Does it Matter Which Ending You Get in Elden Ring? A Deep Dive into the Fates of the Lands Between
Yes, absolutely it matters which ending you get in Elden Ring. While the core gameplay experience of exploring the Lands Between, battling formidable foes, and unraveling its intricate lore remains constant regardless of your ultimate choice, the ending you achieve drastically alters the fate of the world, its inhabitants, and even your own Tarnished character’s destiny. Each ending presents a unique vision for the future, solidifying your legacy as either a savior, a destroyer, or something far more ambiguous.
The Weight of Choice: Exploring Elden Ring’s Multiple Endings
Elden Ring offers six distinct endings, categorized into three core pathways with variations on one of them. These aren’t merely cosmetic changes; they represent fundamentally different ideologies and power structures taking hold of the Elden Ring and the world it governs. The endings are:
- Age of Fracture (Default Elden Lord): Restoring the Elden Ring to its fractured state, essentially maintaining the status quo before the Shattering. This is the simplest ending to achieve.
- Age of Order (Elden Lord Variation): Achieving the Elden Lord ending but through the aid of Goldmask.
- Blessing of Despair (Elden Lord Variation): Achieving the Elden Lord ending but through the aid of the Dung Eater.
- Age of Duskborn (Elden Lord Variation): Achieving the Elden Lord ending but through the aid of Fia.
- Age of Stars: Siding with Ranni the Witch to usher in an age ruled by the Moon’s influence rather than the Greater Will, taking your role as her consort.
- Lord of Frenzied Flame: Embracing the chaotic power of the Three Fingers and burning the Erdtree to the ground, becoming a Lord of Chaos.
Lore Implications: A World Transformed
Each ending carries significant implications for the lore of Elden Ring. The Age of Stars, for instance, represents a rejection of the Greater Will’s influence and a move towards a more independent cosmic order. In contrast, the Lord of Frenzied Flame ending signifies complete annihilation and the end of all things, a truly cataclysmic conclusion. Even the variations of the Elden Lord ending, achieved by completing specific side quests, paint drastically different pictures. Some emphasize purging the influence of the Greater Will, while others emphasize restoring the Golden Order. The impact on the Lands Between is significant.
Impact on Gameplay: New Game Plus and Beyond
While the ending itself doesn’t directly change your gameplay experience within that specific playthrough, it certainly impacts your motivation and objectives in New Game Plus (NG+). Knowing the consequences of each ending can guide your choices in subsequent playthroughs, prompting you to explore different questlines, experiment with alternative builds, and ultimately shape the world according to your own vision. The availability of certain items and NPC interactions also differ depending on quests completed on each playthrough, influencing future gameplay.
Achievement Hunting: Completing Your Elden Ring Journey
For completionists, the ending you choose is crucial for achieving 100% completion of Elden Ring. To unlock all achievements related to the endings, you must experience the Age of Stars ending, the Lord of Frenzied Flame ending, and any of the Elden Lord endings. So, in essence, not all of the endings are required, but a representative of each of the core pathways is necessary. This drives players to explore multiple questlines and consider the moral implications of their choices. It highlights the importance of player agency within the narrative.
The “Best” Ending: A Matter of Perspective
The concept of a “best” ending in Elden Ring is entirely subjective. Many players favor the Age of Stars for its hopeful tone and the potential for a new era free from the Greater Will’s control. However, others might find the Lord of Frenzied Flame ending cathartic in its utter destruction of the existing order, or prefer to restore the Elden Ring itself via one of the Elden Lord variations. There is no objectively “right” answer.
Beyond the Narrative: The Player’s Personal Journey
Ultimately, the most important aspect of choosing an ending is the personal connection you forge with your character and the Lands Between. Did you strive for order, freedom, or utter chaos? Did you prioritize the well-being of others, or pursue your own ambitions regardless of the cost? The ending you choose reflects your own values and interpretations of the game’s themes, making it a deeply personal and meaningful decision. The role-playing aspects of the game shine through in these final moments, offering closure to a long and arduous journey. Games Learning Society acknowledges the power of games in providing players a wide array of choices and consequences. More information about games and player experience can be found at GamesLearningSociety.org.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Elden Ring Endings
1. What determines which ending you get in Elden Ring?
The ending you receive is determined by the choices you make throughout the game, particularly which NPC questlines you complete and which key items (Mending Runes) you acquire. Certain actions, like accepting the Frenzied Flame, can lock you into specific endings.
2. Which Elden Ring ending is hardest to get?
The Lord of Frenzied Flame ending is generally considered the hardest to obtain due to the obscure and challenging questline required to reach the Three Fingers beneath the Leyndell, Royal Capital.
3. What endings do you need to 100% Elden Ring (achievements)?
You need to see one Elden Lord ending (any variation), the Age of Stars ending, and the Lord of Frenzied Flame ending to unlock all the ending-related achievements.
4. Is the Ranni ending good or bad?
The Age of Stars ending with Ranni is generally considered “good” by many players, as it offers a path away from the Greater Will’s control. However, the definition of “good” is subjective.
5. Which Elden Ring ending is canon?
There is no officially confirmed canon ending. The default Elden Lord ending (Age of Fracture) is often theorized as the most likely candidate, as it requires the least amount of specific action from the player. However, ultimately that decision remains with the player base.
6. What is the easiest ending in Elden Ring?
The Age of Fracture ending, the default Elden Lord ending, is the easiest to achieve as it requires simply progressing through the main story without completing any specific side quests that drastically alter the ending.
7. What happens if you refuse Melina?
Refusing Melina at the start of the game will prevent you from leveling up and getting Torrent, your spectral steed, essentially halting your progress.
8. Why does Melina sacrifice herself?
Melina sacrifices herself to burn the Erdtree, allowing you to enter and challenge the final bosses. This is part of her mission given to her by her mother, Queen Marika. However, her sacrifice can be avoided if you embrace the Frenzied Flame.
9. Is Ranni and Melina the same person?
No, Ranni and Melina are not the same person. They are both important figures with their own distinct stories and objectives. Melina is the daughter of Queen Marika while Ranni is the daughter of Radagon and Rennala.
10. What is the max level in Elden Ring?
The maximum level in Elden Ring is 713, requiring a massive amount of runes to achieve.
11. Should I tell the Dung Eater to leave?
If you wish to complete the Dung Eater’s questline and achieve the Blessing of Despair ending variation, you must resist the urge to kill him and instead allow him to leave his cell.
12. Is Melina good or bad?
Melina is generally considered a “good” character, as she is loyal to the player and aids them in their quest to become Elden Lord. However, her ultimate fate is tied to your choices and can vary depending on the ending you pursue.
13. What does Ranni’s ending mean?
Ranni’s Age of Stars ending signifies a new cosmic order free from the influence of the Greater Will, with Ranni as a new goddess and the player as her consort.
14. Do we revive Marika?
In the Elden Lord endings, Marika’s shattered form is mended along with the Elden Ring. In Ranni’s ending, she picks up Marika’s head gently, which then peacefully dissipates.
15. Will Elden Ring ending affect DLC?
It is unlikely that the Elden Ring ending will directly affect future DLC content. FromSoftware tends to create standalone expansions that are not heavily reliant on the player’s choices in the main game.
Ultimately, the choice of which ending to pursue in Elden Ring is a deeply personal one. Consider the lore, the implications for the world, and your own moral compass as you navigate the treacherous path to becoming Elden Lord. Your legacy awaits!