Embark on a mystical journey through the Elden Ring universe with the captivating Ranni questline, a tale woven with intrigue, betrayal, and celestial destinies. As players traverse the haunting landscapes of Liurnia and beyond, they will encounter enigmatic characters like Ranni the Witch and her loyal allies, each holding secrets that could alter the fate of the Lands Between. This guide unveils every step of Ranni’s intricate quest, leading to powerful rewards, including the coveted Dark Moon Greatsword and access to one of the game’s most elusive endings: the Age of Stars. Prepare to delve deep into lore and challenge formidable foes as you uncover the mysteries that lie within this epic saga.
Location
Ranni’s questline in Elden Ring takes players through several key locations across the Lands Between, beginning in Liurnia of the Lakes. To initiate the quest, players must ascend to Ranni’s Rise, located within the Three Sisters area, after defeating Royal Knight Loretta at Caria Manor. Following this, the journey leads to Nokron, the Eternal City, where players uncover significant lore and treasures, including the elusive Fingerslayer Blade. The quest culminates at the Cathedral of Manus Celes in the Moonlight Altar, where players can complete Ranni’s storyline and unlock unique rewards, including the powerful Dark Moon Greatsword. Each location is intricately designed to enhance the narrative and challenge players as they assist Ranni in her quest for power.
Most of the time, Ranni can be found in her tower, which is behind Carian Manor in Liurnia of the Lakes region.
How to proceed with the quest?
To proceed with Ranni’s questline in Elden Ring, players must first locate Ranni the Witch at Ranni’s Rise, situated in Liurnia of the Lakes. After defeating Royal Knight Loretta at Caria Manor, ascend to the top of the tower to engage Ranni, who will invite you to serve her. Accept her offer and then speak with her three allies: Blaidd, Iji, and Seluvis, all of whom provide crucial information for your journey. Following these conversations, players must defeat Starscourge Radahn at Redmane Castle to unlock further progression. This pivotal step leads to the exploration of Nokron, the Eternal City, where players will retrieve the Fingerslayer Blade and continue their quest to assist Ranni in her ambitions.
To start the Ranni questline, you need to travel to her and meet her in person. She can be found at the top of her tower. Talk to her and then offer your help.
Ranni will ask you to go talk to the projections of her companions who will be essential throughout the course of the first quest.
As you descend further and further down the tower, you’ll encounter 3 projections. The first projection is that of Ijii the giant. You can find him in front ofCaria Manor. You’ll encounter Ijii even before starting the questline, as this is the only way that leads to Ranni’s Rise.
Another projection is that of Blaidd , the man-wolf. You will find him in Mistwood , in the ruins of the same name. To summon him, you need to visit the area at night. Once you hear a wolf howling, you need to get closer to the ruins and use the finger snap gesture, which is received from Kale the merchant in Limgrave, in Church of Elleh to be exact.
The final target is the projection of Seluvis, who can be found near Ranni’s Rise, in Seluvis’s Rise to be exact.
After talking to each of the projections, return to Ranni to find out what to do next. After talking with her, make a detour to visit Seluvis, who is in his tower. He will give you a task that you can complete at later date. It also influences Ranni’s questline.
After the first meeting with Blaidd, he will now relocate to Siofra River underground location. You can access this region by using the well marked with yellow arrow in the screenshot.
Blaidd will be waiting in the eastern part of the region, near a chasm. To get there, travel to Siofra River Bank site of grace and go forward while sticking to the right side. Talk to him. Blaidd will tell you to go meet Seluvis.
After talking to Seluvis, he will reveal to you that Sorcerer Sellen may know how to get to Nokron. Travel to Waypoint Ruins in Limgrave . Talk to Sellen to learn that in order to get access to Nokron, you need to defeat Radahn.
Once the conversation concludes, travel back to Siofra River and meet Blaidd again. He will tell you that Radahn is organizing a festival in southern Caelid.
Travel to Redmane Castle, located in south-western Caelid. . Once you arrive, you’ll notice a portal before the bridge that will allow you to reach festival grounds.
