So, you’ve finally made it past the Loretta projection in Caria Manor. You’re standing on that sub-freezing balcony in the Three Sisters, looking at a four-armed blue doll who basically tells you to get lost unless you’ve got something worth her time. It’s a big moment. If you choose to serve Ranni the Witch, you aren't just signing up for a standard side quest; you’re effectively rewriting the entire metaphysical laws of the Lands Between.
Most players get nervous here. They see the "Serve Ranni" prompt and worry they’re locking themselves out of other endings or betraying their current vibe. Honestly? It’s the most rewarding path in the game. But it’s also a mess of confusing steps, cryptic NPC dialogue, and a massive underground trek that would make a subterranean map-maker quit on the spot.
The Reality of Serving the Lunar Princess
When you first agree to serve Ranni the Witch, you’re entering into a pact with an Empyrean who has already committed the ultimate sin: she killed her own flesh. We’re talking about the Night of the Black Knives. Ranni isn't some "good guy" in the traditional sense. She’s a revolutionary. She wants to remove the influence of the Greater Will—that golden, bossy entity represented by the Erdtree—and replace it with something much colder and more distant.
Working for her means working with a motley crew. You've got Iji, the massive War Counselor who wears a mirror-helmet to hide from the Greater Will. Then there’s Seluvis, who is, frankly, a creep. And of course, Blaidd. Everyone loves the wolf-man. Serving Ranni is the only way to really see Blaidd's arc through to its tragic, howling end.
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The quest isn't just a "go here, kill that" checklist. It's an Odyssey. You’ll find yourself hunting for a hidden city called Nokron that was literally struck out of the sky. You’ll fight a cosmic dragonfly-god thing in a void. You might even find a miniature version of the witch and talk to it at a campfire until it gets annoyed enough to answer you. It's weird. It's Elden Ring at its peak.
Why the Age of Stars Matters
If you follow the path to serve Ranni the Witch to its conclusion, you unlock the Age of Stars ending. This is arguably the "canon" favorite for a huge chunk of the community. Why? Because it’s the only ending that feels like true progress.
In the standard endings, you basically just sit on a throne and try to fix a broken system. You become the Elden Lord, but the Greater Will is still pulling the strings. It's like putting a fresh coat of paint on a house that's literally rotting from the inside. Ranni doesn't want to fix the house. She wants to move to a different neighborhood.
She intends to take the Order away from the world. No more golden grace, no more visible gods, just the cold, lonely path of the moon. It sounds bleak, but in the context of Elden Ring's lore, it's an act of mercy. She's giving the people of the Lands Between their free will back. They won't have a god telling them how to live or die anymore. They'll just have the night.
The Gear You Get (It's Incredible)
Let's talk about the loot. You can't ignore the loot. If you decide to serve Ranni the Witch, you're setting yourself up for some of the best items in FromSoftware history.
- The Moonlight Greatsword: Now called the Dark Moon Greatsword. It’s a series staple. It scales with Intelligence and shoots frost waves. It's a monster in PvE.
- Ranni's Snow Witch Set: Great for frost builds. Plus, the hat is iconic.
- Access to the Moonlight Altar: This is a late-game area you literally cannot reach any other way. It has a dragon, some great sorceries, and Tiche—one of the best Spirit Ashes in the game.
Navigating the Pitfalls of Her Questline
A lot of people think they’ve messed up the quest when they can't find Ranni at her tower. Usually, it's because Radahn is still alive. You cannot serve Ranni the Witch to the fullest extent without killing Starscourge Radahn. He’s literally holding the stars in place, and Ranni's fate is tied to those stars. Once he falls, a literal meteor hits the woods in Limgrave, opening the path to Nokron.
Another common sticking point is the "Miniature Ranni" doll. You’ll find it in Ainsel River Main. You have to sit at a Grace and choose "Talk to miniature Ranni" three times. The first two times, she says nothing. You’ll feel like an idiot. Do it a third time, and she’ll finally snap at you. That’s how you progress. It’s classic Miyazaki—testing your persistence through social awkwardness.
Don't forget about Blaidd, either. If you go to the Siofra River and don't see him, check the Evergaol back in Limgrave. Iji locks him up because he's afraid Blaidd will go mad. It’s a heavy moment that adds layers to the characters. These aren't just NPCs; they're people with conflicting loyalties.
The Philosophical Choice
Serving the witch is a choice between the familiar and the unknown. The Erdtree is bright and warm, but it's also a cage. Ranni’s path is dark and freezing, but it's free.
Most players find that serving Ranni the Witch provides the most narrative closure. You aren't just a "tarnished of no renown" following a path laid out by fingers. You’re an active participant in a cosmic divorce. You're helping a daughter break free from a toxic family dynamic that happens to involve the literal creators of reality.
It’s also worth noting that you can still do almost every other quest while working for Ranni. You can help Fia, you can help Goldmask, and you can even get "touched" by the Three Fingers (though you'll need Miquella’s Needle to undo that if you want Ranni's ending). She's surprisingly chill about you moonlighting for other factions, as long as you bring her the Fingerslayer Blade.
Actionable Steps for the Aspiring Servant
If you're ready to commit, here is how you handle the mid-game transition to ensure you don't miss the best parts:
- Clear Caria Manor early. Don't wait until you're level 100. Get in there around level 40-50, beat Loretta, and talk to Ranni.
- Talk to the spirits in the tower. Talk to Iji, Blaidd, and Seluvis before leaving. If you don't, you might find an invisible wall blocking the exit.
- Prioritize the Carian Study Hall. You’ll need the Carian Inverted Statue, which Ranni gives you after you bring her the treasure from Nokron. This leads to the Cursemark of Death, essential for both her lore and Fia's quest.
- Don't ignore the Ainsel River. It looks like a side path, but for Ranni’s followers, it’s the main road. Follow the river all the way to the Lake of Rot. Bring plenty of Preserving Boluses. You're going to need them.
- Commit to the "Talk to Doll" option. As soon as you pick up that doll, spam the dialogue at every Grace. It’s the only way to unlock the final encounter with the Baleful Shadow.
Serving Ranni is arguably the most "complete" experience Elden Ring offers. It takes you through the most beautiful (and horrifying) secret locations in the game. It gives you a husband or wife (depending on how you view the "consort" title) and a legendary sword. Most importantly, it gives you the satisfaction of telling the Golden Order to leave the world alone. Whether you're an Intelligence build or just someone who likes a good story, the moon is waiting.