TL;DR
- The Witcher 3 has three main endings based on Ciri’s fate: she becomes a Witcher, becomes Empress, or dies.
- Ciri’s outcome is decided by a hidden point system tied to five key choices spread across the main story.
- Geralt’s own epilogue is decided separately by his romance choices — Yennefer, Triss, or neither.
- The North’s ruler is shaped by the Reason of State quest. Skellige’s ruler is shaped by the King’s Gambit quest.
- Hearts of Stone has two endings: save Olgierd or let Gaunter O’Dimm take his soul.
- Blood and Wine has three endings: the Reconciliation (best), Syanna dies, or both sisters die.
- None of these endings are locked in the final act — all choices that decide them are made hours earlier.
Warning: This guide contains full spoilers for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Hearts of Stone, and Blood and Wine.
How The Witcher 3 Remastered Endings Work
The Witcher 3 Remastered does not have a single branching story. It has several interlocking systems of endings that run in parallel. Ciri’s fate, Geralt’s personal life, the state of the North, and the ruler of Skellige are all decided independently from each other — and almost none of the decisions that determine them announce themselves as important when you make them.
By the time you reach Act III and the finale, every major decision has already been locked in. That is what makes this guide important. You need to know what the key choices are and when they happen — not after the credits roll.
The base game has three endings for Ciri, three epilogues for Geralt, three outcomes for the Northern war, and three possible rulers of Skellige. The expansions add two more endings for Hearts of Stone and three for Blood and Wine. This guide covers all of them.
For how long all of this content takes to experience, see our how long to beat guide.
Ciri’s Three Endings – The Hidden Point System Explained
Ciri’s fate is the most important set of outcomes in the game. There are three possibilities: she lives and becomes a Witcher, she lives and becomes Empress of Nilfgaard, or she dies. Which one you get is decided by a hidden tally of five key decisions you make with Ciri across the main story. There is no on-screen counter. You simply make choices and the game tracks them quietly.
You need at least three positive outcomes from the five interactions to keep Ciri alive. If you get fewer than three positive results, Ciri dies. Whether she becomes a Witcher or an Empress after surviving depends on one additional condition — whether you took her to meet Emperor Emhyr.
The Five Key Choices That Decide Ciri’s Fate
Choice 1 – Comforting Ciri After Kaer Morhen (Quest: Blood on the Battlefield)
After the Battle of Kaer Morhen, Ciri is grieving and overwhelmed. Geralt finds her in the snow. When she asks how you manage to focus no matter what is happening, respond with “Think I know what might lift your spirits.” This starts a snowball fight. It does not matter if you win or lose. What matters is that you tried to cheer her up rather than dismissing her feelings.
The negative choice here is any response that is cold, dismissive, or lectures her about being stronger.
Choice 2 – Meeting Emperor Emhyr (Quest: Blood on the Battlefield)
Later in the same quest, Ciri asks whether she should visit her father Emperor Emhyr. Your answer has two effects — it counts toward the point tally and it determines whether the Empress ending is available later.
- Positive (for Witcher ending): Tell her “All right, Velen it is.” This refuses the visit. Ciri does not go to the Emperor, which keeps the Witcher ending on the table.
- For the Empress ending: Tell her to visit Emhyr. Then when you meet the Emperor, refuse his payment. Refusing the gold counts as the positive outcome for this interaction.
- Negative: Visit Emhyr AND accept his payment. This counts negatively toward Ciri’s survival.
Choice 3 – The Lodge of Sorceresses (Quest: Final Preparations)
Philippa Eilhart wants to speak with Ciri privately. Ciri is concerned. Geralt can accompany her or let her go alone.
- Positive: “You’ll do fine on your own.” Let Ciri handle the meeting alone. This shows confidence in her and counts as a supportive outcome.
- Negative: Insist on accompanying her and speaking on her behalf.
Choice 4 – Avallac’h’s Laboratory (Quest: Child of the Elder Blood)
Ciri is furious and wants to destroy Avallac’h’s lab when she discovers what he has been hiding from her. The choice is whether to let her vent or to try and stop her.