After defeating Radahn, talk to Blaidd, and ten travel to Fort Haight West site of grace in Limgrave.
As you reach the location, you’ll notice many stone fragments kept in stasis. This is where the star has struck, unlocking the path to Nokron.
Descend by jumping on lower and lower ledges and enter Nokron, Eternal City. Continue traveling until you reach Ancestral Woods site of grace.
As you’re near the site of grace, climb the ledge to return to the city. This is the path you must follow in order to find the treasure Ranni is looking for.
Keep moving forward until you’re able to safely get down. You’ll encounter a lot of mimics – kill them as fast as you can so they don’t mimic your character. The treasure you’re looking for (Fingerslayer Blade) is behind the enemies.
Once you have the item, return to Ranni, who remains in her tower. She will reward you with a Carian Inverted Statue. This item is required in order to continue Ranni’s questline.
Your new destination isCarian Study Hall . The location is marked with an arrow in the screenshot.
Approach the large globe. As you approach the pedestal, place the item received from Ranni on it. This will make the library turn 180 degrees.
You have to keep going up until you come across huge chandeliers. However, watch out for an enemy firing at you with a magic bow.
As you find yourself on the chandelier, you must safely reach the wooden beams below.
Proceed slowly to avoid falling down, approach the area marked on the screenshot and then jump down to the platform. Stand in the middle to activate the mechanism.
Once you have used the platform, you will find yourself on a bridge. Watch out, as halfway you’ll be attacked by a Godskin Noble in form of a regular opponent.
After defeating the opponent, travel to Divine Tower of Liurnia . At the top of the tower you will find a Cursemark of Death .
Now, instead of traveling to Ranni’s Rise, make your way to Renna’s Rise, shown in the screenshot.
At the top of the tower, you’ll find Snow Witch Set and a teleport that will take you to a different part of Ainsel River. .
Once in the area, pick up Miniature Ranni, Then rest at the nearest site of grace.
As you are resting, select the penultimate option from the menu, which will allow you to talk to the doll. This is a mandatory step in this quest.
During the conversation, the miniature Ranni will tell you that you will have to defeat one enemy who is in this location. Exhaust all dialogue options and click the option until she will tell you about Baleful Shadows.
After the conversation, follow the path laid out by the river. Near the Lake of Rot, you will be attacked by the previously mentioned Baleful Shadow.
After defeating him, you will receive Discarded Palace Key .
Now you can go back to Raya Lucaria Grand Library . Next to Rennalia, there is a chest that has been locked until now. With the previously obtained key, you will be able to open the chest.
In it you will find Dark Moon Ring . This is a key item that will come into play in the final stage of Ranni’s questline.
Now, if you haven’t already, you must defeat Astel, Naturalborn of the Void . Go to the place marked in the screenshot. There you will find a coffin that you must enter. It will take you to Astel arena.
Once the enemy has been defeated, rest at a site of grace and then continue forward. Thanks to the ring you have, the seal blocking the way will disappear.
Moving on, you will get to a new location in Liurnia of the Lakes .
Travel to Cathedral of Manus Celes . Its exact location is shown in the screenshot. However, be careful while exploring this area, as the Glintstone Dragon Adula will appear near the cathedral.
You can defeat or ignore it and continue towards the cathedral. You don’t have to defeat the dragon in order to gain access to the cathedral.
Once inside the cathedral, find and pickup 11 Starlight Shards , then head downstairs through the hole in the center of the cathedral. You’ll find Ranni’s body there. Now you must put the ring on her finger.
After you put the ring on, the quest will be concluded. Ranni will disappear and will reappear only after defeating the final boss – Elden Beast. There is a blue summoning sign in the arena. When you interact with it, you will unlock the Ranni ending.
Reward for completing the quest
Completing Ranni’s questline in Elden Ring rewards players with a variety of valuable items and unique experiences. Notably, players earn the Dark Moon Greatsword, one of the most powerful weapons in the game, which becomes available after delivering the Dark Moon Ring to Ranni’s body. Additionally, finishing this extensive quest unlocks the Age of Stars ending, providing a significant narrative payoff that enhances the overall gameplay experience. Throughout the quest, players also acquire other rewards such as the Carian Inverted Statue and various pieces of armor, making it a highly rewarding endeavor for those who embark on this intricate journey.
