Ending Legacy: How Your Choices Shape Nightreign’s Greatest Futures

Requirements: Completing the Remembrance Quests and defeating Heolster The dawn conclusion is the stepping stone for the true ending, while adding a post-credit sequence that has you questioning what you thought you knew about the story. After you have completed the ending and the credits begin to roll, wait until the end. I promise it’s worth it.  After the credits have passed, there is a clip of the Lands Between that have been restored, showing the Erdtree standing in its golden glory. Suddenly, a single strain of light drifts down and touches a simple tree near the ocean. Suddenly, the simple tree arises and transforms into a colossal wooden titan (think Ent from Lord of the Rings, but made of nightmares and covered in mysterious fingerprints). The giant studies the Erdtree with a sense of contempt and then turns around, walking away into the sea. Some players theorize this represents the night’s final departure, while others believe it’s the Erdtree spreading its influence on other lands. Personally, I think it’s FromSoftware’s way of saying that some forces in this universe are too ancient and powerful to be controlled by gods or grace.

Wylder’s Secret Ending: The Cycle Continues

Requirements: Complete Wylder’s Remembrance, defeat Heolstor as Wylder Wylder’s conclusion might be the most tragic of all the endings, despite his status as the poster boy for the game. This ending reveals the depths of his dedication to preserving the Roundtable Hold and protecting the Priestess who gave his existence meaning. Instead of approaching the corpse like other characters, Wylder heads straight for Heolstor’s fallen body. Using a Larval Tear, he performs the ultimate sacrifice. He reincarnates himself as a new Nightlord. This choice creates a cycle of darkness that will ensure the need for a group of heroes who will eventually challenge the night once again. While saving the Priestess and preserving the hold, he is condemning future generations to face the same nightmare he fought so hard to escape from.  The moral complexity that unravels is typical of FromSoftware storytelling in all its glory.

Recluse’s Secret Ending: A Mother’s Redemption

Requirements: Complete Recluse’s Remembrance, defeat Heolstor as Recluse Prepare yourself for an emotional gut punch with Recluse’s ending. Her Remembrance quests reveal the most shocking secret in the entire game—she’s actually the mother of the Nightlord. Yeah, you read that right. The woman who helped you fight against the darkness literally gave birth to the entity that caused it. After defeating Heolstor, instead of heading to the usual locations, Recluse must venture to the Waiting Room. There, she discovers a crying infant—her newborn son, destined to become the monster that would plague the Lands Between. This time, though, she makes a different choice. Rather than allowing the child to grow into the Nightlord, she takes the baby into her arms, effectively preventing the age of night from ever beginning. It’s unclear if she is traveling through time or reliving a crucial memory of her past, but the ending makes suggestions toward her finally finding a way to atone for her sins in the past. Seeing the weight of maternal love and regret in this ending is absolutely heart-wrenching. Every parent who plays this will feel the game of tug of war as Recluse grapples with the impossible choice of choosing between saving her child and saving the world.

Ironeye’s Secret Ending: Eternal Darkness

Requirements: Complete Ironeye’s Remembrance, defeat Heolstor as Ironeye, and choose to “Clench your Dagger”. Honestly, this is probably the darkest ending to arise from the secret endings of the 3 characters.  As an assassin, he gets the most morally ambiguous ending of them all, and it perfectly reflects his cold, pragmatic nature. When approaching the RoundTable Hold, he is given a unique choice (1) he can other the ruin like everyone else before him, or (2) Clench your dagger. Choose the latter option, and you’ll witness something truly chilling. Ironeye uses his blade to slit the corpse’s throat, then coolly states, “The Night…is far from over.” His reasoning stems from his assassin background—during the Erdtree’s reign, true death was impossible since Maliketh controlled that power. The night’s dominance finally allows for genuine assassination, something Ironeye has been waiting for his entire existence. This ending condemns the Lands Between to eternal darkness, but from Ironeye’s perspective.

Character-Specific Remembrance Conclusions

While only three Nightfarers get unique secret endings, every character receives their own personal story conclusion through their Remembrance quests: Duchess uses her connection to technology and Iron Menials to ensure Wylder’s survival even after the Roundtable Hold’s destruction. Her engineering brilliance creates a lifeline between Wylder and the outside world. Guardian discovers the truth of his Flock kin; Recluse had created a weapon to destroy them. Instead of choosing revenge, he decided to offer forgiveness. The character development showcases emotional growth and the power of unity over division. Raider settles his long-standing rivalry with White Horn through combat. It brings closure to a conflict that has defined much of his existence. Revenant discovers a truly shocking revelation: she was a doll. This twist explains her unique perspective on life and death and recontextualizes her entire journey. Executor confronts his past when, as a Crucible Knight, he failed to protect an innocent. His ritual suicide and subsequent return demonstrate the cyclical nature of duty and redemption in this universe.

Which Ending Should You Choose?

Honestly, there’s no “correct” ending in Elden Ring Nightreign. Each conclusion showcases different philosophical approaches to impossible situations. The Dawn conclusion offers the player hope and restoration, while the true ending takes the Dawn conclusion and transforms it into an ending that suggests that some conflicts transcend simple good vs evil narratives. The character-specified endings offer a deep insight into individual motivation and different backstories, making them essential for anyone invested in lore. If you decided that you are only doing one play-through, I highly recommend that you do one of the character Remembrance to get the true ending. It provides the best conclusion to the story overall. If you are a completionist, experiencing all endings reveals the full scope of the narrative ambitions of FromSoftware. Each unique conclusion offers layers of meaning to the other endings, creating a complex yet diverse interconnected theme about sacrifice, redemption, and the cycle of nature.

Final Thoughts on Nightreign’s Endings

FromSoftware has created endings that avoid the trap of moral absolutism. There is no good or evil choice here, only gray, and each has a consequence that travels across the Lands Between in different, unavoidable ways. Whichever you choose, your decision feels meaningful and earned throughout the immense journey you have taken. The accessibility of experiencing multiple endings in a single playthrough removes the barrier and not only adds replayability but also encourages players to fully explore the game’s world filled with secrets and danger. As you traverse the vast landscape and take on foes, you will encounter enemies that will test your patience and skills. So, hop on your trust steed and gallop across the beautiful landscape to complete the ending that resonates with you the most. Good luck, tarnished, you’re going to need it.