Key takeaways
- You cannot normally enter Nokron from the surface until Starscourge Radahn has been defeated. A crater then opens in eastern Limgrave, near Fort Haight.
- The Mimic Tear boss is only the first major stop The Ancestral Woods and Night’s Sacred Ground contain some of Nokron’s most valuable rewards.
- The Fingerslayer Blade is the main progression item Give it to Ranni at Ranni’s Rise to advance her quest.
- Mimic Tear Ashes are not obtained from the boss They are in a Stonesword Key room in Night’s Sacred Ground.
- The Regal Ancestor Spirit is optional, but reaching its arena requires lighting the ancestral fires around the Hallowhorn Grounds.
- Siofra Aqueduct is nearby but distinct Its Valiant Gargoyle boss and route to Deeproot Depths should not be confused with the main Nokron city route.
About this guide
Scope: Base game Elden Ring. This guide treats Nokron, Eternal City as the broad underground sub-region opened after Starscourge Radahn’s defeat, including its named districts and immediately connected landmarks: the main city, Ancestral Woods, Night’s Sacred Ground and the northern Hallowhorn Grounds approach. Siofra Aqueduct is treated as a neighbouring location, not silently folded into Nokron, although its entrance and Valiant Gargoyle route are covered. Spoilers: Major spoilers for Ranni’s quest, Fia’s quest, Nokron’s lore and several optional rewards.
Overview
Nokron is the buried city revealed when a star falls into Limgrave after the defeat of Starscourge Radahn. It is not simply a single ruin or boss arena. The name covers a substantial branch of the underground world, with a ruined urban district, a forest inhabited by ancestral spirits, the secretive Night’s Sacred Ground and routes leading towards the Siofra Aqueduct and Deeproot Depths.
The region is central to Ranni the Witch’s quest. Its most important prize is the Fingerslayer Blade, the “treasure of Nokron”, which Ranni requires before her story can continue. Nokron is also one of the game’s richest areas for unusual rewards: the Mimic Tear Spirit Ashes, a Larval Tear, the Black Whetblade, Nox equipment, ancestral incantations and the Remembrance of the Regal Ancestor Spirit.
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Unlocking Nokron
The exact timing of the Radahn Festival can vary depending on how the player reaches Redmane Castle, but the relevant condition for Nokron is the same: Radahn must be defeated and the star must fall.
Unlocking Nokron: steps
- 01Progress until Starscourge Radahn is defeated in Caelid.
- 02Return to Limgrave and look for the enormous crater in the Mistwood area, near Fort Haight.
- 03Descend carefully through the crater. The opening leads into the upper ruins of Nokron.
- 04Activate the Nokron, Eternal City Site of Grace before continuing.
Recommended exploration order
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For a thorough first visit
- 01Explore the entrance ruins and collect the early city loot.
- 02Defeat the Mimic Tear.
- 03Activate the Mimic Tear and Ancestral Woods Sites of Grace.
- 04Explore the Hallowhorn Grounds and decide whether to attempt the Regal Ancestor Spirit.
- 05From Ancestral Woods, descend across the rooftops into Night’s Sacred Ground.
- 06Collect the Mimic Tear Ashes.
- 07Search the lower streets for the Black Whetblade, Nox equipment and other items.
- 08Recover the Fingerslayer Blade.
- 09Return to Ranni’s Rise and give Ranni the blade.
- 10If pursuing Fia’s quest, continue through the separate Siofra Aqueduct route.
1. Nokron, Eternal City entrance
The crater descent eventually opens onto the upper city. The architecture is suspended over a deep subterranean void, so the first challenge is not combat but controlled movement. Several apparently inaccessible buildings can be reached through sloping roofs, broken walls and ledges.
The city’s first inhabitants include Fallen Hawks, Silver Tears, wolves and other underground creatures. The Fallen Hawks are former soldiers associated with the Eternal City’s history. They use weapons and fire-based attacks, while Silver Tears are fluid, metallic beings that can imitate humanoid forms.
2. Mimic Tear
The Mimic Tear is the main boss on the direct route. It copies the player’s current equipment, weapons, spells, talismans and consumable setup when entering the arena. The fight is therefore unusual: the opponent is effectively a version of the player’s build.
A simple way to reduce the difficulty is to remove equipment before crossing the fog wall, then re-equip it once the Mimic Tear has formed. This is a player strategy rather than a required mechanic, and the boss can also be defeated normally.
The boss rewards two Larval Tears and the Silver Tear Mask. The Larval Tears are valuable because they allow character respecialisation through Rennala at the Academy of Raya Lucaria.
