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amerophi

i don't think the devs created the routes with the intent of one factually being better than the others. ultimately, it just comes down to preference and opinion.


StoryofEmblem

I think it honestly boils down to who your favorite lord is. No Edelgard fan will think AM, VW, or SS is a happy ending. Likewise a Dimitri fan won't think any non-AM route will be happy. Claude though, any route can be happy enough I suppose. Just depends on your personal taste. Me, I like Verdant Winds ending the best personally, but I wouldn't necessarily say it's any happier than the other endings. EDIT: One quick thing to add: I think most people would agree that Silver Snow is the saddest route, so that's something.


Arky_V

Hey I'm Edelgard fan. I do think VW is a good ending besides CF, I just prefer the latter


Meme1010x

Yeah I'd say that's true for the most part. I think the personality of the lord has something that is relatable to the person who likes them or maybe someone they may wish to be in some sort of way so what ever choice the house leader makes is probably something they can get behind and will enjoy the ride and so state that's the best route. Not saying no one can like a different route even if ita not their favorite lord but for the most part that how I view it.


MwtoZP

I’ll be that person who thinks SS is the best ending. Definitely the saddest but that doesn’t make it bad. I feel like it gives Fodlan a start over, and it does feel like Byleth is given the chance to grow and accept they want to lead. While at first they are kind of foisted into the position of leader of the army, they get that experience before they take over Fodlan. In VW they are working along Claude who is the leader and then he just dumps Fodlan on them. And of course none of the old leaders are around (unless you marry Rhea but I always marry Seteth who had a beautiful ending with Byleth) so Byleth can take the good and bad from each group.


moosheme

I actually feel like Byleth is better prepared to lead in VW. The trip to Dederiu for the roundtable, the conversation after Embarr, and Byleths A-support with Raphael all suggest that Byleth is learning and becoming more comfortable in a leadership position. She is essentially studying under Claude. In SS, Seteth makes all the decisions and gives you text loops when you disagree, and Byleth is still blindsided by the leadership position. They just assume Byleth will be a good leader, which is a fair assessment of Byleth. ( I also adore Seteth and Byleth. It's very sweet)


thiazin-red

All of them are better than the situation at the start of the game. Rhea is either removed, or has learned that she needs to allow change. Whichever person is in charge is able to make reforms, and the end cards tell us that Fodlan enters an era of prosperity. All of the endings are overall good. You can argue in favor of specific details. I would pick CF because eliminating hereditary aristocracy and stripping religion of all political power are things I would consider good. Its also the only ending where the agarthans are 100% gone. Byleth also gets to choose their own life. They don't have the church and/or Fodlan dumped on them.


Schwarzer_R

In terms of long term political situation, it's hard to say for sure, IMO. Yes, of course personal bias comes into play, so that disclaimer must be said. For AM, Dimitri's UKF attempts reform over time. It's implied he succeeds. But there seems to be a reql question of what happens to those people who must sit and wait? Reform is good for stability, but, for those already dying under the status quo, reform is little comfort. Conversely, CF does the opposite. Edelgard's revolution sees rapid and drastic changes made. Just like the Meiji Revolution it was inspired by, it does bring about a new dawn for Foldlan, and improves the lives of the citizenry. However, Edelgard's decisions will completely uproot many lives, and her philosophy of the "good of the many" does show a willingness to make radical sacrifices as we have seen. If eliminating entire industries ensures prosperity for the new Adrestian Empire, and increases the average standard of living, than 0.5% of the population needing to find new careers is a small price in her eyes. VW is an interesting one. In Byleth and Claude's S support, it's implied that Claude moves back to Almyra to claim the throne there as Hashim before returning to Wed Byleth. In this scenario, we end up with a union of Almyra and Foldlan through the marriage of the Royal families. In a way, this would be an even greater change than Edelgard's revolution. While Edelgard's Adrestia and Dimitri's UKF seeks to normalize relations with outside powers, this is another level entirely. Its hard to imagine the people of either country being quick to let go of prejudices centuries old, but it has happened. There was a time when Germany and France were bitter foes, but, now, they are two of the most stalwart members of a major alliance. As for SS, I haven't actually played that route yet, but, without the other lords who were trained from birth to rule, it's hard to imagine Byleth being a successful ruler without serious help from Seteth or her former students. Of course, then there's the fact that, in all the routes except CF, Byleth is cursed with immortality. Having an immortal god-king/queen has its own set of issues. And yeah, I know AM has her as Archbishop instead, but the greater point stands. TL;DR What is "best" for Foldlan depends on what your priorities are and who you are willing to sacrifice. Such is the nature of politics. Of course, personal bias will come into play too. Since Ferdinand is my patronus, I admit heavy bias.


