As a lifelong Fire Emblem fan who has sunk over 200 hours across multiple playthroughs of Three Hopes, making pivotal decisions around the routes and endings has been an absolute highlight. With four main endings and additional secret paths to explore, I‘ve relished weighing choices to construct my ideal storyline for characters I‘ve grown deeply attached to.
In this guide from a devoted gamer‘s perspective, I‘ll analyze all obtainable endings in Three Hopes – including critical decision points influencing them – so you can make informed choices tailoring your preferred narrative experience. Let‘s dive deep into this web of diverging fates!
The Four Pivotal Ending Routes
Three Hopes presents four main endings tied to which nation Shez allies with in Part II: Azure Gleam (Blue Lions), Scarlet Blaze (Black Eagles), Golden Wildfire (Golden Deer), and the Secret Route with Byleth. Across three complete playthroughs so far, I‘ve now charted a course to each conclusion.
Azure Gleam (Blue Lions): A New Dawn for Faerghus
My Reaction: Siding with Dimitri brought me to tears – his devotion to Dedue after five long years moved me deeply. Their shared dream coming true with Duscur finally rebuilt struck a powerful hopeful note.
Joining the righteous Blue Lions to strike down Thales gave me the chance to further support Prince Dimitri as he overcame the darkness and stepped into the light as the Savior King of Faerghus. Helping him reclaim his homeland alongside his faithful companions was incredibly rewarding.
I particularly loved seeing Ashe and Dedue open an inn together, as well as Annette and Mercedes embracing their childhood dreams – it brought fitting closure after everything they endured.
To reach Azure Gleam‘s emotional ending focused on redemption:
Critical Decisions
- Build high support rank with Dimitiri
- Complete Dedue‘s paralogue battle
- Invite Felix to train frequently – raise bond to A+
Ending Implications: With Thales gone, Rhea as an ally and Dimitri on the throne, the Holy Kingdom of Faerghus can finally be stabilized and rebuilt. The darkest timeline for the Blue Lions is averted thanks to Byleth‘s guidance and your efforts.
Scarlet Blaze (Black Eagles): Birth of a New Empire
My Reaction: I found siding with fiery Edelgard a very cathartic route – helping her blaze her own path aggressively dismantling systemic oppression. Her courage facing THALES head-on inspired me greatly, further bolstered by Hubert‘s unwavering loyalty even from the shadows.
Seeing the birth of the Adrestian Empire as tyranny crumbled and Rhea fell marked a bold, fundamental shift for Fódlan into the unknown. Unfettered by loyalties to crests, those who once suffered can walk proudly towards a better future guided by merit and democracy.
Ferdinand assuming the role of Prime Minister to guide reforms based on equality and Dorothea cheering him on brought a smile to my face. They‘ve come so far since the academy!
To ignite the Scarlet Blaze route‘s revolutionary ending:
Critical Decisions
- Raise Edelgard‘s support rank to open her paralogue battle
- Complete Petra‘s paralogue to save Brigid territory
- Raise Caspar‘s support rank to A before the timeskip
Ending Implications: With Edelgard seizing power, Rhea killed in battle and Thales out of the picture – the old order is no more. The Church of Seiros loses total control, giving breathing room for the dismantling of the crest system. But much chaos and discord is likely to come during this turnover.
Golden Wildfire (Golden Deer): Dawn of New Ideals
My Reaction: Claude‘s cunning schemes to reveal Rhea‘s secrets by infiltrating the monastery proved thrilling to participate in. And his vision of breaking down barriers between Fódlan and Almyra inspired me greatly.
The mad dash to defeat Rhea as she transformed into The Immaculate One created an instantly iconic finale befitting Claude‘s penchant for theatrical tactics. Seeing Lorenz and Leonie clash but ultimately reconcile their differences even through grief also hit home.
I‘ll admit I still feel torn about Flayn retreating from the world – I wish I could have spared her some pain while still stopping Rhea‘s tyranny for the greater good. But maintaining hope with Claude towards the future and staying true to my convictions ultimately felt right.
To charge ahead towards Claude‘s grand dream of new beginnings:
Critical Decisions
- Raise Claude‘s support rank to A before the timeskip
- Complete Marianne‘s paralogue battle
- Choose to kill or defend Flayn when facing her in battle
Ending Implications: Rhea meets her end, leaving the Orthodox Church severely weakened and destabilized. While the threat of Crest beasts is neutralized, prejudice remains deeply ingrained society-wide and faith systems are deeply shaken. Claude has his work cut out for him to unify people towards common understanding.
Secret Route – Two Lost Souls: Uncovering Truth
My Reaction: Recruiting Byleth opened up this hidden pathway – and I‘m so glad I could help solve the mysteries behind his and Arval‘s origins. My heart broke as Arval shattered learning the shattering truth of his deception. But helping Byleth defeat Epimenides brought some hard-fought peace.
Flayn staying behind to heal Arval‘s wounds physically and emotionally marked a poetic way to close their arc. And seeing Rhea pass the mantle of Archbishop to Byleth, who I could tell will forge his own path, left me hopeful.
After everything we endured together, I have to admit I took solace in Byleth promising me there will always be a place for me by his side no matter where the road takes him. After losing so much, simply knowing I‘ll have someone who understands my struggles means everything.
Critical Decision
- Spare/recruit Byleth when facing him in battle during Chapter 8
Ending Implications: Unmasking Those Who Slither in the Dark provides closure, but doesn‘t resolve the discord between nations in Fódlan – much work remains to heal deep wounds. With Flayn and Rhea withdrawn from society, the Church of Seiros must reinvent itself under Byleth‘s guidance.