After the fight, cross the bridge and continue towards the Ancestral Woods Site of Grace. This is the main route into the deeper districts.
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Ancestral Woods is a forested district built above and around the deeper ruins. Its defining inhabitants are Ancestral Followers, spirit-like hunters who use bows, axes and ritual attacks. The area also contains spectral wildlife and the route to the Hallowhorn Grounds.
The woods are less linear than the entrance city. Explore the edges of the cliffs, because several rewards are reached by dropping to lower ledges rather than following the visible path. The area’s large gaps and elevated platforms make Torrent unavailable in much of the underground route, so jumps and careful ledge drops are essential.
Hallowhorn Grounds and the ancestral fires
The Hallowhorn Grounds contain a set of flame pillars. Lighting the required ancestral fires activates the remains of the great horned creature in the shrine, opening the route to the Regal Ancestor Spirit.
The Regal Ancestor Spirit is optional. It is a large spectral beast capable of leaping, gliding and restoring health by absorbing nearby creatures. Its defeat awards the Remembrance of the Regal Ancestor, which can be exchanged through Enia for one of two unique rewards, or consumed for runes.
The boss is not needed for Ranni’s quest. It is, however, one of Nokron’s most distinctive encounters and an important piece of the area’s ancestral and spirit imagery.
Ancestral Woods directory
Some map and guide sources group the Hallowhorn Grounds with the Ancestral Woods, while others list it as a separate landmark within the wider Nokron region. The important practical distinction is that it is an optional northern branch, not part of the rooftop route to Night’s Sacred Ground.
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Night’s Sacred Ground is a distinct district within Nokron, reached by descending southwards from the Ancestral Woods across rooftops, ruined walls and balconies. The route eventually enters a large cathedral-like structure through a window.
This is the most important district for Ranni’s quest and contains two of Nokron’s most sought-after items.
Ancestral Woods directory
Mimic Tear Ashes
The Mimic Tear Ashes are found behind a sealed room that requires one Stonesword Key. The room is protected by an Imp Statue barrier and contains a chest. The Ashes summon a spirit copy that uses the player’s equipment and abilities, making it one of the strongest and most flexible Spirit Ashes in the base game.
The Ashes are fixed loot, not a random drop.
Acquisition route
- 01Reach Night’s Sacred Ground through the rooftop route.
- 02Enter the cathedral structure.
- 03Locate the Imp Statue barrier.
- 04Use one Stonesword Key.
- 05Defeat or bypass the guardian inside.
- 06Open the chest to obtain Mimic Tear Ashes.
Black Whetblade
The Black Whetblade is found in Night’s Sacred Ground. It expands the player’s weapon-affinity options, allowing certain weapons to receive the Blood, Poison and Occult affinities where compatible with the chosen Ash of War. It is a permanent key item and is not consumed when used.
Fingerslayer Blade
The Fingerslayer Blade lies deeper in the district, below a vast corpse seated above the lower ruins. It is the principal treasure of Nokron and a key item for Ranni’s quest. Once obtained, return to Ranni’s Rise and give it to Ranni. She then provides the next quest item and opens the progression towards Nokstella and the Lake of Rot.
The blade is not a conventional weapon for the player’s inventory. It is a quest object whose description and placement reinforce Nokron’s history of rebellion against the Greater Will.
Lower streets and enemies
The lower streets contain Silver Tears and Mimic Tears. One large Silver Tear can imitate a Troll, creating an encounter that is easy to mistake for a normal enemy until it changes form. Nox Swordstresses and Nox Nightmaidens also patrol the area.
The district’s name and architecture suggest an older sacred or royal centre, but the game deliberately leaves much of its exact civic function implicit. The most secure conclusions come from item descriptions, the Nox presence and the placement of the Fingerslayer Blade rather than from an explicit historical exposition.
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The Siofra Aqueduct branches away from the Ancestral Woods and should be recorded separately from Nokron proper. Its entrance can be reached from the eastern side of the woods, where the route descends towards the Aqueduct-Facing Cliffs Site of Grace.
The aqueduct is associated with the questlines of Fia, D, and D’s brother. Its main boss encounter is the Valiant Gargoyles, a pair of large stone warriors. Defeating them allows access to a coffin that carries the player to Deeproot Depths.
This route is not required to collect the Fingerslayer Blade, Mimic Tear Ashes or Black Whetblade. It is nevertheless worth completing if you are pursuing Fia’s story, seeking Deeproot Depths or collecting the Valiant Gargoyles’ rewards.
