How Your Decisions Shape the Six Different Elden Ring Endings

The Lands Between is a realm defined by fractured divinity and the remnants of a shattered Order. As a Tarnished, your journey is not merely a test of combat prowess but a slow accumulation of choices that dictate the metaphysical future of this world. There are six primary endings in Elden Ring, each representing a different philosophical response to the failure of the Golden Order.

Understanding these endings requires more than just following a quest log. It demands an awareness of specific "points of no return" and the intricate NPC narratives that weave through the game’s vast geography. Whether you seek to restore the status quo, usher in a lunar age, or burn the world to a cinder, your path is paved by the mending runes you collect and the alliances you forge.

The Standard Path of the Elden Lord

The most straightforward way to conclude your journey is by becoming the Elden Lord. Within this category, there are four distinct variations. While they all result in the same basic cinematic of the Tarnished sitting upon the throne, the flavor of the age you usher in depends entirely on the Mending Rune used to repair the Elden Ring.

Age of Fracture

The Age of Fracture is the default ending of Elden Ring. It is the path of least resistance, requiring no specific NPC questlines to be completed. To achieve this, you simply progress through the main story bosses—from Margit at Stormveil to the Elden Beast at the Elden Throne—and choose to "Mend the Elden Ring" without selecting any additional runes.

In this scenario, you restore the Golden Order in its current, albeit damaged, state. The Erdtree remains the center of power, and the cycle of the Lands Between continues much as it has for centuries. For many players, this is the "neutral" ending, reflecting a world that has been patched up but not fundamentally healed.

Age of Duskborn

Achieving the Age of Duskborn requires completing the lengthy and melancholic questline of Fia, the Deathbed Companion. This path introduces the Mending Rune of the Death-Prince into the Elden Ring, effectively weaving the concept of "True Death" back into the laws of reality.

To secure this ending, you must interact with Fia in the Roundtable Hold, eventually finding her in the Deeproot Depths after defeating her champions. The crux of this quest involves retrieving the Cursemark of Death from the Divine Tower of Liurnia—a task that intersects with Ranni’s questline—and defeating Lichdragon Fortissax within Fia’s dream.

By choosing this rune, you end the persecution of "Those Who Live in Death." You create a world where life and death are no longer governed by the rigid exclusion of the Golden Order, allowing the undead a legitimate place in the cycle of existence. Our testing suggests this is one of the most lore-significant endings, as it directly addresses the flaw created when Marika removed the Rune of Death.

Age of Order

If you believe the Golden Order’s failure was due to the "fickleness of the gods," the Age of Order is your objective. This ending is tied to Brother Corhyn and the Noble Goldmask. It is perhaps the most technically demanding "Lord" ending because it requires a high Intelligence stat (37) to cast the "Law of Regression" incantation at a specific statue in Leyndell.

The quest takes you from the Altus Plateau to the Mountaintops of the Giants. You must help Goldmask solve the riddle of Radagon’s identity before the burning of the Erdtree. If you wait until Leyndell becomes the Capital of Ash, you will find Goldmask’s corpse near the coliseum, holding the Mending Rune of Perfect Order.

This ending creates a "perfected" Golden Order. It removes the influence of human (or divine) emotion and strife from the equation of reality. It is an era of absolute stability, though some lore enthusiasts argue it is a sterile, rigid peace that denies the inherent chaos of life.

Blessing of Despair

The Blessing of Despair is widely considered the "evil" variation of the Elden Lord path. It is achieved by completing the loathsome quest of the Dung Eater. To unlock this, you must find five Seedbed Curses scattered across the Lands Between and feed them to the Dung Eater’s physical body in the Subterranean Shunning-Grounds.

This path results in the Mending Rune of the Fell Curse. By using it, you infect the very soul of the Lands Between with a defilement that prevents spirits from returning to the Erdtree. Every soul born in this new age will be cursed, ensuring a future of eternal misery and stagnation. It is a spiteful ending, chosen by those who wish to see the world suffer as the Dung Eater did.

The Age of Stars: Ranni’s Liberation

The Age of Stars is arguably the most popular ending among the Elden Ring community, not just for the rewards but for the radical shift in the world’s status quo. It is entirely separate from the Elden Lord endings and involves summoning Ranni the Witch after defeating the final boss.

Steps to Reach the Stars

Completing Ranni’s quest is a monumental task that spans nearly the entire game. Key milestones include:

1. Caria Manor: Defeating Loretta and pledging service to Ranni at Ranni's Rise.
2. Nokron, the Eternal City: Defeating Starscourge Radahn to open the path to the underground and retrieving the Fingerslayer Blade.
3. The Lake of Rot: Traversing one of the most hazardous zones in the game to reach the Grand Cloister.
4. Astel, Naturalborn of the Void: Defeating this cosmic horror to reach the Moonlight Altar.
5. The Dark Moon Ring: Using the key found in the Raya Lucaria Grand Library to unlock the final stages of the quest.

The Philosophical Shift

In the Age of Stars, you do not become a traditional Elden Lord. Instead, you become Ranni’s Consort. She replaces Marika as the vessel of divinity, but rather than ruling over the Lands Between from the Erdtree, she takes her Order into the cold, dark reaches of space.

