How Many Endings in Elden Ring Are There? A Guide to Every Conclusion

The question of how many endings in Elden Ring is a common one. The game offers players freedom not just in combat but in how the story ends. The answer is six. Each ending reflects choices you make during the game. In this guide ‘ll explain the paths, give concise steps, and offer advice on choosing a finale.

How Many Endings in Elden Ring: An Overview

There are six endings in Elden Ring. They are:

• Age of Fracture, the default Elden Lord ending.
• Age of Order, unlocked with the Mending Rune of Perfect Order.
• Age of Duskborn, using the Mending Rune of the Death Prince.
• Blessing of Despair, the darkest Elden Lord ending with the Fell Curse rune.
• Lord of the Frenzied Flame, a chaotic ending tied to the Three Fingers.
• Age of Stars, the secret conclusion tied to Ranni the Witch.

The Shadow of the Erdtree expansion adds new areas and a closing scene but no new ending. A forthcoming Switch edition with extra content also leaves the base six endings untouched.

Age of Fracture: The Default Ending

The Age of Fracture is the simplest ending. Defeat the final boss, mend the Elden Ring and you become Elden Lord. Nothing major changes; the Golden Order continues and the cycle repeats. 

You cannot access this ending if you accept the Frenzied Flame. On my first run I saw this ending and only later learned there were alternatives. It serves as the baseline for the rest. Our Sekiro vs Elden Ring comparison explains how Elden Ring gives players more control over the outcome than other action games.

Mending Rune Endings

Three endings modify the Age of Fracture by using special runes obtained through NPC quests.

• Age of Order: Follow Brother Corhyn and Goldmask across the map, uncover their law and receive the Mending Rune of Perfect Order. Use this at the end to usher in a more stable Golden Order.

• Age of Duskborn: Join Fia, a Deathbed Companion, as she cares for those who live in death. Explore Deeproot Depths, defeat a dream dragon and claim the Mending Rune of the Death Prince. This ending shrouds the Lands Between in fog and grants true death, ending immortality.

• Blessing of Despair: Collect Seedbed Curses for the Dung Eater. Giving him five curses earns the Mending Rune of the Fell Curse. Using it spreads a curse across the world. This is viewed as the bad ending, as everyone suffers.

These three endings differ in tone but share the same final cutscene with minor changes. Even when new editions like the Elden Ring on Switch 2 with extra content arrive, the conditions for these endings stay the same.

Lord of the Frenzied Flame: Chaos Path

To access this route, descend into the Subterranean Shunning Grounds, defeat Mohg the Omen and open a hidden door. There the Three Fingers brand you with the Frenzied Flame. This brand locks you into a chaotic ending where you burn the world yourself. 

Melina departs, vowing revenge, and everything is consumed by fire. You can cleanse the brand with Miquella’s Needle if you want to regain access to other endings, but otherwise this path is final. It is visually striking and appeals to players who want a dramatic finish.

Age of Stars: Ranni’s Ending

The secret Age of Stars requires completing Lunar Princess Ranni’s long questline. This story starts near Caria Manor and takes you through underground cities and hidden towers. Along the way you help miniature versions of Ranni and retrieve her ring. 

After the final boss a blue summon sign appears. Summon Ranni instead of touching the Elden Ring and she becomes a god. You become her consort and journey with her, leaving the Lands Between behind. This ending removes the influence of the Greater Will and is often seen as the most hopeful conclusion.

Picking Your Path

With six endings it helps to plan. If you want a straightforward first completion, go with the Age of Fracture. If you like stability and tradition, pursue the Age of Order. Players looking for closure for the undead might prefer the Age of Duskborn. Those curious about dark outcomes can see the Blessing of Despair or Frenzied Flame. Lore enthusiasts often gravitate toward the Age of Stars. 

Remember that inheriting the Frenzied Flame locks you out of other endings unless you cleanse it. Creating backup saves before key decisions lets you see multiple conclusions without replaying the entire game.

Elden Ring encourages exploration and choice. Our Elden Ring vs Skyrim face off highlights how its open world and questlines support player agency. The endings are an extension of that design. Your actions, not a dialogue menu, determine the fate of the world.

Embark on Your Journey

Understanding how many endings in Elden Ring exist helps you shape your playthrough. Six endings give you plenty of reasons to explore. None of the expansions or editions added a seventh path. Whether you mend the ring, rewrite its laws, bring peace to the dead, spread despair, burn it all or leave with Ranni, the choice is yours. 

If you’re ready to begin, grab an Elden Ring Xbox Live Key from our shop and start your own journey.

FAQs

How do you unlock all endings in Elden Ring in one playthrough?

To unlock all endings in Elden Ring in one playthrough, you need to complete multiple questlines and create backup saves. You should avoid inheriting the Frenzied Flame until you have seen the Elden Lord and Age of Stars endings. Make a save before entering the Subterranean Shunning Grounds, complete Brother Corhyn’s, Fia’s and Dung Eater’s quests for their Mending Runes, and finish Ranni’s story. Then use each rune in turn from your backup saves.

What is the best ending in Elden Ring?

The best ending in Elden Ring depends on your perspective, but many players prefer the Age of Stars. The Age of Stars ending frees the Lands Between from the Greater Will and gives humanity a chance to chart its own course. It also rewards a lengthy quest with a unique cutscene that feels different from other conclusions.

Does Elden Ring’s DLC add a new ending?

No, Elden Ring’s DLC doesn’t add a new ending. Shadow of the Erdtree introduces its own self‑contained finale after its final boss, but the main game still offers only six endings. You will return to the base game after the DLC and make the same choices as before.

Are Elden Ring endings mutually exclusive?

Yes, Elden Ring endings are mutually exclusive within a single save, so you can only activate one ending per playthrough. However, you can see multiple endings by saving your progress before major decisions or by cleansing the Frenzied Flame with Miquella’s Needle to regain access to Elden Lord endings.

Which NPC quests influence Elden Ring endings?

The NPC quests that influence Elden Ring endings are those of Brother Corhyn and Goldmask, Fia, the Dung Eater, Hyetta, and Ranni. Completing these quests yields the runes or conditions needed for the Age of Order, Age of Duskborn, Blessing of Despair, Lord of the Frenzied Flame, and Age of Stars respectively. Talking to every character and following their stories ensures you do not miss an ending.