What Is the Best Ending for Dark Souls? The Ultimate Guide to Choice and Consequences
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The “best” ending for Dark Souls is subjective and depends entirely on your personal interpretation of the game’s themes and your desired outcome for the world. While there’s no objectively “correct” choice, “Link the Fire” is arguably the morally ambiguous but pragmatically stable option, continuing the cycle of light and dark and delaying the inevitable Age of Dark. However, “Embrace the Darkness” (or the Age of Dark ending) presents a potentially revolutionary, albeit uncertain, future for humanity. Ultimately, the best ending aligns with your own understanding of Lordran’s plight and your character’s motivations.
Understanding the Endings of Dark Souls
Dark Souls offers two primary endings achievable at the Kiln of the First Flame after defeating Gwyn, Lord of Cinder:
- Link the Fire: By interacting with the First Flame, your character sacrifices themselves to rekindle it, prolonging the Age of Fire and the dominance of the gods.
- Embrace the Darkness (Age of Dark): By leaving the First Flame unlit and walking away, you usher in the Age of Dark, where humanity comes to the forefront and the old gods fade.
Both endings have profound implications for the world of Lordran and its inhabitants. Understanding these implications is crucial to determining which ending resonates most with you.
Examining “Link the Fire”: Continuity at a Cost
The Cycle Continues
Choosing to Link the Fire is often seen as the “traditional” or “expected” ending. It aligns with the established order and the desires of the gods. However, it perpetuates a cycle of sacrifice and decay. Each linking prolongs the Age of Fire, but with diminishing returns. The flame weakens, requiring more frequent and greater sacrifices to maintain its strength. This constant struggle leads to societal instability, the rise of the undead, and the corruption of the world.
Arguments for Linking the Fire
- Preservation of Order: Linking the Fire maintains the existing world order, preventing the unknown consequences of the Age of Dark. Some believe that the Age of Dark would bring about the complete annihilation of life as they know it.
- Hope for the Gods: Linking the Fire provides hope for the gods, whose power is directly tied to the flame. It allows them to continue to exist, albeit in a weakened state.
- Sacrifice for the Greater Good: Some players view linking the fire as a noble sacrifice, putting the needs of the world above their own personal desires.
The Morality of Perpetual Sacrifice
Despite the potential benefits, Linking the Fire is fundamentally a flawed solution. It relies on the constant sacrifice of individuals, perpetuating a cycle of suffering and decay. The fire is inevitably going to fade, no matter how many times it is linked, making it a temporary and ultimately unsustainable solution. It also ignores the underlying problems that led to the fire’s fading in the first place.
Embracing the Darkness: A Leap into the Unknown
A New Dawn or Utter Chaos?
The Age of Dark ending, achieved by refusing to link the fire, is far more ambiguous. It represents a shift in power from the gods to humanity. While the consequences of this shift are not explicitly shown in the game, they are heavily implied to be significant. Some fear that the Age of Dark will bring about utter chaos and the extinction of life. Others believe that it will usher in a new era of prosperity and freedom for humanity.
Arguments for Embracing the Darkness
- Breaking the Cycle: Embracing the Darkness offers a chance to break free from the cycle of sacrifice and decay. It allows for the possibility of a new beginning, free from the influence of the gods.
- Empowering Humanity: The Age of Dark empowers humanity, allowing them to shape their own destiny. It represents a rejection of the divine authority and a celebration of human potential.
- Facing the Inevitable: The Age of Dark is ultimately inevitable. Delaying it only prolongs the suffering and decay of the world. Embracing it allows humanity to confront the darkness and build a new future.
The Uncertainties of the Dark
The biggest drawback of the Age of Dark ending is its uncertainty. The game does not explicitly show what this new era will be like. It is left to the player’s imagination to envision the future of Lordran under the rule of humanity. This ambiguity can be unsettling, but it also allows for a greater degree of interpretation and personal connection to the ending. Some may believe that humanity, without the guidance of the gods, will succumb to their own flaws and bring about their own destruction.
Lore Implications and Philosophical Considerations
The Gods vs. Humanity
The conflict between the gods and humanity is a central theme in Dark Souls. The gods represent the old order, clinging to power and desperately trying to maintain their dominance. Humanity represents the potential for change, a new force rising to challenge the established order. Choosing between Linking the Fire and Embracing the Darkness is essentially choosing between these two factions.
