Elden Ring's HundoDex

Ainsel River

The second underground river, with the Dragonkin Soldier, the Ainsel River Main and Nokstella, Eternal City. Ranni's quest leads through it to the Lake of Rot.

  • Suggested level: 40–60

Bosses

  • Dragonkin Soldier of Nokstella: Waits by the Ainsel River Downstream grace in the Uhl Palace Ruins. Attack its legs from behind and roll through the frost breath and body slams.

Sites of Grace

  • Ainsel River Well Depths
  • Ainsel River Sluice Gate
  • Ainsel River Downstream
  • Dragonkin Soldier of Nokstella
  • Ainsel River Main
  • Nokstella, Eternal City
  • Nokstella Waterfall Basin

Items found here

  • Prisoner Iron Mask: Prisoners start in it; the merchant near the Ainsel River Main grace has it for 1,000 runes.
  • Nox Monk Hood: Nox Monks in Nokstella drop it; a pair waits past the Imp Seal up the stairs from the Nokstella, Eternal City grace.
  • Nox Monk Hood (Altered): Variant made by altering the Nox Monk Hood (a Nox Monk drop) from the Site of Grace menu after resting.
  • Nox Swordstress Crown: Pointed-hat Nox Swordstresses in Nokstella drop it, including the two riding giant ants in the lower city.
  • Nox Swordstress Crown (Altered): Use Alter Garments at a Site of Grace on the Nox Swordstress Crown; the base piece is a Nox Swordstress drop.
  • Prisoner Clothing: Prisoners start in it; the merchant near the Ainsel River Main grace has it for 1,500 runes.
  • Nox Monk Armor: Nox Monks in Nokstella drop it; a pair waits past the Imp Seal up the stairs from the Nokstella, Eternal City grace.
  • Nox Monk Armor (Altered): Use Alter Garments at a Site of Grace on the Nox Monk Armor; the base piece is a Nox Monk drop.
  • Nox Swordstress Armor: Pointed-hat Nox Swordstresses in Nokstella drop it, including the two riding giant ants in the lower city.
  • Nox Swordstress Armor (Altered): Get the Nox Swordstress Armor (a Nox Swordstress drop), then choose Alter Garments at a Site of Grace.
  • Nox Bracelets: Shared by the Nox Monk, Nox Swordstress and Night Maiden outfits; any of those enemies in Nokstella or Nokron can drop them.
  • Prisoner Trousers: Prisoners start in it; the merchant near the Ainsel River Main grace has it for 1,000 runes.
  • Nox Greaves: Shared by the Nox Monk, Nox Swordstress and Night Maiden outfits; any of those enemies in Nokstella or Nokron can drop them.
  • Discarded Palace Key: Ranni's quest: after you beat the Baleful Shadow in Nokstella, talk to Miniature Ranni and she gives it to you.
  • Miniature Ranni: Ainsel River Main: inside a stone coffin left open in the river.
  • Map: Ainsel River: Inside the ruin where the Hermit Merchant sits, near the Ainsel River Downstream grace.
  • Nomadic Warrior's Cookbook [16]: Sold for 2,500 runes by the Hermit Merchant in the ruins near the Ainsel River Downstream grace.
  • Perfumer's Cookbook [4]: The Hermit Merchant near the Ainsel River Downstream grace sells it for 3,000 runes.
  • Ghost-Glovewort Picker's Bell Bearing [2]: Nokstella: head west from the grace into a building where Silver Tears guard the chest.
  • Hermit Merchant's Bell Bearing [3]: The Hermit Merchant inside the large ruin east of the Ainsel River Downstream grace, below the Malformed Star. Merchants never die on their own, so you must kill him to get it.
  • Frozen Lightning Spear: Reward for beating the Dragonkin Soldier of Nokstella in Ainsel River.
  • Clayman Ashes: Tucked behind a bush by a small waterfall east of the Malformed Star clearing near the Ainsel River Main grace.
  • Archer Ashes: In Nokstella, head up from the grace and circle round the outside of the building on your left; it lies against the railing.
  • Nightmaiden & Swordstress Puppets: Behind an imp-sealed door in Nokstella, Eternal City, guarded by swordstresses; open the chest inside.
  • Immunizing Horn Charm: On a body in the first ant nest you reach after the Ainsel River Downstream grace.
  • Moon of Nokstella: Chest under the huge throne at the far west end of Nokstella, Eternal City.
  • Golden Seed: Climb to the top of Nokstella, Eternal City (where the Moon of Nokstella lies), leave by the side exit and ride the elevator down to the sapling.
  • Larval Tear: Climb from the Nokstella, Eternal City grace through the Silver Tear hall to the bridge and kill the silver sphere rolling down the far stairs.
  • Larval Tear: Across the Nokstella bridge, a silver sphere clings to the ceiling of the building with a chest. Do not finish it while it is still up there, or the drop is out of reach.
  • Larval Tear: Climb the stairs the first sphere rolled down and kill the third silver sphere in the building at the top; exploding Silver Tears can do it for you.
  • Celestial Dew: Go through the ant tunnels from the Ainsel River Well Depths grace to a ledge high above the Uhl Palace Ruins, hop down to the beam holding a Smithing Stone [4] and then to the ledge with the corpse.
  • Celestial Dew: The Hermit Merchant in Ainsel River sells it for 7,500 runes, in the building crowned by a giant Malformed Star close to the Ainsel River Downstream grace.
  • Celestial Dew: Follow the stream north-west from the Nokstella, Eternal City grace at ground level to an alcove where three Crystal Snails guard the corpse.
  • Celestial Dew: Under the structure on the edge of the waterfall at the west end of Nokstella, guarded by Silver Tears; from the Nokstella Waterfall Basin grace take the lift up and turn left.
  • Wing of Astel: Past the ant tunnels beyond Ainsel River Main, take the left branch, then keep high along the right-hand cliffs of the big cavern until you reach a chest on a stone platform.
  • Clayman's Harpoon: Claymen drop it about 2% of the time; they are all over the Ainsel River, especially the Uhl Palace Ruins.
  • Ant's Skull Plate: Climb up into Nokstella, Eternal City and check the first building on the left, up its stairs.

Walkthrough: Ainsel River: Miniature Ranni and Nokstella

  • Open the coffin next to where the waygate drops you to find the Miniature Ranni.
  • Touch the Ainsel River Main grace right beside it.
  • Rest there and talk to the doll three times until Ranni answers through it.
  • Follow the river south-west into the city to reach the Nokstella, Eternal City grace.
  • Take the lower route and the lift down to the Nokstella Waterfall Basin grace.
  • Rest at the basin and speak with Ranni through the doll again.
  • Press on until the Baleful Shadow invades, and defeat him for the Discarded Palace Key.