What to Do After You’ve Conquered Starscourge Radahn in Elden Ring
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So, you’ve felled the mighty Starscourge Radahn, a demigod of immense power, on the blood-soaked sands of Caelid. Congratulations, Tarnished! This is a monumental achievement in Elden Ring, opening up vast new possibilities and pathways. But now you might be asking yourself, what’s next? The world is massive, and the options are plentiful, sometimes overwhelmingly so. Here’s a comprehensive guide to your next steps after defeating Radahn.
Essentially, after Radahn falls, you unlock access to Nokron, Eternal City, progress several important questlines, gain resources to increase your power, and are one step closer to completing the game, although you will still need to eliminate at least one more Shardbearer to access Leyndell.
Immediate Consequences and Opportunities
Radahn’s defeat triggers some significant changes in the world and unlocks several key opportunities:
- The Falling Star: The most immediate consequence is the fall of a star in Mistwood (Limgrave). This creates a massive crater leading to Nokron, Eternal City, a sprawling underground area filled with unique enemies, valuable items, and crucial story elements related to Ranni the Witch’s questline.
- Questline Advancement: Several questlines are directly tied to Radahn. Defeating him allows you to continue Ranni’s, Blaidd’s, and Alexander’s stories, each with unique rewards and consequences. These are all important to get specific endings and gear, and to experience everything Elden Ring has to offer.
- Power Enhancement: You receive Radahn’s Great Rune and the Remembrance of the Starscourge. Radahn’s Great Rune significantly boosts your HP, FP, and Stamina, making you substantially more resilient. The Remembrance can be exchanged at the Roundtable Hold for Radahn’s powerful weapons or runes.
- Leyndell Access (Potentially): While not directly linked, Radahn is one of the Shardbearers whose defeat contributes to unlocking Leyndell, Royal Capital. You need to defeat any two Shardbearers to gain access. If you’ve already taken down another one (Godrick the Grafted, Rennala Queen of the Full Moon, Rykard Lord of Blasphemy, and Mohg Lord of Blood), you can now proceed to the capital.
Detailed Paths Forward
Here’s a breakdown of the key areas to explore and quests to pursue:
1. Explore Nokron, Eternal City
This is arguably the most critical next step.
- Finding the Entrance: Return to the Mistwood Ruins in Limgrave. Head south until you see a cluster of floating rocks and debris. The crater, the entrance to Nokron, will be below. Be careful, the fall is deadly without careful maneuvering.
- Nokron’s Dangers and Rewards: Nokron is a challenging area filled with Silver Tears, Mimic Tears, and other formidable foes. However, it also holds incredible treasures, including powerful weapons, armor, and key items necessary for Ranni’s questline, specifically the Fingerslayer Blade, which is essential for completing Ranni’s quest.
2. Continue Ranni the Witch’s Questline
Ranni’s questline is one of the most intricate and rewarding in Elden Ring, leading to a unique ending (the Age of Stars ending).
- Meet Ranni at Ranni’s Rise: If you haven’t already, go to Ranni’s Rise in the Three Sisters area behind Caria Manor in Liurnia of the Lakes.
- Serve Ranni and Explore Nokron: Agree to serve Ranni. She’ll task you with finding the Fingerslayer Blade in Nokron.
- Follow the Questline: After retrieving the Fingerslayer Blade, continue following Ranni’s instructions, which will involve interacting with other NPCs like Blaidd and Seluvis (before killing Rykard). This questline involves many steps.
3. Follow Blaidd’s Questline
Blaidd’s fate is intertwined with Ranni’s, making his questline particularly poignant.
- Find Blaidd at the Forlorn Hound Evergaol: After defeating Radahn, you can find Blaidd at the Forlorn Hound Evergaol in Limgrave, where you fought Darriwil. He’s imprisoned there, and speaking to him will shed light on his motivations and Ranni’s plans.
- Final Encounter Outside Ranni’s Rise: After substantial progress in Ranni’s questline, Blaidd’s story culminates outside Ranni’s Rise. Be prepared for a difficult encounter.
4. Locate and Assist Alexander the Iron Fist
This lovable Living Jar needs your help to reach his full potential.
- Wailing Dunes: After defeating Radahn, find Alexander south of the Starscourge Radahn site of grace in the Wailing Dunes. He’s trying to extract himself from the battlefield.
- Liurnia of the Lakes: His next location is south of the Carian Study Hall in Liurnia. He’ll need your help to get unstuck again.
- Later Encounters: Alexander’s questline continues, eventually leading to a powerful showdown in Crumbling Farum Azula.
5. Claim Radahn’s Great Rune and Remembrance
Don’t forget to collect your rewards!
- Radahn’s Great Rune: Take Radahn’s Great Rune to the Divine Tower of Caelid (accessed via a challenging platforming section) to activate it.