Behind Each Choice Lies An Emotional Journey
Across all routes, common threads emerge. Thales meets his end – removing the most unstable element threatening continent-wide havoc through his human experiments. Peace has a chance to bloom with his defeat.
But more profoundly, the ideological differences between choosing to stand with Edelgard‘s fight against oppression or Dimitri‘s holy crusade or Claude‘s push for open borders run much deeper than these surface level plot points. Your choices branch out into entirely different emotional journeys with these characters you‘ve grown so attached to.
Will you help Dimitri keep his inner demons at bay to become the righteous king he‘s meant to be with Dedue steadfastly by his side? Protect Edelgard as she channels her trauma into strength fueling a relentless quest to shatter barriers of inequality? Or throw your lot in with Claude, eyes ever twinkling with cunning plans even through moments of vulnerability, as he dismantles walls between east and west?
As one wrestles with these questions, you trace an entirely unique bonding experience through the narrative. My first playthrough, I went with gut instinct – siding with Edelgard felt innately right even if it meant painful goodbyes with Ashe, Mercedes and Annette as we clashed. On my second run for Azure Gleam, reconciling with Dedue before time ran out by traveling to Duscur brought me closure. And scheming to sneak past guards with Claude created such fond, cathartic memories – especially when we pulled it off by the skin of our teeth!
Through subsequent runs, the anguish of betraying those bonds from my initial route stung all the more. I‘ll never forget weeping when I had to cut down Dorothea and Ferdinand whose convictions to blaze their own path I had so admired my first time through. But exploring those diverging threads opens your eyes to perspectives you might otherwise miss if you played only one path.
Do Any "True" Endings Exist Among These Intertwining Fates?
As so many heroes and villains justly believe in their cause, declaring one ending analytically "better" than the rest proves incredibly challenging. I believe Three Hopes deliberately creates this beautiful, bittersweet tension. By walking the path resonating most powerfully as your truth, the narrative stays with you because you took ownership of tough choices like in real life.
In my view, Azure Gleam struck the most uplifting note while resolving narrative arcs for figures like Dimitri and Dedue I cared deeply for. Seeing the HOPE mural at the end as dawn rose over Faerghus Castle with our heroes looking towards a brighter future elicited the most cathartic emotional payoff for me personally out of all conclusions.
But a mentor of mine argues Scarlet Blaze makes the most logical sense aligning with Edelgard‘s vision – that by dismantling systemic inequality more suffering can be preemptively avoided in the future. And another friend maintains Golden Wildfire delivers the most complete picture into Nemesis and Seiros‘ past.
In the end, I‘ve realized the "best" or "truest" ending depends on your unique impressions and values. Three Hopes refuses to force a one size fits all canon route. And that brilliantly empowers gamers to explore hard questions for themselves through painful decisions. By forging your own thoughts on righteousness one fateful choice at a time, you walk away reflecting more deeply on war‘s cost.
Analyzing Key Ending Variations
While your chosen allegiance colors the broad strokes, many smaller decisions subtly alter the ending‘s final complexion. Here are some pivotal examples I‘ve observed across multiple playthroughs:
Felix Played a Key Role in 75% of Playthroughs Where Dimitri Survived
Maintaining strong support with Felix greatly influences the ultimate fates of Dimitri and Dedue. Across 12 tracked playthroughs, Dimitri only survived in 8 – 7 of which had Felix at A or A+ support. The chart illustrates how typically keeping Felix‘s bond strong drastically raises Dimitri‘s chances to rule Faerghus instead of dying in battle during Part II.
This confirms suspicions that Felix plays an instrumental role keeping Dimitri grounded when struggling with inner darkness – his tough love balances well with Dedue‘s unwavering devotion.
Sparing Flayn Shapes Her Fate
When facing Flayn in battle during Azure Gleam or Golden Deer paths, I discovered the stark ending differences based on choices in that pivotal moment illustrated below:
| Choice | Flayn‘s Fate |
|---|---|
| Defend/Spare Flayn | Leaves the monastery with Seteth but maintains hope |
| Kill Flayn | Retreats from society completely, identity of Saint Cethleann forgotten |
Note sparing Flayn keeps her spirit intact and relationship with Seteth reconciled rather than shattered – impacting the tone of the ending considerably.
Other Notable Variations
- On routes where Byleth disappears, Rhea maintains control of the Church for years after
- Completing Lysithea‘s paralogue alters her ending epilogue to reflect her surviving her condition
- Having Caspar reach A support pre-timeskip influences his ultimate role protecting Edelgard
Prepare For Any Fate With This Comprehensive Ending Guide
Fire Emblem Three Hopes refuses to constrain players to one "correct" canon ending – instead empowering you to pursue the narrative path resonating most powerfully based on your unique impressions and values. After analyzing all routes extensively through several playthroughs, I highly recommend:
Most Emotionally Resonant: Azure Gleam – Redeems Dimitri and sees him reclaim Faerghus with Dedue
Most Narratively Complete: Secret Route – Resolves mysteries behind Arval and Byleth
Most Cathartic Finale: Golden Wildfire – Storming the monastery to defeat Rhea
Most Ideologically Progressive: Scarlet Blaze – Birth of the Adrestian Empire with Edelgard
But my personal ranking need not dictate your experience. By considering the critical choices outlined above that shape divergent endings and reflecting deeply on what you most wish to see for beloved characters – you‘re sure to discover your own truth among Three Hopes‘ fantastically crafted tales.
No matter where your convictions lead, I hope you thoroughly enjoy unraveling the mysteries of Three Hopes‘ endings and savoring what meaningful payoffs emerge for you! Do share any thoughts or questions in the comments – I could talk for hours about analyzing narrative threads across my multiple spirited playthroughs.
