How to Get the Dark Moon Greatsword in Elden Ring
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Elden Ring
How to Get the Dark Moon Greatsword in Elden Ring
Tips for the Dark Moon Greatsword
Ranni’s questline is the most elaborate side quest in Elden Ring and one of the best in any game — it spans five major areas and features some of the most atmospheric storytelling in the Lands Between. The Dark Moon Greatsword is a fitting reward: a legendary weapon with enormous visual impact and excellent late-game scaling. If you’re running an Intelligence build, this sword is worth planning your entire playthrough around.
Frequently Asked Questions
⚡ Quick Answer
How to Complete Ranni’s Questline
The Dark Moon Greatsword is the reward at the end of Ranni’s questline. Complete all of Ranni’s tasks — finding the Finger Slayer Blade in Nokron, giving it to her, exploring Ainsel River and Nokstella, defeating the Baleful Shadow, and reaching Moonlight Altar — then interact with her in the chest at the Cathedral of Manus Celes. She gives you the sword as a gift.
1
Meet Ranni at Ranni’s Rise in Three Sisters (northwest Liurnia, past Caria Manor). Exhaust her dialogue and agree to serve her. She’ll tell you to speak to her three vassals — Blaidd, Iji, and Seluvis — to begin the quest chain.
2
Reach Nokron, Eternal City by defeating Starscourge Radahn — his death causes a meteor to open a crater in southern Limgrave leading down to Nokron. See our Nokron guide for the exact path. Collect the Fingerslayer Blade from the chest in the Nokron Eternal City area.
3
Give the Fingerslayer Blade to Ranni at her rise. She’ll give you the Carian Inverted Statue and disappear. Use the statue at the Study Hall Entrance in southern Liurnia to flip the Divine Tower of Liurnia and access Renna’s Rise back in Three Sisters.
4
Use the teleporter in Renna’s Rise to reach Ainsel River Main. Find Ranni’s miniature doll on a coffin nearby and take it. Rest at a Site of Grace with the doll in your inventory and select Talk to miniature Ranni — do this three times to unlock her next dialogue.
5
Explore Ainsel River and Nokstella, Eternal City — defeat the Baleful Shadow (an Elden Ring enemy that looks like Blaidd) near the end of Nokstella. After defeating it, Ranni speaks to you through the doll. Continue to the Lake of Rot and through to the Grand Cloister.
6
Defeat Astel, Naturalborn of the Void in the Grand Cloister — a massive, challenging boss. After defeating it, take the lift up to the Moonlight Altar plateau and travel to the Cathedral of Manus Celes. Descend into the cave inside and interact with Ranni’s body in the chest to receive the Dark Moon Greatsword.
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The sword requires 16 Str / 11 Dex / 38 Int — it’s built for Intelligence-focused builds. Pair it with the INT build for maximum damage output, as it scales primarily with Intelligence at S-tier when fully upgraded.
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Its unique skill Moonlight Greatsword charges the blade with frost and fires a projectile wave on heavy attack. Use it to deal both physical and Frostbite buildup damage at range — excellent for staggering bosses.
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The Dark Moon Greatsword is a Somber weapon — upgrade it with Somber Smithing Stones up to +10. At +10 it reaches its full damage potential and the moonlight projectile becomes significantly larger.
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Don’t rush Ranni’s quest — several steps are easy to accidentally skip or lock out. Specifically, do not complete Ranni’s quest after defeating Maliketh or entering Farum Azula, as this can affect NPC states tied to the questline.
Can I miss the Dark Moon Greatsword permanently?
Yes — if you progress too far into the main story without completing Ranni’s questline, certain NPCs tied to it can move or disappear. The safest approach is to complete the quest before defeating Maliketh and entering Crumbling Farum Azula.
Do I need to defeat Radahn to get the Dark Moon Greatsword?
Yes — defeating Radahn is required to open the path to Nokron, Eternal City, where you collect the Fingerslayer Blade. Without this item, you cannot progress Ranni’s quest past the early stages.
What is the best build for the Dark Moon Greatsword?
Aim for at least 60–80 Intelligence, 16 Strength, and 11 Dexterity. The Astrologer or Prisoner starting class gives the best head start. Pair with the Carian Regal Sceptre for a powerful hybrid magic and melee build.
Where is the Fingerslayer Blade in Nokron?
From the Nokron, Eternal City Site of Grace, head south through the rooftop area and into the Ancestral Woods. The blade is in a chest inside the Night’s Sacred Ground — a large building at the end of the rooftop path guarded by Mimic Tear-like enemies.