What is the Happiest Ending in Elden Ring?
Navigating the treacherous landscape of Elden Ring and its fractured world, The Lands Between, players are faced with a multitude of choices that dictate the fate of the world and its inhabitants. Among the various possibilities, one question often lingers: which ending is truly the happiest? While ‘happy’ is subjective and nuanced in a dark fantasy setting like Elden Ring, the ending that many players perceive as the most optimistic is the Age of Order ending, achieved through utilizing the Mending Rune of Perfect Order given by Goldmask. This ending, unlike others, promises a future of stability and reason under a new order guided by rationality.
The Age of Order: A Beacon of Hope
In the Age of Order ending, players, having become the Elden Lord, usher in an era of structure and calm. The Mending Rune, a product of Goldmask’s meticulous research into the fundamental laws of the Elden Ring, allows the Tarnished to repair the shattered ring in a way that emphasizes perfect order. The visual implications of this are significant; the often-tumultuous nature of the Lands Between is replaced with a sense of balance and control. The key here is Goldmask’s vision: a world governed by intellect and reason, where the chaos brought about by the Shattering is subdued. This contrasts sharply with other endings that embrace either the existing order’s shortcomings or further chaos, making it more palatable for those seeking a less bleak conclusion.
Why is this considered happy?
- Stability and Control: Unlike the default Age of Fracture ending, which merely places the Tarnished as a new, perhaps temporary, ruler within the same flawed system, the Age of Order specifically targets the inherent instability within the Elden Ring’s design. The new laws put in place by Goldmask aim to rectify the systemic issues.
- Absence of Chaos: Several endings, including the Lord of Frenzied Flame ending, bring about immense destruction. The Age of Order, by its nature, is the antithesis of this, prioritizing stability over violent upheaval.
- Intellectual Resolution: This ending feels more considered. It acknowledges that chaos is rooted in a flaw in the system itself, and attempts to fix it through intellect and reason rather than relying on brute force. It provides a satisfying sense of resolution and progress.
- A “Good” Ending While Elden Ring avoids traditional black-and-white morality, this ending often resonates as a ‘good’ conclusion, where the world has an opportunity to thrive free from the cyclical nature of conflict and decay.
While the Age of Stars ending, where you become Ranni’s consort and usher in a new age guided by the moon, is also very popular and considered positive by many, the Age of Order has more of a sense of restoring balance to the world. It is a more concrete positive change that the player directly achieves. Ranni’s path takes the power away from the Elden Ring and the Lands Between and puts it somewhere else; a kind of exodus to another realm. It is good, but the Age of Order feels like the best choice for the world left behind.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some common questions to help clarify the various aspects of Elden Ring’s endings:
1. What are all the endings in Elden Ring?
There are six core endings in Elden Ring: the Age of Fracture, Age of the Stars, Age of Duskborn, Lord of the Frenzied Flame, Blessing of Despair, and Age of Order. It was rumored a seventh ending was planned but never made it into the game.
2. Is the Age of the Stars ending happy?
The Age of the Stars, often touted as the ‘best’ ending, has positive aspects and is preferred by many players. You become Ranni’s consort and usher in a new, more cosmic era. However, it involves a fundamental shift in the world’s order, potentially severing connections to the past. Its “happiness” is subjective.
3. What is the simplest ending to achieve?
The Age of Fracture is the easiest ending to achieve as it is the default ending you get by following the main story path. You mend the Elden Ring, become Elden Lord, and the world goes on as it was, though hopefully more stable because of your rule.
4. What is the hardest ending to achieve?
The Lord of Frenzied Flame ending is generally considered the most difficult to achieve due to its requirements and esoteric quest line, requiring players to follow a specific and often missed path.
5. Is Ranni good or bad?
Ranni is a complex, morally ambiguous character. While her intentions in the Age of Stars ending might appear benevolent, her actions are driven by personal motivations and involve significant manipulation. Whether she is “good” or “bad” depends on player interpretation, although she is often viewed as having the best interest for the world.
6. Where does Ranni go after you marry her?
After achieving the Age of Stars ending, Ranni’s final location is in the Cathedral of Manus Celes in the Moonlight Altar, a location you’ll need to access after defeating Astel, Naturalborn of the Void.
7. What is Melina’s desired ending?
Melina’s preferred ending is the default Age of Fracture ending, where the Tarnished becomes Elden Lord, restoring some semblance of order to the world by repairing the Elden Ring, but not fixing its inherent flaws. Melina acts as the player’s guide to achieve this.
8. What is considered the canon ending of Elden Ring?
The Age of Duskborn is often speculated as the canon ending, especially due to some subtle hints from the artwork for the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC. This ending sees the Erdtree intact with an ash-like substance permeating the capital region.
9. Why does Melina sacrifice herself in some endings?
Melina sacrifices herself to burn the thorns surrounding the Erdtree, allowing the Tarnished to enter it. She desires to end the chaos that the Shattering created, and sees the burning of the Erdtree as the path towards that goal.
10. Does Ranni care for the Tarnished?
In the Age of Stars ending, Ranni refers to the Tarnished as her “lord” and “dear consort,” indicating a deep bond beyond a purely political alliance. It can be strongly argued that she does indeed care for the Tarnished.
11. What happens if you refuse Melina?
Refusing Melina will lock you out of progression around the capital, as she provides you with a necessary item to access the Great Lift. Without it you cannot move forward.
12. Is the Frenzied Flame a good path to follow?
The Frenzied Flame is associated with chaos and destruction. The ending it provides is typically viewed as a ‘bad’ ending due to its destructive nature and desire to burn the world.
13. Is Melina a good character?
Melina is generally regarded as a good character, being primarily loyal to the player. She has no ulterior motive, other than ensuring the player performs their destined task, until the player follows the Frenzied Flame path.
14. What does the Dung Eater’s ending do?
The Dung Eater’s ending, the Blessing of Despair, will spread a curse throughout the world, perpetuating his own suffering across the Lands Between. It is widely considered a grim and undesirable ending.
15. Is there an Elden Beast weakness?
There isn’t a singular “weakness” for the Elden Beast, but it is more susceptible to non-holy and ranged attacks. Many strategies can be effective, but those types are often the most beneficial for players fighting this final boss.
Concluding Thoughts
While Elden Ring presents a myriad of complex choices and consequences, the Age of Order arguably stands out as the most genuinely ‘happy’ ending. Its focus on rationality, stability, and a structured new order offers a respite from the chaos and despair that permeate the other possible outcomes. While the game encourages players to explore all its narratives and make their own decisions, for those seeking a conclusion with a positive trajectory, the Age of Order remains a beacon of hope in the fractured world of the Lands Between.