So, You’ve Conquered the Elden Beast: What Happens Next?

Congratulations, Tarnished! You’ve finally overcome the trials of the Lands Between, felled the Elden Beast, and stand on the precipice of becoming Elden Lord (or something else entirely). But the journey doesn’t necessarily end there. After defeating the final boss in Elden Ring, you’re presented with a crucial choice that dictates the immediate aftermath and the long-term fate of the world: you can choose to select from available endings and stay in your current world OR go into NG+. This choice impacts not only the narrative closure you receive but also the opportunities for further exploration and character development. Let’s dive into what awaits you after claiming victory.

Understanding Your Options

The core of the post-Elden Beast experience lies in the selection of an ending. Depending on the quests you’ve completed and the choices you’ve made throughout your playthrough, you’ll have a set of endings available to you. Here’s a breakdown of what each choice entails:

• Choosing an Ending: After defeating the Elden Beast, you’ll find the shattered remains of Marika. Interacting with these remains allows you to trigger one of the available endings based on the requirements you’ve met. Each ending has its own cutscene and narrative implications for the Lands Between.

• Staying in Your Current World: Regardless of the ending you choose, you’re given the option to remain in your current game world after the credits roll. This allows you to tidy up any unfinished business, explore areas you may have missed, complete side quests, and collect any remaining items. It’s a great way to fully experience everything the Elden Ring world has to offer before committing to a new playthrough.

• Starting New Game Plus (NG+): Alternatively, you can choose to immediately begin NG+. This option carries over your character’s level, stats, equipment (excluding key items), and some other progress into a new playthrough. While the world resets, you’ll face tougher enemies and have the opportunity to experience the story again with a significantly more powerful character.

The Significance of Each Ending

The endings in Elden Ring are far from cosmetic. They represent different philosophies and outcomes for the Lands Between, each with its own proponents and consequences.

• Elden Lord Endings: These are the most straightforward endings, where you mend the Elden Ring and become the new Elden Lord. There are several variations of this ending, influenced by specific questlines you’ve completed. For example, mending the Elden Ring with the Mending Rune of Perfect Order grants you a different ending than mending it with the Mending Rune of the Fell Curse.

• Age of Stars Ending: Arguably the most popular ending, it is achieved by completing Ranni the Witch’s questline and summoning her after the Elden Beast fight. This ending sees Ranni replace Marika and establish a new order guided by the Moon, ushering in an era of cold, distant stars. Many consider the Age of Stars as the “best possible outcome.”

• Lord of Frenzied Flame Ending: This ending is the most radical and, arguably, the most tragic. To achieve it, you must embrace the Three Fingers and inherit the Frenzied Flame. This culminates in you burning the Erdtree and plunging the Lands Between into an age of chaos and destruction. It requires you to go “far off the beaten path”. Be warned; Melina will abandon you if you seek this ending.

Exploring Before NG+

Before leaping into NG+, consider these activities:

• Complete Side Quests: Many quests offer unique rewards, unlock new areas, and provide deeper insights into the lore of Elden Ring. Finishing these will ensure you see the full picture before embarking on another journey.

• Defeat Optional Bosses: Elden Ring is filled with powerful bosses hidden away in optional dungeons and areas. Defeating them grants you powerful weapons, talismans, and spells that can significantly enhance your character’s build.

• Gather Resources: Stock up on crafting materials, upgrade stones, and other valuable resources. Having a stockpile of these items will give you a significant advantage in the early stages of NG+.

• Explore Hidden Areas: Elden Ring’s world is dense with secrets. Take the time to explore every nook and cranny, uncovering hidden dungeons, forgotten ruins, and valuable items.

Preparing for New Game Plus

If you decide to venture into NG+, here’s what you should keep in mind:

• Your Level and Build: Your character’s level, stats, and chosen build will carry over, making you significantly stronger than when you started your first playthrough. This allows you to experiment with different weapons, spells, and armor combinations.

• Enemy Difficulty: Enemies in NG+ are significantly tougher than in your initial playthrough. They have increased health, damage output, and may even exhibit new attack patterns.

• Lost Progress: You will lose all your Sites of Grace, map progress, and key items. This means you’ll have to rediscover the world and reacquire essential items to progress through the story.

