Following the release of Netflix’s The Witcher, a massive spike in people replaying The Witcher 3 (and playing it for the first time) occurred. While the game is long, and there’s a lot to do, one of the main focuses people tend to have is getting the best ending. To help, we’ve put together an endings guide that’ll explain how to get the best ending in The Witcher 3!
How to get all endings in The Witcher 3
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How to get the Bad Ending in The Witcher 3
Let’s start with the Bad Ending and work our way up to the best ending in The Witcher 3. In The Witcher 3, the Bad Ending is… pretty bad. As with all endings in The Witcher 3, the Bad Ending happens because of choices you make in key missions like Blood on the Battlefield.
If you respond the right way to specific prompts, you can squeeze out a Good Ending in The Witcher 3. Answer things incorrectly and, well, you get the gist. To get the Bad Ending in The Witcher 3, you’ll need to make the following dialogue choices with Ciri during the following specified missions.
- Blood on the Battlefield: Relax. You don’t have to be good at everything. *Visit the Emperor with Ciri, accept the money.
- Battle Preparations: Calm down. There’s no time.
- Final Preparations: I’m going with you.
Outside of dialogue, you’ll want to encourage Ciri to visit the Emperor, then accept the money from the Emperor during Blood on the Battlefield. Essentially, the Bad Ending comes when you treat Ciri like a child incapable of fending for herself. With the Bad Ending, Ciri will die during the final battle.
With Ciri dead, Geralt works to retrieve Ciri’s stolen medallion from the Crone Weavess. It’s a tough battle, and while Geralt wins, he ends up surrounded by monsters. The Bad Ending is ambiguous as it’s unclear what happens to Geralt here.
How to get the Bittersweet Ending in The Witcher 3
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The “Bittersweet” Ending in The Witcher 3 isn’t necessarily a Bad Ending, but in some ways it doesn’t feel as satisfying as the Best Ending. To get the Bittersweet Ending, you’ll make the same exact dialogue choices as the Best Ending, but with one very important difference.
- Blood on the Battlefield: I think I know what might lift your spirits. *Visit the Emperor with Ciri, reject the money.
- Battle Preparations: Go for it. Yeah, I’ll go with you.
- Final Preparations: You’ll do fine on your own.
In order to get the Bittersweet Ending in The Witcher 3, you’ll need to visit the Emperor with Ciri, but reject the money offered. With Ciri returned to the Emperor, and the positive points with her also in place, you’ll get the Bittersweet Ending in The Witcher 3.
Here, you see Ciri ascend to the Nilfgaard throne as Empress, leaving Geralt and the witcher life behind. Unlike the Bad Ending, Ciri is alive and well... but you get the feeling she’s destined for more than Empress. At least, that’s how we felt.
How to get the Best Ending in The Witcher 3
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If the Bittersweet Ending wasn’t enough to satiate you, The Witcher 3 does have another possible ending route. For many, this ending route is the “Best Ending” given Ciri’s fate at the end of the game. To get the Best Ending, you’ll need to do the same exact steps as the Bittersweet Ending and the same dialogue choices.
- Blood on the Battlefield: I think I know what might lift your spirits. *Don’t go see the Emperor.
- Final Preparations: You’ll do fine on your own.
- Battle Preparations: Go for it. Yeah, I’ll go with you.
Along with the dialogue choices above, you’ll want to take Ciri straight to Velen, bypassing the Emperor entirely. Other ways to earn positive points with Ciri include letting her destroy Avallac’h’s lab and visiting Skjall’s grave. Coming in at the polar opposite end of the spectrum from the Bad Ending, you’ll basically want to trust Ciri and treat her like an adult capable of fighting her own battles.
By supporting Ciri, you’ll receive the Best Ending in The Witcher 3. In the Best Ending, Geralt tells the Emperor that Ciri gave up her life during the final battle. Of course, this isn’t exactly true, as Geralt will meet Ciri again towards the end and give her a sword called Swallow. Here, Geralt recognizes her as a witcher, and they are together right up until the credits roll.
Overall, the ending you get in The Witcher 3 depends on your choices. It can be fun to make them organically and see what you get, though it can also be nice to know what you need to do in order to get (or avoid) a certain ending. We’re curious, what’s your favorite ending in The Witcher 3? Comment below!
Now that you know how to get all endings in The Witcher 3, be sure to check out some of our previous guides including how to light the braziers in the correct order in The Witcher 3, the Max Level Cap in The Witcher 3, and actors you should know in Netflix’s The Witcher.
