When Should You Kill Blaidd in Elden Ring? A Comprehensive Guide

The question of when to kill Blaidd in Elden Ring is a crucial one, often leading to confusion and missed opportunities for players. Blaidd, the half-wolf companion, is integral to Ranni’s questline and presents a unique challenge for those who want to experience everything the game has to offer. The short answer is: you should kill Blaidd at the end of Ranni’s questline, after his descent into madness near Ranni’s Rise. Killing him prematurely will prevent you from getting his complete armor set and experiencing the full arc of his story. This decision isn’t just about obtaining his gear; it’s about honoring his character arc and understanding the tragic implications of his fate. Let’s delve deeper into why waiting is essential, the consequences of early kills, and how to maximize your experience with this compelling character.

Understanding Blaidd’s Fate and Questline

Blaidd’s narrative is inextricably linked to Ranni the Witch. He’s a shadow, a loyal protector created to serve her. However, a curse is placed upon him: if Ranni deviates from her assigned destiny, Blaidd will become feral and hostile, driven by an uncontrollable urge to kill. This curse is a crucial element that leads to the tragic event that necessitates his death.

The correct sequence to trigger this event is this:

1. Initiate and progress through Ranni’s questline. This involves meeting Ranni in her tower, helping her find the Fingerslayer Blade, defeating Radahn (if you haven’t already), venturing into Nokron, and eventually reaching the Lake of Rot.
2. Obtain the Miniature Ranni. After collecting the Fingerslayer Blade, you’ll be tasked with finding the doll, called Miniature Ranni. You’ll need to speak to this doll at multiple Sites of Grace. This will lead to the next stages of the quest, and eventually, a fight in the Lake of Rot with the Baleful Shadow.
3. Complete the main objectives in the Lake of Rot area. After defeating the Baleful Shadow that appears, this step is complete.
4. Return to Ranni’s Rise. After everything is said and done with Ranni and her questline is complete (or close enough to it), you’ll find Blaidd outside, now completely feral. He’s no longer the companion you once knew, and his dialogue will reflect his descent into madness.

It is during this final encounter, with Blaidd now hostile, that you should engage him in combat. This is when you obtain his full armor set and his Royal Greatsword.

The Consequences of Killing Blaidd Early

There are situations where players may inadvertently kill Blaidd earlier in the game. It might occur during your initial encounter in Mistwood, or when you might stumble upon him in different locations before progressing through the necessary quest steps.

If you kill Blaidd prematurely, you will miss out on:

• His Full Armor Set: Blaidd only drops his full set (armor, gauntlets, and greaves) after his final, aggressive encounter at Ranni’s Rise. Killing him before this point will result in incomplete gear and a missed opportunity to obtain one of the cooler armors in the game. The Wolf Mask is not part of his body, however, and will need to be acquired separately at Seluvis’ Rise later on.
• His Royal Greatsword: This powerful weapon is another reward you only receive for killing him in his final, feral state.
• The Full Story Arc: You will also miss out on the full emotional impact of his character’s story and the tragic conclusion of his service to Ranni.
• The Final Interaction with Iji: If you prematurely kill Blaidd, you cannot have the final interaction with Iji, who will comment on Blaidd’s state, giving you even further context into his character arc and loyalty to Ranni.

Fortunately, early kills are not game-breaking. If you accidentally kill Blaidd early, you can resurrect him using Celestial Dew at the Church of Vows, allowing you to continue his quest as intended and trigger the final encounter. However, the items Blaidd drops only do so during the final fight outside Ranni’s Rise.

Maximizing Your Blaidd Experience

To get the most out of Blaidd’s questline, follow these guidelines:

• Progress Ranni’s Questline Diligently: Make sure you complete all steps of her questline in the correct order before focusing on other optional content. This will ensure that Blaidd’s final appearance triggers correctly.
• Be Patient: Don’t rush through the quest. Enjoy the unfolding narrative and make sure to speak with all the NPCs in her story, like Iji, Seluvis, and Blaidd.
• Utilize Celestial Dew if Needed: If you have accidentally killed Blaidd before his final confrontation, use Celestial Dew to revive him. This will let you complete the quest as intended and obtain his gear, but it does not give you the items if you killed him early.
• Prepare for the Final Fight: Blaidd, in his feral state, is a challenging opponent. Consider using a heavy build with powerstancing or a colossal weapon, and make sure to utilize guard counters.

