Blaidd is basically the poster boy for Elden Ring. You see him on the box art, he's got that massive sword, and he's a half-wolf. Coolest guy in the Lands Between, hands down. But honestly? Doing the Elden Ring Blaidd quest is one of the most heartbreaking experiences FromSoftware has ever cooked up.
Most people think his story is just a small side-distraction. It's not. It’s the emotional backbone of Ranni the Witch’s path to the throne. If you miss the early beats, you miss out on why he ends up the way he does. You've probably heard he's loyal to a fault, but the reality is much darker. He was literally engineered to be loyal—until he wasn't allowed to be.
How to Start the Blaidd Questline Without Getting Eaten
The first time you hear him, you won't see him. You'll be wandering through the Mistwood in East Limgrave, probably trying to avoid those oversized bears that can outrun a horse. Listen for a howl. It's distinct.
Most players just keep walking. Don't do that.
Instead, head back to the Church of Elleh. That’s the very first ruin you found with the merchant Kalé (the guy in the Santa suit). Talk to him about the howling. He’ll give you the Finger Snap gesture. It’s the only way to get Blaidd to stop brooding on top of the Mistwood Ruins and actually talk to you.
Go back to the ruins, look up at the highest point of the stone walls, and snap your fingers. He’ll jump down like it’s no big deal. He’s looking for a guy named Darriwil.
The Traitor in the Evergaol
Blaidd wants Darriwil dead. You’ll find this "traitor" in the Forlorn Hound Evergaol, located in the southern tip of Limgrave just before you hit the bridge to the Weeping Peninsula.
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Here’s a tip: you don't have to summon Blaidd for this fight, but you should. His gold summon sign is right there on the floor inside the portal. He makes the Bloodhound Knight look like a joke. Once the fight is over, talk to him outside the gaol. He’ll give you a Somber Smithing Stone [2] and tell you to find a giant blacksmith in Liurnia.
Meeting Iji and Joining Ranni
This is where the Elden Ring Blaidd quest gets complicated because it merges with Ranni’s massive world-ending questline. You need to head to the far northwest of Liurnia of the Lakes. Past the Kingsrealm Ruins, you’ll find War Counselor Iji sitting by a Site of Grace.
Tell him Blaidd sent you. This is the only way to unlock the Carian Filigreed Crest for purchase early on, which is a top-tier talisman for anyone using weapon skills. It cuts FP costs significantly.
Eventually, you’ll push through Caria Manor—watch out for the hand-spiders, they're nightmare fuel—and meet Ranni the Witch at Ranni's Rise. She’ll tell you she’s putting a team together. Blaidd is one of them. You’ll see his ghost form at the bottom of her tower. Talk to him until he starts repeating himself. If you don't exhaust his dialogue, the quest might stall.
The Search for Nokron: Siofra River Blues
Blaidd tells you to meet him in Siofra River. If you haven't been there, find the elevator in Mistwood. It goes down. A long way down.
Finding him in Siofra is actually kinda annoying. He’s standing near a Spiritspring (one of those jump pads for Torrent) along the eastern cliffside. He’s stuck. He knows the "Hidden City" of Nokron is right above him, but he can't figure out how to get up there.
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- The Seluvis Connection: He’ll send you to talk to Preceptor Seluvis (the jerk in the neighboring tower).
- The Sellen Connection: Seluvis sends you to Sellen in the Waypoint Ruins.
- The Solution: Sellen basically says, "Yeah, the stars are frozen because Radahn is holding them back. Kill Radahn, and the way opens."
When you go back and tell Blaidd this, he’s hyped. He tells you to meet him at Redmane Castle for the festival.
The Radahn Festival
This is probably the coolest part of the whole game. You’ll see Blaidd standing in the courtyard with Iron Fist Alexander and a bunch of other warriors. Talk to him before the fight.
During the Starscourge Radahn boss battle, Blaidd is an absolute tank. He’ll keep getting back up no matter how many times Radahn hits him with a gravity-infused meteor. After you win, find him on the beach near the new Site of Grace. He’s staring at the sky where the star fell. He says he’ll meet you where the meteor hit.
Why is Blaidd in Jail?
This is where most people lose the thread. You go to the crater in Mistwood, but Blaidd isn't there. You might think you broke the quest. You didn't.
If you go back to the Forlorn Hound Evergaol (where you fought Darriwil), you’ll hear howling again. Blaidd is inside. He’s been locked up. Iji did it because he knows a secret: Blaidd is a "Shadow" created by the Two Fingers to serve Ranni. If Ranni ever betrays the Greater Will (which she definitely is doing), Blaidd is hard-coded to go insane and kill her.
You can let him out. It doesn't actually change the ending, but it’s the "right" thing to do for a friend. He’ll swear he’d never hurt Ranni and head off to find her.
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The Tragic End at Ranni's Rise
To finish the Elden Ring Blaidd quest, you have to complete Ranni’s entire questline. That means going through Nokron, getting the Fingerslayer Blade, killing the Baleful Shadow (which looks like Blaidd but isn't actually him—it's an assassin), and giving Ranni the Dark Moon Ring.
Once Ranni departs on her "thousand-year voyage," head back to the entrance of Ranni's Rise.
Blaidd will be sitting there. He’s surrounded by the corpses of Black Knife Assassins. He fought them off to protect Ranni, even while the Two Fingers were literally rotting his brain and forcing him to turn against her. He’s lost his mind, but his body is still guarding her door.
He’s hostile now. You have no choice.
What You Get for Killing Him
It feels terrible, but defeating him is the only way to get his gear.
- Royal Greatsword: A massive Carian-style sword that scales with Intelligence and Strength. Its skill, Wolf's Assault, is incredible for frost buildup.
- Blaidd’s Armor Set: Some of the best-looking armor in the game with decent stats for its weight.
Note: You won't find his helmet on his body. To get the Black Wolf Mask, you have to go to Seluvis's Rise nearby and jump up the ruined wall on the side of the tower. It’s just sitting there on a corpse.
Actionable Steps to Optimize Your Run
If you're trying to blitz this questline or just want to make sure you didn't miss anything, here is exactly what you should do next:
- Check the Evergaol: If you've already beaten Radahn but haven't finished Ranni's quest, go to the Forlorn Hound Evergaol. Talking to Blaidd there provides some of the best lore context in the game.
- Talk to Iji: After you "deal" with Blaidd at the end, go talk to Iji. Tell him about Blaidd's final moments. It triggers a unique, depressing dialogue and concludes Iji's story as well.
- Grab the Mask early: You don't actually have to finish the quest to get the Black Wolf Mask. You can grab it as soon as you have access to the Three Sisters area.
Blaidd's story is a reminder that in the Lands Between, loyalty is a death sentence. He was a good dog who deserved better, but at least you can carry his sword to the Elden Throne.