Game Endings & Choices

Understand the multiple game endings in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. Your choices regarding Ciri and the Northern Realms heavily influence Geralt's fate.

Game Endings & Choices

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt features a complex narrative with multiple endings, primarily determined by your interactions and choices concerning Ciri throughout the main questline. There are three main endings for Ciri, and several variations for Geralt and the political landscape of the Northern Realms. Understanding these critical junctures is paramount to achieving your desired outcome.

Ciri's Endings: The Crucial Choices

Ciri's fate is the most impactful ending in the game. Her outcome is directly tied to a series of five key choices you make during specific main quests. Accumulating at least three "positive" choices will lead to one of the better outcomes, while failing to do so results in a tragic conclusion.

1. Ciri Becomes a Witcher (Good Ending)

To achieve this ending, you must make at least three of the following "positive" choices:

• "Blood on the Battlefield" Quest:
  • When Ciri is upset after the Battle of Kaer Morhen, choose the dialogue option: "Relax, you don't have to be good at everything." (This builds her confidence).
  • Alternatively, if you choose to go to the Emperor, refuse the payment of gold.
• "Final Preparations" Quest:
  • When Ciri wants to visit Skjall's grave, choose to accompany her. This shows your support and care.
• "Payback" Quest:
  • Allow Ciri to unleash her anger and destroy Avallac'h's laboratory. Do not try to calm her down. This empowers her.
• "Child of the Elder Blood" Quest:
  • When Ciri asks to speak with the Lodge of Sorceresses alone, allow her to go. This demonstrates trust in her abilities.

If you meet these criteria and Ciri does not become Empress (see below), she will embrace her destiny as a Witcher, and Geralt will present her with a custom-made silver sword, the Zireael, at the White Orchard inn.

2. Ciri Becomes Empress (Good Ending)

This ending also requires at least three "positive" choices from the list above, but with one crucial additional step:

• "Blood on the Battlefield" Quest:
  • When given the option, choose to take Ciri to see Emperor Emhyr var Emreis in Vizima.
  • During the conversation with Emhyr, accept the payment of gold for bringing Ciri to him.

If you fulfill these conditions, and the Northern Realms are conquered by Nilfgaard (see Geralt's Endings below), Ciri will choose to become Empress, believing she can do more good from a position of power. Geralt will accompany her to her new life, a bittersweet farewell.

3. Ciri Dies (Bad Ending)

This tragic outcome occurs if you make three or more "negative" choices from the list below:

• "Blood on the Battlefield" Quest:
  • When Ciri is upset after the Battle of Kaer Morhen, choose the dialogue option: "You're acting like a child." (This undermines her confidence).
  • If you go to the Emperor, accept the payment of gold.
• "Final Preparations" Quest:
  • Refuse to accompany Ciri to Skjall's grave, telling her she doesn't have time for it.
• "Payback" Quest:
  • Try to calm Ciri down and prevent her from destroying Avallac'h's laboratory.
• "Child of the Elder Blood" Quest:
  • Insist on accompanying Ciri to the meeting with the Lodge of Sorceresses, not trusting her to go alone.

If these conditions are met, Ciri will sacrifice herself to stop the White Frost. Geralt, heartbroken, will confront the last Crone, Weavess, to retrieve Ciri's Witcher medallion. This ending is often considered the "worst" due to its emotional impact and the loss of Ciri.

Geralt's Romantic Endings

Geralt's romantic fate is tied to his choices between Triss Merigold and Yennefer of Vengerberg. You can only successfully romance one of them, or neither.

• Triss's Ending:
  • During the quest "Now or Never" in Novigrad, after saving the mages, tell Triss: "Stay with me." and then "I love you."
  • Ensure you do not declare your love for Yennefer during the quest "The Last Wish".
• Yennefer's Ending:
  • During the quest "The Last Wish" on Skellige, after defeating the Djinn, tell Yennefer: "I still love you."
  • Ensure you do not declare your love for Triss during the quest "Now or Never".
• Lonely Ending:
  • If you declare your love to both Triss and Yennefer, they will conspire to trick Geralt during the quest "It Takes Three to Tango", leaving him alone.
  • If you romance neither, Geralt will remain unattached.

Northern Realms Political Endings

The political landscape of the Northern Realms is shaped by your choices during the main questline, particularly regarding the assassination of Radovid and the Skellige succession.

1. Nilfgaardian Victory

This outcome occurs if:

• You complete the side quest "Reason of State", which involves assassinating King Radovid.
• You side with Dijkstra during the final confrontation in "Reason of State", allowing him to take control of Novigrad and the war effort.

In this scenario, Nilfgaard wins the war, but Dijkstra's regime in Novigrad is harsh. If Ciri becomes Empress, this is the political backdrop for her reign.

2. Temerian/Redanian Victory

This outcome occurs if:

• You complete the side quest "Reason of State", assassinating King Radovid.
• You side with Roche and Ves in the final confrontation during "Reason of State", preventing Dijkstra from seizing power.

With Radovid dead and Dijkstra out of the picture, Temeria is re-established as a Nilfgaardian vassal state under the leadership of Vernon Roche. This is generally considered a more favorable outcome for the common folk.

3. Radovid's Victory

This outcome occurs if:

• You do NOT complete the side quest "Reason of State", meaning Radovid survives.

King Radovid V wins the war against Nilfgaard, leading to a brutal reign marked by witch hunts and persecution of non-humans. This is generally considered the "worst" political ending.

Skellige Ruler Ending

The ruler of Skellige is determined by your choices during the side quests "Possession", "The Lord of Undvik", and "King's Gambit".

• Cerys an Craite Rules:
  • During "King's Gambit", choose to help Cerys investigate the attack.
  • Successfully solve the mystery by finding the culprit, Arnvald.

  Cerys becomes Queen, bringing prosperity and stability to Skellige.

• Hjalmar an Craite Rules:
  • During "King's Gambit", choose to help Hjalmar avenge the attack.

  Hjalmar becomes King, leading Skellige into an era of raids and glory, but with less stability.

• Svanrige Tuirseach Rules:
  • During "King's Gambit", choose to do nothing or fail to solve the mystery.

  Svanrige, son of Birna Bran, becomes King, and Skellige descends into a more traditional, often violent, clan-based society.