There are three main playable epilogues in the Witcher 3, with a good variety of variations depending on your choices both in the main quest and through sidequests in the game. Ciri’s fate is the most important, as what happens to her will determine the epilogue you receive. All other significant choices will be elaborated upon in a short hand-painted scene narrated by an older Dandelion that rolls just before the end credits.
CIRI’S FATE:
Ending A: DEATH
Wow you really screwed up there bud didn’t ya?
Anyways, here’s how to kill your daughter in a couple easy steps (Apparently as soon as three of the below are chosen this epilogue automatically triggers):
1) After Vesemir’s death, you must choose to drink with Ciri instead of tossing some snowballs to cheer her up.
2) During a conversation with Ciri late in the game, you have the option to mention that the Emperor wants to see her. If you choose to go with her to Emhyr, you must accept the coin bounty that you are given instead of refusing it.
3) During final preparations, you must not have let Ciri go alone to the Lodge of Sorceresses.
4) When you are given the option to do so, give the necklace of Lara Dorren to Ciri/Don't destroy the lab.
5) Stop Ciri from going to the grave of Skjall.
In this epilogue you will be hunting down the final crone that got away during one of Ciri’s boss fights. You will encounter a werewolf; depending on your dialogue choice he will either fight you or lead you to the crone (and fight alongside you in the battle). Later on you are given another choice to antagonize and fight some random hunters. You eventually find and kill the crone. Tearing the crone’s house apart, you find Ciri’s medallion and the game ends with you staring on morosely. Yeah, I hope that feels bad. Maybe on your next playthrough you won’t be such a bad father. >:I
Ending B: EMPRESS OF NILFGAARD
A bittersweet epilogue, yet it happens to be my favorite so far.
To obtain this epilogue:
1) After Vesemir’s death, have a snowball fight with Ciri to cheer her up
2) During a conversation with Ciri late in the game, you have the option to mention that the Emperor wants to see her. Choose to go with her to Emhyr, and refuse to take the coin bounty that was promised.
3) During final preparations, let Ciri go alone to talk with the Lodge
4) Do not give the necklace of Lara Dorren to Ciri/Let her destroy the lab.
5) Let Ciri go to Skjall.
You have to visit Emhyr to get this epilogue and you have to pick at least 3 other options from the rest of the list to finalize the epilogue (honestly to make sure you get the right endings you might as well just do all of it). You also have to make sure Emhyr wins the war by completing the Radovid assassination quest and not allowing Roche and co. to die.
For this ending, you start off already inside a tavern. Zoltan, Dandelion, and your wife (Triss, Yennefer, or an empty chair if you didn’t pursue romance or ended up getting caught cheating) will be there as well. You’ll soon go to look for Ciri and find her and save her from nearly getting killed by a random monster at the griffin’s nest. She seems really distracted, so you suggest going on a little fishing trip. Scare the bear away from the area and show off your fishing skills to Ciri by blowing up the fish with bombs. After another walk with Ciri you’ll come across a Nilfgaardian encampment. Ciri will remark on how she almost forgot it was today (pfft) and Geralt will be caught off guard and somewhat shocked. Anyways, exhaust the dialogue options and you’ll find that she made this choice of her own volition after some careful thought, believing that she could make a much bigger difference running the empire than being on the road as a witcher. They will share a heartfelt goodbye (Ciri will say something about it not necessarily being a goodbye and you can choose to agree, with Geralt saying that Ciri will be able to visit and find him occasionally) and Ciri will hand over her sword and head off to the Nilfgaardians waiting for her (probably not the wisest of decisions considering how many kings have already been killed by the end of this series :I). At the end, Dandelion will remark on how Ciri inherited her father’s keen political instincts and Geralt’s sense of basic human decency, something that few rulers possessed. Ciri ends up ruling most of the world.
Ending C: ON THE WITCHER PATH
Probably the happiest epilogue, although it doesn’t seem like that at first due to a bait-and-switch that CDProjektRed tries to pull to make you think Ciri’s dead for the majority of it. Hahahahaha what a good joke (it wasn’t. It really wasn’t. Please don’t do that ever again.).
To get this epilogue, just do the same thing to get epilogue B, except convince Ciri not to go to Emhyr for a final visit when the option comes up during a conversation late game. Actually I think this can still trigger if you do go for the final visit and take the coin bounty because Ciri gets all pissed off at Geralt and says she can't be bribed but I can't remember.
In this epilogue, you visit his royal majesty in Vizima to tell him that Ciri died saving everyone from the White Frost. Depending on how much of a sadist you want to be you can either tell him that he was a terrible father for Ciri and make him really upset or you can try to lie and tell him that Ciri regretted not being able to say goodbye, which still makes him upset but considerably less so. In any case he tells you that you’re free to go and that he doesn’t want to see you ever again. Time passes and you travel to get an amazing Witcher’s sword from a renowned merchant. You get the choice of choosing what to inscribe on the sword, either naming it Swallow in Elder Speech (the first option) or some random saying (the second option). I hope if you get this epilogue you choose the first because that’s the only thing that makes sense
. You head inside a tavern and SURPISE turns out Ciri’s alive!!! She asks if Emhyr believes you, and Geralt says he has no clue, before giving her the brand spanking new witcher’s sword. The epilogue ends with both of them getting ready to go on a hunt. Geralt teaches Ciri all he knows and then they set off on their own paths. Word of an ashen-haired witcher spreads throughout the North and Ciri takes up your calling.