This ending removes the influence of the Greater Will and the Elden Ring from the daily lives of the inhabitants. It is an age of "fear, and the dark," but also an age of freedom from divine meddling. It is a liberation achieved through a thousand-year journey into the cosmos, leaving the world to find its own way without the light of the Erdtree.

Lord of Frenzied Flame: The Path of Chaos

The Lord of Frenzied Flame is the most destructive ending in the game. It represents a total rejection of the world and its suffering. To trigger this ending, you must descend to the very bottom of the Subterranean Shunning-Grounds, past the Cathedral of the Forsaken, and meet the Three Fingers.

The Brand of Frenzy

To enter the chamber of the Three Fingers, you must remove all your armor and weapons. Upon interacting with the door, the Three Fingers will embrace you, branding you with the Frenzied Flame. From this moment on, you are "locked" into this ending. Your eyes will glow with a yellow flame, and Melina will abandon you, promising to kill you if you go through with your plan.

The Outcome

Instead of mending the Ring or ushering in a new age, you become a vessel for chaos. You burn the Erdtree, the Elden Ring, and the very concept of individuality to the ground. The goal is to melt everything back into the "One Great," ending all life, birth, and suffering. It is a nihilistic conclusion that leaves nothing but cinders in its wake.

How to Reverse the Frenzied Flame Ending

One of the most common questions players ask is whether they can escape the Three Fingers' influence once branded. Because the Frenzied Flame overrides all other ending choices at the fractured statue of Marika, you must perform a specific sequence of actions to regain your free will.

You must complete Millicent’s questline, which involves finding her in the Church of Inhibition, helping her in the Haligtree, and eventually defeating Malenia, Blade of Miquella. After Malenia is defeated, a large scarlet flower will appear in her boss room. By using the Unalloyed Gold Needle on this flower, you receive Miquella's Needle.

To actually use the needle, you must travel to the heart of the storm in Crumbling Farum Azula—the arena of Dragonlord Placidusax. You do not necessarily have to kill the dragon, but you must be in that specific arena to activate the needle and "tame" the Frenzied Flame. This restores your ability to choose any of the other five endings you have unlocked.

Single Playthrough Strategy: How to See All Endings

While Elden Ring is designed for multiple playthroughs (New Game Plus), many players prefer to see all endings in a single run to earn the "Elden Lord," "Age of Stars," and "Lord of Frenzied Flame" achievements. This is possible through a technique known as save-scumming.

1. Complete All Requirements: Before defeating the final boss (Radagon and the Elden Beast), ensure you have finished Ranni’s quest, collected the Mending Runes (Fia, Goldmask, Dung Eater), and—crucially—not yet met the Three Fingers (or have Miquella's Needle ready).
2. The Final Save: After defeating the Elden Beast, you will be in a stone room with the fractured statue of Marika and a Blue Summon Sign on the ground. Do not touch anything.
3. Backup Your Save:
   • PC: Navigate to %appdata%/EldenRing and copy your save folder to a safe location.
   • Consoles: Upload your save data to the cloud (and disable auto-sync) or a USB drive.
4. Execute and Reload:
   • Summon Ranni for the "Age of Stars."
   • Reload the save, then touch the statue for a "Lord" ending.
   • Reload the save, go get branded by the Three Fingers (if you haven't yet), then return for the "Frenzied Flame" ending.

This method allows you to witness the culmination of over 100 hours of gameplay without needing to restart the entire journey.

Comparison of Ending Implications

Summary and Conclusion

Elden Ring does not offer a traditional "happy" ending. Instead, it offers a spectrum of consequences. The Age of Stars is often viewed as the most hopeful for the long-term freedom of humanity, while the Age of Order provides the most immediate peace. The variants of the Elden Lord ending allow you to tailor the world’s laws to your personal philosophy on death, justice, or even spite.

Your choice at the fractured statue of Marika is the final word on a story that began with a lowly Tarnished of no renown. Whether you leave the world in starlight, shadow, or flame, you have successfully navigated the most complex narrative web FromSoftware has ever created.

FAQ

Can I get more than one ending in one save?

Normally, no. The game saves immediately after the credits. You must use the backup save method mentioned above before interacting with the final objects in the boss arena if you wish to see multiple endings in one go.

Does the ending I choose affect New Game Plus?

The ending choice is purely narrative and for achievements. It does not change the difficulty, items, or world state of your next playthrough (New Game Plus). Everything resets except for your character’s level and equipment.

Who is the "best" NPC to follow for an ending?

Subjectively, Ranni offers the most content, including unique bosses and the powerful Moonlight Greatsword. For lore enthusiasts, Goldmask’s quest provides the deepest insight into the nature of the Greater Will.

Does Melina die in every ending?

In most paths, Melina sacrifices herself to burn the Erdtree. However, if you take the Frenzied Flame before reaching the Forge of the Giants, you burn the tree yourself, and she survives—though she becomes your sworn enemy and vows to bring you "Destined Death."

Is there a "hidden" seventh ending?

As of the current version of Elden Ring, there are only six confirmed endings. Rumors of a "Great Rune of Abundance" or other secret paths have persisted since launch but have never been substantiated by game files or community discovery.