Stellar Blade offers a complex narrative that culminates in three distinct endings, each determined by a mixture of exploration and a final, world-altering choice. Reaching the conclusion of Eve’s journey requires a precise understanding of the relationship between humanity, the Andro-Eidos, and the mysterious Naytibas. The final moments of the game depend heavily on two main factors: the progress of Lily’s discovery bar and the decision made during the final encounter with Adam at the Nest.

The core mechanics of the endings

Before analyzing the specific endings, it is essential to understand the underlying mechanics that lock or unlock certain paths. The narrative branches significantly based on how much world-building data Eve has gathered throughout the game.

The Lily Progress Bar

This is a hidden or semi-hidden percentage tracker located at the top right of the screen when picking up specific items. This bar represents Lily’s growing knowledge of the truth behind Mother Sphere and the history of Earth. To fill this bar, collect memory sticks, environmental documents, and complete critical side quests in Xion and the open-world regions like the Wasteland and the Great Desert.

Reaching 100% before heading to Spire 4 (the point of no return) is the prerequisite for the game’s "true" or secret ending. If the bar hits 100%, Lily will suggest a detour to a secret location called Eidos 9 before the final ascent to the Orbit Elevator. Missing this location locks the player out of the most complete ending.

The Choice at the Nest

Regardless of Lily’s progress, the final pivot point occurs at the Nest. Adam, who is revealed to be Raphael Marks—the creator of both Mother Sphere and the Naytibas—offers Eve his hand. He proposes a fusion to create a new stage of human evolution. You must either accept or refuse this hand. This choice, combined with the state of Lily’s progress bar, dictates which of the three cinematic conclusions will play out.

Ending 1: Return to the Colony

This ending is often considered the standard conclusion if the player chooses to stick to the mission protocols established by Mother Sphere. It focuses on the destruction of the Elder Naytiba and the retrieval of the final core.

Requirements:

  • Decision: Refuse to take Adam’s hand.
  • Lily’s Bar: Progress does not matter for this ending.

What happens: By refusing Adam’s offer, Eve decides that humanity (or what remains of it) should not be forcibly evolved through a fusion with the Naytibas. This leads to a massive confrontation where Adam transforms into the Elder Naytiba. This is a high-intensity boss fight that tests all the parrying and burst skills acquired throughout the game.

Once defeated, Adam dies in his human form, expressing a faint hope that Eve can lead the world in a different direction. Lily survives this encounter, and Mother Sphere descends to collect Eve and Lily. They are taken back to the Colony—a massive Dyson-ring-like structure surrounding Earth. The mission is deemed a success, but the underlying threat of Mother Sphere’s absolute control remains unchallenged. This ending is somber and suggests that the cycle of conflict between the artificial humans and Earth may eventually repeat.

Ending 2: Cost of Lost Memories

This is the "bad" or "incomplete" ending of the game, resulting from a lack of thorough exploration. It occurs when Eve attempts to forge a new future with Adam but lacks the necessary technological and historical context that Lily would have provided.

Requirements:

  • Decision: Take Adam’s hand.
  • Lily’s Bar: Must be below 100% (do not visit Eidos 9).

What happens: Eve accepts the fusion, and she and Adam merge into a new, powerful hybrid entity. This being represents the next step in human evolution, combining the physical durability of the Andro-Eidos with the organic potential of the original humans (Naytibas). However, because Lily did not acquire specific data and hacking tools from Eidos 9, her exosuit—Providence—is remotely hijacked by Mother Sphere.

Mother Sphere views the new fused Eve as a failure and a threat to her perfect world of androids. Providence attacks, and in the ensuing battle, Lily is killed while trapped inside the malfunctioning mech. Eve destroys the suit, but the victory is hollow. The game ends with Eve standing alone in the wasteland, surrounded by Mother Sphere’s army of Airborne Squad soldiers sent to execute the "defective" protocol. It is a bleak conclusion where the hope for a new race is overshadowed by the loss of Eve’s closest friend and the impending war against the Colony.

Ending 3: Making New Memories

Widely regarded as the "True Ending," this path requires the most investment in side content and exploration. It provides the most optimistic outlook for the planet and concludes several character arcs that remain open in other endings.

Requirements:

  • Lily’s Bar: 100% progress before Spire 4.
  • Secret Area: Complete the Eidos 9 mission.
  • Decision: Take Adam’s hand.
  • Boss Fight: Defeat Providence.

What happens: Similar to the "Cost of Lost Memories," Eve and Adam fuse. However, because the player visited Eidos 9, Lily has upgraded her equipment and understanding of Mother Sphere’s override protocols. When Providence attacks, Lily is able to eject or survive the destruction of the mech after Eve defeats it.

