Ranni’s Questline: Unlocking the Age of Stars or Leading You Down a Different Path?
Does Ranni’s questline affect the ending of Elden Ring? Absolutely. Completing Ranni’s questline unlocks a specific ending – the Age of Stars ending. However, crucially, simply completing the quest doesn’t lock you into that ending. You are presented with a choice at the very end of the game. This means you can pursue Ranni’s quest, reap its rewards (including the amazing Dark Moon Greatsword), and still choose a different ending when you finally defeat the final boss. The game is all about player agency, and Elden Ring gives you the freedom to forge your own destiny.
Delving Deeper: Ranni’s Quest and its Implications
Ranni’s quest is arguably one of the most involved and rewarding sidequests in Elden Ring. It’s a sprawling, multi-stage journey that takes you across vast swathes of the Lands Between, pits you against formidable foes, and unveils a complex and fascinating narrative. This questline is more than just a simple fetch quest; it’s integral to understanding the underlying lore of the game and the motivations of its key players.
Completing Ranni’s quest involves a significant time investment, dedication, and a willingness to explore every nook and cranny of the map. It leads you to the depths of Nokron, the Eternal City, through treacherous swamps, and even to the surface of the moon. It’s a journey filled with challenges, secrets, and, ultimately, the power to reshape the very fabric of the Elden Ring universe. And as the Games Learning Society can attest to, the way Elden Ring tells a story through its game mechanics is groundbreaking!
Navigating the Choices: Freedom in the Face of Destiny
The beauty of Elden Ring’s ending system is its flexibility. Completing Ranni’s quest makes the Age of Stars ending available. This ending represents a departure from the Golden Order and a step towards a new, potentially more liberated future for the Lands Between. However, the other endings – those tied to mending the Elden Ring with different Great Runes or embracing Frenzied Flame – remain equally valid options.
After defeating the final boss, you’ll encounter multiple summoning signs. These signs correspond to the different endings you’ve unlocked through your actions during the game. Ranni’s summoning sign will be present if you’ve completed her quest. But if you prefer a different fate for the Lands Between, you can simply interact with a different summoning sign or choose the default option to become Elden Lord.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ranni and the Endings
Here are some frequently asked questions to help you better understand Ranni’s questline and how it affects the Elden Ring endings:
1. Does completing Ranni’s quest lock me out of other endings?
No. Completing Ranni’s quest unlocks the Age of Stars ending, but you are free to choose a different ending when you defeat the final boss.
2. What happens if I complete Ranni’s questline?
You gain access to the Age of Stars ending, obtain the Dark Moon Greatsword, and experience a significant part of the game’s lore. You’ll also encounter Blaidd at Ranni’s Rise after completing the quest, though his fate is a tragic one.
3. What are the benefits of Ranni’s questline?
Aside from the Age of Stars ending, you get the Dark Moon Greatsword (a powerful weapon), access to new areas, a deeper understanding of the lore, and the satisfaction of completing one of the game’s most challenging quests.
4. Does joining Volcano Manor affect the ending?
No. Joining Volcano Manor and completing their assassination contracts doesn’t lock you into any particular ending. Your actions there have no bearing on the final choice. You can even fight Rykard without joining Volcano Manor, although finding him becomes more difficult.
5. Is there a downside to joining Volcano Manor?
There are no mechanical downsides to joining Volcano Manor in terms of endings or quest progression. Some players with specific roleplaying preferences might find the morally questionable nature of the quests at odds with their character.
6. Is Ranni good or evil?
Ranni is a morally grey character. Her actions have far-reaching consequences, and whether those consequences are ultimately “good” or “evil” is a matter of perspective.
7. Does Ranni like the Tarnished?
Yes. In the Age of Stars ending, Ranni refers to the Tarnished as her “lord” and her “dear consort,” indicating a deep connection and affection.
8. Should I side with Ranni?
Siding with Ranni offers a rich and rewarding gameplay experience, unveiling a significant portion of the game’s story and granting access to powerful items and abilities. There are no negative consequences to accepting her request to serve her.
9. Is Ranni’s questline worth it?
Absolutely. The rewards, lore, and overall experience make Ranni’s questline one of the most worthwhile endeavors in Elden Ring, regardless of which ending you ultimately choose.
10. Can you still do Ranni’s quest after killing Radahn?
If you beat Starscourge Radahn before initiating Ranni’s quest, an important character, Blaidd, may become unavailable, potentially preventing you from fully completing the questline.
11. Where does Ranni go after you beat the game?
After triggering the Age of Stars ending, Ranni departs with you to establish the new order. Her physical presence is no longer in the Lands Between.
12. Can you mess up Blaidd’s questline?
Yes. If you progress Ranni’s quest too far before completing certain steps in Blaidd’s quest, his questline can become glitched, preventing you from finishing it.
13. Does the Dung Eater’s questline affect the ending?
Yes. The Dung Eater’s questline unlocks a specific ending variation called the Blessing of Despair ending. Like Ranni’s ending, this ending becomes an option alongside the others once you’ve fulfilled the necessary steps.
14. Is Melina and Ranni the same person?
No. While both are powerful Empyreans with connections to the Greater Will and the Elden Ring, Melina and Ranni are separate individuals. Melina is believed to be related to Queen Marika, while Ranni is her sister.
15. Am I locked out of other questlines if I start Ranni’s?
No. Starting and progressing Ranni’s questline does not inherently lock you out of other questlines. You can pursue multiple quests simultaneously, although some questlines may have conflicting objectives or character allegiances that could influence your choices. Just explore widely and talk to all the NPCs. It is advisable to save the game progress to cloud before taking any important decisions, so that you could revert back if things go south.
Carving Your Own Path in the Lands Between
Elden Ring excels at giving players agency. Ranni’s questline, a monumental undertaking filled with secrets and rewards, perfectly exemplifies this. It unlocks a new possibility, a new future for the Lands Between, but it never forces your hand. The choice, ultimately, is yours. Explore the world, uncover its mysteries, and decide which path best aligns with your vision for the future of the Elden Ring and the legacy of the Tarnished. Check out GamesLearningSociety.org to learn more about games and education.