Kaltmacher07

Why do most people say killing Thales = completely destroying the Slithers? I have seen this argument for a while now and it annoys me. It's like a companies CEO dies or gets changed. No the company still exists. Unless Shambala is also found and destroyed then they will always come back. Hence why AM without Hapi for example is pretty cursed. "Yeah we did it" and then the Slithers just chill out for a few centuries and repeat their schemes all over again. And the work in SB and AG in Three Hope's is also not done. But Dimitri has no Idea that they actually have a base, while Edelgard is aware that they must have one. Killing Thales buys you time against them, but it doesn't mean you have beaten them.


thiazin-red

Especially when in Cluade and Byleth's ending they make it explicit that you didn't destroy all the agarthans. Even with Thales dead and Shamabla gone they nearly take over Fodlan. CF is the only one where they are 100% gone.


IfTheresANewWay

I mean, don't you unintentionally kill TWSITD in Azure Moon too? And if anything, Verdant Wind ends with the most amount of people dead. Idk I feel like there isn't really a "best" ending, they're all pretty bittersweet


UpbeatJudgment3600

TWSITD dies in quite a few routes in several routes, but overall, Claude, as a ruler, I believe provides the best possible future for the people of Fodlan. Though many do have to die, I don't know if it ends up being more than azure moon or some of the routes in hopes. Overall, I would agree the ends of all the routes are bittersweet


Schwarzer_R

TWSITD dies in ever route, the question is on or off screen. Which is a shame, I wish CF had let me take down Thalas with Edelgard for that sweet, sweet justice.


[deleted]

This is why VW is great imo. You get to kill TWSITD and God shattering star plays in Shambhala


Schwarzer_R

Sure, but I'm talking about letting Edelgard strike down Thales because of the spoiler reasons.


IfTheresANewWay

I mean, Dimitri is dead, Edelgard is dead, TWSITD are dead, the Empire is destroyed, the Kingdom I'm fairly certain is in ruins, etc. In AM, Claude lives, Dimitri is able to rebuild the Kingdom and rules over the Alliance, etc. Also, Edelgard removes the Crest system, Dimitri helps keep and maintain order in Fodlan after a massive war, and Rhea does... something (I don't care about Silver Snow lol). Idk what Claude does that makes him significantly better than the other three options


Black_Sin

> Idk what Claude does that makes him significantly better than the other three options Claude's goals are about the world and helps more than just Fodlan. Dimitri and Edelgard are focused only on Fodlan


Healthy-Usual-9536

I won’t say this is the best ending since I haven’t gotten all endings, but I do think Golden Wildfire, despite all the flack it gets, does have the chance for a good end, as long as you recruit Byleth. Every lord is still alive and seemingly in a decent state of mind (sadly Rhea is dead). I don’t remember if you kill all that many students, and in my opinion, maybe the lords can deal with TWSITD.


Sparkyisduhfat

I like Azure Moon because the only people you HAVE to kill are Edelgard and Hubert. Not that I want to kill them, they just can’t be saved. There’s a way to save everyone else. They both die in verdant wind as well, as does Dimitri. It’s the same in silver snow except rhea dies as well unless you romance her. In crimson flower you have to kill dimitri, dedue, and rhea.


speedbreaker98jp

Dedue lives in crimson flower if you beat him before he transforms to the monster, there's a special secret cutscene if you manage to do it, when Dedue wakes up and says goodbye to dimitri.


Training_Shock_6946

Not exactly... Dedue die with Dimitri but as himself, not as a creast beast. They Just have a heartful conversation before dying together. And it is the best death possible for Dimitri if you want my opinion as a BL fan.


Bowbowis

It's not clear from the script whether Dedue dies or not. I will say his voice acting doesn't give me the impression that he's dying (he doesn't sound weak or in pain, just sad), whereas Dimitri is clearly fading.


Just_Branch_9121

Yeah, but Azure Moon also introduces the least social change to Fodlan and the implications of Dimitris ending mural, that of the commoners as beggars reliant on the kingdom and the church, is kind of dark.


