Stellar Blade Endings: Guide to True, Secret & Alternate
Introduction
If you finished Stellar Blade and found yourself wondering which outcome you actually saw, you’re not alone. Stellar Blade endings can feel mysterious: there are multiple endings, hidden scenes, and consequences tied to small choices. In this article I’ll walk you through endings explained in plain language, show how to get the true ending, reveal secret ending triggers, and outline alternate and bad endings with clear steps and tips.
How Stellar Blade Endings Work: Endings Explained
Understanding how endings are determined makes the game feel less like guesswork and more like planned storytelling. At a high level, Stellar Blade uses choices and actions across the late game to determine ending variations. This is not just a single decision at the finale—it’s a series of choices, character fates, and certain triggers that cumulatively steer you toward a true ending, alternate ending, or bad ending.
Key systems that influence endings:
- Story choices: Dialog options and mission choices in the final chapters.
- Character fates: Whether key allies survive certain encounters.
- Collectibles and quests: Side missions and critical items that unlock epilogue content.
- Hidden triggers: Secret interaction thresholds or optional scenes required for the secret ending.
Think of these systems as a points-and-flag mechanism. Some flags unlock epilogues or alternate cinematic cuts; others lock you out of the true end if missed.
Breakdown of Each Ending: True, Secret, Alternate, and Bad Endings
Below I’ve outlined the main ending variations you can expect and what they generally represent. This endings guide covers the narrative differences and the practical steps you’ll need to check in a walkthrough style.
True Ending
The true ending is the most complete narrative resolution. It usually requires finishing core story missions, ensuring the survival of specific characters, and completing certain late-game side quests. In Stellar Blade, the true ending will:
- Resolve the central conflict with a full epilogue.
- Reveal the fate of major characters and give closure to key arcs.
- Often unlock the full post-game content or New Game+ bonuses.
How to get it (quick checklist):
- Complete mandatory side quests related to key NPCs before the final chapter.
- Choose dialog options that preserve alliances rather than sever them.
- Trigger the optional late-game scene that appears after a major boss (this often acts as a flag).
Secret Ending
The secret ending is an extra payoff for curious players who explore, gather collectibles, or meet hidden conditions. It can be the most surprising outcome and may require unusual steps, like achieving a specific item count or performing a sequence of interactions in the proper order. Secret endings are often the hardest to get but provide unique lore and an extra cinematic.
Common secret ending triggers in similar games include:
- Finding all hidden data logs or tapes that expand the backstory.
- Finishing a side quest chain without skipping any steps.
- Meeting NPCs at precise times or in specific locations late in the game.
Alternate Endings
Alternate or branching endings show a different outcome based on clear choices during pivotal moments. They may be morally ambiguous endings or outcomes that sacrifice certain goals for others. Alternate endings are valuable if you enjoy seeing how small differences in choices create divergent endings.
Examples of alternate ending conditions:
- Siding with an NPC faction instead of opposing them.
- Destroying or preserving an in-game artifact.
- Leaving a character to face consequences instead of intervening.
Bad Ending
Bad endings are often the simplest to trigger because they result from failing missions or making self-destructive choices. They may also be canonically “wrong” depending on your interpretation, but they teach valuable lessons: pay attention to choices and mission objectives. A bad ending might occur if you fail to save a key character or skip crucial quest steps.
To avoid bad endings:
- Keep saves before pivotal scenes when possible.
- Follow mission instructions carefully and don’t rush past side objectives that matter for story.
- Consult a brief ending guide only if you’re unsure about a major choice—but try to experience the story first on your own.
Step-by-Step: How to Get Each Ending (Walkthrough Tips)
Here’s a practical walkthrough-style approach so you can purposefully target whichever ending you want. I’ll give steps, example choices, and tips based on common patterns in action-RPGs with branching endings.
How to get the True Ending
- Finish all main story missions to the final chapter without skipping anything.
- Complete companion-related side quests. If a character’s entire arc depends on optional missions, finish them to preserve their fate.
- Trigger late-game optional scenes: these often appear in specific areas after a boss is defeated. Look for NPCs who previously disappeared or for new dialogue options.
- Choose dialogue options that aim for reconciliation and understanding. Avoid permanent betrayals unless the game signals they’re required for a truthful reveal.
How to find the Secret Ending
- Collect game lore items: data logs, memos, or hidden recordings that unlock a secret cutscene.
