Elden Ring Ranni Questline Steps: Complete Walkthrough to the Age of Stars

The Ranni questline is one of the longest in Elden Ring, and it's also one of the easiest to mess up. It's like that old story about the frog in slowly warming water — the quest starts out calm and simple, and before you realize it, you're fighting cosmic horrors, flipping towers upside down, and wading through a literal lake of scarlet rot.

In this guide, I'll walk you through every Elden Ring Ranni questline step in order, with no filler. Let's secure that Age of Stars ending.

What You Need Before Starting the Ranni Questline

Before you jump into the quest, here's what you want to have sorted out:

  • Access to Liurnia. You can get there through Stormveil Castle, or by taking the side path around the castle.
  • A weapon upgraded to at least +12, give or take for your build. The later fights hit hard.
  • Some anti-scarlet rot items. The Lake of Rot section is miserable without them.
  • Patience. This quest drags you across half the map.

If you've got that, you're ready to roll. Now let's go step by step.

Quick heads-up for new players before we start: don't swing at NPCs, don't leave the Dark Moon Ring for later, and don't step into the Lake of Rot without some scarlet rot cure. Trust me.

Step 1: Beat Royal Knight Loretta at Caria Manor

Head to the northwest part of Liurnia. Cross the bridge and clear Caria Manor. The place is full of giant hands and ghost knights, so don't feel bad about running past the annoying stuff.

The boss, Royal Knight Loretta, is a solid wall for a lot of players. Stay close, dodge her magic, and punish her after her combos. Beat her, and you unlock the Three Sisters area behind the manor.

Step 2: Talk to Ranni at Ranni's Rise

Ranni's Rise is the middle tower in the Three Sisters. Go inside, take the elevator up, and talk to Ranni.

She'll ask if you're willing to serve her; say yes. If you decline, you can just come back and talk to her again, so don't stress about it.

Step 3: Talk to Her Servants

After talking to Ranni, step outside and chat with her allies: Blaidd, Seluvis, and Iji. You don't have to finish all their side quests, but talking to them moves things forward and gives you solid hints.

Blaidd will point you toward Nokron. Seluvis may hand you a potion to deliver — that's optional and has nothing to do with the Age of Stars ending.

Step 4: Defeat Starscourge Radahn

To get the Fingerslayer Blade, you need to get into Nokron. And to open Nokron, the stars literally need to move. That means you have to beat Starscourge Radahn at Redmane Castle in Caelid.

If the festival isn't active when you arrive, make sure you've talked to Ranni and Blaidd, or try reaching Altus Plateau first. Radahn is a monster, but you can summon a ton of NPCs for help. Play it safe, stay on Torrent, and let the summons whittle him down.

Step 5: Grab the Fingerslayer Blade in Nokron

After Radahn dies, a meteor slams into Limgrave. You'll see a huge crater in the Mistwood area, east of the Minor Erdtree. Drop into the crater and you'll land in Nokron, the Eternal City.

Follow the path through the rooftops, dodge the giant ants and silver tears, and work your way to the Night's Sacred Ground. The Fingerslayer Blade is there, so grab it — this is the item Ranni needs.

Step 6: Give Ranni the Fingerslayer Blade

Fast travel back to Ranni's Rise and hand the blade over. Ranni will thank you and give you the Carian Inverted Statue. This item flips a tower upside down — yes, it's a FromSoft quest.

Step 7: Flip the Carian Study Hall

The Carian Study Hall is in southeast Liurnia, across the lake from Raya Lucaria. Place the Carian Inverted Statue on the pedestal in front of the entrance, and the building will flip.

Walk through the inverted Study Hall, climb your way up, and grab the Cursemark of Death from the body at the top.

Step 8: Return to Ranni's Rise

Go back to Ranni's Rise. Ranni is gone. Her Snow Witch Set is still in the tower, so don't miss it.

If you want a little lore, talk to Iji on the road. He'll tell you that Ranni has moved ahead.

Step 9: Take the Waygate to Ainsel River Main

Behind Ranni's Rise, there's a Waygate on the ground. Activate it, and it teleports you to Ainsel River Main.