GERALT’S FATE:
Ending A: Alone and on the Witcher Path
To obtain this ending is relatively simple: either forgo all romantic interaction with Triss and Yennefer by not completing their respective sidequests, or try to double time them, resulting in an absolutely hilarious breakup scene. Yup, you had it coming. Anyways, Geralt continues on his path as a witcher, ever on the move, looking for coin and fulfilling monster contracts, while occasionally meeting up with Dandelion at taverns and bars to reminisce over what could have or might have been.
Ending B: Living with Triss
In this ending, Geralt and Triss settle down in an idyllic cottage in Kovir for their happily ever after. Triss takes up work as a mage adviser to the king while Geralt occasionally does some Witcher work for the heck of it (not because he really needs to since apparently the king pays well and Triss becomes wealthy, but just for the fun of it).
To obtain this outcome just complete all of Triss’s sidequests, be nice to her, do romantic stuff when prompted, and don’t try to cheat on her with Yennefer.
Ending C: Living with Yennefer
In this ending, Geralt and Yennefer settle down in the middle of nowhere, far away from any politics. They enjoy long romantic strolls together and wake up late for breakfasts in bed. Just a quiet, simple, life that they are content with.
To obtain this outcome just complete all of Yennefer’s sidequests, be nice to her, do romantic stuff when prompted, and don’t try to cheat on her with Triss.
Fate of the Northern Kingdoms:
Ending A: Emhyr Triumphant
Nilfgaard envelops the entirety of the North, and black banners fall over all of Redania. Nilfgaardian troops withdraw from Temeria, and the country is restored with its old borders, albeit as a vassal state to Nilfgaard. Shifting his focus to the domestic front, with the help of his loyal spies, Emperor Emhyr discovers a conspiracy being created to kill him and quickly moves to execute the would-be traitors.
To obtain this outcome, you must:
1) Participate in the sidequest to assassinate Radovid with Roche, Ves, Thaler, and Dijkstra
2) After the assassination and celebration, when Dijkstra attempts to eliminate Roche, Ves, and Thaler to ensure that Temeria does not sign the truce with Nilfgaard, you must choose to not let them die instead of walking away. Your final objective is to kill Dijkstra and his men.
Ending B: Radovid Triumphant
Outnumbered, but, stunningly enough, not outwitted, Radovid proves to be a surprisingly cunning and capable leader and drives back the Black Ones. All of the North is united under Redania, and the Northern Kingdoms become the Nazi KKKingdoms. Non-humans, mages, sorcerers, and other “degenerates” are killed in droves in the drive for “moral renewal”. Pyres burn throughout the North, and even simple herbalists and healers are caught up and killed in the frenzy. For some, “freedom” under Radovid’s scepter is worse than servitude to others. Meanwhile, in Nilfgaard, the Emperor’s failure to complete his conquest proves his fallibility and galvanizes his opposition. A coup is carried out and Emhyr is assassinated.
To obtain this ending, just ignore the sidequest to assassinate Radovid.
Ending C: Dijkstra Triumphant
With the death of Radovid, Dijkstra quickly moves to secure his reign on Redania and to continue the war against Nilfgaard. Without the fanaticism of Radovid, Dijkstra stops the senseless mage massacres and other silliness and turns Redania into a more civilized state, and is successful in uniting all the free North under Redania and driving back the invaders to the south. Meanwhile, in Nilfgaard, the Emperor’s failure to complete his conquest proves his fallibility and galvanizes his opposition. A coup is carried out and Emhyr is assassinated.
To obtain this outcome, you must:
1) Participate in the sidequest to assassinate Radovid with Roche, Ves, Thaler, and Dijkstra
2) After the assassination and celebration, when Dijkstra attempts to eliminate Roche, Ves, and Thaler to ensure that Temeria does not sign the truce with Nilfgaard, you must choose to walk away and not get involved.
Fate of Skellige Isles
Ending A: Cerys’ Reign
Support Cerys in the King’s Gambit sidequest and she will lead the isles to become more isolationist, ensuring that no more raiding of foreign shores occurs. Focusing inwards, the people of Skellige enjoy great prosperity, although their fangs are dulled from not fighting anymore. Definitely the happiest ending.
Ending B: Hjalmar’s Reign
Support Hjalmar in the King’s Gambit sidequest and he will lead them to never ending raids against Nilfgaard’s shores. I suppose if you really hate Nilfgaard and wanted to see them weaken further you’d choose this and support either Dijkestra or Radovid.
Ending C: Svanrige’s Reign
On the other hand, if you were lazy and just wanted to speed through the game while doing as little sidequests as possible, this ending will be automatically chosen for you. Svanrige unites the islands under an absolute monarchy modeled after those on the continent; unfortunately he ends up shedding a lot of his countrymen’s blood in the process.