Nokron, Eternal City is one of the most mysterious and visually striking locations in Elden Ring. Nestled beneath the Lands Between, this underground city becomes accessible only after a significant story event and is home to powerful enemies, rare loot, and Elden Ring Runes critical progression items for certain questlines. In this 800-word guide, we’ll walk you through how to unlock Nokron, navigate its deadly streets, and emerge victorious with the treasures it holds.

How to Unlock Nokron, Eternal City

Nokron is not available from the beginning of the game. To access it, you must first defeat General Radahn, one of the game’s shardbearers.

Steps to Unlock Nokron:

Reach Redmane Castle in Caelid.

Participate in the Radahn Festival.

Defeat Starscourge Radahn. Once you beat him, a cutscene will show a star crashing into the Lands Between.

Head to Mistwood in Limgrave. Near the crater created by the falling star is your entryway to Nokron.

Note: The crater can be found southeast of Fort Haight, and a Site of Grace will be nearby. Descend carefully into the crater using the rocky platforms to reach the city.

Nokron Area Overview

Nokron is split into multiple sections:

Nokron Entrance and City Ruins

Night’s Sacred Ground

Siofra Aqueducts

Fingerslayer Blade Zone

Mimic Tear Boss Area

Each section houses different enemies, loot, and challenges. Let’s go through them one by one.

1. Nokron Entrance and Mimic Tear Boss Fight

Once inside Nokron, you’ll first encounter silver tears and various slime-like enemies. These foes often ambush from above—keep your shield up and be aware of sudden drops.

Boss: Mimic Tear

Found at the fog gate after a short walk through the city.

This boss mirrors your current equipment and stats, making it a mirror match.

Pro Tip: Before entering the fog gate, unequip all your gear. Once the boss spawns, re-equip your loadout from the inventory. This leaves the mimic unarmed and much easier to defeat.

After the fight, a Site of Grace appears. Rest here, then continue into the deeper parts of Nokron.

2. Night’s Sacred Ground

From the Mimic Tear Site of Grace, head across the bridge and drop down onto rooftops and balconies. This area is rich in loot, but platforming can be tricky. Watch your footing and deal with enemies like Silver Tears and spectral soldiers.

Important Loot:

Ghost Glovewort (used to upgrade Spirit Ashes).

Black Whetblade – allows you to apply poison, blood, or occult affinities when infusing weapons.

Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone – used to max out unique weapons.

Explore thoroughly. Many rooftops lead to tucked-away loot and enemies, and one wrong step can drop you into deadly territory or lead to instant death.

3. Fingerslayer Blade and Ranni’s Quest

At the end of Night’s Sacred Ground, you’ll find a chest containing the Fingerslayer Blade, a crucial item for Ranni’s questline. After giving her this item, you unlock the next stage of her story, which ultimately leads to Ainsel River and Nokstella.

Note: If you're following Ranni’s questline, Nokron is mandatory. Without this blade, her storyline won't progress.

4. Siofra Aqueducts and the Valiant Gargoyles

From the city proper, you can enter the Siofra Aqueducts, a deeper and more dangerous area filled with Crucible Knights and undead warriors. This path leads to a dual boss fight that is notoriously difficult.

Boss: Valiant Gargoyles

Two enemies fought sequentially (one joins midway through the fight).

Focus on dodging and using Spirit Ashes to split aggro.

Bleed weapons are highly effective.

Defeating them unlocks access to Deeproot Depths, another massive area tied to Fia’s questline.

5. Useful Items and Spirit Ashes

While exploring Nokron, be sure to collect the following:

Mimic Tear Ashes: One of the best Spirit Summons in the game. Located in a chest behind a fog wall that requires a Stonesword Key near the Night’s Sacred Ground.

Greatshield Soldier Ashes: Tanky summons great for aggro-diversion in tight fights.

Ghost Gloveworts 3–6: Essential for Spirit Tuning to increase your summon strength.

Tips for Surviving Nokron

Use a Torch or Lantern: Some corridors and ledges are extremely dark. Visibility is key to avoiding falls and spotting enemies.

Equip Holy Damage or Magic: Many enemies here are resistant to physical strikes. Holy and Magic bypass this well.

Bring a Balanced Loadout: Ranged options help against Silver Tears and rooftop archers, while blunt damage helps break through enemy poise.

Explore Carefully: There are tons of hidden ledges, illusory walls, and rooftops with valuable gear. Don’t rush.

Save Spirit Ashes for Bosses: Both Mimic Tear and Valiant Gargoyles become much easier with distractions or support summons.

Final Thoughts

Nokron, Eternal City is more than a beautiful backdrop—it’s a lore-rich dungeon packed with secrets, essential items, and buy Elden Ring Runes pivotal moments tied to some of Elden Ring’s most compelling characters. Clearing this area not only strengthens your character with powerful loot but also unlocks late-game zones like Deeproot Depths and Ainsel River. Whether you're pursuing Ranni's quest, upgrading Spirit Ashes, or simply hunting for the best gear, Nokron is a must-clear area in your journey through the Lands Between.

Quick Checklist of Key Rewards in Nokron:

Fingerslayer Blade (Ranni’s Quest)

Mimic Tear Ashes

Black Whetblade

Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone

Valiant Gargoyle defeat (Deeproot Depths access)

Ghost Gloveworts for Spirit upgrades

By following this guide, you'll be well-equipped to conquer the Eternal City and continue your adventure in Elden Ring.