- Positive: Let her destroy it. Do not interfere. She needs to release the anger and Geralt understands that.
- Negative: Try to stop her or lecture her about it.
Choice 5 – Skjall’s Grave (Quest: Blood on the Battlefield)
Yennefer tells Ciri that her friend Skjall has died because of the Wild Hunt. Ciri wants to visit his grave. Geralt can join her or refuse.
- Positive: Agree to go with Ciri to Skjall’s grave.
- Negative: Refuse to go.
Ending 1 – Ciri Becomes a Witcher (Best Ending)
This is widely considered the best and most uplifting ending in the game. Ciri survives the White Frost, defeats it using the power of the Elder Blood, and returns to find Geralt waiting. He rides out to find a place she has cleared of monsters. At the White Orchard Inn, he gives her a silver sword — a gift acknowledging that she is now a fully-fledged Witcher ready to forge her own path. This ending also ties directly into The Witcher 4, which follows Ciri as the new Witcher protagonist.
How to get it:
- Earn at least 3 positive outcomes from the five key choices above.
- Do not take Ciri to visit Emperor Emhyr (or if you do, refuse his payment).
Ending 2 – Ciri Becomes Empress of Nilfgaard
This is a bittersweet but powerful ending. Ciri also survives the White Frost and returns, but she chooses to accept her destiny as heir to the Nilfgaardian Empire. Geralt and Ciri share a final farewell — she must leave to take the throne, and their paths diverge. Geralt returns to his life as a Witcher, but Ciri’s destiny as Empress could reshape the entire Continent. Many players consider this the most impactful ending for the wider world, even if it is the saddest for Geralt and Ciri personally.
How to get it:
- Earn at least 3 positive outcomes from the five key choices.
- Take Ciri to see Emperor Emhyr during Blood on the Battlefield.
- Nilfgaard must win the war. This requires completing the secondary quest Reason of State and siding with Roche to eliminate Radovid and then Dijkstra. Without Nilfgaard winning, the Empress ending cannot trigger even with the correct Ciri choices.
Ending 3 – Ciri Dies (Bad Ending)
This is the darkest outcome. Ciri enters the White Frost alone and never comes back. A week later, Geralt travels to Crookback Bog to hunt down the Crone Weavess who stole Ciri’s witcher medallion after her death. He retrieves it but the scene ends with him sitting alone while dozens of monsters slowly close in around him, leaving his own fate uncertain. It is a genuinely haunting conclusion.
How to get it:
- Earn fewer than 3 positive outcomes from the five key choices.
Geralt’s Personal Epilogue – Three Possible Outcomes
Geralt’s ending is completely separate from Ciri’s and is determined entirely by his romance choices earlier in the game. It does not matter what choices you made with Ciri — Geralt’s own fate is decided by whether he committed to Yennefer, Triss, or neither.
Geralt and Yennefer (Canon Ending)
After the main story, Geralt and Yennefer ride off together and find a remote house where they retire and live quietly. This is considered the canon romantic ending, consistent with Andrzej Sapkowski’s books. It is also the ending many players find most emotionally satisfying. How to get it: During the quest The Last Wish on Skellige, after defeating the Djinn, tell Yennefer “I still love you.” Do not declare your love for Triss at any point.
Geralt and Triss
Geralt and Triss move to Kovir together. Triss takes a position as advisor to the king there while Geralt keeps his swords sharp with occasional contracts in semi-retirement. How to get it: During A Matter of Life and Death and Now or Never, commit to Triss when she asks if you want her to stay. Do not also romance Yennefer.
Geralt Alone on the Path
If you romance neither woman, or if you attempt to romance both (which triggers a scene where they both leave together), Geralt continues his life as a solitary Witcher, traveling the Path. This is melancholy but some consider it the most true to Geralt’s nature as a nomadic monster hunter with no place to call home.
The War in the North – Three Possible Rulers
The outcome of the war between the Northern Kingdoms and Nilfgaard is shaped by a chain of secondary quests in Act II. None of these are flagged as story-critical but they decide who controls the North when the credits roll.