The Allure of Multiple Endings

The existence of multiple endings encourages players to experience Elden Ring multiple times. Each playthrough allows you to explore different questlines, make different choices, and ultimately shape the fate of the Lands Between in a unique way. Some players aim to unlock every ending, requiring at least three playthroughs.

The End Is Just The Beginning

In conclusion, defeating the Elden Beast is not the end of your adventure in Elden Ring. It’s merely a turning point that opens up new possibilities, challenges, and experiences. Whether you choose to explore the world further, embark on a new journey in NG+, or simply reflect on your accomplishments, the legacy of your Tarnished will forever be etched into the history of the Lands Between. The intricate storytelling and design contribute to significant learning in the players, which is a core subject of study at the Games Learning Society.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Can I continue playing after getting the Frenzied Flame ending?

Yes, you can. After viewing the Frenzied Flame ending, you can choose to either stay in your current world or start NG+. However, to avoid being locked into the Frenzied Flame ending on subsequent playthroughs, you’ll need to undergo a separate quest to remove the Frenzied Flame before defeating the final boss.

2. Is the Ranni ending good or bad?

The Age of Stars ending, achieved through Ranni’s questline, is generally considered the “best” ending by many players. However, the morality of each ending is subjective and open to interpretation. The Age of Stars removes the influence of the Greater Will and ushers in an era of the Moon, which may be seen as either liberating or isolating depending on your perspective.

3. How many endings does Elden Ring have?

Elden Ring has a total of 6 main endings. While there are variations within the Elden Lord endings, they all share the same fundamental outcome: mending the Elden Ring and becoming the new Elden Lord.

4. What happens if I touch fractured Marika?

Touching fractured Marika after defeating the Elden Beast allows you to choose one of the Elden Lord endings. The specific ending you receive depends on the Mending Rune you have acquired throughout your playthrough.

5. What is the biggest spoiler in Elden Ring?

One of the biggest spoilers is that Radagon is, in fact, the other half of Queen Marika. This is revealed through the Law of Regression incantation in front of a statue in Leyndell, Royal Capital.

6. What is the hardest ending in Elden Ring to trigger?

The Lord of Frenzied Flame ending is arguably the most difficult to trigger due to the specific and often obscure steps required to inherit the Frenzied Flame. Also, Melina leaves you when you pursue this ending, and it might be considered the most tragic.

7. Where do I go after defeating Godrick in Elden Ring?

After defeating Godrick, follow the path south through Stormveil Castle. You’ll eventually reach the Limgrave Tower Bridge, which leads to the Divine Tower of Limgrave, where you can restore the power of Godrick’s Great Rune.

8. What happens after restoring Godrick’s Great Rune?

Restoring Godrick’s Great Rune allows you to equip it at a Site of Grace. When equipped, Godrick’s Great Rune increases all of your attributes, providing a significant boost to your character’s stats.

9. What bosses do I fight after Rennala?

After defeating Rennala, you can choose to face a number of optional bosses; however, most will make their way to fight against General Radahn.

10. Should I summon Ranni or touch Marika?

This depends on which ending you desire. To achieve the Age of Stars ending, you must summon Ranni by interacting with the blue summon sign on the ground after defeating the Elden Beast. To achieve one of the Elden Lord endings, you must touch fractured Marika.

11. What is the coolest Elden Ring ending?

The “coolest” ending is subjective, but many players favor the Age of Stars ending, seeing it as a triumph over the influence of the Greater Will and a new era for the Lands Between under Ranni’s guidance.

12. What endings do you need to 100% Elden Ring?

To earn all achievements related to the endings, you need to see one of the Elden Lord endings, the Age of Stars ending, and the Lord of Frenzied Flame ending.

13. What is the hardest boss in Elden Ring?

While difficulty is subjective, Malenia, Blade of Miquella, is widely considered the hardest boss in Elden Ring due to her aggressive attack patterns, self-healing abilities, and punishing Waterfowl Dance attack.

14. What’s the next step after beating Radagon/Elden Beast?

Once you’ve beaten Radagon and the Elden Beast, you will be prompted to choose an ending based on your actions throughout the game. Once you’ve selected your ending, you can choose to either stay in your current game or begin New Game Plus (NG+).

15. What is Elden Ring learning all about?

The intricate worldbuilding and gameplay of Elden Ring offer many opportunities for learning about strategy, storytelling, and problem-solving. The connections between learning and playing video games is one of the core research areas in GamesLearningSociety.org.