SPOILERS: Purficiation vs Return

[MidnightMist]

Can someone explain to me the differences between these endings in terms of lore, and also what the final boss of each ending is?

[Arcanyxia]

Final boss of all endings except Shura is the same. Purification lore-wise is where you tell the dragon's heritage to ♥♥♥♥ off and leave Kuro alone, but Sekiro dies doing such. Kuro lives on as a good little human boy in a world infested with demons.
Return you tell the dragon's heritage to mega-♥♥♥♥ off and return where it came from (the west) Kuro gets essentially vored by the divine child, but he is happy and complacent in such, and you get cleared of your immortality. Sekiro and the Divine child/Kuro move on in life to seek new adventures, cleared of immortality.

[Harukage]

Mm, not really. In Return Sekiro and Divine Child go to the west to seek Divine Dragon and give him his blood back with all the immortallity and corruption it brought. Kuro is safeguarded inside Divine Child. A start of new journey.

[Jotun]

Originally posted by Sanima:

Kuro gets essentially vored by the divine child, but he is happy and complacent in such, and you get cleared of your immortality. Sekiro and the Divine child/Kuro move on in life to seek new adventures, cleared of immortality.

Sekiro 2 in the west confirmed.

[Arcanyxia]

close enough

[MidnightMist]

I'm very torn, I really would rather do Return, but I hear Purification unlocks the most amount of content including prayer beads and minibosses you can't get with the other ending.

[InstableMonster]

Originally posted by Nitrobat:

I'm very torn, I really would rather do Return, but I hear Purification unlocks the most amount of content including prayer beads and minibosses you can't get with the other ending.

You can do the pre requisite for purification and return and you have the choice of what to give kuro at the end and thus choose the ending you want.

[Jotun]

Originally posted by Nitrobat:

I'm very torn, I really would rather do Return, but I hear Purification unlocks the most amount of content including prayer beads and minibosses you can't get with the other ending.

I did immortal severance and Return now. I'll do Purification in NG+ and Shura in NG++.

[Arcanyxia]

Originally posted by Nitrobat:

I'm very torn, I really would rather do Return, but I hear Purification unlocks the most amount of content including prayer beads and minibosses you can't get with the other ending.

You get no bonus bosses from Return. Purification gets you one extra boss, two extra minibosses IIRC, Shura gets you two extra bosses, but cuts out a ton of bosses and minibosses (assuming immortal severance is the norm)

[MidnightMist]

Originally posted by Jotun:

Originally posted by Nitrobat:

I'm very torn, I really would rather do Return, but I hear Purification unlocks the most amount of content including prayer beads and minibosses you can't get with the other ending.

I did immortal severance and Return now. I'll do Purification in NG+ and Shura in NG++.

Is this true? I can't find confirmation for that anywhere, but I was really hoping this was the case.

[✿ Marru ✿]

Originally posted by Sanima:

Purification gets you one extra boss, two extra minibosses IIRC,

Im curious, which two extra minibosses unlock with Purification ending? I thought it only has 1 extra big boss, didn't know about minibosses.

[MidnightMist]

Originally posted by InstableMonster:

Originally posted by Nitrobat:

I'm very torn, I really would rather do Return, but I hear Purification unlocks the most amount of content including prayer beads and minibosses you can't get with the other ending.

You can do the pre requisite for purification and return and you have the choice of what to give kuro at the end and thus choose the ending you want.

Do you know where Emma went? I'm following a guide for the Purification ending and it says talk to Emma after eavesdropping on Kuro, but she isn't ANYWHERE

[Tr0w]

I've just done the castle and beaten Genichiro, if i want the return ending should i go the Senpou Temple or the Depths first?

[Harukage]

Does not matter really.
To get it you need both the access to Divine Child of Rejuvinating Waters in the temple and underwater breathing technique from the Depth.
There is a guide on wiki that can tell you what you need to do exactly.

[Tr0w]

Originally posted by Harukage:

Does not matter really.
To get it you need both the access to Divine Child of Rejuvinating Waters in the temple and underwater breathing technique from the Depth.
There is a guide on wiki that can tell you what you need to do exactly.

I was just wondering if getting the mortal blade first would cos Kuro to move locations or trigger the castle siege lockout that i've seen mentioned and then lock me out from being able to give him the riceball?

[Tiasmoon]

Originally posted by Nitrobat:

Originally posted by InstableMonster:

You can do the pre requisite for purification and return and you have the choice of what to give kuro at the end and thus choose the ending you want.

Do you know where Emma went? I'm following a guide for the Purification ending and it says talk to Emma after eavesdropping on Kuro, but she isn't ANYWHERE

She is upstairs.