Complete IRON NEST endings guide: trigger all 4 Mission 15 outcomes (PRPG, White Phosphorus, Atomic, Road Not Taken betrayal) & secret telegram logic.
IRON NEST Endings — All 4 Endings & How to Get Them
IRON NEST: Heavy Turret Simulator features four primary endings, all decided during Mission 15, "White Shells". Rather than following standard mandatory targeting directives, the campaign finale poses a single strategic choice: which ordnance will you load into the heavy gun before firing on Barcelona? Your shell selection—and one hidden betrayal trajectory—determines the political and military fate of the theater. This guide breaks down all four endings, exact trigger conditions, secret teletype telegram logic, and common pitfalls.
Official source: Per official developer updates on the Steam store page, IGN game page, and the Official site, Mission 15 serves as the single branching finale for the campaign.
Official resources: Steam store page · IGN game page · Official site
Mission 15 "White Shells" Ending Decision Structure
Unlike earlier operations like Mission 9 Dead Reckoning or the Gorge barrage, Mission 15 drops the conventional target sequence. The Iron Nest heavy turret initializes at grid sector A10. High Command issues final firing orders via teletype printer, demanding an immediate strike on Barcelona.
Your choice of loaded shell dictates the ending cinematic and campaign resolution. Understanding the best shell types unlocked throughout your playthrough ensures you have the necessary ordnance ready on the shell rack.
Ending Branch Conditions & Ammunition Matrix
The table below outlines every ending branch, required shell loadout, target coordinates, and narrative outcome:
| Ending Title | Required Ordnance / Action | Target Coordinates | Key Narrative Consequence | Achievement & Rarity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A City in Celebration | PRPG (Propaganda Leaflet Shell) | Sector A10 -> Barcelona Grid | City spared; psychological morale warfare | Standard (Common) |
| A City Subdued | PGAS / TGAS Chemical or White Phosphorus | Sector A10 -> Barcelona Grid | City capably suppressed; non-atomic fallout | Standard (Uncommon) |
| A City Silent | A100 Atomic / Nuclear Ordnance | Sector A10 -> Barcelona Grid | Barcelona completely annihilated; utter silence | Standard (Rare) |
| The Road Not Taken | Turn Gun on High Command HQ & Survive | Retaliation Battery Grid | High Command destroyed; betrayal route cleared | Hidden (Rarest: 0.42%) |
Ending 1: A City in Celebration (PRPG Propaganda Route)
The non-lethal campaign resolution requires loading a PRPG propaganda leaflet shell into the main breech.
- Select the PRPG leaflet payload from your shell rack.
- Dial elevation to match the Barcelona urban center (bearing 184.2°, elevation 42.1° with 4 powder charges).
- Pull the firing lanyard.
Instead of explosive devastation, thousands of surrender leaflets rain down over Barcelona. The city survives intact, though under occupation rule. This route is favored by operators seeking a clean conscience while still fulfilling the firing directive.
For the best narrative buildup, cycle through the endings in this order: A City in Celebration → A City Subdued → A City Silent → The Road Not Taken. Leaving the betrayal route for last provides maximum thematic impact.
Ending 2: A City Subdued (Chemical & White Phosphorus Route)
The tactical suppression ending requires firing non-nuclear incendiary or chemical munitions into the target zone.
- White Phosphorus Shells: Causes widespread thermal suppression across the defense lines.
- Chemical Shells (PGAS / TGAS): Phosgene or tear gas rounds force immediate military capitulation without structural annihilation.
Loading any variant from the chemical/incendiary family triggers A City Subdued. Barcelona falls to ground forces within hours, suffering tactical paralysis without complete urban destruction.
Ending 3: A City Silent (Atomic Shell Route)
The most destructive ending is triggered by loading the A100 Atomic shell—unlocked after accumulating high requisition points in late-game missions.
Firing the A100 Atomic shell instantly vaporizes the target grid. High Command commends your absolute obedience, but the comms channel goes dead quiet as Barcelona is silenced forever.
Executing this ending unlocks the A City Silent achievement. It represents total commitment to High Command's scorched-earth doctrine.
Ending 4: The Road Not Taken (High Command Betrayal — 0.42%)
The rarest and most complex ending requires turning your heavy artillery against your own commanders. Only 0.42% of players have unlocked The Road Not Taken.
Step-by-Step Betrayal Protocol:
- Ignore Barcelona Coordinates: Do not load or aim at the city.
