Elden Ring: Ranni Quest Walkthrough

Start the meeting, then clear the first barrier

Ranni’s quest begins at Ranni’s Rise in the Three Sisters, beyond Caria Manor. Speak to her and exhaust the dialogue. The initial conversation introduces Blaidd, Seluvis, and Iji; make the rounds downstairs before leaving the tower if they appear there. The route can look stalled afterward because the next real gate is the Radahn Festival. Speak with Blaidd in Siofra River if you want the quest’s intended clue trail, but do not mistake every dialogue line for an immediate new objective.

Defeat Radahn to open the route into Nokron. In Nokron, retrieve the Fingerslayer Blade from the Night’s Sacred Ground and return it to Ranni. This is the key hand-off: it opens the next stage and gives access to Renna’s Rise. Keep the goal simple: reach the Night’s Sacred Ground, take the named blade, and hand it back at Ranni’s Rise.

Keep the small doll conversation from becoming a dead end

At Renna’s Rise, use the waygate to reach Ainsel River Main and pick up the Miniature Ranni. Rest at the nearby Grace and choose the special dialogue prompt repeatedly until the doll answers. Continue through the river route, defeat the Baleful Shadow, and use the discarded key it provides at the locked chest in Rennala’s room at Raya Lucaria. The reward there allows the Lake of Rot and later route to continue.

Stage	Action that advances it	If it feels blocked
Three Sisters	Speak to Ranni and her initial visitors	Check the lower floor before travelling away.
Siofra/Nokron	Defeat Radahn, then take the Fingerslayer Blade to Ranni	The crater into Nokron appears after Radahn.
Ainsel River	Talk to the Miniature Ranni at the Grace	The prompt may need several conversations.
Raya Lucaria	Open Rennala’s locked chest with the key	Do not look for the chest in the underground route.

Cross the Lake of Rot and reach Astel

With the Dark Moon Ring in hand, return to Ainsel River Main and continue from Nokstella toward the Lake of Rot. The lake builds scarlet rot quickly, so bring preserving boluses, a way to cure the status, or enough healing to cross in deliberate stages. Step on the buttons and platforms that create a safer path; do not sprint through an unfamiliar line just because the far shore is visible. The destination is the Grand Cloister Site of Grace.

From Grand Cloister, descend the platforms toward the rot river. The Ulcerated Tree Spirit route is optional. Follow the river to the coffin in front of the waterfall, enter it, and prepare for Astel, Naturalborn of the Void. Astel’s arena exit remains sealed until the Dark Moon Ring is in your inventory. Defeat Astel, then take the lift beyond the arena to Moonlight Altar.

Finish at Manus Celes, then choose the ending sign

Ride to the Cathedral of Manus Celes on Moonlight Altar. The cathedral has a Site of Grace and a hole near the altar; descend it, find Ranni beside the slain Two Fingers, and interact with her. The Dark Moon Ring is used here. Speak to her again after the scene to receive the Dark Moon Greatsword.

Ranni’s quest also unlocks the Age of the Stars ending choice. After defeating the final boss, use the blue summon sign on the Stone Platform instead of selecting the ordinary ending interaction. That is the only point where the ending is chosen; completing the quest and receiving the sword does not force it.

Late-route checkpoint	Action that advances it
Lake of Rot	Cross with a rot plan and reach Grand Cloister.
Grand Cloister	Ride the waterfall coffin to Astel.
Astel arena	Defeat Astel with the Dark Moon Ring already obtained, then use the lift.
Cathedral of Manus Celes	Descend the hole, interact with Ranni, use the ring, and speak again for the sword.
Final Stone Platform	Use Ranni’s blue sign for Age of the Stars.

Ranni’s route can overlap with Seluvis, Blaidd, and other NPC threads; a missing optional dialogue line does not necessarily stop the main route. This is base-game guidance, separate from Shadow of the Erdtree content.