Endings Guide

Learn how to achieve each ending in Dreams of Aether, including requirements for the Aetherial Ascent true ending. Your choices shape Aether's fate.

Dreams of Aether features multiple endings, each influenced by key decisions made throughout your journey and your relationships with various factions. Achieving specific endings often requires careful planning and attention to detail. This guide will walk you through the requirements for each major ending.

The Aetherial Ascent (True Ending)

This is considered the "best" ending, where the Aetherial Veil is stabilized, and a new era of peace begins. It requires maximum alignment with the Lumina Concord and the successful completion of all major side quests.

• Key Requirements:
1. Lumina Concord Reputation: Achieve "Revered" status with the Lumina Concord. This is primarily done by completing all their faction quests, such as "The Shard's Whisper" (Chapter 4) and "Echoes of the Ancients" (Chapter 7). Always choose dialogue options that support their ideals of balance and preservation.
2. Aetherial Heart Restoration: Successfully restore all three fragments of the Aetherial Heart.
• Fragment of Harmony: Found in the Sunken City of Eldoria after defeating the Abyssal Leviathan. Ensure you have the Deep-Sea Diving Suit (obtained from the Lumina Concord Archivist in the Skyreach Citadel after completing "The Archivist's Plea").
• Fragment of Purity: Located within the Whispering Peaks, accessible only after acquiring the Wind-Blessed Glider from the Zephyr Tribe Elder (completing "The Zephyr's Blessing" side quest).
• Fragment of Resonance: Recovered from the Obsidian Vault beneath the Blighted Wastes. This requires the Obsidian Keycard, which is a reward for fully aiding the Ironclad Legion in their "Reclamation of the Wastes" questline.
3. Council of Unity: Successfully broker peace between the Lumina Concord, the Zephyr Tribe, and the Ironclad Legion during the "Council of Unity" main quest in Chapter 9. This requires high reputation with all three factions.
4. Final Choice: At the climax in the Aetherium Core, choose to "Stabilize the Veil" using the fully restored Aetherial Heart.
• Important Notes:
  • Avoid any actions that significantly decrease your reputation with the Lumina Concord, such as destroying ancient artifacts or siding with the Shadow Syndicate.
  • Ensure you collect all 12 Aether-infused Runes throughout the game. These are crucial for empowering the Aetherial Heart during the final ritual. Consult the "Collectibles Guide" for their exact locations.

The Shadow's Embrace (Villain Ending)

This ending sees the Aetherial Veil shattered, plunging the world into chaos under the influence of the Shadow Syndicate. It requires aligning with the Syndicate and making morally ambiguous choices.

• Key Requirements:
1. Shadow Syndicate Reputation: Achieve "Feared" status with the Shadow Syndicate. This involves completing all their illicit contracts, such as "Smuggler's Run" (Chapter 3) and "The Black Market Heist" (Chapter 6). Always choose dialogue options that favor their goals of power and control.
2. Corrupted Aetherial Heart: Allow at least two of the Aetherial Heart fragments to be corrupted or fail to retrieve them.
• Corrupting Fragments: During the retrieval of any fragment, you will be presented with an option to "Infuse with Shadow" if your Syndicate reputation is high. Choosing this will corrupt the fragment.
• Failing to Retrieve: Simply ignore the side quests associated with retrieving the fragments.
3. Shattered Council: Actively sabotage the "Council of Unity" in Chapter 9 by siding with the Shadow Syndicate's agenda, leading to conflict between the factions.
4. Final Choice: In the Aetherium Core, choose to "Shatter the Veil" using the corrupted or incomplete Aetherial Heart.
• Important Notes:
  • Completing Lumina Concord quests will negatively impact your Shadow Syndicate reputation. Focus solely on Syndicate objectives.
  • Acquiring the Shadow-Forged Dagger from the Syndicate leader, Kaelen, after completing "The Syndicate's Gambit" (Chapter 8) will unlock additional dialogue options for corruption.

The Lone Wanderer (Neutral/Survival Ending)

In this ending, the protagonist abandons the larger conflict, choosing personal survival over the fate of the world. The Aetherial Veil remains unstable, but the world avoids outright destruction.

• Key Requirements:
1. Neutral Reputation: Maintain a relatively neutral standing with all major factions (Lumina Concord, Zephyr Tribe, Ironclad Legion, Shadow Syndicate). Avoid completing too many quests for any single faction, or balance them out.
2. Incomplete Aetherial Heart: Retrieve only one or none of the Aetherial Heart fragments. Do not attempt to corrupt any.
3. Avoid Council of Unity: Fail to initiate or complete the "Council of Unity" quest in Chapter 9. This can be done by ignoring the quest giver, Elder Lyra, in Skyreach Citadel.
4. Final Choice: In the Aetherium Core, with an incomplete or uncorrupted Aetherial Heart, you will be presented with the option to "Abandon the Core."
• Important Notes:
  • This ending is often achieved by players who focus primarily on the main story path without delving deeply into side content or faction allegiances.
  • You will still face the final boss in the Aetherium Core, but your objective will shift to escape rather than interaction with the Veil.