During their journey through Elden Ring, players will come across a curious blue-colored NPC named Ranni. The witch is one of the most interesting characters in all the Lands Between, and she gives players access to the Spirit Calling Bell to give them the ability to use Spirit Ashes. What many may not know is that it's not the last time they'll see the mysterious NPC. She can be found later on as players progress through Liurnia of the Lakes and has her own questline to complete.
To get this questline done, players will need to travel to a hidden area called Nokstella, Eternal City. Not only is this area required to complete Ranni's questline, but it's also filled with valuable resources (especially for those looking to upgrade their Spirit Ashes). Here's how players can reach Noksetlla, Eternal City in Elden Ring, and collect the treasures within it.
Updated August 11th, 2023: Getting to Nokstella, Eternal City can be pretty difficult for those just starting out their Elden Ring journey but players will need to head there if they plan on finishing Ranni's expansive questline. Figuring out just how to get to Nokstella can be a chore for those that don't know where to go or what bosses need to be taken down. To better help players discover just how to get to Nokstella, Eternal City and begin the steps to finish Ranni's questline, the following guide has been updated with a video.
Starting Ranni's Questline
The first step in heading towards Nokstella, Eternal City is to start Ranni's questline. Players will need to collect an item from Ranni, later on, to help them access the zone, so progressing her questline up to that point is necessary. To start Ranni's quest, the Tarnished will have to visit her in her tower, Ranni's Rise, which is part of the Three Sisters area of Liurnia of the Lakes. Getting there is, unfortunately, easier said than done, as players will need to make their way through a particularly punishing dungeon called Caria Manor.
Once players have progressed through Caria Manor far enough, they will come across a massive circular platform surrounded by chairs. Here, they will do battle with Royal Knight Loretta. After Loretta is defeated, players can leave the area through a small archway and proceed to the Three Sisters.
Ranni's Rise is a large tower found in the distance, guarded by the imposing Glintstone Dragon Adula. Thankfully, players won't have to defeat this field boss if they want to access Ranni's Rise. It's also important to note that players cannot fully defeat the dragon here as it will teleport away at 50 percent health remaining. After making their way into Ranni's Rise, players will need to progress all the way to the very top, where they will find Ranni. After swearing to do her bidding, players will be sent on a quest to retrieve something from Nokron, Eternal City.
Getting The Fingerslayer Blade For Ranni
Unfortunately, the only way to reach Nokron, Eternal City is for players to have defeated Starscourge Radahn, one of the more imposing Demi-God bosses in all of Elden Ring. After the Starscourge has been eliminated, a series of stars will fall from the sky and one particular celestial body will open a crater in Limgrave, south of Mistwood Ruins. Players can then head down through the crater and into Nokron. After progressing through the city, players will have to fight against the Mimic Tear boss. This will open a Site of Grace that sits at the base of a large bridge. By running across this bridge, players will eventually see a break in the stone railing and a small path leading down a hill. Going down this hill and hugging the wall on the left will lead players up a small hill and to the Ancestral Woods Site of Grace.
From the Ancestral Woods Site of Grace, players will need to jump down from the cliffside onto the roof below and then complete a series of platforming sections as they make their way through the city. Eventually, they will come to an area with a massive ball (inside a Church-like structure). Going out the front door of this area will put them on a path towards another building and a series of Silver Tear enemies. The last Silver Tear before the building will transform into a massive giant. Past this giant is a chest that contains the Fingerslayer Blade.
Getting To Nokstella, Eternal City
Once players give Ranni the Fingerslayer Blade, she will give them access to Renna's Rise. Climbing to the top and using the Waygate there will send players all the way to Ansel River Main. From there, players will need to progress through the Uhl Palace Ruins, and then head through a tunnel system that opens up into Nokstella, Eternal City. Here, players can collect a ton of great resources for Spirit Ash upgrading, as well as a key item that is required to continue Ranni's questline.
The Alternate Path To Nokstella, Eternal City
There is another path that players can take to reach Nokstella, Eternal City, without having to properly expand Ranni's questline. This path is, arguably, much harder than the first as it requires players to deal with a pretty imposing Duo Boss. To do so, players should head back to the Ancestral Woods Site of Grace and head to the east, across the roadway, and into a small forested area. Players will know they're in the right place if they begin to spot Jellyfish. By staying to the right in this area, players will eventually come to a spot where tons of Jellyfish are on a cliffside. Hugging the wall to the left will bring players to a cliff edge where they can jump down and continue along a path. This will take players to another Site of Grace and continuing past it will let them jump off the cliff, into a tower, and into the Siofra Aqueduct.
Progressing through this area and all the way to the end will put players into a battle against a Valiant Gargoyle Duo, fast-moving bosses that punish players with powerful sweeping attacks and poison AOEs. If players can manage to slay these bosses, they will gain access to a new Site of Grace at the base of the waterfall and a coffin that will transport them to the Deeproot Depths. Progressing to the North in this area, players will eventually find another coffin that will send them to Ansel River Main, where they can then access Nokstella, Eternal City.
It's also possible to reach Deeproot Depths by going through the Subterranean Shunning Grounds in Leyndell, Royal Capital, and dealing with the boss Mohg, The Omen. After the boss is defeated, players can go through a secret path behind his reward chest and enter the Deeproot Depths without ever having to go to Nokron. It is important to note, however, that this will lock players into the Flame of Frenzy ending.