Elden Ring offers several endings, each shaped by your choices, alliances, and actions across the Lands Between. While you can stumble into some conclusions by chance, others are deeply tied to specific NPCs and require completing intricate questlines. Missing a step can lock you out of a major narrative branch, so it pays to know who matters and when. This guide breaks down every NPC-linked ending and what you must do to unlock each one, all in one place.
1. Age of Fracture (Default Ending)
NPC Involvement: None (can be completed without any sidequests)
This is the standard ending you receive by following the main path and defeating the Elden Beast without committing to any alternative ending. You choose to mend the Elden Ring and become Elden Lord.
How to Unlock:
- Defeat all major demigods and reach Leyndell, Ashen Capital.
- Defeat Radagon and the Elden Beast.
- At Fractured Marika, choose to mend the Elden Ring.
2. Age of Duskborn (Fia’s Ending)
Key NPC: Fia, the Deathbed Companion
Steps:
- Meet Fia in Roundtable Hold and allow her to embrace you.
- Progress her quest until she departs. You must defeat Fia’s Champions in Deeproot Depths.
- Speak with Fia after the fight and obtain the Mending Rune of the Death-Prince.
- Let her rest, then defeat Lichdragon Fortissax.
- After the final boss, use the Mending Rune of the Death-Prince to unlock the Age of Duskborn ending.
3. Blessing of Despair (Dung Eater Ending)
Key NPC: The Loathsome Dung Eater
Steps:
- Meet the Dung Eater in the Roundtable Hold (after reaching Altus Plateau).
- Obtain a Seedbed Curse and show it to him to get the Sewer-Gaol Key.
- Free him from the Subterranean Shunning Grounds and give him five Seedbed Curses.
- Receive the Mending Rune of the Fell Curse.
- After defeating the Elden Beast, use the rune to trigger the Blessing of Despair ending.
4. Age of Order (Goldmask Ending)
Key NPCs: Brother Corhyn and Goldmask
Steps:
- Progress Brother Corhyn’s quest; he eventually leaves Roundtable Hold in search of Goldmask.
- Find Goldmask north of the Altus Plateau bridge and report back.
- Continue advancing the quest through Leyndell.
- Solve the riddle involving the Law of Regression spell.
- Eventually receive the Mending Rune of Perfect Order.
- Use the rune after the final boss to unlock the Age of Order.
5. Age of the Stars (Ranni’s Ending)
Key NPC: Ranni the Witch
Steps:
- Meet Ranni at Ranni’s Rise after defeating Royal Knight Loretta in Caria Manor.
- Agree to serve her and follow her questline.
- Defeat Baleful Shadow, enter Nokron, and retrieve the Fingerslayer Blade.
- Progress through Nokstella and defeat Astel, Naturalborn of the Void.
- Acquire the Dark Moon Ring and reach the Cathedral of Manus Celes.
- Summon Ranni at Fractured Marika after the final boss to trigger the Age of the Stars.
Note: This is the only ending that does not involve using a Mending Rune. Instead, summoning Ranni overrides the default option.
6. Lord of the Frenzied Flame (Chaos Ending)
Key NPC: Hyetta
Steps:
- Progress Hyetta’s quest and feed her Shabriri Grapes and a Fingerprint Grape.
- Gain access to the Subterranean Shunning Grounds beneath Leyndell.
- Defeat Mohg, the Omen, and find the Frenzied Flame Door.
- Remove all armour and approach the door to receive the mark of the Frenzied Flame from the Three Fingers.
- After defeating the Elden Beast, you are locked into this ending unless you reverse the decision.
Reversing the Flame (Optional):
- Complete Millicent’s questline and acquire Miquella’s Needle from Malenia.
- Use the needle at Dragonlord Placidusax’s arena to cleanse the Frenzied Flame.
Which Ending Should You Choose?
The best ending is subjective and depends on your preferences:
- Age of Fracture keeps the status quo and suits a first playthrough.
- Age of Duskborn and Age of Order offer new directions but keep the Lands Between intact.
- Blessing of Despair plunges the world into rot and decay.
- Lord of Frenzied Flame burns it all down.
- Age of the Stars removes the Greater Will’s influence entirely, making it the most radical yet peaceful resolution.
Conclusion
Each ending in Elden Ring reflects a different worldview and demands specific choices, often locked behind detailed NPC arcs. Pay attention to branching paths and complete relevant quests before entering endgame areas, or you may miss out. With careful planning, you can unlock every ending across multiple playthroughs or prep saves near Fractured Marika to view them in succession.
