What Happens If You Serve Ranni the Witch in Elden Ring?
Serving Ranni the Witch in Elden Ring sets you on a path toward one of the game’s most significant and lore-rich endings, the Age of Stars. This is a complex questline that dramatically alters the Lands Between. Upon swearing fealty, you become her champion and are tasked with aiding her in fulfilling her ambition to usher in a new order, one free from the influence of the Greater Will. This involves confronting powerful enemies, exploring hidden locations, unraveling ancient secrets, and ultimately challenging the very foundations of the Elden Ring’s established cosmic hierarchy. Choosing Ranni means actively rejecting the other Elden Lord ending possibilities and committing to a drastically different future for the world.
Embarking on Ranni’s Questline: A Step-by-Step Guide
Meeting Ranni at Ranni’s Rise
Your journey begins by finding Ranni the Witch at Ranni’s Rise in the Three Sisters area behind Caria Manor in Liurnia of the Lakes. To access this area, you must defeat Royal Knight Loretta at the manor’s entrance. After defeating Loretta, you can access the Three Sisters area. Ranni’s Rise is the northernmost tower.
Upon ascending the tower, you will encounter Ranni in her spectral form. She will ask if you will serve her. Choosing “I submit” starts the quest. This marks the true beginning of your intertwined destiny with the enigmatic witch. Rejecting her offer will simply mean that you can’t progress the questline and you won’t be able to get the Age of Stars ending.
Joining Ranni’s Service
Accepting her request initiates a multi-stage quest that demands dedication and perseverance. Ranni will task you with eliminating the treasure thief, Blaidd, in the Siofra River area. However, Blaidd will be in a different location than initially told and is not directly part of the main Ranni questline.
Speaking With Ranni’s Servants
After pledging your service, you must converse with Ranni’s spectral advisors. You will find the ghosts of War Counselor Iji, Blaidd the Half-Wolf, and Preceptor Seluvis in the tower’s lower levels. Each offers unique insights into Ranni’s intentions and provides clues for your next steps.
Finding Nokron, Eternal City
Next, you’ll need to speak to Seluvis who will give you a potion to give to Nepheli Loux, a warrior spirit at the Roundtable Hold. After interacting with her, return to Seluvis and discuss your findings. After speaking to Seluvis and receiving the potion, you must also speak with War Counselor Iji. Following their guidance, you’ll need to defeat Starscourge Radahn at Redmane Castle in Caelid. Radahn’s defeat causes a meteor to crash into the Lands Between, opening a path to Nokron, Eternal City. This hidden city holds a crucial item for Ranni’s quest: the Fingerslayer Blade.
Obtaining the Fingerslayer Blade
Navigate the treacherous depths of Nokron, Eternal City, until you locate the Fingerslayer Blade. This blade is found within a chest in the Night’s Sacred Ground area.
Delivering the Fingerslayer Blade to Ranni
Return to Ranni’s Rise and present the Fingerslayer Blade to Ranni. As a reward, she will grant you the Carian Inverted Statue, which is the first step to enter the Carian Study Hall, located in Liurnia.
Exploring the Divine Tower of Liurnia
Place the Carian Inverted Statue at the entrance of the Carian Study Hall to invert the tower and alter the layout. Traverse the now upside-down structure, battling enemies and overcoming obstacles. At the top of the tower, you’ll encounter Preceptor Miriam, whom you must defeat twice in order to advance. After you do, you will be able to reach the Divine Tower of Liurnia, where you will find the Cursemark of Death.
Retrieving the Miniature Ranni Doll
After obtaining the Cursemark of Death, you will be able to progress the questline back at Ranni’s Rise to find a new path to explore. Inside Renna’s Rise, one of the Three Sisters, is a portal that takes you to Ainsel River Main. Here you will find a Miniature Ranni Doll. Rest at a Site of Grace and talk to the doll. Eventually, Ranni will speak through the doll and ask you to defeat the baleful shadow that plagues her progress.
Defeating the Baleful Shadow
Continue through the Ainsel River Main and enter the Nokstella, Eternal City area, fighting off the enemies here. Eventually, you will find a Baleful Shadow, which resembles Blaidd. This is a boss that must be defeated to continue Ranni’s questline. Defeating the shadow will give you the Discarded Palace Key.
Obtaining the Ring
The Discarded Palace Key unlocks a chest inside the Grand Library where you fought Rennala, Queen of the Full Moon. Inside the chest, you’ll find the Dark Moon Ring. This is a critical item needed to further Ranni’s quest.
Defeating Astel, Naturalborn of the Void
With the Dark Moon Ring in your possession, return to the Lake of Rot, located further down from Nokstella, Eternal City. Navigate through the lake of scarlet rot until you reach the Grand Cloister. Interact with a coffin here to be transported to a boss fight against Astel, Naturalborn of the Void. Defeating Astel opens the path to the Moonlight Altar.
