The endings in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt are your just (or unjust) rewards for fraternizing with assassins, scheming against kings, finding a lost daughter, killing a bazillion monsters, and seducing pretty sorceresses. As The Witcher 3‘s story outcomes are made of several separate epilogue quests and cutscenes, there’s a seemingly endless string of combinations.
Here’s an overview of all endings in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and how to reach them.
[Ed. note: This guide contains spoilers for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, so continue at your own risk!]
The Witcher 3 endings and how to get them
While The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is often praised for its many endings, don’t expect a few dozen unique cutscenes. Instead, there are three “main endings” that can be combined with various smaller epilogue scenes, thus leading to many possible combinations. The main endings in The Witcher 3 explain Ciri’s fate, while the smaller “Geralt endings” (who he ends up with) and “political endings” (who wins the northern war) explain the fates of other important characters.
For example, Ciri can become a Witcher while Geralt retires to Kovir with Triss, but Ciri can also become a Witcher while Geralt commits to many more bathing scenes with Yennefer. In this case, the main ending is the same, but the epilogue varies slightly.
All Ciri endings in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Ciri’s story outcome depends on two things: The number of “positive” choices you’ve made, and her relationship with Emhyr. If you make more good choices (with an immediate positive outcome on Ciri’s mood) than bad choices, you’ll get either the “Witcher” or “Empress” outcome, thus avoiding the bad ending. Whether Ciri ends up a Witcher or an Empress then depends on whether you took her to meet her biological dad, Emhyr.
Here’s an overview of what happens in each of Ciri’s endings, and how to reach them.
Ending #1 — Witcher Ciri
If The Witcher 3 ends with Ciri becoming a Witcher, she and Geralt meet up at an inn, where Geralt gives her a Witcher sword. She’ll tell him she secured a contract for them, looking happy.
To end The Witcher 3 with Ciri taking her dad’s job, make the following decisions:
- During “Blood on the Battlefield,” say “Think I know what might lift your spirits.” Ciri and Geralt will have a snowball fight.
- During “Blood on the Battlefield,” advise Ciri not to visit Emhyr.
- At the end of “Final Preparations,” you’ll meet Ciri at Dandelion’s Inn. When she’s ready to meet the Lodge of Sorceresses (Philippa and Margarita), say “You’ll do fine on your own.”
- In “Child of the Elder Blood,” following the unpleasant conversation with the female elf, Ciri says she’d like to wreck the place. Tell her to go for it.
- At the end of “Child of the Elder Blood,” agree to accompany Ciri to Skjall’s grave.
If Ciri met Emhyr but Emhyr didn’t win the war, Ciri will also become a Witcher. If she never meets Emhyr, you’re guaranteed to get the Witcher ending no matter what happens to Emhyr.
Ending #2 — Empress Ciri
The “Empress Ciri” ending is bittersweet compared to the “Witcher Ciri” ending, as Ciri and Geralt are sad to part ways. On a more positive note, Ciri expresses her desire to change the world for the better, and becoming Empress (now that Emhyr has named her his successor) will allow her to do it.
To end The Witcher 3 with Ciri taking her other dad’s job, do the following:
- During “Blood on the Battlefield,” say “Think I know what might lift your spirits.” Ciri and Geralt will have a snowball fight.
- During “Blood on the Battlefield,” take Ciri to visit Emhyr.
- Refuse Emhyr’s reward for bringing Ciri. Say “I didn’t do this for the coin.”
- At the end of “Final Preparations,” you’ll meet Ciri at Dandelion’s Inn. When she’s ready to meet the Lodge of Sorceresses (Philippa and Margarita), say “You’ll do fine on your own.”
- In “Child of the Elder Blood,” following the unpleasant conversation with the female elf, Ciri says she’d like to wreck the place. Tell her to go for it.
- At the end of “Child of the Elder Blood,” agree to accompany Ciri to Skjall’s grave.
Ending #3 — The bad ending
Ciri has vanished, again. It seems she has perished in the White Frost. Looking for her Witcher medallion (which previously belonged to Vesemir), Geralt meets a werewolf, who leads him to the last surviving crone. After defeating the crone, Geralt thrashes her hut, finds the medallion, and breaks down while a large group of monsters slowly creeps in. There won’t be a happy ending with Triss or Yen (regardless of your romantic choices). Though not confirmed, it’s implied that both Ciri and Geralt die.
If, for some reason, you’d like to ensure this terrible fate, you must make the following bad decisions:
- During “Blood on the Battlefield,” say “Relax. You don’t have to be good at everything.” Ciri and Geralt will drink and be sad together.
- During “Blood on the Battlefield,” take Ciri to visit Emhyr.
- Accept Emhyr’s reward for bringing Ciri.