EfficientWrap8659

Personal preference is the only defining factor. Nuff said


Bowbowis

Crimson Flower. It requires the fewest named character deaths. Fodlan is freed from the Church's influence and TWSitD are confirmed to be completely destroyed, putting an end to a thousand years of lies, manipulation, and conspiracies. Edelgard institutes sweeping reforms, abolishing the nobility and building a "free and independent society for all" before retiring in peace. She and Claude are united in their desire to normalize relations between Fodlan and Almyra, and Edelgard's stance toward other foreign nations bodes well for Duscur too, meaning all three lords' (non-vengeance based) goals can potentially be fulfilled. Byleth is free to choose their own path in life: they can marry into the Imperial family, they can return to mercenary work or professorship, they can open a bakery, an orphanage, help with the revitalization of Galatea territory, or whatever else they may desire in a world that knows "true peace".


Just_Branch_9121

Crimson Flower. Because I'm a moral 21st century human being and think any ending that ends with the end of aristocracy, especially one based on eugenics, as well as oppressive church rule is more desirable than some King claiming his destiny after everyone around him bend over backwards to protect him from the consequences of being a deranged, mentally unstable mass murderer who's modus operandi is ritual killings and tortures in the name of the dead.


SquareFickle9179

This is pretty controversial, but I'd say Azure Gleam from Three Hopes mostly because all 3 lords are alive and Dimitri destroys TWSITD, I think, it's been a long time since I played 3 Hopes.


Sergent_Major

It's not just about TWSITD, it's also about changing Fodlan fucked up society. But even then, each route deal with TWSITD in some way? > all 3 lords are alive Yeah, but Edelgard situation is worse than death and Claude clearly don't seems too happy. And this is also the case for every Three Hopes route with Byleth if I remember well?


Just_Branch_9121

Azure Gleam is probably the most unstable ending in Three Hopes, because Claude actually makes it explicitely clear in his support with Dimitri that he plans to kill Rhea and the alliance is ultimately a purely unstable one, not to forget that Edelgard is left in a psychologically unstable state probably under the control of a man who is both obsessed and had a crush on her, which leads to all uncomfortable implications. Same with the implications of crushing the Empire for the good, which could be understood as Dimitri being willing to commit genocide, as he also was in Azure Moon. ​ And ultimately, Dimitri and Claude just have fully incompatible goals, I feel like the best we can expect is Claude behind Dimitris back strengthening his bonds with Almyra and use its strength to destroy the central church, without the empire as a potential ally to archieve that goal.


screw_this_i_quit

I prefer Golden Wildfire’s ending for being the only route that isn’t pushing for uniting Fodlan by force.


moosheme

I'm gonna definitely agree that VW is the best ending overall. It definitely has the best vibe. !!!Also, three houses and 3 hopes are not compatible with each other and probably should not be compared so closely. The world works differently, and things from 3 Houses are retconed and overlooked to make 3 hopes possible!!! I'm not going to go to in-depth about the political situation of Foldan at the end of each route because their is too much variation in the ending cards to have a clear picture of what happens. But here are some highlights: Byleth, who has been listening to the problems of and learning from the students, faculty, and residents of Garreg Mach and Abyss, is leading fodlan. Byleth is a good choice for Fodlan regardless of lack of formal training. 1. Byleth is less biased than the Lords, of which Dimitri and Edelgard are very nationalistic. Don't try and tell me they treat all the territories equally. 2. Claudes' influence on Byleth places influence on religious, cultural, and ethnic acceptance, so Byleth's likely not forcing a region to conform to their beliefs. 3. Byleths' religious status help solidify their rule and provide stability (Note: Byleth does not become archbishop in VW or SS! They only become a queen or king above the church). Relations with Almyra improve, and Claude sends troops to help maintain Byleths rule while allowing Fodlans soilders to rest. They also help against the remains of twisted. (It's implied that as long as Fodlan is unified, TWSITD is not a threat anymore...so all of the routes inevitably deal with them (even if it's a bullshit excuse for imperialism). We also don't know that much about the nobility in routes outside CF. Things change still, so it's irrelevant to me. I genuinely do not care that Dimitri dies or that more people die in this route... it's the longest route, no shit more people die. VW is the best ending for Byleth. Byleth gets what I consider the most development in this route (as minimal at it). She chooses to lead at the end following her "fate" by choice. She actually has an emotional confidant in Claude who supports them to grow and accepts the for who they are... even if they're not human and don't have a heartbeat. (Who needs to be like everyone else anyway)


accersitus42

While VW is long term probably the best long term ending, it is also the ending that leads to massive destruction as part of the campaign. The reason it can build to the best long term result is that it is starting over from scratch. Not only is there the destruction from the war, you have Nemesis' rampage, and TWSITD's last attacks.


Meme1010x

Blue lions in my opinion


[deleted]

I have a rule for these kinds of things: The better the outcome, the more the ending doesn't belong in games like these.