Nokron, Eternal City stands as one of the most breathtaking subterranean regions in Elden Ring, offering rich lore, high-tier upgrade materials, and essential questlines. Unlocking this hidden realm requires completing significant storyline prerequisites, but the rewards inside are well worth the effort. Adventurers stepping into its starry ruins will encounter powerful bosses, rare Spirit Ashes, and critical quest items.
How to Unlock Access to Nokron
Accessing the Eternal City requires defeating Starscourge Radahn in the Caelid region. Once defeated, a dramatic cutscene plays where a falling star crashes directly into Limgrave. Traveling south of Mistwood reveals a massive crater, allowing players to descend carefully along floating platforms down into Nokron.
Navigating the initial drop demands precise platforming and careful awareness of your surroundings. Falling from these ruined architectural structures can be lethal, so take your time descending each ledge. Once at the bottom, a gateway introduces you directly into the ancient streets of Nokron.
Navigating the Main Courtyard and Regal Ancestor Spirit
The upper level of Nokron contains formidable Silver Tears and ancestral warriors patrolling narrow rooftops and courtyards. Exploring the buildings yields valuable Ghost Glovewort and Smithing Stones essential for mid-to-late-game gear upgrades. Be cautious when approaching groups of enemies, as ranged archers can easily knock you off ledges.
Passing through the main gateway leads to the Ancestral Woods, where players can light eight stone obelisks to challenge the Regal Ancestor Spirit. Defeating this majestic boss grants a powerful Remembrance that can be exchanged for unique weapons or spells. Additionally, the surrounding forest area holds several hidden chests containing valuable Talismans.
Conquering Night's Sacred Ground and Ranni's Quest
Branching off from the Ancestral Woods is Night's Sacred Ground, a treacherous roofing zone filled with hostile Silver Tears. Traversing these narrow pathways rewards thorough explorers with the legendary Mimic Tear Ashes, widely regarded as one of the strongest spirit summons in the game. You will need a Imp Statue Key to open the fog wall leading to this prize.
At the deepest point of Night's Sacred Ground lies the Fingerslayer Blade hidden inside an ornate chest. This key item is required to advance Ranni the Witch's storyline and unlock further secret regions in the Lands Between. Delivering this blade back to Ranni triggers the next stage of her sprawling, cosmic questline.
Defeating the Valiant Gargoyles and Moving Deeper
Beyond the main city ruins lies an aqueduct system guarded by challenging Crucible Knights. Fighting through these aqueducts brings players face-to-face with the Valiant Gargoyle duo, a notorious double-boss encounter that tests damage output and spatial management. Using summon ashes or physical damage greases can help balance the battle in your favor.
Upon conquering the Gargoyles, players can rest inside a stone coffin at the back of the arena to travel even deeper underground. This transition transports your Tarnished directly to the Deeproot Depths, opening up additional lore and alternative endings. Fully exploring Nokron ensures your character is well-equipped for the late-game challenges ahead.