Nilfgaard Wins the War
Nilfgaard defeats the Northern Kingdoms, briefly occupying them before eventually restoring Temeria’s sovereignty due to guerrilla resistance from Roche’s Blue Stripes. This is generally considered the most stable outcome for ordinary people. How to get it: Complete the secondary quests An Eye for an Eye, A Deadly Plot, and Redania’s Most Wanted in Act II, then during Reason of State, side with Roche over Dijkstra.
Radovid Wins the War
Radovid V pushes Nilfgaard south and takes control of the North for Redania. His reign is brutal — marked by witch hunts, persecution of mages, and violence against non-humans. This is the worst outcome for most of the characters Geralt cares about. How to get it: Do not complete the quest chain required to assassinate Radovid, or skip Reason of State entirely.
Dijkstra Wins the War
Radovid is assassinated as part of a conspiracy but then Dijkstra betrays and eliminates Roche’s men, taking control of the Redanian forces and winning the war against Nilfgaard. He rules as a cold, calculated chancellor. This prevents the Empress ending for Ciri. How to get it: Kill Radovid during the Reason of State quest but then side with Dijkstra instead of protecting Roche.
Skellige’s Ruler – Three Possible Outcomes
Who ends up on the Skellige throne depends on a separate set of side quests. None are mandatory for finishing the game, but they shape one of the post-game epilogue cutscenes.
Cerys an Craite (Best Outcome)
Cerys leads Skellige into a new era of prosperity and peace. She is considered the wisest and most forward-thinking ruler. Skellige’s coastal raids stop, which unnerves some neighboring kingdoms, but the island nation flourishes under her leadership. How to get it: Complete Possession, The Lord of Undvik, and support Cerys during King’s Gambit.
Hjalmar an Craite
Skellige continues its tradition of raiding under Hjalmar, who is brave and well-liked but more focused on glory than governance. How to get it: Complete Clan an Craite and then support Hjalmar during King’s Gambit.
Svanrige Bran
Svanrige takes power and abolishes the individual clan kingdoms, centralizing Skellige under a single ruler. How to get it: Ignore the Skellige succession quests entirely.
Hearts of Stone Endings – Save Olgierd or Let Him Die
Hearts of Stone has two possible endings, both hinging on the final confrontation with Gaunter O’Dimm during the quest Whatsoever a Man Soweth.
Olgierd Is Saved (Good Ending)
Geralt challenges Gaunter O’Dimm to a riddle game, stakes both his and Olgierd’s souls on the outcome, solves the riddle, and breaks O’Dimm’s power. Olgierd is freed from his curse, thanks Geralt, and rides off. The legendary sword Iris is rewarded to Geralt. This is the most satisfying outcome and one of the most clever sequences in the entire game. How to get it: Before the final quest, speak to Professor Premethine Shakeslock and visit Shani to gather information about O’Dimm. When O’Dimm appears to collect Olgierd’s soul, interrupt him and challenge him to the game.
Olgierd Dies (Bad Ending)
If Geralt does nothing, or if he did not research O’Dimm beforehand with Shakeslock and Shani, O’Dimm takes Olgierd’s soul. He then offers Geralt a reward — a choice between gold, powerful items, or a stat boost. It is a darker resolution and one that underscores O’Dimm’s menace as a villain. How to get it: Skip meeting Shakeslock and Shani, or simply do not intervene when O’Dimm arrives.
Blood and Wine Endings – Three Outcomes for Toussaint
Blood and Wine has three possible endings, all determined by choices made across the DLC about the relationship between Duchess Anna Henrietta and her exiled sister Syanna.
Ending 1 – Reconciliation (Best Ending)
Both sisters survive, Dettlaff is defeated, and Anna Henrietta and Syanna reconcile their years of bitterness. Toussaint enjoys peace. Regis stays in Toussaint. This is the most emotionally complete outcome and requires careful preparation across several quests. How to get it:
- During The Night of Long Fangs, follow Regis to uncover Syanna’s involvement. Read all entries in the Governess’s diary in the playroom.
- Enter the Land of a Thousand Fables and obtain Syanna’s ribbon from the Little Flint Girl. The ribbon will save Syanna’s life when Dettlaff attacks her later.
