Unveiling Elden Ring’s Hidden Fates: A Deep Dive into Secret Endings
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Elden Ring, the sprawling masterpiece from FromSoftware, is renowned for its challenging gameplay, intricate lore, and, crucially, its multiple endings. While the game presents players with choices that visibly impact the narrative, discerning the true “secret” endings requires a deeper understanding.
So, how many secret endings does Elden Ring have? The answer is that while there are six distinct endings in Elden Ring, only two can be considered “secret” in the sense that they require completing specific, often convoluted, questlines: The “Age of Stars” ending (tied to Ranni’s quest) and the “Lord of Frenzied Flame” ending. The other four endings are variations of the standard “Elden Lord” ending, achieved by mending the Elden Ring with different Mending Runes acquired through various NPC questlines. While these variations offer unique flavor and lore implications, they are less hidden than the aforementioned two.
The Allure of Choice and Consequence
Elden Ring expertly uses the concept of multiple endings to enhance player agency. Your choices throughout the game, particularly your interactions with key NPCs, ultimately determine the ending you experience. This system encourages multiple playthroughs, exploration, and a deep engagement with the world’s lore. The “secret” endings are particularly rewarding because they require significant effort and investigation, adding a sense of accomplishment to their narrative resolution.
Understanding the Six Endings: More Than Just a Mending
While players often pursue these different endings to secure all the associated achievements/trophies, many also enjoy seeing the consequences of their character’s actions across The Lands Between. A lot can change between a playthrough, and the Elden Ring endings are one of the major ways that these changes manifest themselves.
Let’s break down the different endings:
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Elden Lord (Default): This is the most straightforward ending, achieved by defeating the final boss and mending the Elden Ring without any specific Mending Runes. You simply become the Elden Lord, maintaining the existing order. This is often considered the canon ending.
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Elden Lord (Age of Fracture): Similarly, this ending is attained without using a mending rune, except it differs by specifically choosing to “repair the Elden Ring.” The overall outcome appears to be the same.
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Elden Lord (Blessing of Despair): Obtained by using the Mending Rune of the Fell Curse, acquired by completing the Dung Eater’s questline. This ending curses the Lands Between, ensuring misery for all inhabitants. Arguably the “bad” ending.
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Elden Lord (Age of Order): Requires the Mending Rune of Perfect Order, earned through Goldmask’s questline. This ending aims to restore the Golden Order to its former glory, albeit with a focus on addressing the flaws within the existing system. This quest is relatively complicated and takes time to unravel.
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Elden Lord (Age of Duskborn): Achieved by using the Mending Rune of the Death-Prince, obtained from Fia’s questline. This ending introduces the concept of Destined Death into the Elden Ring, potentially impacting the cycle of life and death in the Lands Between.
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Age of Stars: This is one of the true “secret” endings, triggered by completing Ranni the Witch’s extensive questline. It involves defying the Greater Will and ushering in an age ruled by the moon, effectively ending the influence of the Golden Order. Julianna Swickard of CBR suggests that while Ranni is a morally ambiguous character, the Age of Stars may represent the “best possible outcome” among Elden Ring’s finales.
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Lord of Frenzied Flame: The other “secret” ending, this is arguably the most difficult and morally questionable. It requires embracing the Three Fingers and inheriting the Frenzied Flame, ultimately choosing to burn the Erdtree and everything else. There is some debate as to whether or not this ending destroys the world, or merely resets it.
Exploring Themes and Morality
The various endings in Elden Ring aren’t just about gameplay completion; they are thematic statements. Each ending reflects a different philosophy and vision for the future of the Lands Between. They force players to confront complex moral questions about order, freedom, control, and sacrifice. This adds a layer of depth and complexity that goes beyond simply defeating the final boss. Whether it be the curse brought on by the Dung Eater or the ambition that comes with following the Golden Order, Elden Ring’s endings allow players to make informed choices about what they want from their character and their world.
The choices players make in Elden Ring also open the door to further discussion within the field of game design. These types of choices can encourage different types of ethical gameplay. You can read more about this concept, and others, at the Games Learning Society website. GamesLearningSociety.org has a lot to say on the subjects of gaming and education.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some frequently asked questions related to Elden Ring’s endings:
1. How many endings can you get at once in Elden Ring?
You can only get one ending per playthrough of Elden Ring. Once you defeat the final boss, you will be prompted to choose which ending you want to trigger based on the questlines you’ve completed.
2. What is the hardest ending to get in Elden Ring?
The Lord of Frenzied Flame ending is generally considered the most difficult due to its obscure and easily missed prerequisites. It requires navigating a hidden area beneath Leyndell and embracing the Three Fingers, which can be challenging and easily missed if you aren’t exploring thoroughly.
3. What endings do you need to 100% Elden Ring (achievements)?
To get all ending-related achievements, you need to experience one of the Elden Lord endings, the Age of Stars ending, and the Lord of the Frenzied Flame ending.
4. Which Elden Ring ending is canon?
While there is no officially declared canon ending, the default Elden Lord ending is often considered the most likely candidate as it simply restores the existing order without significant alterations.
5. What is the least popular ending in Elden Ring?
The Blessing of Despair ending is generally considered the “bad” ending and is likely the least popular due to its negative consequences for the Lands Between.
6. Does Ranni kill Godwyn?
Yes, Ranni orchestrated the assassination of Godwyn the Golden, a key event that triggered the Shattering and the events of Elden Ring.
7. How do you get the Age of Stars ending?
To get the Age of Stars ending, you must complete Ranni’s questline. This involves assisting her in her goals to end the Golden Order’s influence over the Lands Between and establish a new age ruled by the moon.
8. What happens if you refuse Melina?
Refusing Melina’s accord prevents you from leveling up and accessing Torrent, your spectral steed. Accepting her offer is crucial for progressing in the game.
9. Is Ranni and Melina the same person?
No, Ranni and Melina are not the same person, though they are related. Melina is heavily implied to be the daughter of Queen Marika, making her Ranni’s sister.
10. Why does Melina sacrifice herself?
Melina sacrifices herself to burn the Erdtree if you choose the standard Elden Lord path. This allows you to enter the Erdtree and confront the final boss. However, you can prevent her sacrifice by embracing the Frenzied Flame.
11. What happens if you touch Marika after defeating the final boss?
Touching Fractured Marika after defeating the Elden Beast allows you to mend the Elden Ring and choose one of the Elden Lord endings, depending on the Mending Runes you possess.
12. Do you become Queen Marika’s consort by becoming Elden Lord?
Yes, by becoming Elden Lord, you essentially become Marika’s new consort, ruling the Lands Between in her name.
13. Is Melina evil in Elden Ring?
Melina is not evil. She remains loyal to the player throughout the game, guiding them towards their destiny.
14. Will the Elden Ring DLC have a new ending?
It is highly likely that the Elden Ring DLC, “Shadow of the Erdtree,” will introduce new lore and potentially new endings, further expanding the game’s narrative possibilities.
15. Which ending is the most popular in Elden Ring?
It’s tough to say definitively, as FromSoftware hasn’t released official statistics. However, the “default” Elden Lord ending and the Age of Stars ending are likely among the most popular, given their relative accessibility and narrative appeal.
Embracing the Journey: The Real Ending
Ultimately, the “true” ending of Elden Ring isn’t just about the final cutscene you see. It’s about the journey you take, the choices you make, and the impact you have on the Lands Between. Each ending offers a unique perspective and reinforces the game’s themes of ambition, destiny, and the struggle for power. So, explore, experiment, and forge your own fate in this unforgettable world.