How To Get To Nokstella Eternal City in Elden Ring

The most charismatic NPCs between the Lands Between is undoubtedly Ranni the Witch, with her piercingly blue hair. She's the one that introduces the players to the Spirit Calling Bell, allowing them to summon Spirit Ashes for their aid in combat. But that is all: the more one delves deep inside Liurnia of the Lakes, the more obvious it becomes that Ranni has a mysterious questline.

The journey begins with the uncovering of the well-hidden city of Nokstella, the Eternal City. This hidden city is important not only in Ranni's questline but also houses several valuable resources-particularly for those interested in strengthening their Spirit Ashes. How to get to this mysterious city and unlock its goodies remains to be seen.

Step One

Begin Ranni's Questline

To reach Nokstella, Eternal City, taking the path of least resistance requires you to progress Ranni the Witch's questline. You need an item she gives away later on to enter the area, so doing her quest up that point is pretty important. First off, head to see Ranni at her tower in Ranni's Rise, part of the Three Sisters area of Liurnia of the Lakes.

But getting to Ranni isn't exactly easy. You need to make your way through Caria Manor, beat Royal Knight Loretta, and bring Glintstone Dragon Adula's health below 50%. Once these are done, Ranni will be available. You pledge your allegiance to her-really, a very common choice by players-and she sends you on a quest to find the Fingerslayer Blade from Nokron itself.

Step Two

Getting The Fingerslayer Blade For Ranni

To proceed, you will have to track down and kill the legend known as Starscourge Radahn in the southeastern part of Caelid at Redmane Castle. Killing this rotten demigod will relax his stars above and send a comet crashing near the Ancestral Woods, revealing the subterranean city of Nokstella.

Make your way through Nokstella, fighting off skeletons, Nokstella warriors, and giant metal balls. You'll have a pretty tough boss fight-the Mimic Tear boss. Upon defeating it, you'll receive the Site of Grace at the bottom of a bridge. Head across the bridge down the hill, following the left wall to another hill. This will take you to the Ancestral Woods Site of Grace.

From here, jump down to the rooftops below and work your way across the city's platforming areas, fighting Albinauric foes. You'll come across another large ball enemy in an area that looks like a Church. Head outside and make your way up towards a building, where you'll be set upon by Silver Tear enemies. The last Silver Tear will break into a giant. Kill it, and head through to the Fingerslayer Blade-a blasphemous item and doubtless one of the reasons for Nokstella's downfall if you know anything about Volcano Manor.

Step Three

How to Reach Nokstella, Eternal City

After finding the Fingerslayer Blade and giving it to Ranni, she will let you use Renna's Rise. Go upwards, move through the Waygate to Ainsel River. Then proceed through the Uhl Palace Ruins and take a network of tunnels leading you directly to Nokstella, Eternal City.

Within this secret city, you'll find plenty of resources to enhance Spirit Ashes and an important item that furthers Ranni's quest.

The Alternate Path To Nokstella, Eternal City

The Dual-Gargolyes Path

There is an alternate path to Nokstella, Eternal City, which doesn't include the lengthy Ranni quest. But this path is so much harder, since it pits you against one really hard dual boss fight.

Starting at the Ancestral Woods Site of Grace, head east over the road into a chunk of woodland. The fact that there are spirit jellyfish just about everywhere you go means you're going in the right direction. Keeping right it eventually opens up to a cliff face covered in jellyfish. Hug the left wall as you jump down and follow along the path. This will bring you to another Site of Grace. Past this jump off the cliff into a tower and enter the Siofra Aqueduct.

Make your way through this section to the far end for an intense fight with the duo of bosses: the Valiant Gargoyle & Valiant Gargoyle (Twinblade). Both bosses are fast-moving, have wide and strong sweeps, and area-of-effect skills with poison, making this fight very challenging. Defeating these flying gargoyles will grant access to a new Site of Grace at the bottom of the waterfall and a coffin leading to the Deeproot Depths.

More northerly still in Deeproot Depths is another coffin; it takes you to Ansel River Main, from whence you can head onwards to Nokstella, Eternal City.

Another option for getting to Deeproot Depths begins with completing the Subterranean Shunning Grounds beneath Leyndell, Royal Capital, and taking down Mohg, the Omen. Behind his reward chest is a secret way out into Deeproot Depths without using Nokron, but doing so will lock you into the Flame of Frenzy ending.

Each route has its difficulties, so take your pick of which one sounds best to you. Good luck!