After you spawn, look near the site of grace for the Miniature Ranni doll. Pick it up.

Here's the tricky part: rest at the site of grace, then keep talking to the doll. She won't respond the first time, or the second time — keep doing it until she finally talks.

Yes, the doll is Ranni. No, it doesn't make sense. Welcome to Elden Ring.

Step 10: Fight the Baleful Shadow

Now push through Nokstella. You'll pass silver tears, giant ants, and some seriously creepy architecture.

Eventually, the Baleful Shadow will invade you on the main path near the entrance to the Lake of Rot. Kill it — it's a tough NPC fight, but you can use spirit summons if there's room. The Baleful Shadow drops the Discarded Palace Key.

Step 11: Grab the Dark Moon Ring

This is the step everyone forgets. Take the Discarded Palace Key back to Raya Lucaria and go to Rennala's boss room — the Grand Library.

There's a chest at the back of the arena. Open it with the key, and you'll get the Dark Moon Ring.

Honestly, I skipped this once and had to walk all the way back from Manus Celes. Don't be like me. Grab the ring now.

Step 12: Cross the Lake of Rot and Beat Astel

The Lake of Rot is exactly what it sounds like. Use the "Flame, Cleanse Me" incantation, Preserving Boluses, or just crank up your immunity. There are platforms you can raise to make the crossing easier.

Follow the path to the Grand Cloister, drop down inside, and keep going until you hit the boss room for Astel, Naturalborn of the Void.

Astel is a giant cosmic centipede dragon thing. Watch out for its grab attack, which can one-shot you at lower levels. Dodge the gravity magic, stay close, and wail on it.

It's not the hardest boss in the game once you learn the rhythm. After it dies, take the elevator up to the Moonlight Altar.

Step 13: Give Ranni the Ring at the Cathedral of Manus Celes

On the Moonlight Altar plateau, find the Cathedral of Manus Celes. Inside, there's a big pit. Drop down, and you'll find Ranni's body.

Approach it and use the Dark Moon Ring on her. She'll wake up, give you some dialogue, and the Age of Stars ending becomes available.

After you beat the final boss later, look for Ranni's blue summon sign on the ground and use it to trigger the ending.

Common Mistakes That Mess Up Your Ranni Questline Steps

Even with the right steps in front of you, it's easy to slip up. Here are the worst mistakes I see players make:

  1. Forgetting the Dark Moon Ring. This is the biggest one — you need the Discarded Palace Key from the Baleful Shadow, then you need to open that chest in Rennala's room. Skip it, and you'll hit a dead end at the Cathedral.

  2. Not talking to the Miniature Ranni enough. The doll ignores you until you keep trying at a site of grace. Pick it up, rest, and talk to it over and over until it responds.

  3. Attacking NPCs by accident. One wild swing at Blaidd or Seluvis can make them hostile. If that happens, go to the Church of Vows in Liurnia and use Celestial Dew to atone.

  4. Crossing the Lake of Rot unprepared. Bring boluses, equip immunity-boosting gear, or use "Flame, Cleanse Me." Otherwise, you'll be panic-healing the whole way across.

  5. Triggering the final boss before finishing the quest. If you beat the game's last boss before Ranni's quest is done, you lock yourself out of this ending. Finish the quest first.

FAQ About the Ranni Questline

Q: Do I have to beat Radahn to get the Fingerslayer Blade?

A: Yes. The crater to Nokron only opens after Radahn's death. It's not optional.

Q: Why won't the Miniature Ranni talk to me?

A: Because she's playing hard to get. Rest at the site of grace and keep selecting "Talk to Miniature Ranni" until she actually speaks. It takes a few tries.

Q: Does Seluvis's potion quest matter for the Age of Stars ending?

A: No. Seluvis's side quest is optional, and you can completely ignore it without losing the Age of Stars ending.

Q: Can I do Ranni's quest after beating the final boss?

A: No. Once you beat the final boss and choose an ending, you're pushed into New Game Plus. Save yourself the headache and finish Ranni's questline before the last fight.