The Lands Between is a vast, unforgiving, and deeply mysterious realm. Since its release, FromSoftware’s masterpiece has captivated millions of players worldwide. Navigating through its treacherous dungeons, defeating demigods, and uncovering the deep lore culminates in one monumental decision: choosing the final fate of the world. Finding the best elden ring endings guide 2024 is essential for players who want to make an informed choice about how their journey concludes.
With multiple distinct paths available, reaching the final cinematic requires completing intricate questlines involving some of the most memorable NPCs in gaming history. Whether you are aiming for the canonical Age of Fracture, the horrifying Lord of Frenzied Flame, or the secret Age of the Stars, understanding the requirements for each path will save you dozens of hours of backtracking and missed triggers.
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Understanding the Elden Ring Endings System
Before diving into the specific paths, it is important to understand how the choice is presented to players. Upon defeating the final boss of the game, players are presented with a fractured Marika and a glowing site of grace. Depending on which items you have acquired and which questlines you have completed, you will be given several options on how to interact with the broken deity.
It is entirely possible to lock yourself out of certain endings if you progress too far in the main story or kill specific NPCs prematurely. Furthermore, while you can only achieve one ending per playthrough, many players use the save-scumming technique or complete New Game Plus to experience all variations. Let us break down every major conclusion available in the game today.
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1. The Age of Fracture (Standard Ending)
This is the default conclusion of the game and requires the least amount of external questing. If you simply follow the main path, defeat the mandatory bosses, and interact with the statue at the very end without any special mending runes in your inventory, you will trigger this cinematic.
To achieve this, you simply need to repair the Elden Ring with the fractured pieces you have gathered throughout your journey. While it is considered the most straightforward option, many in the community view it as a continuation of the status quo—leaving the Lands Between largely unchanged, though you now sit upon the throne as the new Elden Lord.
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2. Age of the Order
If you want a more structured and stable world, the Age of the Order is widely considered by lore enthusiasts as one of the better outcomes. This path is tied to the complex and tragic questline of Goldmask and Brother Corhyn.
To secure this ending, you must help Corhyn and Goldmask uncover the fundamental truths about the Golden Order. This involves a memorable puzzle at the Erdtree Capital where you use the Law of Regression incantation near a statue of Radagon. Upon completing their questline, you will receive the Mending Rune of the Perfect Order. Using this item at the end of the game alters the final cinematic, establishing an era free of the fickleness of the outer gods.
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3. Age of the Duskborn
For players who prefer a darker, more philosophical approach to the world's governance, the Age of the Duskborn offers a unique perspective. This path is guided by Fia, the Deathbed Companion, who resides at the Roundtable Hold.
Fia’s questline requires you to track down the hidden parts of Godwyn the Golden, specifically involving D, Hunter of the Dead and his twin brother. By navigating the depths of the Deeproot Depths and defeating the Lichdragon Fortissax, you obtain the Mending Rune of the Death-Prince. Choosing this ending introduces Death back into the natural cycle of the Lands Between, creating an age where those who live in death are no longer persecuted.
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4. Blessing of Despair (The Dung Eater Ending)
Undoubtedly the most grotesque and horrifying path in the game, the Blessing of Despair is reserved for players seeking a truly dark playthrough. This path revolves around the infamous Dung Eater, an NPC obsessed with cursing every single soul in the Lands Between so that they are reborn in misery for eternity.
To unlock this path, you must find Seedbed Curses scattered across key late-game areas like Leyndell and Elphael, Brace of the Haligtree. Feeding these to the Dung Eater allows you to acquire the Mending Rune of the Fell Curse. Using this item results in an ending where the Erdtree turns a sickly color, and a blanket of endless suffering covers the entire world.
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5. Age of the Stars (The Fan-Favorite Secret Ending)
Widely regarded by the community as the true best elden ring endings guide 2024 recommendation, the Age of the Stars is the most elaborate and rewarding secret ending in the game. It is tied to the sprawling questline of Witch Ranni, one of the most beloved characters in the title.
To trigger this ending, you must pledge your allegiance to Ranni at Ranni's Rise in Liurnia of the Lakes. Her quest takes you through Nokron, the Eternal City, the Lake of Rot, and culminates in a climactic battle against Astel, Naturalborn of the Void. Upon exploring the Moonlight Altar and giving Ranni the Dark Moon Ring, you unlock the ability to summon her at the very end of the game instead of repairing the Elden Ring.
- Ranni replaces the Golden Order with the Age of the Moon.
- The Lands Between is freed from the oppressive control of the Greater Will.
- Ranni and your character embark on a thousand-year voyage into the cold, dark, and free cosmos.
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6. Lord of Frenzied Flame (The Chaos Ending)
If you reject the notion of saving or fixing the world entirely and instead wish to watch it all burn to ash, the Lord of Frenzied Flame is the path for you. This ending is discovered deep beneath the Leyndell Royal Capital in the Subterranean Shunning-Grounds.
Navigating this nightmarish platforming dungeon leads you to the Three Fingers, an entity that brands your character with the Frenzied Flame. Choosing this path locks you out of all other endings unless you complete a grueling side quest involving Miquella's Needle in Crumbling Farum Azula to reverse the effect. The cinematic for this ending shows Melina vowing to hunt you down to deliver destined death, making it one of the most dramatic conclusions available.
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Tips for Choosing Your Path
Choosing the right ending depends entirely on your roleplaying preference and how much you enjoy side content. Here are a few expert tips to keep in mind:
- Do not rush the final boss: Defeating the final boss does not force you into an ending immediately, as long as you touch the Site of Grace and teleport away. This allows you to finish optional quests before making your final choice.
- Backup your save files: If you are playing on PC or console with cloud storage access, you can manually backup your save right before the final decision to watch multiple cinematics without replaying the entire game.
- Explore thoroughly: The best endings are locked behind hidden areas like the Haligtree and the Deeproot Depths. Make sure you leave no stone unturned.
By following this comprehensive overview, you are well-equipped to conquer the Lands Between and claim the throne—or burn it all to the ground—on your own terms.
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FAQ
Q: Can I get multiple endings in a single playthrough of Elden Ring?
A: Technically, no, you can only trigger one ending cinematic per playthrough. However, you can use the manual save backup method on PC or console to view multiple endings without starting a completely new game from scratch.
Q: Which Elden Ring ending is considered the best?
A: While "best" is subjective, the Age of the Stars (Ranni’s ending) is widely considered the best by the community due to its deep lore, extensive questline, and satisfying conclusion that frees the world from the Greater Will.
Q: How do I lock myself out of the Age of the Stars ending?
A: You can lock yourself out by inheriting the Frenzied Flame from the Three Fingers deep beneath Leyndell. Doing so locks your game into the Lord of Frenzied Flame ending unless you use Miquella's Needle at Dragonlord Placidusax's arena to cure yourself first.
Q: Do the different endings change the gameplay or just the cutscene?
A: The different endings only change the final cinematic, the color of the Erdtree in some cases, and the achievement or trophy you unlock. They do not affect post-game free roam or New Game Plus difficulty.
Q: Is Melina still alive if I choose the Frenzied Flame ending?
A: If you inherit the Frenzied Flame before Melina sacrifices herself at the Forge of the Giants, she will abandon you and vow to kill you. If you inherit it after she burns herself, she still appears in a post-credits scene vow to deliver Destined Death to you.
