The Witcher 3: All Endings Explained
The Witcher 3: All Endings Explained
Renowned in gaming, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt presents players with a large open world bursting with complex narratives and characters. Still, its most defining quality is how player decision shapes the game's story. The game creates a web of ramifications that makes every choice significant with 36 distinct ending variants including different results for Geralt, Ciri, and the larger political environment of the Northern Realms.
Although the main events center on Ciri's fate and Geralt's path, the results also rely on side missions and optional interactions with important world characters. From who dominates the North to the Skellige Isles' destiny, all players' decisions help to create a different ending to this epic story.
The Main Story Endings
The main story of The Witcher 3 runs on Geralt of Rivia and his adopted daughter, Ciri. Her fate runs across the game, and the decisions you make during pivotal missions will either make her a Witcher, climb to the Nilfgaardian crown, or die from tragedy. These results depend on choices taken during three major missions: Battle Preparations, Blood on the Battlefield, and Final Preparations.
Ciri Becomes a Witcher
For Ciri's character, this conclusion represents among the more hopeful ones. Following her encounter with the White Frost, she decides to forsake her royal background and choose the life of a Witcher, exactly like Geralt. This road shows her freedom and will to create her own destiny free from political responsibilities.
Geralt has to constantly back Ciri's confidence and independence if he wants to reach this conclusion. Decisions like urging her to attend the Lodge of Sorceresses alone or engage in the snowball fight during Blood on the Battlefield help her to get more determined. Furthermore avoiding Emperor Emhyr during the same search guarantees Ciri's release from Nilfgaard's grasp.
At the White Orchard Inn in the last scenes, Geralt presents Ciri with a handcrafted Witcher sword to represent her new road. As Ciri embarks on an expedition, hunting monsters on her own terms, the two bid a melancholy goodbye.
Ciri Becomes Empress
Ciri survives the White Frost in this politically important finale, but she decides to embrace her Nilfgaardian throne inheritance. This choice emphasizes her ambition to influence more broadly by using her position of authority to provide the empire stability and fairness.
Geralt has to bring Ciri to see Emperor Emhyr at Blood on the Battlefield if he wants to unlock this ending. Convincing Ciri of her royal obligations depends much on their reunion. Geralt's behavior during the game also inspires her confidence and highlights his faith in her ability. Nilfgaard also has to win the war for this ending to occur, hence players have to side with Vernon Roche and help Radovid kill during the Reason of State mission.
Geralt and Ciri bid farewell emotionally in the last cutscenes. Though there are sacrifices involved, her decision as Empress shows her development into a leader who puts the larger good above personal needs.
Ciri’s Death
The darkest and most heartbreaking ending The Witcher 3 offers is this one. Geralt loses faith in Ciri and finally fails to stop the White Frost if she compromises her confidence and makes decisions that restrict her freedom. Her death leaves Geralt engulfed in remorse and despair, thus this ending of the narrative is a very sad one.
If players ignore Ciri's agency at pivotal points—such as not allowing her to attend the Lodge of Sorceresses alone—they will arrive at this result. Not supporting her emotionally—that is, skipping the snowball battle or reacting badly to her decisions—may also result in this ending. Her self-doubt is exacerbated even more by dragging her to Emhyr and pushing her into political responsibilities.
Afterward, Geralt pursues Ciri's medallion by seeking retribution against the crone Weavess in Crookback Bog. In a terrible last scene, Geralt is overrun by creatures in the marsh; his fate is kept vague but definitely terrible.
Geralt’s Fate
The path of Geralt of Rivia does not stop with the major narrative. His epilogue reflects his personal life and relationships, thereby providing three possible results. These depend on whether he pursues romance with Triss Merigold or Yennefer of Vengerberg—or, on the other hand if he stays alone.
Should Geralt choose Yennefer, the two retire together to lead quiet lives apart from the political unrest of the Continent. Alternatively, romancing Triss causes the couple to relocate to Kovir, where she serves as a royal advisor while Geralt periodically takes on Witcher contracts. Geralt stays a solitary Witcher, nevertheless remembering the life he could have lived if he had tried to romance both ladies or committed to neither.
The Bloody Baron
Few characters in The Witcher 3 have the same impact as Phillip Strenger, sometimes known as the Bloody Baron. With two alternative results based on Geralt's decisions throughout The Whispering Hillock quest, his plot in Velen is among the most emotional arcs in the game.
Should Geralt extinguish the spirit in The Whispering Hillock prior to beginning Ladies of the Wood, the Baron saves Anna, his wife, during Return to Crookback Bog. The Baron promises to look after her even though she is severely traumatized; she leaves Velen to get treatment in the far-off Blue Mountains.
But if Geralt releases the spirit, Anna dies since it curses her. Driven with loss, the Baron hangs himself, rendering Crow's Perch hopeless. This sad result reminds us very strongly of the weight of Geralt's choices.
Political Outcomes
The decisions taken by the player in side missions like A Deadly Plot and Reason of State greatly affect the fate of the Northern Realms. These choices decide which Novigrad and Velen ruler rules out of all.
Should Radovid V survive, he launches a reign of terror aimed at magicians, non-humans, and everyone else who deviates from his conception of "moral purity." This result sends the North into a persecuting age.
Alternatively, helping Radovid kill results in two alternative consequences. Should Geralt support Sigismund Dijkstra, the North would transform under his control into an industrialized yet totalitarian area. On the other hand, supporting Vernon Roche guarantees Nilfgaard's triumph; Emperor Emhyr's act of kindness gives the old kingdom of Temeria back its autonomy.
The Skellige Isles
Geralt's participation in Clan a Craite and King's Gambit will define Skellige going forward. The fate of the archipelago depends much on who inherits the monarchy.
Skellige enters an era of peace and wealth if Cerys a Craite becomes queen; she emphasizes internal development instead of raiding. Her people's devotion and the respect of surrounding kingdoms follow from this progressive attitude.
But backing Hjalmar a Craite resulted in the continuing raiding customs. This result generates conflict with the mainland even while it retains Skellige's warrior tradition.
Should Geralt dismiss the questline fully, Svanrige Bran rises to become king. Bloody conquest and consolidated control of power at the price of his people's liberties define his rule.
Additional Endings from Expansions
The Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine additions give Geralt's narrative even more dimensions and provide original endings depending on your decisions.
In Hearts of Stone Geralt meets the mysterious Gaunter O'Dimm. Your choices will either let O'Dimm claim his soul or save Olgierd von Everec, therefore giving him a second chance at life.
In Blood and Wine, Geralt's acts decide Toussaint's destiny. While failure results in tragedy and disturbance, resolving the dispute between Syanna and Anna Henrietta will help the duchy to be peaceful.
Conclusion
A masterwork in narrative, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt presents endings that mirror the intricacy of its universe and characters. From Ciri's destiny to the political terrain of the Continent, every decision you make has broad effects. Every run provides a different experience whether you reach the politically charged Empress outcome, the hopeful Witcher ending, or the terrible death of Ciri.
The Witcher 3 is still a monument to the ability of player choice in gaming for those who enjoy complex stories and morally difficult decisions. Pick carefully, Witcher.