- Kill Dettlaff during the Tesham Mutna quest.
- During the trial, convince Syanna to forgive Anna Henrietta. Use the dialogue options: “Cause she turned her back on you, forgot about you” then “Ever thought to forgive her?” This only works if you read the Governess’s diary.
Ending 2 – Syanna Dies
Syanna is killed by Dettlaff because Geralt did not get the ribbon to protect her. Anna Henrietta survives. Geralt is thrown in prison by Anna for failing to save her sister, and Dandelion eventually comes to break him out. This is a middling outcome — not the worst, but far from the best. How to get it: Complete the DLC but skip getting Syanna’s ribbon from the Land of a Thousand Fables.
Ending 3 – Both Sisters Die (Worst Ending)
Without the knowledge gathered from investigating all clues in the DLC, Geralt never learns that Anna Henrietta herself was Syanna’s fifth murder target. Syanna assassinates the Duchess during the ceremony. Guards then kill Syanna immediately after. Toussaint is left without its ruler and plunged into mourning. Geralt is still jailed. It is the worst result in the entire DLC. How to get it: Chase the Unseen Elder path without fully investigating Syanna’s motives, never learning the fifth victim’s identity.
Which Is the Best Overall Ending?
For most players, the ideal combination is:
- Ciri becomes a Witcher — she earns her own destiny and the story of The Witcher 4 begins here.
- Geralt retires with Yennefer — the canon romance and the most emotionally earned conclusion for Geralt.
- Nilfgaard wins the war — Temeria regains some sovereignty and Geralt’s allies survive.
- Cerys rules Skellige — the wisest and most forward-thinking ruler for the islands.
- Olgierd is saved in Hearts of Stone — outwitting an immortal entity is its own reward.
- Reconciliation in Blood and Wine — the fewest deaths and the most peaceful conclusion to Geralt’s story.
That said, the beauty of The Witcher 3 Remastered is that there is no objectively correct ending. The game treats every outcome as morally complex. Even Ciri becoming Empress — which means losing her freedom — carries a kind of bittersweet weight that many players find more meaningful than the “good” ending. Play through all three on different saves if you have the time. Our how long to beat guide covers exactly how much time each run takes.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many endings does The Witcher 3 Remastered have?
The base game has three endings for Ciri, three epilogues for Geralt, three war outcomes, and three Skellige rulers — all independent of each other. Hearts of Stone adds two endings and Blood and Wine adds three more. In total there are dozens of possible combinations across all storylines and DLCs.
What is the best ending in The Witcher 3 Remastered?
Most players consider Ciri becoming a Witcher the best ending for the main story. It is the most hopeful outcome, it respects Ciri’s agency, and it connects directly to The Witcher 4. Pairing it with Geralt retiring with Yennefer and Nilfgaard winning the war completes what most consider the optimal combination.
Can you get the Empress ending without Nilfgaard winning the war?
No. The Empress ending requires both that you took Ciri to meet Emhyr during Blood on the Battlefield AND that Nilfgaard wins the war. If Radovid or Dijkstra wins instead, Ciri cannot become Empress even with the correct choices made around her.
What happens if you try to romance both Triss and Yennefer?
Both women find out through a shared scheme and the result is a scene where they both leave Geralt permanently. He ends up alone, spending the rest of the epilogue as a solitary Witcher on the Path. Do not declare love to both if you want either romance ending.
What is the point of no return for endings?
All the decisions that determine the main endings are made before Act III. Once you begin the final main quest chain, the outcomes are already locked. The game will warn you before the point of no return so you can make a manual save.
Do ending choices in Blood and Wine affect the main game ending?
No. The DLC endings are entirely self-contained. Ciri’s fate, Geralt’s romance, and the war outcome are not affected by what happens in Hearts of Stone or Blood and Wine. Each storyline resolves independently.
Is the Ciri Witcher ending the canon ending for The Witcher 4?
Yes. The Witcher 4, announced for 2028, features Ciri as a Witcher — confirming that the “Ciri becomes a Witcher” ending is the canonical path CD Projekt Red is treating as the official continuation of the story.