- Complete a hidden quest chain that might not appear in your active quest list until certain conditions are met.
- Meet precise interaction windows: sometimes you must talk to an NPC at night or after completing a different mission.
- Check for unusual requirements like reaching a high skill level or completing a challenge without upgrading your gear.
How to reach Alternate or Bad Endings (and why you might want them)
If you’re going for alternate outcomes or even a deliberate bad ending for roleplaying, follow these suggestions:
- Make choice X at the key decision point (examples included in many community guides) to branch to an alternate ending.
- If you want a bad ending for completeness, intentionally fail an optional rescue mission or ignore a side quest that prevents tragedy.
- Use a multiple save strategy: keep one save before final acts and another save earlier so you can experiment with different outcomes without replaying the entire game.
Practical Tips, Examples, and Common Pitfalls
These tips come from experience writing walkthroughs and seeing how players miss critical flags. Use them to maximize your chance to get the ending you want and avoid common mistakes.
- Tip: Use multiple saves. Always keep more than one manual save when you approach pivotal missions. That makes testing different ending variations painless.
- Tip: Track companion quests. Some endings depend entirely on side missions for NPCs. If a companion vanishes, backtrack to earlier zones and check for newly unlocked missions.
- Tip: Read dialogue carefully. Small lines can hint at missed triggers such as “I’ll see you at the old lab,” which signals an optional late-game scene.
- Common pitfall: Rushing the final area and ignoring side objectives that vanish after the finale. Finish any half-complete quest chains earlier.
- Example: In a similar game, the secret ending required collecting nine memory shards and speaking to an NPC in an unlocked safehouse right after the penultimate boss. Missing one shard locked the secret cutscene forever.
New Game+, Post-Game Content, and Epilogue Notes
After you reach an ending, Stellar Blade often opens New Game+ or post-game content that expands the story. The true ending typically unlocks the most post-game material and the longest epilogue. If the secret ending exists, it may add exclusive narrative content or a final twist to the epilogue.
What to expect in New Game+:
- Higher difficulty modes and scaled enemies.
- Retained progression like weapons, upgrades, or costumes.
- Opportunity to complete missed quests and unlock alternate endings without losing your progress.
If your goal is completion, aim for the true ending first, then use New Game+ to chase alternate or secret ending variations that require repeatable actions or higher-level play.
Character Fates and the Epilogue: Why They Matter
One reason players obsess over Stellar Blade endings is the character fates. The epilogue often ties up relationships and reveals long-term consequences for factions and NPCs. Understanding who lives, who dies, and who survives in a different role informs the emotional weight of each ending.
How to preserve character fates:
- Complete companion loyalty quests—these usually protect characters in climactic battles.
- Avoid radical choices that explicitly state a character will oppose the protagonist.
- Monitor in-game clues such as letters, logs, or scenes that foreshadow a character’s possible demise.
FAQ: Common Questions About Stellar Blade Endings
1. How many endings does Stellar Blade have?
It depends on your definitions, but players should expect multiple endings: at least a true ending, several alternate endings, a secret ending (if present), and possible bad endings. The exact count may vary with patches and DLC.
2. Can I get the true ending in one playthrough?
Yes, you can get the true ending in a single playthrough if you complete essential side quests, preserve key character fates, and trigger required late-game scenes. Use multiple saves and pay attention to quest chains.
3. How do I unlock the secret ending?
Secret endings typically require fulfilling hidden conditions: collecting certain lore items, finishing an optional quest chain, or activating a scene under specific circumstances. Follow the in-game hints and check for newly accessible NPCs after major bosses.
4. Will New Game+ let me see endings I missed?
Yes. New Game+ is a great way to chase missed endings because you retain progression and can replay late-game choices without starting from scratch. It’s ideal for targeting alternate endings or completing missed side quests.
5. Are bad endings permanent?
A bad ending in your current save is final for that save file, but you can load an earlier save or start New Game+ to pursue other outcomes. It’s often instructive to see a bad ending once to understand narrative consequences.
Conclusion
Stellar Blade endings reward attention, exploration, and careful choices. Whether you’re trying to secure the true ending, chase a secret ending, or experience alternate outcomes for the story’s emotional impact, this endings guide gives you the framework to plan your playthrough. Save often, follow companion quest chains, trigger optional late-game scenes, and consider New Game+ when you want to see every ending variation and epilogue. Enjoy exploring every path—the differences are what make the story memorable.

