Endings & Choices

Understand The Witcher 3 REDkit endings. Learn how Geralt's choices impact the narrative, character fates, and the outcome in the Northern Realms.

The world of The Witcher 3, especially when enhanced by the REDkit, offers an unparalleled depth of narrative choice, directly influencing the fate of characters, regions, and even Geralt's own destiny. Understanding how your decisions ripple through the Northern Realms is crucial for achieving your desired outcome. This section details key decision points and their ultimate consequences.

Major Endings: Shaping Geralt's Fate

Geralt's personal ending is primarily determined by his relationship with Ciri and his romantic entanglements. There are three main "Geralt" endings, each with distinct epilogues:

• The Witcher's Path: Geralt continues his life as a monster slayer, often alone or with a chosen companion. This ending is achieved by avoiding deep romantic commitments or by choosing a specific path with Ciri.
• The Lover's Embrace: Geralt settles down with either Triss Merigold or Yennefer of Vengerberg. This requires completing their respective romance questlines and making exclusive choices.
• The Lone Wolf: A more somber ending where Geralt is left without a clear path or companion, often a consequence of poor choices or failing key relationships.

Ciri's Destiny: Empress or Witcher?

Ciri's ultimate fate is arguably the most impactful decision tree in the game, directly influenced by a series of five key choices Geralt makes during specific main quests. To guide Ciri towards her desired path, pay close attention to these interactions:

Key Ciri Decision Points:

1. "Blood on the Battlefield" (Main Quest):
   • Choice 1: "Relax, you don't have to be good at everything." (Positive for Witcher Ciri) - This response encourages Ciri's independence and self-reliance.
   • Choice 2: "Think you'll ever get used to it?" (Negative for Witcher Ciri) - This can make Ciri doubt her abilities.
   • Choice 3: "I know what might lift your spirits." (Positive for Witcher Ciri) - This leads to a snowball fight, fostering a positive bond.
   • Choice 4: "Let's go see Emhyr." (Negative for Witcher Ciri) - Taking Ciri to her father, especially if you accept payment, pushes her towards the Empress ending.
2. "Final Preparations" (Main Quest):
   • Choice 1: "Go with her to the Lodge of Sorceresses." (Negative for Witcher Ciri) - Allows the Lodge to influence Ciri, pushing her towards political power.
   • Choice 2: "Let her go alone." (Positive for Witcher Ciri) - Demonstrates trust in Ciri's judgment and independence.
3. "The Child of the Elder Blood" (Main Quest):
   • Choice 1: "Destroy Avallac'h's lab." (Positive for Witcher Ciri) - Shows support for Ciri's anger and her desire to forge her own path.
   • Choice 2: "Calm down, Ciri. You don't have to do this." (Negative for Witcher Ciri) - Can make Ciri feel stifled or controlled.
4. "On Thin Ice" (Main Quest):
   • Choice 1: "Go with Ciri to Skjall's grave." (Positive for Witcher Ciri) - Shows empathy and allows Ciri to process her emotions.
   • Choice 2: "No time for that, we need to go." (Negative for Witcher Ciri) - Can make Ciri feel disregarded.
5. "Something Ends, Something Begins" (Main Quest):
   • Choice 1: "Accept Emhyr's payment for Ciri." (Negative for Witcher Ciri, heavily favors Empress Ciri) - This is a critical choice. Accepting the payment signifies treating Ciri as a political pawn.
   • Choice 2: "Refuse Emhyr's payment." (Positive for Witcher Ciri) - Reinforces Ciri's autonomy.

To achieve the "Ciri Becomes a Witcher" ending: You must make at least 3 out of 5 "positive" choices (as indicated above). Refusing Emhyr's payment is highly recommended.

To achieve the "Ciri Becomes Empress" ending: You must make at least 3 out of 5 "negative" choices, and crucially, take Ciri to Emhyr in "Blood on the Battlefield" and accept his payment in "Something Ends, Something Begins."

The "Ciri Dies" ending: This is the most tragic outcome and occurs if you make 3 or more "negative" choices, and Ciri does not become Empress. This ending is often accompanied by Geralt's own somber fate.

Romance Options: Triss, Yennefer, or Both?

Geralt's romantic life offers two main paths, with significant consequences if you attempt to pursue both simultaneously.

Triss Merigold's Path:

• Key Quest: "Now or Never" (Novigrad)
• Crucial Choices:
  • During "A Matter of Life and Death," kiss Triss at the masquerade.
  • During "Now or Never," convince Triss to stay in Novigrad. When she's on the ship, tell her "I love you."
• Outcome: Triss will remain with Geralt, leading to a specific ending epilogue.

Yennefer of Vengerberg's Path:

• Key Quest: "The Last Wish" (Skellige)
• Crucial Choices:
  • During "The Last Wish," after defeating the Djinn, tell Yennefer "I still love you."
  • Throughout the main story, consistently side with Yennefer in arguments or decisions where her opinion conflicts with others.
• Outcome: Yennefer will remain with Geralt, leading to a specific ending epilogue.

The "Threesome" Trap:

• If you tell both Triss and Yennefer "I love you" during their respective quests, they will eventually confront Geralt during the quest "It Takes Three to Tango."
• Outcome: Both sorceresses will abandon Geralt, leaving him without a romantic partner in the game's ending. This is often considered the "bad" romance ending.

Regional Fates: Skellige and Novigrad

Beyond Geralt and Ciri, your actions significantly impact the political landscape of Skellige and the criminal underworld of Novigrad.

Skellige's Ruler:

• Key Quests: "King's Gambit," "Coronation"
• Choices:
  • Cerys an Craite: Support Cerys during "King's Gambit" by investigating the feast sabotage thoroughly and helping her prove her innocence. This leads to a more stable and prosperous Skellige.
  • Hjalmar an Craite: Support Hjalmar during "King's Gambit" by focusing on revenge and combat. This leads to a more warlike Skellige, often embroiled in conflict.
  • Svanrige Tuirseach: If you fail to support either Cerys or Hjalmar effectively, Svanrige, Crach's son, may seize power through force, leading to a tyrannical rule.

Novigrad's Underworld:

• Key Quests: "Get Junior," "Now or Never"
• Choices:
  • Who Rules the Streets: Your choices during "Get Junior" regarding Dijkstra, Radovid, and the various crime lords (e.g., Cleaver, Whoreson Junior) determine the balance of power. Siding with Dijkstra can lead to a more organized criminal element, while eliminating too many key figures can result in chaos.
  • Mage Fate: Your actions during "Now or Never" directly influence the fate of mages in Novigrad. Helping Triss evacuate them saves many, while inaction leads to their persecution.

Remember, every choice, no matter how small it seems, can contribute to the grand tapestry of The Witcher 3's narrative. Explore, experiment, and embrace the consequences of your decisions!