witcher 3 endings choices

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is celebrated not only for its vast open world and compelling narrative but for its profound commitment to player agency. Its endings are not a simple binary choice presented in a final moment, but the cumulative result of dozens of seemingly minor decisions scattered throughout the journey. These choices, often morally ambiguous and devoid of clear "good" or "evil" labels, weave a complex tapestry that ultimately determines the fate of the Continent and, more intimately, the destiny of Geralt's surrogate family: Ciri and Yennefer. Understanding the pivotal decisions that lead to each conclusion reveals the game's core themes of trust, parenting, and letting go.

The Heart of the Matter: Key Determinants for Ciri's Fate

Ciri's ending is the emotional core of The Witcher 3's conclusion, and it is governed by five critical dialogue choices during key moments in the game's third act. These moments test Geralt's role as a father figure. They are not about grand, heroic advice, but about providing emotional support and trusting Ciri's own judgment. The first occurs after the battle at Kaer Morhen, where Ciri is frustrated by her failures. Choosing to suggest a snowball fight, a moment of levity, over a somber drink demonstrates faith in her resilience. Later, when Ciri wishes to visit the grave of Skjall, the man who saved her, accompanying her shows respect for her emotions and loyalty. When the Lodge of Sorceresses attempts to dictate Ciri's future, allowing her to speak for herself affirms her autonomy. Perhaps the most significant choice comes when Ciri is filled with rage after visiting the laboratory of the mage who hunted her. Stopping her from vandalizing the lab teaches controlled channeling of emotion, whereas encouraging destruction validates unchecked anger. Finally, before the final confrontation, accepting the emperor's coin for finding her is seen as a betrayal, while refusing it reinforces that she is family, not a commodity.

Accumulating positive choices from these interactions gives Ciri the confidence and emotional strength to face the White Frost. If she feels supported and trusted, she will enter the portal and seemingly sacrifice herself, only to return, having successfully harnessed her powers. Geralt then gifts her a specially forged witcher's sword, and she embarks on her own path as a free witcher. This is widely considered the "best" ending, where Ciri survives, free from political shackles, embodying the witcher's code on her own terms. If Geralt makes too many negative, overprotective, or dismissive choices, Ciri's self-worth is eroded. She still enters the portal to stop the White Frost, but does not return. A heartbroken Geralt retrieves her medallion from the ruins of the Wild Hunt, a devastating conclusion underscoring the consequences of failed parenting.

The Political Landscape: Ruling Temeria and the Fate of the North

Parallel to Ciri's personal journey is the political destiny of the Northern Realms, primarily determined by the outcome of the "Reason of State" questline. This series of choices revolves around the assassination of King Radovid V of Redania, a paranoid and cruel ruler whose victory would mean a brutal purge of non-humans and mages. To unlock this path, Geralt must assist Dijkstra, Roche, and Thaler in their plot. The critical juncture comes after Radovid's death. Dijkstra betrays his Temerian allies, Roche and Ves, aiming to seize power for himself. Geralt is presented with a brutal choice: side with Dijkstra and allow him to kill Roche and Ves, ensuring a stable but ruthless new regime under Dijkstra's rule, or defend his friends, killing Dijkstra and ensuring Temeria's revival as a vassal state under the humane rule of Nilfgaard.

This choice directly impacts the world state. Letting Dijkstra win leads to a Northern Alliance that eventually defeats the Nilfgaardian Empire, but under a tyrannical ruler. Defending Roche secures a Nilfgaardian victory, with Emperor Emhyr ruling the Continent. If Ciri survives and Geralt brought her to see Emhyr earlier, she can unexpectedly become the Empress of Nilfgaard, provided the "Reason of State" quest was resolved in Nilfgaard's favor. This ending presents a different kind of freedom for Ciri—one of immense responsibility and political power, where she aims to change the world from the top down. It is a bittersweet conclusion, often leading to a poignant farewell between Geralt and Ciri at the palace in Vizima.

Geralt's Personal Conclusion: Romance and Retirement

Intertwined with these epic conclusions is Geralt's personal romantic resolution. Throughout the game, Geralt can pursue relationships with Yennefer of Vengerberg and Triss Merigold. The game deliberately complicates this choice, as Yennefer is his long-standing, tumultuous love from the novels and previous games, while Triss represents a potentially softer, more straightforward path. The critical determinant is during the quests "The Last Wish" and "Now or Never." To commit to Yennefer, Geralt must reaffirm his love during the former quest, dismissing the magic of the djinn that once bound them. To commit to Triss, he must declare his love and ask her to stay in Novigrad during the latter. Attempting to romance both leads to a famously humorous yet tragic outcome where the two sorceresses magically trap Geralt and leave him alone.

A successful romance with either Yennefer or Triss shapes Geralt's epilogue. If Ciri becomes a witcher, Geralt retires with his chosen love, often hinted at living a peaceful life away from constant danger. If Ciri dies or becomes Empress, and Geralt has no successful romance, his ending is one of profound loneliness and despair, famously depicted with him facing a horde of monsters in Crookback Bog with grim finality. The romance ending provides a silver lining, a personal haven of happiness amidst the larger geopolitical and familial outcomes.

The Weight of Consequences: A Narrative Masterpiece

The true brilliance of The Witcher 3's ending system lies in its refusal to judge the player. There is no morality meter. Each major ending—Witcher Ciri, Empress Ciri, or Ciri's death; Northern independence under Dijkstra or Nilfgaardian rule; retirement with Yennefer, Triss, or alone—carries its own thematic weight and validity. The "Witcher" ending emphasizes freedom and found family. The "Empress" ending speaks to duty, legacy, and changing the system from within. The political endings debate the price of stability versus the value of loyalty and humane rule. These conclusions are not about rewarding or punishing the player, but about reflecting the cumulative philosophy of their choices back at them.

Ultimately, the endings of The Witcher 3 validate the game's core narrative principle: that the smallest actions, the quiet moments of support or doubt, carry immense consequence. They transform Geralt from a mere monster slayer into a father whose most important battles are fought with words and emotional presence. The player's journey through these choices creates a deeply personalized story, ensuring that the memory of the path taken, and the fate of the Continent forged by it, remains uniquely their own long after the credits roll.

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