Endings

There are four different endings to pursue, each requiring a different set of circumstances to be met. Each path impacts the length of the game and which bosses are fought.

Ending 1: Shura
Requirements Defeat Guardian Ape (and obtain Lotus of the Palace) Defeat Corrupted Monk (and obtain Shelter Stone) Side with Owl, obey the Iron Code Defeat Emma, the Gentle Blade and Isshin Ashina.
Overview
Choosing this endings makes the Fountainhead Palace and Dragon Flash inaccessible and the game ends after these two fights, proceeding to NG+. Note however that the One Mind Combat Art is exclusive to this ending. After obtaining both the Shelter Stone and the Lotus of the Palace, all of the Sculptor's Idols in the Ashina Castle will become inaccessible. Upon reaching the top of the castle, Owl will be waiting on the rooftop, presenting Wolf the choice to obey the Iron Code or to stand by Kuro. Choosing the former is required for this ending. Then, Wolf will have to fight two bosses exclusive to this ending back to back: Emma, the Gentle Blade and Isshin Ashina. After the boss fight, Wolf will murder Owl and become Shura, marking the beginning of the most tragic massacre of the Sengoku era.

Ending 2: Immortal Severance
Requirements Obtain the Mortal Blade, Lotus of the Palace and Shelter Stone Disobey with Owl, breaking the Iron Code Defeat the Divine Dragon and obtain its tears Defeat Genichiro Ashina and Isshin, the Sword Saint Choose to give Kuro the Divine Dragon's Tears
Overview
Completing the side quests for the next two endings will not lock Wolf out of this one. He'll be able to choose between all three if the criteria are met. After obtaining the Mortal Blade in Inner Sanctum, Shelter Stone and the Lotus of the Palace, all of the Sculptor's Idols in the Ashina Castle will become inaccessible. Upon reaching the top of the castle, Owl will be waiting on the rooftop, presenting Wolf the choice to obey the Iron Code, forsaking Kuro or to break the Iron Code and stand by Kuro. Choosing the latter is required for this ending. Then, Wolf will have to fight Great Shinobi - Owl, then go to the Fountainhead Palace to retrieve the Divine Dragon's Tears. By the time of his return to the Castle, Isshin will have died and Emma presents the Wolf with a Secret Passage Key to rescue Kuro once again. On the Silvergrass Fields, he will challenge Genichiro Ashina once again, then fight Isshin, the Sword Saint summoned by the black Mortal Blade. After defeating him, Wolf must give ONLY the Divine Dragon's Tears to Kuro and stab him in the heart with the Mortal Blade to sever the ties to immortality. Following these events, Wolf forsakes his prosthetic arm and the violence it enables. He returns to the Dilapidated Temple to take up the Sculptor's trade, waiting to aid the next Shinobi seeking strength.

Ending 3: Purification
Requirements Exhaust all dialogue and eavesdrop dialogue with Kuro after defeating Genichiro Agree with Emma that Kuro must not die when she had moved upstairs Obtain the Mortal Blade, Shelter Stone and Lotus of the Palace Disobey Owl, breaking the Iron Code Talk to Emma right after defeating Owl and at Old Grave Eavesdrop on Emma and the Sculptor at the Dilapidated Temple Confront Emma to receive Father's Bell Charm Revisit the Hirata Estate memory and defeat Owl (Father) Defeat the Divine Dragon and obtain its tears Defeat Isshin, the Sword Saint Choose to give Kuro the Divine Dragon's Tears and the Everblossom
Overview
Completing the side quests for the next two endings will not lock Wolf out of this one. He'll be able to choose between all three if the criteria are met. This quest line can be started either before or after facing Great Shinobi - Owl atop Ashina Castle, but it must be completed before defeating the Divine Dragon in the Fountainhead Palace. After defeating Genichiro atop the Castle, Kuro can be eavesdropped on on several occasions. After his dialogue about "doing what must be done", talk to Emma near the Castle Tower Lookout. Wolf must agree with her that Kuro must not die. After obtaining the Mortal Blade in Inner Sanctum, Shelter Stone and the Lotus of the Palace, all of the Sculptor's Idols in the Ashina Castle will become inaccessible. Upon reaching the top of the castle, Owl will be waiting on the rooftop, presenting Wolf the choice to obey the Iron Code, forsaking Kuro or to break the Iron Code and stand by Kuro. Choosing the latter is required for this ending. After talking to Emma once again and she will give Tomoe's Note, then talk to her at the Old Grave, then at the Dilapidated Temple. After eavesdropping on her and the Sculptor through a hole in the back, confront her to receive Father's Bell Charm to gain access the second version of the Hirata Estate memory and defeat Owl (Father) to obtain the Aromatic Flower. After obtaining the Divine Dragon's Tears, on the Silvergrass Fields, Wolf will challenge Genichiro Ashina once again, then fight Isshin, the Sword Saint summoned by the black Mortal Blade. After defeating him, Wolf must give the Divine Dragon's Tears and the Everblossom to Kuro for the ending. Wolf then proceeds to behead himself in order to sever the ties of immortality, freeing his Lord. Following these events, Kuro no longer possesses the Dragon's Heritage and visits the grave of his loyal Wolf, before parting way with Emma and presumably leaves Ashina.

