Like any good CRPG, there’s a ridiculously elaborate true ending to hunt down in Warhammer 40k: Rogue Trader. The Rogue Trader secret ending can only be unlocked by completing steps across all five acts to make this difficult ending work in your favor — and really, you’re doing it all for the achievement. For getting this ending you’ll earn the ‘How Did It All End?’ achievement — and enjoy a pretty twisted conclusion. In the grim darkness of the far future, there is only war and ridiculously secret endings.
Here’s all the steps required to attain godhood in the Warhammer 40k universe. These steps are still mysterious, and we’re working our way through the campaign again to figure out exactly what this ending requires — we’ll update this guide with any new information as it’s discovered. For now, here’s what you need to do.
More Warhammer 40k: Rogue Trader guides:
Secret Ending Guide
The secret ending for Rogue Trader involves multiple complex steps — you must also stick with a specific conviction for the entire story. You can pick any of the three major convictions, but you must stick as close to these convictions as possible while completing steps. Some steps have specific requirements. Others can be completed in a variety of ways.
If you don’t want to check out the full spoilers, here’s a handful of tips to put you on the right track while completing the game.
- Spoiler-Free Hints:
- Do everything the Cogitator on your bridge needs. Collect the data the Cogitator reveals.
- Use the Cogitator in Act 2 to learn about a strange creature.
- Don’t execute the Techpriest stowaway.
- Keep the strange creature alive up until the end.
These are very, very vague. Let’s get into the details. Beware, there will be some major spoilers ahead.
Secret Ending Steps | Act 1
To progress the ending, you must always follow a specific morality path — you’ll need your path to level up and be as strong as possible by the end. The three paths are:
- Dogmatic (Unflinching devotion, harsh and cruel)
- Iconoclast (Empathy for the individual, a kinder path)
- Heretical (Following the ways of Chaos)
By choosing a conviction, you’ll slowly level it up and be able to pass more speech checks as you progress further in the game. Your first major choice is in Act 1
- At the end of Act 1, the planet Raikad Minoris will come under attack. How you respond will greatly determine your conviction path. What you choose here — stick with it until the end of the game.
- Solve the Defective Servitors problem in the High Factotum. This is one of the first quests you can complete after leaving the Starport.
Secret Ending Steps | Act 2
At the end of Act 1, you’ll encounter the Cogitator on your bridge. Basically, this is a computer. Hack it to reveal secret information.
- Collecting x2 Data: Before completing the main quests on your three planets, use the Cogitator on the bridge of your ship. Hack / pass checks to unlock quests to track down two pieces of data.
- Kiava Gamma: Progress until right before the boss on the main quest on this planet. On the path, you’ll encounter a transport. Remove the brake to get a gear — then enter the nearby room and use the Cogitator terminal. Insert the gear, then enter the secret passage. Beware of traps and reach the hidden Cogitator to collect the data.
- Dargonus: Located in your private quarters. In the bedroom, interact with a book to reveal a hidden safe. Solve the puzzle to open it and collect the data.
Return the data to your ship Cogitator. After that, progress until all three main quests on the three planets are complete.
- After completing the three quests, you’ll learn about the coronation ceremony and be given the option to visit the Cogitator again. Agree to use it.
- At this point, you’ll meet Nomos. This is an incredibly important character for the secret ending. Be kind and do not kill Nomos. You need it to be on your side.
After meeting Nomos, you’ll unlock a quest to interrogate everyone on the ship’s bridge. Complete this quest now just to be sure.
- Complete the coronation in Act 2 — after the ceremony, you’ll encounter Nomos in the palace.
- Talk to Nomos and answer all questions.
That’s it for Act 2. Act 3 has no major requirements — as far as we know.
Secret Ending Steps | Act 4
Nomos will reappear in Act 4. You’ll need to interact multiple times — revisit Nomos often and complete all dialogue options.
- As you progress the main quest in Act 4, revisit Nomos and talk to him. You need to complete all interactions.
- At a certain point in the main quest, a Techpriest will stowaway on your ship. Don’t execute them.
- Allow the Techpriest to work with Nomos.
Before the end of Act 4, you’ll gather enough data to unlock a quest for Nomos. Learn more about Nomos’s ‘place of birth’ to complete the quest. If you’ve done everything right so far, you’ll unlock the ‘The Possessed Ship‘ achievement. If you get this achievement, you should be fully prepared to unlock the secret ending.
Secret Ending Steps | Act 5
Act 5 is the final chapter. Before the end, you’ll be given several choices. Here’s what you need to do to unlock the secret ending to the story.
- Unlock the location of Epitaph — a Necron Tomb World. After reaching the planet, Nomos will confront you. Agree to allow Nomos to inhabit the body of the Techpriest stowaway.
- During the final battle of the game, Nomos will join you as a companion. You must keep Nomos alive during the battle against the C’ton.
Once the C’ton Space God is defeated, allow Nomos to merge with the C’ton — this ends the story and lifts up your creation, becoming a god and changing the universe. That’s a pretty major ending, and one of the most exciting paths you can follow to reach the end.
Credits: [Renval on Steam], [Rogue Trader Wiki], [Rogue Trader Reddit]
