Blood of Dawnwalker Best Ending Guide

There is no official “best” ending in Blood of Dawnwalker, but The Knyazmaker and The Folk Hero are the most satisfying for most players. The Turncoat is the easiest on Duelist difficulty, and The Patricide hits hardest emotionally if you bonded with Lacra. This guide compares all four full endings and helps you pick the right one for your run.

Quick Recommendation

Playstyle	Best Ending	Why
First playthrough, want closure	The Knyazmaker	Crake’s rebellion succeeds, most allies survive
Want the hardest challenge	The Folk Hero	Solo final boss, no help
On Duelist difficulty	The Turncoat	Skips the final boss fight entirely
Bonded with Lacra	The Patricide	Most emotional payoff
Want to see the “bad” world	The Turncoat	Vale Sangora stays under Brencis

Why The Knyazmaker Feels Like the “True” Ending

The Knyazmaker has the most moving parts working in your favor:

• Crake’s Manumit rebellion succeeds — The slave rebellion you spent half the game building actually pays off.
• Most named characters survive — Compared to other endings, fewer allies die.
• Brencis dies by your hand with an army at your back — The fight is easier than solo, but still feels earned.
• The people of Laslea are freed — This is the outcome the Duelist difficulty specifically checks for.

The requirement is heavy: you must complete the entire Manumit quest chain — The Firebrand, Shadows in the Woods, Where Loyalty Lies, What Hunts the Night, What Moves the Dead, and Who Pulls the Strings — then initiate through Rise at Dawn or Fall Before Dusk.

Why Some Players Prefer The Folk Hero

The Folk Hero is the “I did it alone” ending. No Lacra, no Crake, no army. Just you and Brencis.

• Hardest version of the final boss — Brencis has more health and deals more damage when you fight solo.
• Most personal — The cutscene frames it as a duel of wills, not a war.
• Best for challenge runs — If you are already on a high difficulty, this is the flex.

The requirement is simple: in the final quest, answer “Enough. Time to end this.” Do not call allies. Do not negotiate.

When The Turncoat Is Actually the Smart Pick

The Turncoat is morally dark — you betray the rebellion and mark the Manumit hideout for Brencis — but it has one huge advantage: no final boss fight.

If you are on Duelist difficulty and struggling with the final boss, The Turncoat is the pragmatic choice. You still get an ending, you still save your family, and you still get the In the Nick of Time achievement. You just do it by selling out everyone who trusted you.

The Patricide: Lacra’s Ending

If you completed Lacra’s full questline — A Friend Like This, Song of the Mountain, Hive and Seek, Our Rotten Roots, The Night of Horrors, and Midnight Reckoning — this ending hits different. You and Lacra kill Brencis together, and the aftermath focuses on what her freedom cost.

Players who bonded with Lacra consistently rank this as the most emotionally impactful ending.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get the best ending on my first playthrough?

Yes, if you follow a guide. The Knyazmaker requires the most advance planning because the Manumit chain has multiple branching quests.

Does the best ending change based on difficulty?

No. The same four endings are available on every difficulty. Duelist difficulty only cares that you use one of the four full endings.

What is the worst ending?

The bad ending (Time Runs Out) is the only one with no achievement. Among the full endings, The Turncoat is the darkest morally, but still counts as a valid completion.

Related Guides

• How Many Endings — The complete count
• Good Ending Requirements — Step-by-step for The Folk Hero
• True Ending — Hidden conditions you might miss
• All Endings Overview — The complete endings hub