Finding the Albinauric woman is basically the first meme most Elden Ring players run into, thanks to Sir Gideon Ofnir barking orders at the Roundtable Hold. But honestly, the Elden Ring Latenna questline is one of the most easily botched stories in the entire game. If you wait too long or kill the wrong boss, she just ends up as a cold item pick-up rather than a living companion.
Most people think of Spirit Ashes as just mindless tools for boss fights. Latenna is different. She actually talks to you. She has a goal. She’s one of the few NPCs who chooses to accompany you voluntarily rather than being "tamed" or looted from a corpse. Completing her journey isn't just about getting a Somber Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone; it’s about the lore of a dying race trying to find a way to keep existing.
How to Start the Elden Ring Latenna Questline Without Breaking It
First off, don't rush to the Altus Plateau. If you trigger the Grand Lift of Dectus or reach the Plateau via the Ruin-Strewn Precipice before talking to her, there's a high chance she’ll just be dead when you arrive. You want to handle this early in Liurnia of the Lakes.
The whole thing starts in the Village of the Albinaurics. This place is depressing. It’s tucked under a massive plateau in the southwest of Liurnia. Don't look for it on top of the mountain; you have to ride through the swampy water to get underneath it.
Follow the path up through the village past the Depraved Perfumer. You’ll see a large, out-of-place pot sitting against a rock wall. Give it a smack. It’s not a mimic, it’s Albus. He’s an old man hiding from the "curse" that destroyed his village. He’ll give you the Haligtree Secret Medallion (Right). This is the catalyst. Without this half-circle of metal, Latenna won't even give you the time of day.
Finding the Slumbering Wolf Shack
Once you have the medallion, head to the Lakeside Crystal Cave. It’s on the southern shore of the Liurnia lake. You have to go through the dungeon and beat a Bloodhound Knight. He’s fast, but if you’re comfortable with parries or guard counters, he goes down easy.
Don't teleport out after the boss. There’s a back exit. It leads to the Slumbering Wolf Shack. You’ll find Latenna sitting there next to her wolf, Lobo.
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If you show her the medallion Albus gave you, she’ll realize you aren't one of the "all-hearing" goons sent by Gideon. She makes you a deal: she’ll tell you where the other half of the medallion is if you take her to the Haligtree. She then vanishes and becomes the Latenna the Albinauric Spirit Ash.
Tracking Down the Haligtree Secret Medallion (Left)
This is where the quest takes a massive break. You won't hear from her again for hours. You have to play through the Royal Capital, beat Morgott, and get the Rold Medallion from Melina.
Once you’re in the Mountaintops of the Giants, head to the far north. You’re looking for Castle Sol. It’s a nightmare of a fort filled with teleporting knights and birds with blades on their feet. Honestly, the knights are worse than the boss.
As you approach the castle, Latenna will actually speak to you from your inventory. She’ll mention that the second half of the medallion is inside. This is a cool moment because it reminds you she’s actually "there" with you.
Beating Commander Niall
To get that medallion, you have to kill Commander Niall. He is a massive wall for many players.
- He summons two spectral knights immediately.
- One has a shield; the other dual-wields swords.
- Pro tip: Use a Bewitching Branch on the dual-wielding knight. He will turn on Niall and do half the work for you.
- Once the summons are gone, Niall starts using lightning kicks and frost whirlwinds. Stay patient.
After he’s dead, head to the very top of the tower behind the boss arena. A ghost will be waiting there with the Haligtree Secret Medallion (Left). Now you have both halves.
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The Final Trek to the Apostate Derelict
With both pieces of the secret medallion, head back to the Grand Lift of Rold. When you stand on the platform, you’ll have a new prompt: "Hoist secret medallion." Don't use the normal one that takes you to the Mountaintops. Switch the action.
This takes you to the Hidden Path to the Haligtree, which leads out into the Consecrated Snowfield. This area is a white-out blizzard where you can't see five feet in front of your face. Stick to the glowing pebbles on the ground or follow the frozen river.
You need to reach the Apostate Derelict. It’s in the extreme northwest corner of the Snowfield. There’s a Walking Mausoleum nearby that shoots magical artillery at you. Just keep moving. Inside the church, you’ll see a massive, giant Albinauric woman.
Stand in front of her and you’ll get an interaction prompt to "Summon Latenna."
Why Latenna is Actually a Top-Tier Spirit Ash
A lot of players stick to the Mimic Tear or Black Knife Tiche and never touch Latenna. That's a mistake. She’s a "turret" summon. She can't walk, so she stays exactly where you put her.
But her range? It's absurd. She can snipe enemies from across the map. If you place her on a high ledge or a safe corner in a boss arena (like against a Dragon or the Fire Giant), she will pelt them with magic arrows constantly.
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Recent Patch Buffs (Version 1.13 and Beyond)
In recent updates, Latenna received some much-needed love:
- HP Increase: She doesn't die the second a boss looks at her anymore.
- Stagger Resistance: She won't get interrupted as easily while drawing her bow.
- Wolf Mounting: If you summon her near a Direwolf (like the ones in the Consecrated Snowfield), she will actually hop on its back and ride it, gaining full mobility and a frost breath attack. It’s one of the coolest hidden mechanics in the game.
Completion Rewards and Next Steps
Once you summon her at the Apostate Derelict, she’ll thank you for fulfilling her purpose. She gives the "birthing droplet" to her "towering sister," which supposedly allows their race to finally reproduce and survive.
Your reward is the Somber Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone. These are extremely rare—there are only a handful in the entire game—and you need them to max out your legendary weapons to +10.
After the quest is "done," Latenna stays in your inventory as a Spirit Ash. She tells you that she’ll fight for you until the end, and then asks to be laid to rest next to Lobo when it's all over.
If you've finished this, the logical next step is to head south from the church to the town of Ordina, Liturgical Town. You now have the medallion pieces required to solve the puzzle there and enter the Miquella’s Haligtree legacy dungeon, where the hardest challenge in the game, Malenia, is waiting.