By waiting and progressing through Ranni’s quest correctly, you honor the tragic nature of Blaidd’s loyalty, and you’ll obtain his complete armor set, Royal Greatsword, and the satisfaction of experiencing his story.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What happens if I kill Blaidd when I first meet him?

Killing Blaidd prematurely will prevent you from obtaining his full armor set and his unique greatsword when you finally encounter him in his feral state. You can still revive him with Celestial Dew to continue his questline, but you will have to beat him during the final battle to get his items.

2. Do you have to defeat Blaidd?

Yes, you must defeat the feral Blaidd at the end of Ranni’s questline to complete his arc and acquire his gear. There is no way to pacify or avoid killing him at this stage.

3. Why does Blaidd become aggressive?

Blaidd becomes aggressive due to a curse placed on him by the Two Fingers. If Ranni abandons her destined path, he will lose himself and become a feral, bloodthirsty shadow.

4. Can I get Blaidd’s armor by killing him early?

No. You can only obtain Blaidd’s full armor set (armor, gauntlets, and greaves) and his Royal Greatsword by defeating him in his final hostile state outside Ranni’s Rise, after completing the majority of her questline.

5. What do I do after killing Blaidd?

After defeating Blaidd, speak to Iji by the Road to the Manor Site of Grace. After that, transport away and back again, and Iji will be gone and you’ll get more context to their relationship with Ranni.

6. What is the best weapon against Blaidd?

Powerstancing two heavy weapons or using a two-handed colossal weapon are effective against Blaidd. Guard Counters with a shield are also beneficial.

7. What exactly do you get after killing Blaidd?

You receive Blaidd’s armor set (armor, gauntlets, and greaves), and the Royal Greatsword. You can also progress further in Iji’s questline. The Wolf Mask is not dropped by Blaidd but is found elsewhere.

8. Is Blaidd’s questline important?

Yes, Blaidd’s questline is a crucial part of Ranni’s story arc. Completing it offers unique insights into the game’s lore and rewards you with powerful equipment.

9. How do I trigger the fight with Blaidd outside of Ranni’s Rise?

Complete most of the questline associated with Ranni, including venturing into Nokron, and completing the Lake of Rot. Then return to Ranni’s Rise. Blaidd should be outside of the tower, completely feral and hostile.

10. What if I’m having trouble with the final Blaidd fight?

Consider leveling up, summoning help, and utilizing effective combat strategies like guard counters, powerstancing heavy weapons, or colossal weapon attacks.

11. Can you avoid killing Blaidd?

No, there is no way to avoid killing Blaidd if you want to acquire his equipment and experience his complete story arc. He inevitably turns hostile.

12. Does Blaidd have a helmet?

No, Blaidd does not wear a helmet, so it isn’t a part of his armor set. His head is the wolf head he is born with. You can obtain the Wolf Mask at Seluvis’ Rise after the questline is complete.

13. How do I progress Ranni’s questline?

You will need to find Ranni in her tower, obtain the Fingerslayer Blade, fight Radahn, venture into Nokron, the Lake of Rot, and speak with the Miniature Ranni doll repeatedly. Each step progresses the questline, eventually leading to Blaidd’s final appearance.

14. Is Blaidd a summon?

Blaidd can be summoned as a friendly character in certain boss battles, but he is also a boss in the final encounter where he turns hostile.

15. What happens if I revive Blaidd using Celestial Dew?

If you killed Blaidd early, using Celestial Dew at the Church of Vows will revive him, allowing you to continue the questline. However, you still need to kill him in his final fight to get his armor set and weapon.