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The Dung Eater Ending: Elden Ring’s Most Twisted Finale – Is it Really the “Best”?

Unequivocally, the Dung Eater ending is not the “best” ending in Elden Ring. It’s arguably the worst, condemning the Lands Between to a fate far grimmer than its already bleak existence. While “best” is subjective and depends on player motivations (completionist, roleplayer, or morally driven), the Dung Eater’s ending, achieved by using the Mending Rune of the Fell Curse on Fractured Marika, offers no solace, no hope, and no redeeming qualities. It’s a descent into utter depravity and a testament to the depths of human cruelty. This article will explore why this ending is considered so bleak, address common questions about it, and compare it to other, arguably more fulfilling, conclusions to your Tarnished’s journey.

Deconstructing the Depravity: Why the Dung Eater Ending Falls Short

The allure of the Dung Eater ending stems, ironically, from its repugnance. It’s the ultimate act of rebellion, a middle finger to the Greater Will and the Golden Order, albeit fueled by pure, unadulterated malice. But what exactly makes it so terrible?

The Curse: The core of this ending revolves around the Mending Rune of the Fell Curse. This rune, imbued with the Dung Eater’s twisted essence, permanently alters the Elden Ring, cursing all future generations. They will be born into a world plagued by the Dung Eater’s corruption, destined for misery and despair.
No Redemption: Unlike some other “bad” endings, the Dung Eater ending offers no glimmer of hope for eventual redemption. It’s a final, decisive act of destruction with no foreseeable path to recovery.
Moral Repugnance: The Dung Eater himself is a vile individual, a serial killer who defiles corpses and spreads his curse far and wide. Aligning with him, and ultimately perpetuating his cruelty, requires the player to embrace a truly evil path. This is a hard pill for most players to swallow.
The Lack of Subtlety: While Elden Ring often presents morally ambiguous choices, the Dung Eater’s path is blatant in its malevolence. There is no room for interpretation; it is evil, pure and simple. This bluntness can be off-putting to players who appreciate nuanced narratives.

The Alternatives: A Spectrum of Endings in Elden Ring

The stark negativity of the Dung Eater ending becomes even more apparent when compared to other endings available in Elden Ring:

Age of Stars: This ending, achieved through Ranni’s questline, is often considered the “best” due to its hopeful undertones. It replaces the Golden Order with the influence of the Moon, ushering in an age of freedom and exploration, where humanity is free from the control of the Greater Will.
Age of Order: This ending focuses on restoring order to the Lands Between, albeit through a rigid and potentially oppressive system. While not as universally praised as the Age of Stars, it at least offers a semblance of stability and structure.
Fia’s Ending (Age of Duskborn): This ending is surprisingly positive and represents a natural cycle for life and death in the Lands Between. In essence, Fia does this for Godwyn, who becomes the Death Prince and God to Those Living in Death.
The “Default” Ending (Elden Lord): While arguably bland, this ending simply restores the Elden Ring without fundamental changes. It represents a return to the status quo, but without the horrifying curse inflicted by the Dung Eater.
Lord of Frenzied Flame: A chaotic ending that literally burns the world to the ground. Although also a bad ending it could be justified as resetting the world in hopes a fresh start is a better one.