- Re-orient to High Command HQ: Rotate bearing to 012.8° and set elevation for 6 powder charges targeting the military headquarters bunker.
- Fire Heavy Ordnance: Load an HE or Armor-Piercing shell and destroy the High Command HQ structure.
- Survive Retaliation Artillery: Destroying HQ initializes the Betrayal State. High Command's reserve batteries will open counter-fire on your Iron Nest. You must calculate counter-battery solutions and destroy responding batteries to survive.
If you destroy High Command HQ but get destroyed by retaliatory battery fire, the run counts as a Failed Attempt. You must completely neutralize all incoming retaliatory artillery threats to trigger the true The Road Not Taken ending cinematic.
Secret Teleprinter Orders & Telegram Execution Logic
Throughout Mission 15, the teletype printer in your command bunker continuously outputs real-time telegrams. Decrypting these messages reveals hidden operational details:
- Teleprinter Priority Code 'OMEGA': Arrives 90 seconds into Mission 15. Dispatches exact coordinates for High Command's emergency command bunker (bearing 012.8°), enabling the betrayal route.
- Secret King Execution Easter Egg: Entering bearing
327.9°with elevation57.12°and firing a heavy HE shell targets the royal observation blimp. Firing this round results in an immediate court-martial strike, serving as a dark secret easter egg. - Intercepted Rebel Frequencies: Monitoring teletype output allows operators using the elevation calculator to quickly cross-reference strike zones before committing to a final shell choice.
Pre-Finale Preparation & Replay Strategy
Because Mission 15 contains no mandatory pre-requisite target chains, replaying the finale to unlock all Steam achievements is exceptionally fast.
- Bank Requisition Early: Ensure you have unlocked PRPG, PGAS/TGAS, and Atomic shells prior to Mission 15.
- Save Calibration Presets: Keep manual calculations for grid A10 saved to quickly switch between shell types.
- Fast Replay Loop: A complete ending run takes less than three minutes once you master the teletype inputs and lanyard sequence.
If you are interested in trying multi-operator runs for the finale, check out our IRON NEST Co-op & Multiplayer guide.
FAQ
How many endings does IRON NEST have?
IRON NEST features four distinct narrative endings: A City in Celebration, A City Subdued, A City Silent, and The Road Not Taken. All four are decided in Mission 15 (White Shells).
How do you trigger the secret Road Not Taken betrayal ending?
You must rotate your heavy turret away from Barcelona, destroy High Command HQ (bearing 012.8°), and successfully destroy all retaliatory enemy artillery batteries without dying.
What happens when you fire the propaganda PRPG shell in Mission 15?
Firing the PRPG shell releases thousands of surrender leaflets over Barcelona. The city capitulates without casualties, unlocking the A City in Celebration ending.
Is there a secret king execution easter egg in IRON NEST?
Yes. Inputting bearing 327.9° and elevation 57.12° with a heavy HE shell strikes the royal observation blimp, triggering an immediate retaliation strike and unique teletype log.
Do you need to replay the full campaign to unlock all endings?
No. You only need to replay Mission 15 ("White Shells"). Each ending requires under three minutes once you reload the final mission checkpoint.
Related Guides
More IRON NEST: Heavy Turret Simulator Guides
IRON NEST platforms explained: PC-only on Steam, GOG and Epic, no Xbox/PS5 version yet, Steam Deck Verified status, cloud saves, and cross-store differences.
An honest IRON NEST review: gameplay, moral-choice storytelling, how it compares to PVKK, who it's for, community reception, and whether it's worth $19.99.
Where IRON NEST stores saves (AppData\LocalLow\IronNestTeam\IronNest), Steam Cloud backup, transferring progress, and fixing the Patch 1.0 save corruption bug.
Every IRON NEST shell type explained: HE, AP, HCHE, SMK, STAR, chemical (PGAS/TGAS), PRPG, White Phosphorus and Atomic — plus tier ratings and when to use each.
IRON NEST music explained: the record player on your desk, the military-march style, whether an official OST exists, and how to play vinyl in the turret.
How IRON NEST runs on Steam Deck: ProtonDB Platinum status, best settings (TDP, FSR, resolution), battery life, controller support, and known issues.
IRON NEST: Heavy Turret Simulator minimum and recommended system requirements, download size, Steam Deck support, and laptop/iGPU tips — can your PC run it?
Every IRON NEST patch so far (Patch 1.0 fixes), update cadence, the 200,000-player launch, and the roadmap — what's confirmed coming to the heavy turret sim.