Completing Ranni’s questline yields a lot of rewards, among them, a new ending, and Dark Moon Greatsword.
What are the most challenging parts of the Ranni questline
The Ranni questline in Elden Ring presents several challenging segments that test players’ skills and perseverance. Here are the most notable hurdles:
Key Challenges in the Ranni Questline
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Caria Manor and Royal Knight Loretta:
- Players must navigate through Caria Manor, which is filled with formidable enemies, including the Royal Knight Loretta, a tough boss known for her sorcery and powerful attacks. Defeating her is crucial to progress.
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Defeating Starscourge Radahn:
- A significant milestone involves battling Radahn, one of the game’s major bosses, during the festival at Redmane Castle. This fight is particularly challenging due to Radahn’s devastating attacks and the need for strategic positioning, making it a daunting task for many players.
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Navigating Nokron, Eternal City:
- After defeating Radahn, players must explore Nokron, which includes navigating through tricky enemies and environmental hazards. The area is populated with powerful foes, including ant-riding monks and electrical blobs, adding to the difficulty.
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Astel, Naturalborn of the Void:
- The battle against Astel, a unique boss found later in the questline, requires players to master dodging and timing due to its complex attack patterns and high damage output.
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Baleful Shadow Encounter:
- Players must also defeat the Baleful Shadow, a challenging mini-boss that can catch players off-guard with its aggressive tactics, requiring quick reflexes and strategic planning.
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Final Steps at the Cathedral of Manus Celes:
- The final stages involve navigating through the Cathedral of Manus Celes, where players face various challenges before placing the Dark Moon Ring on Ranni’s finger, culminating in a significant lore moment.
These sections not only demand skillful combat but also thorough exploration and attention to detail to ensure all necessary steps are completed for a successful quest outcome.
What are the best strategies to defeat Loretta in Caria Manor
Defeating Royal Knight Loretta in Elden Ring can be a daunting task, but with the right strategies, players can overcome her formidable attacks. Here are some effective tactics to help you succeed in this challenging boss fight:
Best Strategies to Defeat Royal Knight Loretta
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Prepare Your Gear:
- Equip armor and talismans that enhance your magic resistance, as Loretta’s attacks include powerful magical spells. The Crucible Feather Talisman is particularly useful for increasing your invincibility frames during dodges, making it easier to avoid her spells.
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Understand Her Attack Patterns:
- Loretta employs both melee attacks with her spear and magical attacks. Pay attention to her movements; she often telegraphs her magic spells by pausing briefly before casting. This gives you a chance to distance yourself and prepare for dodging.
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Utilize Jump Attacks:
- Jump attacks can stagger Loretta, allowing you to deal significant damage. Focus on hitting her while she is recovering from an attack or after you successfully dodge her spells. Targeting her horse with jump attacks can also yield higher damage.
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Stay Mobile and Patient:
- Maintain a distance when she’s charging up powerful attacks, such as Loretta’s Greatbow, which has a long wind-up but deals massive damage if it connects. Instead of trying to outrun it, time your dodge to roll through the arrow just before it hits.
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Avoid Attacking from Behind:
- Engaging Loretta from behind can be dangerous due to her horse’s kick attack, which can deal heavy damage. It’s safer to position yourself in front of her where you can anticipate her spear swings and magical attacks more easily.
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Consider Summons for Support:
- If you’re struggling, consider summoning another player or using a Spirit Ash summon like the Lone Wolf Ashes. This can distract Loretta and give you opportunities to heal or unleash your own attacks without being the sole target.
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Watch for Multiple Attack Combinations:
- Loretta often chains her attacks together, especially in the second phase of the fight. Be prepared to dodge multiple times in quick succession as she unleashes a flurry of spear strikes or magical projectiles.
By applying these strategies and maintaining a keen awareness of Loretta’s attack patterns, players can significantly improve their chances of defeating this challenging boss and progressing through Caria Manor in Elden Ring.