The Oath & Ascending/Banishment — Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden Walkthrough

Decide whether to Ascend or Banish ghosts in Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden, impacting Red and Antea's fates and the game's ending.

The Oath: Ascending vs. Banishment

At the very core of Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden lies the profound dilemma of the Oath you, as Red mac Raith, have sworn, and the agonizing choices you must make regarding the fate of the deceased. Every encounter with a Haunting Case presents a moral and strategic crossroads, forcing you to weigh the immediate needs of the living against the spiritual peace of the dead, and the ultimate destiny of Red and Antea.

Your investigations into these Haunting Cases are meticulous, requiring you to uncover the truth behind a ghost's lingering presence and the intricate web of relationships connecting it to the living. These investigations culminate in a pivotal decision point: to Ascend the ghost or to Banish it.

Ascension: The Path of Peace and Vows

Ascending a ghost signifies helping it find peace and move on from the mortal coil. This path typically involves resolving the ghost's unfinished business, bringing justice to its situation, or facilitating a final reconciliation. It is a choice deeply aligned with Red's solemn Banisher vows, which emphasize respecting the natural cycle of life and death and guiding lost souls to their rightful rest.

• Process: Ascension often requires completing specific objectives within a Haunting Case, such as finding a lost item, revealing a hidden truth to a living character, or performing a ritual of remembrance.
• Red's Perspective: Red generally favors Ascension, seeing it as the honorable and correct way to handle a haunting, upholding the principles of the Banishers.
• Antea's Perspective: While Antea understands the spiritual merit of Ascension, it provides no direct benefit to her current spectral state. She may express impatience or suggest Banishment as a more expedient solution.
• Consequences: Choosing Ascension may lead to positive outcomes for the living characters involved, fostering healing and closure. However, it does not contribute to Antea's restoration.

Banishment: The Path of Power and Desperation

Banishment, in stark contrast, involves forcefully expelling the ghost from the mortal realm. This is typically achieved through a powerful ritual that consumes the ghost's essence, preventing it from ever returning. This choice is intrinsically linked to Antea's desperate need to regain her physical form. Banishment rituals provide her with the vital spiritual energy she requires to manifest more strongly and, eventually, to potentially break her spectral curse.

• Process: Banishment rituals are often more direct, focusing on confronting and overpowering the ghost. They may involve specific incantations, the use of powerful artifacts, or exploiting a ghost's weakness.
• Antea's Perspective: Antea strongly advocates for Banishment, as each successful ritual brings her closer to her goal of resurrection. She will often push Red towards this option, highlighting its immediate benefits for her.
• Red's Perspective: Red is often conflicted by Banishment. While he understands Antea's plight, Banishment goes against his core Banisher tenets, as it is a destructive act rather than a guiding one. He may express guilt or reluctance.
• Consequences: Banishment provides Antea with crucial essence, progressing her personal quest and potentially unlocking new abilities for her. However, it can have severe negative repercussions for the living characters connected to the ghost, leading to unresolved grief, lingering curses, or even physical harm.

The Weight of Choice: Consequences and Your Journey

Every decision to Ascend or Banish carries significant, far-reaching consequences that ripple throughout the narrative and directly impact your gameplay experience. These are not mere cosmetic choices; they fundamentally shape:

• The Game's Ending: Your cumulative decisions regarding Ascension and Banishment are the primary drivers of which of the multiple endings you will achieve. The balance of your choices will determine the ultimate fate of Red and Antea, and the New Eden colony itself.
• Character Relationships: Your choices will deeply affect your relationship with Antea. Consistently choosing Banishment will strengthen her, but may strain your bond with Red's conscience. Conversely, prioritizing Ascension may please Red but leave Antea feeling neglected or frustrated. Furthermore, the living NPCs involved in Haunting Cases will react to your decisions, potentially offering aid, harboring resentment, or even becoming hostile.
• Available Abilities and Progression: While not explicitly tied to every single choice, the overall direction of your decisions (leaning heavily towards Banishment) will provide Antea with more essence, allowing you to unlock and upgrade her spectral abilities more rapidly. This can significantly alter combat strategies and exploration.
• Narrative Tone and Themes: The path you forge will dictate the overall tone of your playthrough. A path of Ascension might feel more hopeful and redemptive, while a path of Banishment could be darker, more desperate, and morally ambiguous.
• Future Gameplay Mechanics: Certain choices in specific Haunting Cases might unlock unique side quests, reveal hidden areas, or even introduce new enemy types later in the game, based on the repercussions of your actions.

There are no "right" or "wrong" answers in Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden, only choices that reflect your moral compass and shape the unique journey of Red and Antea. Consider the implications carefully, not just for the immediate situation, but for the long-term destiny of your protagonists and the world around them, before making your final judgment.