Siofra Aqueduct directory
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Nokron has no functioning civilian population, shops or conventional settlement services. Its “residents” are primarily hostile remnants, spirits and artificial beings.
Siofra Aqueduct directory
Story-associated characters
Ranni the Witch
Ranni is not permanently present in Nokron, but Nokron exists as a major stage in her quest. She sends the player to recover the Fingerslayer Blade after Radahn’s defeat. Giving her the blade is required to continue her questline.
Blaidd the Half-Wolf
Blaidd’s story is connected to Nokron through the search for the Eternal City. Depending on the player’s progress, he may be encountered near the crater or in later locations associated with Ranni’s quest. He is not a normal resident of the city.
D, Beholder of Death
D’s quest intersects with the Siofra Aqueduct and Deeproot Depths route rather than the central Nokron streets. He should therefore be treated as a story-associated visitor to the wider region, not as an inhabitant of Night’s Sacred Ground.
D’s brother
D’s brother is found near the Siofra Aqueduct entrance. His presence becomes important later in Fia’s quest and can affect the outcome of the associated storyline. He is not part of Nokron’s central city population.
Factions and peoples
The Nox
The Nox are the ancient people associated with the Eternal Cities. Their civilisation was driven underground after invoking the ire of the Greater Will. Nokron contains Nox Swordstresses, Nox Nightmaidens and objects associated with their culture.
Fallen Hawks
The Fallen Hawks are former soldiers found in Nokron and related underground areas. Their equipment and the environmental presence of ghostflame connect them with the subterranean history of the Eternal Cities, although the exact sequence of events is presented indirectly.
Ancestral Followers
The Ancestral Followers occupy the woods and Hallowhorn Grounds. They are connected to the worship of ancestral spirits and the Regal Ancestor Spirit encounter.
Silver Tears and Mimic Tears
These artificial beings are especially prominent in Night’s Sacred Ground. Their ability to imitate forms reflects the Eternal Cities’ broader themes of artificial life, imitation and attempts to create beings that could challenge the order above.
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Ordinary enemies
Verified enemy types associated with the broad Nokron region include:
Enemy placement differs substantially between the city, Ancestral Woods, Night’s Sacred Ground and the Siofra Aqueduct. Not every enemy type appears in every district.
Ordinary enemies
Boss directory
The Mimic Tear is the principal route boss. Regal Ancestor Spirit is an optional remembrance boss. Valiant Gargoyles belong to the neighbouring Siofra Aqueduct route.
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Boss directory
Priority items
The exact distribution of minor runes, crafting materials and consumables varies by subarea, but the named priority rewards above are fixed discoveries rather than procedural loot. Night’s Sacred Ground’s item directory specifically includes Mimic Tear Ashes, Fingerslayer Blade, Celestial Dew, Black Whetblade, Nox Flowing Hammer, Smithing Stone 3, Golden Rune 7, Soft Cotton, Rejuvenating Boluses and a Rune Arc.
Priority items
| Item | Area | Function |
|---|---|---|
| Mimic Tear Ashes | Night’s Sacred Ground | Summons a copy of the player; requires a Stonesword Key |
| Fingerslayer Blade | Night’s Sacred Ground | Quest item for Ranni |
| Black Whetblade | Night’s Sacred Ground | Adds weapon-affinity options |
| Silver Tear Mask | Mimic Tear boss | Head armour with a Silver Tear theme |
| Larval Tear | Mimic Tear reward and scattered loot | Used for rebirth |
| Remembrance of the Regal Ancestor | Regal Ancestor Spirit | Exchange for a boss reward or consume for runes |
| Great Ghost Glovewort | Nokron-related underground route | Upgrades high-level Spirit Ashes |
| Nox Flowing Hammer | Night’s Sacred Ground | Unique weapon |
| Ghostflame Torch | Nokron-related ruins | Torch with ghostflame properties |
| Missionary’s Cookbook 5 | Wider Nokron route | Unlocks additional crafting recipes |
| Celestial Dew | Night’s Sacred Ground and underground routes | Used for absolution at the Church of Vows |
| Rune Arc | Scattered fixed loot | Activates a Great Rune |
| Golden Rune items | Scattered fixed loot | Consumable runes |
| Dewkissed Herba | Scattered crafting material | Crafting material |
| Silver Tear Husk | Night’s Sacred Ground and related ruins | Crafting material |
| Soft Cotton | Scattered fixed loot | Consumable |
| Rejuvenating Boluses | Scattered fixed loot | Status-curing consumable |
Collecting efficiently
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Nokron’s existence is tied to the Eternal Cities, ancient settlements beneath the Lands Between. The Nox were banished underground after their rebellion or “treason” against the Greater Will. Nokron’s most important relic, the Fingerslayer Blade, is described as a weapon capable of harming the Greater Will’s vassals and is treated by Ranni as the proof and product of that ancient defiance.
