Introduction to the Shadow of the Erdtree Endings
The release of the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion breathed fresh life into FromSoftware's masterpiece, sending millions of Tarnished back into the Lands Between and the mysterious Realm of Shadow. Naturally, the gaming community immediately took to online forums to dissect every piece of lore, find hidden bosses, and most importantly, figure out how the DLC impacts the game's conclusions. If you have been browsing forums searching for a new elden ring endings guide reddit, you have likely noticed a mix of genuine discoveries, wild theories, and plenty of confusion.
Unlike the base game, which features multiple distinct achievements and cinematic conclusions like the Age of the Stars or the Frenzied Flame, the expansion handles its narrative finale a bit differently. Players diving into Reddit threads are often looking for a definitive answer regarding whether defeating Promised Consort Radahn unlocks a brand-new cinematic ending for the base game.
In this comprehensive guide, we will break down what the Reddit community has uncovered, clarify the misconceptions surrounding the expansion's finale, and provide you with everything you need to know about navigating the intricate web of quests woven by Miyazaki and his team. Whether you are aiming for 100% completion or simply trying to understand the fate of Miquella and Radahn, this article synthesizes the best community research into one actionable resource.
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What the Reddit Community is Saying About DLC Endings
When the expansion first dropped, the new elden ring endings guide reddit threads were flooded with speculation. Players raced through the Shadow Realm, completing intricate questlines for NPCs like Count Ymir, Thollier, St. Trina, and Leda. Naturally, many expected that conquering the final boss of the expansion would trigger a massive, game-altering cinematic affecting the entire world, similar to how the base game handles major choices.
However, the consensus shared across top-voted Reddit threads might surprise you. Contrary to popular launch-day rumors, the expansion does not add a brand-new, traditional achievement-based ending to the selection pool at Marika's Fractured Marika statue. You cannot choose an "Age of the Erdtree's Shadow" or a Miquella-centric ending during the final moments of the base game campaign.
Instead, the community has confirmed that the expansion offers a deeply enriching narrative conclusion that recontextualizes the entire lore of the game. Reddit detectives have pieced together that while the final cutscene is breathtaking and tragic, it serves as a definitive conclusion to the specific story arc of Miquella the Kind rather than altering the fundamental state of the Lands Between for your existing base game save file.
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Key Quests to Complete Before the Final Boss
If you are following a new elden ring endings guide reddit style walkthrough, you will quickly learn that the journey to the final boss is heavily intertwined with the NPC questlines found throughout the Scadu Altus, Rauh Ruins, and the Abyssal Woods. Skipping these quests means missing out on crucial lore, powerful gear, and summons that make the final encounter manageable.
Here are the essential character arcs the Reddit community emphasizes completing:
- Count Ymir and the Cathedral of Manus Metyr: This questline dives deep into the fingers and the greater cosmos, offering some of the most unsettling and fascinating lore in the entire expansion.
- Thollier and St. Trina: Following Thollier down into the treacherous Fissure and communicating with the slumbering St. Trina is vital for understanding Miquella's true divinity and acquiring items that trivialize certain mechanics in the final battle.
- Leda and the NPC Allies: As you progress through the map, various NPCs will gather at specific crosses. Managing their allegiances and knowing who to summon or fight during the multi-NPC showdown before the final area is a major discussion point in community forums.
- Hornsent and Ansbach: Sir Ansbach provides incredible lore context regarding Mohg and Miquella, and his summon sign is invaluable during the climax of the DLC.
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Analyzing the Final Cinematic and Lore Implications
The climax of the expansion has sparked countless lore discussions, lore videos, and megathreads. When players finally defeat the ultimate challenge of the Realm of Shadow, they are treated to a memorable cinematic involving Miquella and Radahn. According to popular lore breakdowns on Reddit, this encounter resolves the lingering mysteries surrounding the Night of the Black Knives, Radahn's stagnation, and Miquella's ascension to godhood.
Many users on forums have pointed out the tragic parallels between Miquella's pursuit of a world of compassion and the harsh realities of the Soulsborne universe. By shedding his physical body piece by piece—his love, his doubt, and his flesh—Miquella ultimately created a path paved with tragedy.
While players browsing a new elden ring endings guide reddit thread might initially feel disappointed by the lack of a brand-new main menu choice or achievement popup, the emotional weight of the final memory cutscene provides a satisfying narrative bookend. It answers long-standing questions about the relationship between Malenia and Radahn, giving context to the iconic cinematic trailer that launched the original game years ago.
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Tips and Tricks from Reddit for Beating the Final Boss
No discussion of the expansion's conclusion would be complete without addressing the sheer difficulty of the final encounter. Reddit is packed with salt, strategies, and triumphant victory stories regarding this notorious boss. If you are stuck and looking for community-tested advice, keep these strategies in mind:
Utilize the Scadutree Blessings
The single most common piece of advice found in any successful guide is to collect your Scadutree Fragments and Revered Spirit Ashes. Trying to fight the final boss with low blessings is essentially a self-imposed challenge run. Explore every corner of the map to max out your damage negation and output.
Shield and Poke Strategies
Many players on Reddit swear by heavy shield setups combined with thrusting weapons. Because the final boss has relentless combos and leaves very few safe windows for slow, heavy attacks, hiding behind a greatshield with high holy and physical resistance while poking with a bleeding spear or rapier allows you to stay safe while chipping away at health.
Status Effects and Buffs
Rot, bleed, and frostbite remain incredibly powerful in the expansion. Stacking defensive incantations, using specific anti-holy damage talismans, and consuming cooked items that boost your defenses can mean the difference between getting instantly vaporized and surviving a devastating multi-hit combo.
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Conclusion and Future Outlook
Navigating the various interpretations and walkthroughs online can feel overwhelming, but the collective intelligence of the community makes the journey much smoother. While the expansion doesn't introduce a new choice at the end of the base game, it enriches the lore in ways that make every playthrough afterward feel entirely different.
By engaging with the NPC questlines, understanding the tragedy of Miquella, and utilizing community-approved combat strategies, you can fully appreciate the masterpiece that FromSoftware has crafted. Keep checking back on community forums as dataminers and loremasters continue to uncover hidden dialogue and subtle environmental storytelling details in the months to come.
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