Reaching the Moonlight Altar
Ascend the Moonlight Altar and proceed to the Cathedral of Manus Celes. Deep within the cathedral, you’ll find a hole leading to the Glintstone Dragon Adula and Ranni. Here you must defeat the dragon, if you haven’t already.
Choosing Ranni’s Ending
Finally, enter the hole and interact with Ranni‘s true body to give her the Dark Moon Ring. She will then reward you with the Dark Moon Greatsword and pledge herself to you. After defeating the final boss of the game, touch Ranni’s summon sign to trigger the Age of Stars ending.
Consequences and Rewards of Serving Ranni
Altering the Elden Ring’s Fate
By siding with Ranni, you actively participate in rewriting the destiny of the Lands Between. The Age of Stars ending represents a departure from the Golden Order’s influence, ushering in an era guided by the moon’s cold, uncaring influence. This choice shapes the world’s future, impacting its inhabitants and the cosmic forces that govern it.
Obtaining Powerful Items
Ranni’s questline rewards you with incredibly potent items. The Dark Moon Greatsword is a formidable weapon, while other key items obtained throughout the quest are crucial for the completion of the questline.
Unlocking Lore and Secrets
This questline delves deep into the lore of Elden Ring, revealing intricate details about the Outer Gods, the Greater Will, the Two Fingers, the Three Fingers, and the motivations of various characters. You’ll gain a profound understanding of the world’s history and the forces shaping its future.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Can I still get other endings if I start Ranni’s questline?
Yes, you can. However, you must choose the other ending choice at the end of the game. If you want to get another ending, do not select the summon sign of Ranni.
2. What happens if I attack Ranni?
Attacking Ranni will close off her questline. To re-open her questline, you will have to absolve your sins at the Church of Vows. This requires a Celestial Dew.
3. Is Ranni evil?
Whether Ranni is “evil” is subjective and depends on your interpretation. She opposes the current order and seeks to establish a new one, but her motives are complex, and her vision might not be universally desirable.
4. Where can I find Celestial Dew?
Celestial Dew can be found in various locations, including the Eternal City, as well as purchased from merchants such as the Nomadic Merchant near the Church of Vows.
5. What level should I be to start Ranni’s questline?
It is recommended to be at least level 60 to comfortably tackle the challenges in Liurnia of the Lakes and beyond. Higher levels are recommended for later stages.
6. Can I fail Ranni’s questline?
Yes, there are ways to fail the questline, such as attacking Ranni and not absolving yourself or progressing other questlines that conflict with hers.
7. Does Ranni’s ending affect other player’s worlds?
No, the ending you choose only affects your individual playthrough and does not impact the game world of other players.
8. What is the significance of the Dark Moon?
The Dark Moon represents a force of cold, detached order, contrasting with the Golden Order’s warmth and control. It symbolizes Ranni’s desire to establish a world governed by different principles.
9. What is the reward for completing Ranni’s questline?
The reward for completing Ranni’s questline is the Age of Stars ending, the Dark Moon Greatsword, a sense of accomplishment, and a deeper understanding of Elden Ring’s lore.
10. Is Blaidd always hostile?
Blaidd becomes hostile at certain points in Ranni’s questline due to his conflicting loyalties and influence from the Greater Will. He is not inherently hostile to the Tarnished.
11. What happens if I give Seluvis’ potion to Gideon Ofnir instead of Nepheli Loux?
Giving the potion to Gideon Ofnir is an option. Gideon will dispose of it, allowing you to proceed in the quest without affecting Nepheli Loux.
12. Can I complete Ranni’s questline if I’ve already defeated the final boss?
Yes, you can still complete Ranni’s questline even after defeating the final boss. As long as you haven’t interacted with Marika to trigger another ending, you can proceed with Ranni’s quest and choose her ending.
13. How does the Age of Stars ending differ from other endings?
The Age of Stars ending involves removing the influence of the Greater Will and the Golden Order, allowing the Lands Between to be guided by the moon’s influence and potentially ushering in an era of greater freedom, albeit one with an uncertain future. This contrasts with endings that maintain or reinforce the existing order.
14. Can I respec my character during Ranni’s questline?
Yes, you can respec your character by using a Larval Tear with Rennala, Queen of the Full Moon, even during Ranni’s questline. This allows you to adjust your build to better suit the challenges of the quest.
15. Is Ranni’s questline the “best” ending?
Whether Ranni’s questline is the “best” ending is entirely subjective. It offers a unique and transformative conclusion to the game, but its implications are open to interpretation. The best ending depends on your personal values and what you believe is the most desirable future for the Lands Between.