The Nature of Choice
Dark Souls challenges players to confront difficult choices with no easy answers. Both endings have their pros and cons, and neither offers a guaranteed happy ending. The game encourages players to think critically about the consequences of their actions and to consider the long-term implications of their decisions.
Subjectivity and Interpretation
Ultimately, the “best” ending for Dark Souls is a matter of personal interpretation. There is no right or wrong answer. The game encourages players to engage with its themes and lore and to draw their own conclusions about the fate of Lordran. What resonates with one player may not resonate with another.
Making Your Choice: Key Considerations
Before reaching the Kiln of the First Flame, consider these factors:
- Your Character’s Motivation: What are your character’s goals? Do they seek to preserve the old order or embrace a new beginning?
- Your Interpretation of the Lore: How do you interpret the history of Lordran and the conflict between the gods and humanity?
- Your Personal Values: What values are most important to you? Do you prioritize stability and order or freedom and change?
- The Dialogues with NPCs: What are the perspectives of the NPCs you’ve encountered throughout the game? Frampt and Kaathe present diametrically opposed views.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What happens if I kill Frampt before linking the fire?
Killing Frampt doesn’t prevent you from linking the fire. You simply won’t have him as a merchant or a place to break down items into souls. The ability to link the fire remains unaffected.
2. Does choosing a different covenant affect the ending I get?
No, your covenant affiliation does not influence the main endings of Dark Souls. The choice at the Kiln of the First Flame is the sole determinant.
3. What happens if I die to Gwyn?
If you die to Gwyn, you’ll respawn at the last bonfire you rested at. You’ll need to fight your way back to him to try again.
4. Is there a “true” ending to Dark Souls?
No, there is no definitively declared “true” ending. FromSoftware intentionally leaves both endings open to interpretation, allowing players to decide what they believe is the most fitting conclusion.
5. Can I get both endings in one playthrough?
No, you can only achieve one ending per playthrough. To see the other ending, you’ll need to start a New Game Plus.
6. Does New Game Plus affect the endings?
No, New Game Plus doesn’t change the endings themselves. It simply allows you to replay the game and make a different choice at the Kiln of the First Flame.
7. Is it possible to avoid choosing an ending altogether?
No, once you defeat Gwyn, you are forced to choose between linking the fire and embracing the darkness. There’s no option to simply walk away without making a decision.
8. How does the Dark Souls ending connect to Dark Souls 2 and 3?
The connection is thematic and lore-based rather than direct. Dark Souls 2 explores the consequences of either prolonging or failing to prolong the Age of Fire, while Dark Souls 3 deals with the final, desperate attempt to rekindle the flame before it fades completely. Neither game directly canonizes one ending from Dark Souls 1.
9. Which ending is considered the “good” ending?
Neither ending is inherently “good.” Both have potential positive and negative consequences. The Age of Fire (linking) ensures the current world continues, but through repeated sacrifice. The Age of Dark (embracing the darkness) provides change, but with uncertain outcomes.
10. Can I reverse my decision after choosing an ending?
No, once you’ve chosen an ending, it’s permanent for that playthrough. You’ll need to start a new game or New Game Plus to experience the other ending.
11. What is the significance of the Lordvessel in relation to the endings?
The Lordvessel allows you to access the Kiln of the First Flame, making it essential to reaching the endgame and making your final choice. It’s the key to either linking the fire or embracing the darkness.
12. How does Kaathe influence the Age of Dark ending?
Kaathe, a primordial serpent, encourages you to embrace the darkness and become the Dark Lord. He believes that humanity deserves to inherit the world from the gods and sees the Age of Dark as the natural order.
13. Does my character’s build affect the ending choices?
No, your character’s build does not influence the ending choices. The decision at the Kiln of the First Flame is independent of your stats, equipment, or playstyle.
14. What are the implications of the “Usurp the Flame” ending in Dark Souls 3?
While not present in Dark Souls 1, the Usurp the Flame ending in Dark Souls 3 is relevant as a potential continuation of the Age of Dark theme. It involves becoming the Lord of Hollows and potentially controlling or manipulating the First Flame for humanity’s benefit.
15. Is one ending objectively harder to achieve than the other?
No, both endings require defeating the same bosses and navigating the same areas. The difficulty lies in the final fight with Gwyn, not in accessing either ending. Both paths are equally accessible.