Look, if you’ve spent any time in the Lands Between, you know Ranni isn’t just some blue witch who hands you a bell and vanishes into the mist. Honestly, calling it a "side quest" feels like an insult. This is essentially the secret main campaign of Elden Ring. It’s long, it’s depressing, and it takes you to the literal basement of the world.
But here is the thing: most players stumble through it, miss the best rewards, or get stuck because they can’t figure out why a tiny doll won’t talk to them. You’ve probably heard it's the "best" ending, but getting there is a massive headache if you don't know the specific triggers that actually matter.
Why the Ranni Questline is More Than Just a Magic Sword
Most people do this for the Dark Moon Greatsword. It’s a classic. It’s powerful. I get it. But Ranni’s path is actually about cosmic rebellion. You’re helping a demigod commit "deicide" on a scale the Golden Order can’t even fathom.
It starts simple. You find her at Ranni’s Rise in Liurnia. If she isn’t there, you probably started the Radahn Festival too early. That’s the first "gotcha." You’ve got to kill Radahn anyway to move the stars—literally, the guy is holding the sky still so Ranni can’t finish her homework. Once he’s dead, a star hits Limgrave, and the real game begins.
The Nokron Pitfall and the Finger Slayer Blade
After Radahn eats dirt, you’ll see a giant hole in the ground south of Mistwood. Jump down. You’re in Nokron now. This place is gorgeous but lethal. Your goal isn't just to sightsee; you need the Fingerslayer Blade.
I’ve seen so many people explore every inch of Siofra River thinking they’re in the right spot. You aren't. You need to be in the "Night’s Sacred Ground" sub-area. It’s hidden behind some rooftop platforming that feels more like Assassin’s Creed than a Souls game. Once you grab that blade, take it back to Ranni. She’ll give you the Carian Inverted Statue.
Expert Tip: Do not use that statue immediately unless you want to get frustrated. It flips the Carian Study Hall upside down. It’s a cool gimmick, but for Ranni’s actual progression, the real prize is the teleporter in the other tower next to hers: Renna's Rise.
The Miniature Ranni "Bug" That Isn't a Bug
This is the part where everyone gets stuck. You teleport to Ainsel River Main, pick up a Miniature Ranni doll from a coffin, and... nothing happens.
The doll just sits in your inventory. You go to a Site of Grace. You see the option "Talk to miniature Ranni." You click it. Silence. You click it again. Silence.
Basically, you have to talk to it three times.
The third time, she finally snaps at you. She’s annoyed. She’s "hidden" in the doll to avoid the Two Fingers' assassins, and you’re just sitting there poking her. This triggers the next phase: hunting the Baleful Shadow. This red phantom version of Blaidd is waiting for you just before the Lake of Rot. Kill him, and she gives you the Discarded Palace Key.
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Don't Forget the Ring in the Library
You’d be surprised how many people kill the boss of the Lake of Rot (Astel, Naturalborn of the Void) and then stare at a sealed door behind him. You cannot pass.
The game doesn't tell you this, but that key you just got? It opens the chest right next to Rennala in the Raya Lucaria Grand Library. Inside is the Dark Moon Ring. Without this ring, the quest ends at Astel’s boss room. You have to backtrack, grab the ring, and head back down to the literal pits of the world to finish the job.
The Age of Stars Ending and What it Actually Means
After Astel, you’ll head up an elevator to the Moonlight Altar. This is a high-level plateau you can’t reach any other way. There’s a dragon there (Adula), but you can honestly just ride past her into the Cathedral of Manus Celes.
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Inside the cathedral, there’s a hole in the floor. Drop down. You’ll find Ranni’s "real" body—well, the doll one she’s using—covered in blood after she’s finally slain her Two Fingers. You put the ring on her finger, she gives you the sword, and you're done.
Except you aren't.
To actually get the ending, you have to beat the final boss of the game. After the Elden Beast is dead, do not touch the fractured Elden Ring. Look on the floor. There will be a blue summon sign. That is how you trigger the Age of Stars. If you touch the statue, you just get the standard ending and all that work in the Lake of Rot was just for a shiny sword.
Practical Next Steps for Your Playthrough
- Check your progress: If Ranni isn't in her tower, go kill Starscourge Radahn first. That reset fixes 90% of quest bugs.
- The Seluvis Factor: If you want the Magic Scorpion Charm, finish Seluvis's side-quest before giving Ranni the Fingerslayer Blade. Once you give her that blade, Seluvis dies, and his rewards are gone for that playthrough.
- Blaidd’s Fate: After you finish the quest at the Moonlight Altar, go back to Ranni’s Rise. Blaidd will be outside. He’s gone hostile. It’s a sad fight, but it’s the only way to get his armor and the Royal Greatsword.
- The Secret Dialogue: After the quest is fully complete, go back to Ranni's chamber at the top of her tower. There’s a new Site of Grace there. Sit down and "Talk to Miniature Ranni" one last time for a bit of extra lore that changes the tone of the ending significantly.
Getting the Age of Stars ending isn't just about following a checklist. It's about navigating the most complex narrative web FromSoftware has ever built. Take your time in Nokstella; it's one of the best-designed levels in the game, and the smithing stones down there are essential for your endgame build.