Elden Ring Platinum: How Many Endings Do You Need?
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The quest for platinum in Elden Ring is a monumental undertaking, one that tests not only your skill but also your knowledge of the game’s intricate systems and lore. A crucial aspect of this journey involves navigating the game’s multiple endings. So, how many endings do you need to achieve platinum in Elden Ring? The answer is three. You’ll need to experience one of the Elden Lord endings, the Age of Stars ending, and the Lord of Frenzied Flame ending to unlock the associated achievements, which are necessary for obtaining the platinum trophy.
Understanding Elden Ring’s Endings
Elden Ring boasts a total of six distinct endings. These endings are not merely cosmetic variations; they represent significant choices that shape the fate of the Lands Between. While there are six total endings in the game, only three are required to get all of the ending achievements.
The Elden Lord Endings
These endings involve you becoming the new Elden Lord, but each involves a different mending rune that will repair the Elden Ring in a unique way. There are four variations of this ending. Getting any of these will unlock the achievement.
The Age of Stars Ending
This ending sees you ushering in a new era of cosmic influence, guided by the enigmatic Ranni the Witch. You replace Marika with Ranni, who serves the moon as a deity.
The Lord of Frenzied Flame Ending
A drastically different path, this ending plunges the world into chaos and destruction, embracing the power of the Frenzied Flame. This ending is considered the most difficult to achieve.
The Platinum Trophy and Ending Requirements
The platinum trophy in Elden Ring requires you to unlock all other trophies in the game. Three of these trophies are tied to the endings:
- Elden Lord: Awarded for achieving any of the Elden Lord endings.
- Age of Stars: Awarded for achieving the Age of Stars ending.
- Lord of Frenzied Flame: Awarded for achieving the Lord of Frenzied Flame ending.
Therefore, to secure the platinum trophy, you must experience each of these three distinct endings.
Achieving the Endings in a Single Playthrough
The good news is that it is possible to unlock all necessary endings in a single playthrough. This can be achieved by carefully managing your choices and save data. The most common strategy involves:
- Completing the questlines for Ranni and obtaining the Frenzied Flame seal.
- Defeating the final boss.
- Before interacting with the fractured Elden Ring, backing up your save data to an external device or cloud storage.
- Choosing one of the endings to unlock its corresponding achievement.
- Restoring your backed-up save data.
- Choosing a different ending.
- Repeating steps 5 and 6 until you have unlocked all three ending achievements.
This method allows you to avoid playing through the entire game multiple times, saving you a significant amount of time and effort.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. How many endings are there in Elden Ring?
There are a total of six different endings in Elden Ring. They have different requirements that must be met to unlock them.
2. Do I need to see all six endings for platinum?
No, you only need to experience three specific endings: one of the Elden Lord endings, the Age of Stars ending, and the Lord of Frenzied Flame ending.
3. Is the Lord of Frenzied Flame ending missable?
Yes, it is possible to miss the Lord of Frenzied Flame ending. You must acquire the Frenzied Flame Seal before defeating the final boss and then allow the Three Fingers to brand you. You can still get it after defeating the final boss.
4. Can I reverse the Frenzied Flame after getting it?
Yes, there is a way to reverse the Frenzied Flame, but it is a complex and demanding questline involving Millicent’s quest and the use of Miquella’s Needle in Dragonlord Placidusax’s arena.
5. Which ending is considered the “best” in Elden Ring?
The “best” ending is subjective and depends on your interpretation of the game’s lore and your personal values. Many consider the Age of Stars ending to be the most thoughtful and positive, as it offers an alternative to the existing order. Julianna Swickard of CBR considered this ending to be the “best possible outcome.”
6. Which ending is considered the “canon” ending?
While there’s no officially confirmed canon ending, many believe the default Elden Lord ending, where you simply mend the Elden Ring without any alterations, is the closest to a canon ending.
7. How long does it take to 100% Elden Ring?
Achieving 100% completion in Elden Ring can take approximately 133 hours or more, depending on your skill level and playstyle.
8. Is Ranni good or evil?
Ranni is a morally grey character, her motives are complex. Some view her as a liberator who frees the Lands Between from the influence of the Greater Will, while others see her as a manipulator who uses others to achieve her goals.
9. What is the easiest ending to achieve?
The Age of Fracture ending, one of the Elden Lord variations, is generally considered the easiest to achieve as it requires minimal side quest completion.
10. Does my starting class affect the ending I can get?
No, your starting class does not affect the endings you can achieve. The endings are determined by your choices and actions throughout the game.
11. Do I need to defeat all bosses for the platinum trophy?
While not all bosses are required, you will need to defeat a significant number of them to progress through the main story and complete the necessary questlines for the ending trophies.
12. Can I get locked out of an ending if I kill a certain NPC?
Yes, killing certain NPCs can lock you out of specific endings or questlines. Be cautious when interacting with NPCs and consider the consequences of your actions.
13. Does the DLC affect the ending requirements for platinum?
The Shadow of the Erdtree DLC may introduce new endings or alter existing ones. However, until the DLC is released and thoroughly explored, it’s safe to assume that the current ending requirements for the platinum trophy remain unchanged.
14. Where can I learn more about game design and the intricacies of Elden Ring?
You can learn more about game design and the elements that make games like Elden Ring so engaging by exploring the resources available at the Games Learning Society website: https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/. You can explore more about the Games Learning Society and the research they do at GamesLearningSociety.org.
15. Can I get the achievements for the endings on different characters?
Yes, you can get the achievements for the endings on different characters. Each character will save their own ending, allowing you to unlock different achievements separately.
Conclusion
Achieving platinum in Elden Ring is a challenging but rewarding experience. Understanding the game’s multiple endings and knowing which ones are required for the platinum trophy is crucial for efficient completion. By following the strategies outlined in this guide and carefully managing your choices, you can conquer the Lands Between and claim your well-deserved platinum trophy. Good luck, Tarnished!