune, the Tarnished incorporates the concept of "Life within Death" into the Elden Ring. This ending ends the persecution of the undead and creates a world where death is a natural, integrated part of the cycle once again.

Blessing of Despair: The Defilement of Reality

Widely considered the most "negative" ending, the Blessing of Despair requires the player to work with the loathsome Dung Eater. This questline is notorious for its difficulty and the grim nature of its requirements. The player must find and deliver five Seedbed Curses, which are scattered across hidden locations in Leyndell, Volcano Manor, and the Haligtree.

Successfully completing this quest yields the Mending Rune of the Fell Curse. Using this rune at the end of the game curses the entire world and all future generations with a soul-consuming defilement. The Lands Between are left in a state of eternal rot and suffering, ensuring that no one can ever return to the Erdtree's grace. It is a path of pure spite against the established order.

The Age of Stars: Ranni’s Journey

The Age of Stars is perhaps the most popular ending among the Elden Ring community, partly due to the depth of Ranni the Witch's character and the sweeping changes it brings to the world's lore. This ending has its own unique achievement.

Achieving this conclusion requires the completion of Elden Ring’s longest and most complex side quest. It involves:

  • Defeating Starscourge Radahn to trigger a meteor strike.
  • Exploring the hidden city of Nokron.
  • Traversing the grueling Lake of Rot (where a high supply of "Preserving Boluses" is mandatory for survival).
  • Defeating Astel, Naturalborn of the Void.
  • Returning the Dark Moon Ring to Ranni in the Moonlight Altar region.

Instead of mending the Elden Ring, the Tarnished summons Ranni after the final battle. She replaces the Golden Order with the Order of the Moon, removing the direct influence of the Greater Will from the Lands Between. The Tarnished becomes her consort, and together they depart on a thousand-year journey into the cosmos, leaving the inhabitants of the world to find their own destiny without the interference of gods.

The Lord of Frenzied Flame: The Path of Chaos

The Lord of Frenzied Flame is the third major ending category and arguably the most dangerous to pursue. It represents total nihilism—the desire to burn the world and all its divisions into a single, chaotic flame.

To unlock this path, the player must descend to the very bottom of the Subterranean Shunning-Grounds beneath Leyndell. This involves a notorious platforming section that has claimed more player lives than many bosses. At the bottom, after removing all armor, the player can be embraced by the Three Fingers.

The Locking Mechanism of Chaos

Once the player is branded by the Frenzied Flame, they are locked into this ending. The usual options to "Mend the Elden Ring" or "Summon Ranni" disappear. Furthermore, Melina, the player's guide, will abandon the Tarnished in protest.

However, there is a way to reverse this if the player regrets their choice. One must complete Millicent’s lengthy questline to obtain Miquella’s Needle. This needle must then be used in the heart of the storm in Farum Azula, specifically in the arena of Dragonlord Placidusax. This is the only way to "tame" the flame and regain access to the other five endings.

How Ending Achievements and Trophies Work

Players aiming for a "Platinum" or "100% Completion" on their respective platforms will notice that despite there being six endings, there are only three trophies associated with them. This is because the game groups the four "Elden Lord" variations into a single achievement.

  • Elden Lord Achievement: Can be triggered by the Age of Fracture, Age of Order, Age of the Duskborn, or Blessing of Despair.
  • Age of Stars Achievement: Triggered specifically by Ranni’s ending.
  • Lord of Frenzied Flame Achievement: Triggered specifically by the chaos ending.

This structure means that a player only needs to finish the game three times (or use save-state manipulation) to collect all the ending-related accolades.

Strategic Save Backups for Multiple Endings

For those who wish to witness all six conclusions without playing through the entire 100+ hour game six times, the "Save Scumming" method is a widely used strategy. This experience-based tactic allows a player to see multiple outcomes in a single playthrough.

  1. Preparation: Complete the requirements for the four Mending Runes (Goldmask, Fia, Dung Eater) and Ranni’s quest. Do not get embraced by the Three Fingers yet.
  2. The Final Save: After defeating the final boss (Elden Beast), a Site of Grace appears in the boss arena. This is the point of no return.
  3. Backup: Exit the game and upload your save file to the cloud (PS Plus/Xbox) or copy the save folder to a different directory on PC.
  4. Execute and Reload: Choose one ending (e.g., Age of Stars). After the credits roll and the achievement pops, quit the game and download/replace your save file with the backup.
  5. The Frenzied Flame Exception: Since the Frenzied Flame locks out other endings, it is best to do this one last. After viewing the others, travel to the Subterranean Shunning-Grounds, get the brand, and then return to the final arena to trigger the chaos ending.

Detailed Comparison of Ending Requirements

Ending Title Key NPC Required Item Difficulty to Achieve
Age of Fracture None None Low
Age of Order Goldmask Mending Rune of Perfect Order High (Stat Checks)
Age of the Duskborn Fia Mending Rune of the Death-Prince Medium (Hidden Areas)
Blessing of Despair Dung Eater Mending Rune of the Fell Curse High (Item Hunting)
Age of Stars Ranni Dark Moon Ring Very High (Longest Quest)
Lord of Frenzied Flame Three Fingers Branding by Fingers Medium (Platforming)

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC add a new ending?

No. The Shadow of the Erdtree expansion provides a self-contained narrative that explores the history of Miquella. While it has its own internal conclusion and final boss, it does not add a seventh ending to the base game’s final choice at the Fractured Marika.

Can I get Ranni's ending if I've been touched by the Three Fingers?

Not unless you use Miquella's Needle in Dragonlord Placidusax's arena. The Frenzied Flame is the only condition that overrides all other ending choices, including Ranni's summon sign.

Is there a "secret" seventh ending?

Over the years, many rumors have circulated about a secret "Age of Absolute" or other hidden conclusions. However, datamining and community testing have confirmed that only the six listed endings exist in the game’s final build.

Which ending is considered the "Best"?

"Best" is subjective in Elden Ring. The Age of Stars is often viewed as the most hopeful for the autonomy of humanity. The Age of Order is the most stable. The Age of Fracture is the most traditional. Most players avoid the Blessing of Despair and the Lord of Frenzied Flame if they are seeking a "good" resolution for the Lands Between.

Summary

Elden Ring offers six endings that cater to various philosophical and narrative preferences. Whether you choose to uphold the Golden Order as the Elden Lord, usher in a cold night of stars with Ranni, or burn it all down as the Lord of Chaos, your choice is the culmination of dozens of hours of exploration and combat. By understanding the requirements of each Mending Rune and managing your save files effectively, you can experience the full breadth of FromSoftware's dark fantasy masterpiece in just a few sittings. Remember that the journey to these endings is often more important than the final cinematic, as the NPCs you help or hinder along the way define the soul of your Tarnished hero.