The city also explores imitation and artificial life. The Mimic Tear copies the player, Silver Tears imitate living forms and the Nox are associated with attempts to create or summon powers capable of opposing the ruling cosmic order. The game communicates this primarily through enemy behaviour, item descriptions and environmental arrangement rather than direct historical narration.
State changes
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State changes
| Name | Details |
|---|---|
| Before Radahn’s defeat | The crater is closed and the normal route into Nokron is unavailable. |
| After Radahn’s defeat | The star crater opens in Limgrave and Nokron becomes accessible. |
| After defeating Mimic Tear | Ancestral Woods becomes reachable as the next major district. |
| After obtaining the Fingerslayer Blade | Ranni’s quest can advance. |
| After lighting the Hallowhorn fires | Regal Ancestor Spirit becomes accessible. |
| After defeating the Valiant Gargoyles | The coffin route to Deeproot Depths becomes available. |
| After major quest progression | NPC positions and dialogue may change, but the fixed environmental loot in Nokron remains available unless a specific quest interaction removes or relocates a character. |
State changes: steps
- 01Defeat Radahn and enter through the Limgrave crater.
- 02Activate the first Nokron Site of Grace.
- 03Clear the upper city, collecting visible runes, weapons and crafting materials.
- 04Enter the Mimic Tear arena. Either fight with your normal equipment or use the equipment-removal strategy.
- 05Collect the Mimic Tear boss rewards.
- 06Activate the Mimic Tear and Ancestral Woods Sites of Grace.
- 07Explore the Hallowhorn Grounds and light the ancestral fires.
- 08Defeat Regal Ancestor Spirit if desired.
- 09Return to Ancestral Woods and follow the southern rooftop route.
- 10Enter Night’s Sacred Ground through the cathedral window.
- 11Spend the Stonesword Key on the Mimic Tear Ashes room.
- 12Search the lower streets and buildings for the Black Whetblade, Nox equipment and consumables.
- 13Descend to the corpse chamber and collect the Fingerslayer Blade.
- 14Return to Ranni’s Rise and give her the blade.
- 15Re-enter Nokron from Ancestral Woods if necessary and take the Aqueduct route for Fia’s story, the Valiant Gargoyles and Deeproot Depths.
Is Nokron the same as Siofra River?
No. Nokron is a sub-region within the wider underground Siofra River region. The player first sees the city from the lower underground world, but the direct entrance opens only after Radahn’s defeat.
Is Siofra Aqueduct part of Nokron?
It is best treated as a neighbouring location. It connects naturally to the Ancestral Woods and belongs to the same broad underground complex, but its Valiant Gargoyles encounter and Deeproot Depths route are distinct from Nokron’s central city and Night’s Sacred Ground.
Do I need to defeat Regal Ancestor Spirit?
No. The boss is optional and is not required for Ranni’s quest or for obtaining the Fingerslayer Blade.
Do I need to defeat Mimic Tear to obtain Mimic Tear Ashes?
You must normally defeat Mimic Tear to reach the Ancestral Woods route, but the Ashes themselves are found later in Night’s Sacred Ground behind a Stonesword Key barrier. They are not the boss reward.
What is the most important item in Nokron?
For progression, it is the Fingerslayer Blade. For character building, the most valuable finds are often the Mimic Tear Ashes, Black Whetblade, Larval Tears and Great Ghost Glovewort.
Is anything permanently missable?
The major fixed Nokron rewards are generally still obtainable after advancing through the main story. The more significant missable concerns are tied to NPC quest sequencing, especially when combining Ranni’s, Fia’s and D’s stories. If you intend to complete every related quest, speak to characters and inspect their dialogue before making major progression changes elsewhere.
Sources
- Nokron, Eternal City - Eldenpedia — eldenring.wiki.gg
- Night's Sacred Ground - Eldenpedia — eldenring.wiki.gg
- Nokron, Eternal City Walkthrough - Elden Ring - EIP Gaming — eip.gg
- Elden Ring Nokron, Eternal City Walkthrough — powerpyx.com
- Elden Ring Mimic Tear spirit ash location | PC Gamer — pcgamer.com