TL;DR
- Focus on physical damage and exploit Scarlet Rot vulnerability for maximum effectiveness
- Target Astel’s head and legs while avoiding armored torso and tail sections
- Maintain medium distance to punish openings while having escape routes for deadly AoE attacks
- Use Spirit Summons strategically to create attack windows and draw aggro
- Master the teleportation dodge timing and unlock camera for better spatial awareness
Conquering the final obstacle in Ranni’s extensive questline presents a monumental test of skill, yet emerging victorious rewards you with one of From Software’s most legendary armaments – the Dark Moon Greatsword. Proper preparation significantly increases your chances against this otherworldly adversary.
After triumphing over Starscourge Radahn, navigating the subterranean maze of Nokron, and surviving the corrosive Lake of Rot, your journey culminates in a coffin descent down a Scarlet Rot cascade. This transports you to a chamber dominated by an immense fog barrier concealing Elden Ring’s most extraterrestrial foe: Astel, Naturalborn of the Void.
Overcoming this colossal cosmic entity represents the concluding major milestone in the elaborate Ranni the Witch narrative arc. However, enduring this encounter demands considerable practice and precision. Astel employs a diverse arsenal of erratic assaults—several capable of instantly eliminating you from remarkable distances across the expansive battleground—achieving success necessitates thorough pattern recognition and impeccable timing. This guide details everything required to topple Astel.
Astel possesses substantial resistance to elemental damage types, making physical damage output your primary concern. Arm yourself with whichever armament or incantation in your collection delivers peak physical damage per second. While resistant to numerous status ailments, it remains vulnerable to Hemorrhage, Poison, and especially Scarlet Rot—the last proving exceptionally potent when applied correctly.
Given the unpredictable nature of its offensive capabilities, maintaining strategic distance becomes crucial during specific fight phases. Equip a weapon or sorcery with reliable range to consistently inflict damage from safety. Range-oriented Spirit Ashes like Latenna the Albinauric can provide supporting fire, though Mimic Tear generally offers superior versatility and survivability.
Astel does inflict significant Magic damage, making Spellproof Dried Liver or Opaline Hardtear in your Flask of Wondrous Physick worthwhile preparations. However, its physical strikes deliver devastating impact independently, so don’t overprioritize magical defense. Simply don your most protective armor ensemble available while maintaining medium equip load for adequate mobility.
When the glowing orb appears over Astel’s head, run away to avoid the teleportation explosion.
Astel represents a massive opponent within an equally enormous arena. Similar to other large-scale encounters, consistently anticipate closing distance when it withdraws to the chamber’s opposite end, and liberate your camera targeting when circumstances require enhanced situational awareness.
The crystalline spheres comprising Astel’s main body and tail feature exceptional damage reduction, so concentrate attacks on its limbs and cranium instead. The head also serves as the critical strike location should you successfully break its posture. One highly effective combat approach involves targeting its head and delivering projectile damage from intermediate range. Sorcery practitioners will find Rock Sling exceptionally reliable here; Faith constructs achieve strong results with Stone of Gurranq. A thoroughly upgraded bow can also prove effective. Close-quarters combatants can position themselves behind the creature and execute cranial strikes during safe intervals, though this constitutes a hazardous path to success.
Astel will attempt to grab you in its pincers if you get too close.
As previously indicated, Astel remains susceptible to Scarlet Rot infection. The nearest approximation to trivializing this confrontation involves advancing rapidly, executing a single Rotten Breath application, and immediately retreating. The accumulating Scarlet Rot will gradually complete the task, allowing you to dedicate full attention to evading its assaults from safety.
Advanced Positioning Strategy: Maintain approximately mid-range distance to effectively punish Astel’s attack recoveries while preserving adequate reaction time for its most dangerous moves. The teleportation explosion telegraphs clearly with a luminous sphere materializing above its head—immediately create distance when this visual cue appears. The pincer grab attack becomes increasingly likely when positioned directly before its head, so approach this zone cautiously.
Critical Mistake to Avoid: Many players erroneously target Astel’s visually prominent torso crystals, which actually possess the highest damage resistance in its entire body. This common error drastically prolongs the encounter and increases resource depletion. Instead, focus exclusively on the head during openings and the legs when positioned beneath the creature.
Spirit Summon Optimization: While Latenna provides exceptional ranged support, she remains stationary and vulnerable. Mimic Tear not only duplicates your equipment but also adapts to Astel’s movement patterns, creating more consistent pressure. For specialized builds, consider Black Knife Tiche whose destined death effect progressively reduces Astel’s maximum health.
Camera Management Pro Tip: Unlocking your camera during Astel’s aerial maneuvers and teleportation sequences provides superior environmental awareness. Many deaths occur from unseen tail swipes or being cornered against arena boundaries—free camera movement mitigates these risks substantially.
Status Effect Priority: While Bleed and Poison remain viable, Scarlet Rot delivers unparalleled efficiency. A single full cast of Rotten Breath or Ekzykes’s Decay typically inflicts the status, dealing approximately 30% of Astel’s total health over time. This allows you to focus entirely on survival while the damage accumulates automatically.
Critical Attack Setup: Breaking Astel’s poise requires concentrated damage to its head. Greatswords, colossal weapons, and charged heavy attacks prove most effective for stance breaking. Once staggered, move directly before its head and activate the critical strike prompt for massive damage.
Phase Transition Awareness: At approximately 60% health, Astel gains additional teleportation options and begins using its gravity wave attack more frequently. Prepare for increased aggression and have healing flasks readily available.
Action Checklist
- Equip maximum physical damage weapon and protective armor
- Prepare Flask of Wondrous Physick with Opaline Hardtear for magic resistance
- Summon Mimic Tear or preferred Spirit Ash at fog gate
- Maintain mid-range positioning and target head with projectiles
- Apply Scarlet Rot via Rotten Breath when safe, then focus on evasion
- Execute critical attack when posture breaks, then claim your reward
No reproduction without permission:SeeYouSoon Game Club » Elden Ring – How To Beat Astel, Naturalborn Of The Void Master Astel's cosmic attacks and claim the Dark Moon Greatsword with this comprehensive boss strategy guide
