How to Give the Dark Moon Ring to Ranni in Elden Ring: A Comprehensive Guide
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The quest to give the Dark Moon Ring to Ranni the Witch in Elden Ring is a pivotal moment in her questline and a crucial step towards achieving the Age of Stars ending. It involves traversing treacherous landscapes, defeating formidable foes, and ultimately making a profound choice that shapes the future of the Lands Between. Here’s a step-by-step guide:
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Complete Ranni’s Questline to the Correct Stage: You can’t just waltz up and hand her the ring. You need to follow the established steps until you reach the right stage. This involves several key tasks, including:
- Meeting Ranni at Ranni’s Rise after defeating Rennala, Queen of the Full Moon, and agreeing to serve her.
- Speaking with her spectral advisors: Blaidd, Iji, and Seluvis (or his puppet).
- Obtaining the Nokron Eternal City key item, which requires defeating Starscourge Radahn.
- Exploring Nokron, the Eternal City to find the Fingerslayer Blade.
- Giving the Fingerslayer Blade to Ranni.
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Venture into the Ainsel River: After giving Ranni the Fingerslayer Blade, she will task you with continuing your search for answers beneath the earth.
- Head to the Ainsel River Main site of grace (accessible via a transporter in the Renna’s Rise tower).
- Continue through the Ainsel River area.
- You’ll eventually find the Miniature Ranni doll near a coffin along the riverbed, a little bit behind the Ainsel River Main Site of Grace.
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Speak with Miniature Ranni at Sites of Grace: Rest at Sites of Grace and select the option to “Talk to Miniature Ranni.” You’ll need to do this multiple times until she begins speaking to you. She will give you a task.
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Defeat the Baleful Shadow: After speaking with the doll enough times, Miniature Ranni will direct you to defeat the Baleful Shadow. The Baleful Shadow will appear further along in the Ainsel River near the Nokstella Waterfall Basin Site of Grace.
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Head Across Lake of Rot: After you defeated the Baleful Shadow, you will be granted the Discarded Palace Key. The next location on the critical path is across the Lake of Rot, a large body of scarlet rot.
- Navigate across the Lake of Rot, using items or spells to mitigate the rot buildup.
- On the far side, you will find the Grand Cloister, where you will “pray” at a coffin on the lower level to progress.
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Descend into the Coffin and Defeat Astel, Naturalborn of the Void: Interacting with the coffin in the Grand Cloister will trigger a scene, and then transport you to an area where you must face Astel, Naturalborn of the Void. Defeat this powerful boss.
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Enter the Cathedral of Manus Celes: After defeating Astel, proceed into the next area, which is the Cathedral of Manus Celes.
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Find the Hole in the Floor: Inside the Cathedral of Manus Celes, search for a hole in the floor. This hole is located at the back of the cathedral, near the statue. Drop down the hole. Be careful! It’s a long fall.
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Locate Ranni’s Body: You’ll find Ranni within this chamber. The game will prompt you to “Use Dark Moon Ring.”
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Equip and Use the Dark Moon Ring: Make sure the Dark Moon Ring is in your inventory, then approach Ranni’s figure. You will be prompted to equip the ring on Ranni’s finger. Interact with her body.
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Witness the Cutscene: After placing the ring on Ranni’s finger, a cutscene will play, marking a significant step towards the Age of Stars ending. Ranni will then disappear leaving behind the Darkmoon Greatsword.
By following these steps diligently, you can successfully give the Dark Moon Ring to Ranni, advancing her questline and opening the path to one of Elden Ring’s most intriguing endings.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How do I get the Dark Moon Ring?
The Dark Moon Ring is found within a chest in the Raya Lucarian Academy and can be unlocked by using the Discarded Palace Key. The Discarded Palace Key is awarded after you defeat the Baleful Shadow in the Ainsel River area after progressing the Miniature Ranni portion of the questline. The chest is in the room where you first fight Rennala, Queen of the Full Moon.
Where do I find the Discarded Palace Key?
The Discarded Palace Key is granted to you by Miniature Ranni after you have had several conversations with her at a Site of Grace. You must have defeated the Baleful Shadow, after Miniature Ranni tells you to do so.
What happens if I fail to complete Ranni’s questline?
If you fail to complete Ranni’s questline, you will be locked out of the Age of Stars ending and will have to choose from the other available endings. You can always attempt it in New Game Plus.
Is Ranni good or evil?
Whether Ranni is good or evil is subjective and open to interpretation. Some view her actions as necessary for breaking free from the control of the Greater Will and ushering in an era of greater freedom. Others see her as manipulative and power-hungry. It is up to you to decide if you view her actions as good or evil. The GamesLearningSociety.org also has several articles discussing the moral philosophy of Ranni’s quest line.
Does giving Ranni the ring lock me out of other endings?
Completing Ranni’s questline gives you the option to choose her ending. It doesn’t automatically lock you into it. After defeating the final boss, you’ll see a summoning sign that allows you to summon Ranni, thereby triggering the Age of Stars ending. If you don’t use the sign, you can choose another ending.
What is the significance of the Dark Moon?
The Dark Moon is an entity in Elden Ring lore that opposes the Greater Will and its influence. It represents a force of cold, dark magic and is associated with Ranni and her ambitions for a new order. The game designers at FromSoftware do an outstanding job making you feel that the Dark Moon is an important element of the game.
Where is the Cathedral of Manus Celes located?
The Cathedral of Manus Celes is located beneath the Moonlight Altar, accessible after defeating Astel, Naturalborn of the Void, which lies at the end of the Lake of Rot area.
What are Starlight Shards?
Starlight Shards are consumable items in Elden Ring that restore FP (Focus Points). While you’ll find some in the area leading to Ranni, they are not directly related to giving her the Dark Moon Ring.
What is the Darkmoon Greatsword?
The Darkmoon Greatsword is a weapon received after completing the Dark Moon Ring quest with Ranni. This legendary sword is a powerful weapon imbued with frost magic, scaling with Intelligence, Strength, and Dexterity.
How do I access Renna’s Rise?
Renna’s Rise becomes accessible after you have progressed Ranni’s questline to a certain point, usually after obtaining the Fingerslayer Blade. Before this point, it will be blocked by a magical barrier.
Can I turn Ranni into a puppet?
Yes, you can attempt to betray Ranni by giving her an Amber Draught obtained from Preceptor Seluvis (or his puppet). This will turn her into a puppet, but it is generally considered a negative outcome and will likely lock you out of her ending. It’s a very dishonorable choice.
How do I get the Miniature Ranni doll?
The Miniature Ranni doll is found in a coffin near the river behind the Ainsel River Main Site of Grace.
What happens if I don’t talk to Miniature Ranni?
If you don’t talk to the Miniature Ranni doll, you won’t be able to progress Ranni’s questline, as it is necessary to trigger the encounter with the Baleful Shadow and obtain the Discarded Palace Key.
Why is Ranni in a doll body?
Ranni transferred her spirit into a doll after killing her physical body during the Night of Black Knives, in an attempt to escape the influence of the Greater Will. The doll is said to be modeled after her mentor, the snow witch Renna.
Is Ranni’s ending the best ending in Elden Ring?
Whether Ranni’s Age of Stars ending is the “best” is subjective and depends on your personal interpretation and values. Some players consider it a positive outcome as it brings about an era of greater freedom and moves the world away from the influence of the Greater Will. However, other players might prefer other endings based on their own moral compass.
This comprehensive guide, along with the FAQs, should provide you with all the information you need to successfully navigate the quest to give the Dark Moon Ring to Ranni and unlock the Age of Stars ending in Elden Ring. Good luck, Tarnished!