- At the end of “Final Preparations,” you’ll meet Ciri at Dandelion’s Inn. When she’s ready to meet the Lodge of Sorceresses (Philippa and Margarita), say “Going with you.”
- In “Child of the Elder Blood,” following the unpleasant conversation with the female elf, Ciri says she’d like to wreck the place. Tell her to calm down.
- At the end of “Child of the Elder Blood,” refuse to accompany Ciri to Skjall’s grave.
Note that this list includes every bad choice, but making three bad choices should be enough to reach the bad ending.
All political endings in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Who shall become the leader of the northern realms? There are three potential victors in the northern war: Emhyr, Dijkstra, and Radovid. None of them are particularly nice people, but should Emhyr win, remember the option to make Ciri his successor (see the “Empress Ciri” ending above).
While pursuing the “Reason of State” quest, there are two key decisions that’ll determine the outcome of the northern war: You must choose whether to assassinate Radovid, and (if Radovid is dead), whether to side with Dijkstra. Here’s what happens depending on your choices, and how to get each political ending in The Witcher 3.
Ending #1 — Emhyr wins the war
Emhyr will rule over Novigrad and Redania, while Temeria becomes a realm in liege to the empire. Having secured the Nilfgaardian victory, Emhyr will prosecute all traitors, which undoubtedly includes some innocent souls.
To ensure Emhyr is victorious, do the following:
- Ensure Radovid is assassinated during “Reason of State.”
- Save Vernon Roche from Dijkstra’s men in “Reason of State.” You will kill Dijkstra in the process.
Ending #2 — Dijkstra’s rule
If Dijkstra becomes ruler of the north, Radovid is assassinated (you’ve made sure of that) and Emperor Emhyr Var Emreis gets murdered by his subjects. Dijkstra is a capable but ruthless ruler; the land is prosperous, but some people are forced to industrialize and relocate.
To bring Dijkstra to power, do the following:
- Ensure Radovid is assassinated during “Reason of State.”
- Do not save Vernon Roche from Dijkstra’s men in “Reason of State.” Roche dies while Dijkstra survives.
Ending #3 — Radovid wins the war
If Radovid becomes the ruler of the north, the witch hunt will continue, and many innocents will die. Following his defeat, Emperor Emhyr Var Emreis gets killed by his subjects.
To get this ending, don’t assassinate Radovid during the “Reason of State” quest. Walk away before the plot is completed or avoid the quest altogether.
All Geralt endings in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Besides the “main” endings involving Ciri and politics, The Witcher 3‘s epilogue includes some details on Geralt’s romantic future. You can only get these endings if you avoided Ciri’s bad ending.
Here’s what Geralt’s retirement looks like depending on whether he secured a romantic relationship with Yennefer, Triss, or nobody. For more details on how to secure each romance ending, be sure to look at our The Witcher 3 romance guide.
Ending #1 — Geralt and Yennefer
Though Geralt and Yennefer’s new life is described as “boring,” they look very happy. Apparently, they’re living off the grid together, where they take their breakfast well after noon.
To secure this ending, Geralt should romance Yennefer by declaring his love at the end of the “The Last Wish” quest. Do not romance Triss!
Ending #2 — Geralt and Triss
Geralt and Triss settle down in Kovir, where, according to the epilogue, they share a home that smells of freshly baked cakes. Working as an advisor for the local king, Triss brings home the dough while Geralt occasionally takes on a Witcher job for fun.
To secure this ending, Geralt should romance Triss by declaring his love and convincing her to stay with him at the end of the “Now or Never” quest. Do not romance Yennefer!
Ending #3 — Geralt alone
If Geralt remains a bachelor, he’ll continue working as a Witcher. He’s described as living “job to job,” always on the road, and always short on coin, though not necessarily unhappy.
To secure this ending, Geralt should romance neither Triss nor Yennefer. You’re free to flirt with them (and sleep with Yen), but avoid making any love declarations at the end of the “Now or Never” and “The Last Wish” quests. Alternatively, Geralt can declare his love for both women within the same playthrough to anger them and ensure he gets dumped.
All Skellige endings in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Finally, your actions in Skellige will determine the Skellige Isle’s new ruler. Here are the options:
- Cerys becomes Queen of Skellige: During “King’s Gambit,” help Cerys. Under her rule, Skellige becomes more prosperous than ever, though it’s said that Skellige has “lost its fangs” without the raids.
- Hjalmar becomes King of Skellige: During “King’s Gambit,” help Hjalmar. Under his rule, Skelligers will continuously raid Nilfgaard, causing many casualties.
- Svanrige becomes King of Skellige: Do not help either Cerys or Hjalmar during the “King’s Gambit” quest. Though initially thought to be a puppet ruler, Svanrige defies his scheming mother and unites the Skellige clans by force, causing much bloodshed in the process.
