Elden Ring offers various endings, but the path is nerve-wracking. If you don’t want to endure the difficult battles twice, you can learn the ideal save point on MeinMMO. Warning: Spoilers for Elden Ring!
The difficulty of the boss fights and the urge to explore make completing the game a real challenge. Depending on your skill in combat, it is possible, to finish in 30 hours with one ending. However, the average player takes about 46.5 hours (via howlongtobeat.com)
However, with a targeted save point and a corresponding backup just before the end of the game, it is possible for you to unlock most of the endings without replaying the game.
To name the exact save point, you will have to accept some minor spoilers. However, these mainly concern the preparation for the various endings. Spoilers about the core story of the game are not included.
Beware of the “Point of no return”
When is the optimal save point? The optimal time to “save” the game and thereby experience all endings is just before completing Elden Ring.
Following the victorious final boss battle, you will be at a Grace point and near Marika. Since this is where the aforementioned Grace point is located, you can leave and return to the game/location.
Now you create your backup file of the save. How to do this will be explained further below.
Upon reaching Marika, the choice of healing rune determines the ending that will subsequently begin. You can find the different healing runes by completing various quests that we will also list further down in the article.
Thus, you can progress through most of the game without having to worry about the ending. This saves you from spoilers.
However, it is important to advance the necessary quests for the different endings as far as possible beforehand. A crucial exception is the ending of the “Lord of the Raging Flame”. Here, there is a so-called “point of no return” where you should stop.
Elden Ring: Backups for Save Files PC, Xbox, PS4 / PS5
This is how you create a backup: Creating a backup of your save file varies from platform to platform. Below, we summarize how you can create a backup on Xbox, PlayStation, and PC.
How to create a backup on PC:
- Creating a backup on PC is very straightforward.
- Open the respective Elden Ring folder on your hard drive (Example: C:Users[Username]AppDataRoamingEldenRing).
- For safety, the other Steam folder (Example: C:Program Files (x86)Steamuserdata) should also be copied. Copy this folder and paste it into another folder.
The target folder serves as a storage location and should be easy to find again. To restore the save, you will insert the copied folder back in its original location and overwrite the existing file.
How to create a backup on PS5 / PS4:
- To create a backup on PS4 and PS5, a PlayStation Plus subscription is required.
- You need to upload your save to the PS Plus cloud:
- Console Settings > Saved Data Management > Saved Data > Console Storage > Upload your save to the PS+ Cloud.
- Ensure that automatic synchronization of game data is turned off.
- To play the backup save after the ending, you need to download it from the cloud again:
- Console Settings > Saved Data Management > Saved Data > Cloud Storage / USB Drive > Copy to Console > Overwrite Console Storage.
How to create a backup on Xbox:
- On Xbox One/Xbox Series, it is important to disconnect the console from the internet.
- Then you need to move around in the game for a few seconds while the internet connection is turned off and then restore the internet connection. The cloud service will now save.
- If you play an ending now, you must subsequently delete the saved Elden Ring data from the console.
- Home button > scroll down to Elden Ring > press Options > Manage Game > Saved Data > click on Gamertag > Delete Saved Data > Delete from Console.
Upon restarting the game, the backup save file will now be downloaded from the cloud.
Meeting the Requirements: From Elden Lord to Healing Runes
All endings at a glance: Many of the unlockable endings in Elden Ring have quest lines that must be completed before finishing the game. Read on MeinMMO for the requirements of each ending:
- Elden Lord: Age of Fracture: Since this is the standard ending of the game, no further steps need to be taken to unlock it.
- Elden Lord: Age of Dusk: To experience this ending, you must complete Fia’s quest line and obtain the “Rune of the Prince of Death.”
- Age of Stars: Since you don’t need a specific item for this ending, completing Ranni the Witch’s quest line is sufficient.
- Elden Lord: Age of Despair: Unlocking this requires completing the Dung Eater quest line. Additionally, you must have obtained the “Rune of Curse.”
- Elden Lord: Age of Order: For this ending, along with the “Rune of Perfect Order,” completing the quest line of “Brother Corhyn and Goldmask” is also required.
- Lord of the Raging Flame: Head to the Grace point before the entrance to the “Raging Flame,” but do not go through the door! If you have already gone through the door, you must complete the Millicent quest to receive an item with which you can reverse this ending.
For the Age of Stars, for example, you must complete Ranni’s quest:
The Activation of Endings in Detail
If you go to Marika following the final battle, the selection of the various healing runes determines the ending that will subsequently begin.
The “Age of Stars” ending is initiated using the blue summoning sign on the ground. This summons Ranni.
The final ending: In the ending of the Lord of the Raging Flame, there is a risk of not being able to return to the save file. Therefore, you should play this ending last.
To do this, return to the place before the door of the Raging Flame. Then remove your armor and walk through the door.
Elden Ring is characterized by enormous difficulty and extensive exploration. However, in addition to various endings, Elden Ring also offers a decent selection of different class secrets.
The appeal of a second playthrough is certainly there, and for many players, working hard to achieve alternative endings is likely more rewarding than loading a save or backup.
Are you interested in a second playthrough despite the length and challenging fights? Are you interested in testing other classes and utilizing the knowledge from your first run?
Are you still searching for Sound Pearls in Elden Ring? Elden Ring: Finding Sound Pearls and buying Smithing Stones – All locations