- Remembrance of the Starscourge: Visit Enia at the Roundtable Hold to exchange the Remembrance for Radahn’s weapons (Starscourge Greatsword or Lion Greatbow) or runes. The Greatsword scales excellently with Strength and Dexterity and has a unique skill that allows you to pull enemies towards you.
6. Consider Your Level and Build
Radahn is a mid-game boss, but the areas beyond him can still pose a challenge.
- Level Up: If you’re struggling, consider exploring other areas, completing side dungeons, and leveling up. Aim for at least level 80-90 before tackling the later stages of Nokron.
- Optimize Your Build: Ensure your weapon is upgraded and that your stats align with your chosen playstyle. Experiment with different weapons, talismans, and spells to find what works best for you.
- Respec (Optional): If you’re unhappy with your current build, you can respec your stats by using a Larval Tear after defeating Rennala, Queen of the Full Moon.
7. Explore Other Areas
- Altus Plateau: If you haven’t already, explore the Altus Plateau. This area can be accessed by collecting the two halves of the Dectus Medallion (found in Fort Haight in Limgrave and Fort Faroth in Caelid) and using the Grand Lift of Dectus, or by traversing the treacherous Ruin-Strewn Precipice.
- Volcano Manor: This area is located on the west side of Altus Plateau. Here you can work for Tanith and complete assassination contracts.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Is Radahn the end of the game?
No, Radahn is not the end of the game. He’s a significant milestone, unlocking access to Nokron and progressing several key questlines. You still need to defeat other major bosses and potentially mend the Elden Ring to reach an ending.
2. Can I still do Ranni’s quest if I beat Radahn first?
Yes, defeating Radahn is actually required to progress Ranni’s quest. The falling star caused by his defeat is what creates the entrance to Nokron, a crucial location in her questline.
3. What level should I be to explore Nokron?
While it depends on your build and skill, a level range of 70-80 is generally recommended for Nokron. Be prepared for challenging enemies and consider upgrading your weapon to at least +15.
4. What happens if I kill Rykard before completing Seluvis’ quest?
If you beat Rykard before giving Nepheli Loux Seluvis’ potion, you will not be able to complete his quest.
5. Where is Blaidd after completing Ranni’s quest?
Blaidd’s final location is outside Ranni’s Rise after you give her the Dark Moon Ring. He becomes hostile, driven mad by the Two Fingers, and must be defeated.
6. Is it better to explore Altus Plateau or Nokron first?
This is largely up to you! The difficulty of both locations is very similar.
7. Does beating Radahn affect any other quests besides Ranni’s, Alexander’s, and Blaidd’s?
Not directly, but progressing through the areas unlocked after Radahn (like Nokron) can indirectly impact other quests. Be mindful of NPC locations and dialogue changes as you progress.
8. Can I respec my stats after beating Radahn?
Yes, you can respec your stats by using a Larval Tear after defeating Rennala, Queen of the Full Moon in the Academy of Raya Lucaria.
9. What are the best weapons to use against the enemies in Nokron?
Weapons that deal physical damage are great to have, but Holy damage will not do much. The Mimic Tear Ashes are useful here!
10. What’s the significance of the Fingerslayer Blade found in Nokron?
The Fingerslayer Blade is a key item for Ranni’s questline. It allows her to defy the Greater Will and pursue her own destiny, ultimately leading to the Age of Stars ending.
11. Which Elden Ring ending is considered the “best”?
There’s no objectively “best” ending. Each ending has its own implications and interpretations. Ranni’s Age of Stars ending is often considered a positive outcome, but it ultimately depends on your personal preferences.
12. Does serving Ranni have any negative consequences?
No, serving Ranni has no negative consequences. It unlocks a major questline and a unique ending.
13. Is Caelid a required area in Elden Ring?
No, Caelid is an optional zone. However, defeating Radahn, a boss in Caelid, is necessary to progress Ranni’s questline and unlock Nokron. You do need to beat at least 2 Shardbearers, however.
14. Where can I learn more about game design and the impact of games on learning?
For valuable resources on game design, game-based learning, and the impact of games on education, be sure to visit the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org. They offer insights into how games can be used for educational purposes and how to create engaging and effective game experiences.
15. What should I do if I’m feeling overwhelmed by the sheer size of Elden Ring?
Take it one step at a time! Focus on one questline or area at a time, and don’t be afraid to consult online resources or communities for help. Elden Ring is a vast and complex game, and it’s perfectly normal to feel lost at times. Enjoy the journey!
Conquering Starscourge Radahn is a pivotal moment in Elden Ring, opening up a world of possibilities and challenges. By following these guidelines, you can navigate the next steps with confidence and continue your journey to become Elden Lord (or something else entirely!). Good luck, Tarnished!