Ending 4: Return
Requirements Obtain Holy Chapter: Infested Take Rice from the Divine Child of Rejuvenation until she becomes sick, then cure her using a Persimmon or Taro Persimmon Deliver Rice for Kuro and receive Sweet Rice Ball Exhaust all dialogue with Kuro and the Divine Child of Rejuvenation (including at Halls of Illusion) Retrieve Holy Chapter: Dragon's Return for her Retrieve the dried and fresh fruits of the Serpent for her to get her Frozen Tears Defeat Isshin, the Sword Saint Give Kuro the Frozen Tears and the Divine Dragon's Tears during the ending.
Overview
Completing the side quests for the next two endings will not lock Wolf out of this one. He'll be able to choose between all three if the criteria are met. This quest line can be started either before or after facing Great Shinobi - Owl atop Ashina Castle, but it must be completed before defeating the Divine Dragon in the Fountainhead Palace. After obtaining the Mortal Blade in Inner Sanctum, Shelter Stone and the Lotus of the Palace, all of the Sculptor's Idols in the Ashina Castle will become inaccessible. Upon reaching the top of the castle, Owl will be waiting on the rooftop, presenting Wolf the choice to obey the Iron Code, forsaking Kuro or to break the Iron Code and stand by Kuro. Choosing the latter is required for this ending. Obtaining Holy Chapter: Infested is required for this ending. If going to Senpou Temple before defeating Genichiro atop the Ashina Castle, the Main Hall Monk will give it to him, asking him to deliver it to the Divine Child of Rejuvenation, otherwise it will be found at the bottom of the lake in Temple Grounds, requiring the Mibu Breathing Technique to reach. Give the book to the Divine Child and take Rice from her (it must be consumed before she can give more) until she becomes sick, then cure her with a Persimmon or Taro Persimmon. She will then give Rice for Kuro, who will, in turn gift Wolf Sweet Rice Balls. Speak to the Divine Child again, but this time in the Halls of Illusion where she asks Wolf to find the High Monk of Senpou Temple, who is located in a dark cave near the Main Hall. From his body obtain the Holy Chapter: Dragon's Return for the Divine Child. Wolf must then find the two fruits of the Serpent: From the Riven Cave Sculptor's Idol, past the Toxic Memorial Mob, head down into a dark cave where the Serpent resides. Follow the path along the right hand side of the cave, taking care to avoid the Serpent's body and the Rock Divers. Upon reaching the head guarding a shrine, drop down onto the left to find a lone Monkey and use the Puppeteer Ninjutsu on it to distract the Serpent and enter the shrine to obtain the Dried Serpent Viscera. From the first Sculptor's Idol in Senpou Temple, go down to the kite and use the Puppeteer Ninjutsu on the Rat standing next to the mechanism, then head to the large tree before the area with the broken bridge that connects to the Temple Grounds area and grapple to the kite to cross the valley. Continue through the cave and from the overhanging plank, plunge onto the Great Serpent to obtain the Fresh Serpent Viscera. After obtaining both fruits, return to the Inner Sanctum and give them to the Divine Child to later receive the Frozen Tears. Once having defeated the final boss Isshin, the Sword Saint, give Kuro the Frozen Tears and the Divine Dragon's Tears and bring him to the Divine Child, who will perform a ritual to become a cradle for Kuro, essentially a vessel. She will then bid farewell to her deceased siblings, departing to the West, to the birthplace of the Divine Dragon with Wolf.

Gallery

Fountainhead Incense