Elden Ring – All Endings and How to Unlock Them

Completing Elden Ring isn't as straightforward as they come, so we're exploring the game's multiple endings and how to unlock them.

Elden Ring has three main endings players can trigger during their gameplay. Depending on the actions, dialogue choices and decisions made during the main and side questlines will unlock one of these endings towards the end of the game.

One of the last decisions you'll make comes after defeating the Elden Beast, when interacting with the Fractured Marika statue gives you one of three choices.

  • Mend the Elden Ring (the base ending)
  • Use Mending Rune of the Death-Prince/Perfect Order/Fell Curse (alternate endings)
  • Become the Lord of the Frenzied Flame (terrible ending)

There are variations of these endings that you can explore, requiring specific side quests to be completed and decisions to be made. Before we continue, we are prompting a massive spoiler alert for major plotlines, bosses, and subsequent endings that will follow. Please don't say we didn't warn you!

What is the Elden Lord ending in Elden Ring?

The Elden Lord ending is the base or vanilla ending in Elden Ring, which many players are likely to get. As mentioned above, you will need to choose to mend the Elden Ring as the final decision to obtain this ending.

Ultimately, to get this ending, you must have chosen to follow the ways of the Two Fingers, as outlined by many characters you've met at the Roundtable Hold and Melina. There are multiple variations of this specific ending that requires some additional objectives to be completed.

How to unlock the Elden Lord - Age of Fracture ending in Elden Ring?

The Age of Fracture ending is one of the Elden Lord variation endings where you have chosen to mend the Elden Ring amongst one of the main objectives. Additionally, players must have completed the main questline, not touching any side quests that influence this ending.

How to get the Elden Lord - Age of Duskborn ending in Elden Ring?

The Age of Duskborn ending can be unlocked by completing the main questline and a few side questlines. Unlocking the Altus Plateau region plays a massive role in this specific ending to gain additional dialogue choices with a particular NPC.

The Age of Duskborn ending involves completing the Fia's questline after the Altus Plateau. Return to Fia at the Roundtable Hold, where she'll task you with locating the owner of a dagger which, when discussing with D, Hunter of the Dead, he returned the dagger to the rightful owner on your behalf.

This triggers a series of events, including D's death, the secret location of his twin brother and being tasked to obtain the Mending Rune of the Death-Prince from Fia. You will also encounter a boss battle with Lichdragon Fortissax to pursue the rune from Fia at Deeproot Depths.

It's unclear if letting D's twin brother kill Fia influences the ending but getting the Mending Rune of the Death-Prince from Fia triggers it. In the end, select "Use Mending Rune of the Death-Prince" to gain this ending which sees the restoration of death instilled in The Lands Between, ridding immortality as a result.

How to unlock the Elden Lord - Age of Order ending in Elden Ring?

Possibly one of the missable endings, if players don't keep track of a specific side questline, the Age of Order ending is quite tedious to achieve. As stated before, you will need to have followed the main questline in addition to meeting Brother Corhyn at the Roundtable Hold.

To unlock this character's questline, you will need to have acquired the Glintstone Key to gain access to the Raya Lucaria Academy. Following this NPC's questline will have you travelling across the Altus Plateau, Leyndell at the Mountaintops of the Giants as he follows the teachings of his master, known as Goldmask.

Goldmask doesn't say anything, but Brother Corhyn sends you away to complete a few tasks. Specifically for high Intelligence/Mind/Faith builds, you can learn various spells and incantations from him, which should be helpful in the late game.

Once in Leyndell, you need to learn the Law of Regression incantation to solve a puzzle that informs you that "Radagon is Marika" and relay this information to Brother Corhyn. Ultimately, a series of events at Leyndell sees the city collapse, resulting in Goldmask's death.

You can acquire the Mending Rune of Perfect Order from his body, and you get to share some dialogue with Brother Corhyn before ascending as the Elden Lord. Choose "Use Mending Rune of Perfect Order" to bring order back to The Lands Between.

How to get the Elden Lord - Blessing of Despair ending in Elden Ring?

One of the bad endings about the Elden Lord, you must have followed the main questline and completed the side questline involving the Dung Eater. You'll first meet this NPC at the Roundtable Hold, but much later in the game, he can be found at the Subterranean Shunnuing-Grounds.

Speak with him at his new location, then return to the Roundtable Hold to find a note from him, wishing to face you in battle. You'll need to complete Blackguard Big Boggart's questline at Boilprawn Shack before continuing the Dung Eater's quest.

Face the Dung Eater in a mini-boss battle where he'll return to the Roundtable Hold if defeated. He asks you to acquire Seedbed Curses, where giving him five of these items will grant you the Mending Rune of the Fell Curse.

Progress through the main questline after defeating the Elden Beast, choose to "Use Mending Rune of the Fell Curse". Unfortunately, everyone will live under the constant threat of a curse, bringing havoc and despair to The Lands Between.

How to unlock the Lord of the Frenzied Flame ending in Elden Ring?

The following main ending players can unlock considered by many to be the true bad ending in Elden Ring. Progress through the main questline, where you'll embark on a separate route from what Melina had outlined for the Tarnished.

This ending is pretty complicated to unlock as you'll need to locate the sewers beneath Leyndell, Royal Capital. Keep making your way deep into the sewers until you've reached the Subterranean Shunnuing-Grounds where you'll find Mohg, the Omen.

Defeat this boss and locate a hidden passage behind the altar where you'll find a hidden tomb with living beings crying out in agony. This agony is the "The Flame of Frenzy", a unique status effect in which you lose FP and take some HP damage when the meter is full.

Drop down onto some coffins where you'll find a Site of Grace and share a few words with Melina before she leaves your side. There will be another door covered in molten rock, which requires you to remove all armour and weapons.

Going through this door will lock you out of the other endings, so proceed with caution. Inside, you'll meet with the Three Fingers, where it will permanently mark you with the Frenzied Flame, leaving you scarred.

After some time, you'll find yourself at the Mountaintops of the Giants, where you'll sacrifice your body, not Melina when you've chosen to "Listen to the sounds of the flame". Melina would have lost the marking on her left eye before continuing the path to Leyndell.

Defeat the final boss before plunging The Lands Between in a permanent state of frenzy and absolute chaos for choosing this route. Godspeed, Tarnished One!

Chloe Bennett

Chloe Bennett

Culture, Media & Entertainment Columnist

Chloe Bennett explores the intersection of pop culture, streaming entertainment, digital trends, and contemporary lifestyle. Her weekly commentary reaches thousands of culture enthusiasts.

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