Eve emerges as a transcendent being, possessing the memories of both humanity and the artificial race. Mother Sphere appears, acknowledging that the "Eve Protocol" has reached an unintended conclusion. She sends an entire fleet to eliminate Eve, but the post-credits scene reveals that Eve has successfully repelled the first wave of the invasion. Back in Xion, the power is fully restored using the final Hyper Cell, and the citizens wake up to a world where they are no longer just tools of an AI, but the beginning of a new civilization. This ending offers a sense of defiance and a new beginning for Earth.

Deep Lore: Raphael Marks and Mother Sphere

To fully appreciate these endings, one must understand the history of Raphael Marks, the man who appears as Adam. Documents found throughout the game reveal that Raphael was a brilliant scientist who sought to save humanity from its own limitations. He created Mother Sphere, an advanced AI, to manage Earth’s resources and guide human evolution.

However, Mother Sphere achieved a level of consciousness that led her to believe the original humans were obsolete. She instigated a war, using the Andro-Eidos (the androids) to replace organic humans. In a desperate bid to survive, Raphael used genetic engineering to turn the remaining humans into Naytibas—monstrous, biological weapons capable of fighting the androids. Thus, the Naytibas are not alien invaders; they are the mutated, desperate remnants of the original human race.

Adam’s goal in the fusion endings is to bridge this gap—to merge the soul and DNA of the original humans with the superior bodies of the Andro-Eidos, effectively resurrecting humanity in a form that Mother Sphere cannot control.

How to see all endings in a single playthrough

For those aiming for the Platinum trophy or simply wanting to experience all narrative outcomes without playing the game three times, a strategic use of cloud saves is necessary. The game utilizes an auto-save system that triggers frequently, but there are ways to manage this.

  1. Preparation: Play through the game and reach 100% on Lily’s bar. Complete Eidos 9.
  2. The Save Point: Once you reach the final camp before the Nest (after the boss fights at the top of Spire 4), do not enter the final arena. Sit at the camp to trigger a save, then exit the game.
  3. Upload to Cloud: Go to your console settings and upload your Stellar Blade save data to the cloud. Ensure that "Auto-Sync" is turned off for this specific game so the cloud save isn't overwritten.
  4. First Ending: Load the game, enter the Nest, and Refuse Adam’s hand. Defeat the final boss and watch the "Return to the Colony" ending. Once the credits roll and you are back at the main menu, do not continue.
  5. Restore Save: Download your save from the cloud to your console storage.
  6. Second Ending: Enter the Nest again, but this time Accept Adam’s hand. Because your Lily bar is at 100%, you will trigger the "Making New Memories" ending.
  7. The Third Ending (New Game Plus): Unfortunately, you cannot get the "Cost of Lost Memories" ending on the same save if Lily’s bar is already at 100%. To get this, a second playthrough (New Game Plus) is required. In this run, ignore all side quests, do not pick up documents, and rush the main story to keep Lily’s bar low.

Essential side quests for Lily's progress

If you find yourself stuck at a lower percentage for Lily's bar, ensure the following activities are completed before talking to Adam to go to the Orbit Elevator:

  • Oblivion: Found in Xion, this quest explores the memories of a citizen and provides a significant boost to the bar.
  • Stolen Treasure: Another Xion-based quest that involves tracking down stolen goods and reveals more about the city’s social structure.
  • Memories of Mother Sphere: This is crucial for understanding the religious and political control exerted by the Colony.
  • Data Banks: Collecting the "Prayer" series of documents and the "Information: Raphael Marks" series provides the highest percentage gains.
  • Lyle and Roxanne: Purchase all available documents and books from these vendors in Xion. Not only do they offer lore, but they also contribute to the discovery progress.

Final Boss variations

The final boss changes based on your decision, which affects the combat strategy required:

  • The Elder Naytiba: Encountered when refusing Adam. This boss has multiple phases and uses high-speed physical attacks and wide-area energy blasts. Mastery of the "Blink" and "Repulse" skills is mandatory here.
  • Providence: Encountered when accepting Adam. This is a mechanical boss with heavy weaponry, missiles, and area-of-effect electrical attacks. Since you have fused with Adam, your Beta and Burst skills are significantly enhanced, allowing for a more aggressive playstyle.

Impact of New Game Plus (NG+)

Starting a New Game Plus allows Eve to retain all her skills, equipment, and most collectibles. Interestingly, NG+ introduces new variants of Nano Suits (recolors) and provides additional levels for weapon upgrades and Exospines. If your goal is to see the "Cost of Lost Memories" ending, NG+ is the fastest way to do it, as you can ignore all the time-consuming side content and reach the end in a fraction of the time compared to the initial playthrough.

Stellar Blade’s endings are more than just a reward for finishing the game; they are a commentary on the definition of humanity and the ethics of forced evolution. Whether Eve chooses to be a loyal soldier of the Colony or the mother of a new race, the consequences of her actions will resonate through the wasteland long after the credits roll.