TL;DR
- Begin Ranni’s quest at her tower in northwest Liurnia after receiving the Spirit Calling Bell
- Defeat General Radhan in Caelid to unlock Nokron’s entrance via meteor impact
- Navigate treacherous underground areas including the deadly Lake of Rot
- Complete the quest to obtain the legendary Dark Moon Greatsword weapon
- Unlock a unique story ending by successfully finishing this extensive questline
Embarking on Ranni the Witch’s questline represents one of Elden Ring’s most rewarding journeys, offering both a distinctive narrative conclusion and access to the coveted Dark Moon Greatsword. This comprehensive guide provides step-by-step navigation through every phase of this intricate adventure.
Your initial encounter with Ranni occurs early in your adventure when returning to the Church of Elleh in Limgrave. During this meeting, she bestows upon you the Spirit Calling Bell, an essential tool for summoning spectral allies throughout your travels. The next significant interaction unfolds in Liurnia’s northwestern region, specifically beyond Caria Manor where Ranni’s Rise stands as the central structure among three towers. Ascend to the summit of this tower to find Ranni awaiting your arrival.
Ranni’s Rise serves as your starting point for this epic questline in northwestern Liurnia.
When Ranni extends an invitation to join her service, acceptance becomes mandatory to progress the storyline. Following your commitment, descend to the tower’s ground level to converse with her three companions—each providing valuable context about your forthcoming mission. Conclude this phase by speaking with Ranni once more before departing the tower with her directive: retrieve the hidden treasure concealed within Nokron, Eternal City.
Many adventurers mistakenly attempt to explore the underground Siofra Well immediately after receiving this assignment. However, the entrance to Nokron remains inaccessible until you vanquish General Radhan, the formidable shardbearer stationed in Caelid’s southeastern territories. Prioritize this confrontation before pursuing underground access points.
Overcoming General Radhan represents the pivotal moment that unlocks progression to Nokron. This legendary warrior commands celestial forces, literally holding stars in stasis through his immense power. Upon his defeat, the cosmic balance shifts dramatically as restrained stars resume their celestial trajectories, with one colossal meteor crashing violently into the Lands Between.
Following your victory over Radhan, nearby non-player characters will indicate the meteor’s impact zone lies somewhere within Limgrave’s expansive territories. The actual entry point manifests in East Limgrave, positioned south of the enigmatic Mistwood Ruins. Skyward observation reveals floating rock formations—these serve as perfect navigation markers since Nokron’s entrance resides directly beneath this aerial phenomenon.
The meteor impact crater leading to Nokron is clearly marked in the indicated location.
Upon reaching the impact site, you’ll encounter floating rock formations creating a precarious pathway deeper into the chasm. Employ Torrent’s agility to platform across these unstable structures, eventually accessing ancient ruins. Further exploration transitions to navigating intricate gothic-style rooftops requiring precise jumping maneuvers.
Successfully traversing the rooftop labyrinth brings you to a modest plaza containing the Nokron Site of Grace—a crucial respite point. Progress forward and slightly rightward to discover an archway appearing to lead indoors. Instead, an adjacent alleyway guides you toward a cliffside where a concealed staircase awaits on your right.
Night’s Sacred Ground houses Nokron’s legendary treasure, your primary objective.
Advance along this path until encountering a boss fog barrier. Beyond this threshold awaits the Mimic Tear adversary—a formidable opponent that replicates your current equipment and armaments. An effective strategy involves removing all gear before crossing the threshold, then rapidly re-equipping after the mimic assumes form. This leaves your doppelganger defenseless and vulnerable to your attacks.
Expert players recommend preparing specific weapon loadouts designed to counter your own playstyle. Since the mimic duplicates your exact setup, bringing equipment you struggle against personally can create significant tactical advantages. Additionally, consumable items like uplifting aromatics or defensive buffs remain unaffected by the duplication mechanic.
Following your confrontation with the Mimic Tear, the quest advances to the treacherous Ansel River waterways. This segment demands careful navigation through underground currents and environmental hazards.
Navigate southward through the Ansel River after interacting with the Ranni doll.
From this juncture, descend rightward and track the river northwest. This pathway introduces increasingly complex environmental challenges requiring both strategic planning and precise execution.
Follow the northwest river path from this position to continue your progression.
The journey culminates at the infamous Lake of Rot—a vast expanse of scarlet-hued liquid that inflicts rapid health depletion upon contact. Preparation proves essential for surviving this hazardous environment.
Your destination building becomes visible across the Lake of Rot from the Shoreside location.
Seasoned explorers recommend accumulating preserving boluses before attempting this crossing, as they temporarily nullify the rot’s debilitating effects. Alternative strategies involve utilizing incantations like Flame, Cleanse Me or employing quickstep ash of war to minimize liquid contact. The distant structure serves as your navigation landmark—maintain visual contact while plotting the most direct route across the toxic waters.
Many adventurers underestimate the lake’s dimensions and exhaust their healing resources mid-crossing. Establish waypoints using elevated platforms and islands to create safe havens during your traversal. Allocate approximately 8-10 minutes for this segment depending on your chosen path and movement speed.
Upon reaching the opposite shore, prepare for another significant boss encounter. This adversary typically employs area-of-effect attacks and mobility patterns that counter conventional melee approaches. Ranged combat specialists may find this confrontation more manageable, while melee-focused builds should prioritize dodging and counter-attacking during brief openings.
Following your victory over the Lake of Rot guardian, an unconventional transportation method awaits—a ceremonial coffin that carries you to your final destination. This atmospheric journey symbolizes the transition between realms as you approach the quest’s culmination.
Embark on a brief coffin voyage to reach the next critical area.
The elevator mechanism activated after the preceding boss confrontation transports you to the Moonlight Altar. This elevated plateau bathed in celestial luminescence contains your ultimate objective situated northward.
The post-boss elevator delivers you directly to the Moonlight Altar region.
Your arrival at the Moonlight Altar marks the final phase of Ranni’s extensive questline. Here, you’ll encounter narrative resolutions, obtain the legendary Dark Moon Greatsword, and unlock access to a unique game conclusion unavailable through other story paths.
Completion of this questline typically requires 4-6 hours for most players, though optimized routes can reduce this to approximately 3 hours. The Dark Moon Greatsword itself boasts exceptional magical properties, scaling with intelligence and emitting powerful moon-based projectiles with its heavy attacks.
Veteran players note that coordinating this questline with other major story arcs can maximize efficiency. For comprehensive guidance on integrating multiple questlines, consult our Complete Guide covering advanced gameplay integration techniques.
Beyond the immediate weapon reward, completing Ranni’s narrative unlocks deeper lore insights into the Lands Between’s cosmic hierarchy. These revelations substantially enhance narrative comprehension and may influence subsequent playthrough decisions.
Action Checklist
- Visit Ranni’s Rise in northwest Liurnia to initiate the questline
- Defeat General Radhan in southeastern Caelid to unlock Nokron access
- Locate and enter the meteor impact crater in East Limgrave
- Navigate Nokron’s rooftops and defeat the Mimic Tear boss
- Traverse Ansel River and survive the Lake of Rot crossing
- Complete the coffin transport and final Moonlight Altar objectives
No reproduction without permission:SeeYouSoon Game Club » Elden Ring Ranni The Witch Quest Guide Complete Ranni's epic questline to unlock the Dark Moon Greatsword and unique ending in Elden Ring
