Lost in the Eternal Darkness of Ainsel River
You stand at the precipice of a vast, glittering cavern, the glow of grace a faint comfort against the overwhelming darkness. Somewhere in the depths below, a cosmic horror of breathtaking scale awaits. Finding Astel, Naturalborn of the Void, is one of Elden Ring’s most obscure quests, a journey that begins not with a map marker, but with a hidden coffin ride deep into the underworld.
Players often find themselves scouring the map of the Lands Between, utterly lost. The path to this legendary, optional boss is not a straight line. It’s a sequence of discoveries, a pilgrimage through two distinct underground rivers, culminating in a breathtaking and terrifying confrontation.
If the shimmering stars and chilling lore of Astel have captured your curiosity, but the path forward seems shrouded in mist, this guide will illuminate every step. From the first interaction in Liurnia to the final leap of faith in the Grand Cloister, here is your complete roadmap to the Naturalborn of the Void.
Prerequisites for the Journey
Before you can even think of facing Astel, you must unlock the regions that house its lair. This isn’t a boss you stumble upon; it’s a destination you must deliberately unlock through progression.
The absolute minimum requirement is reaching the Altus Plateau. You can achieve this by collecting two Dectus Medallion halves (found in Fort Haight and Fort Faroth) and riding the Grand Lift of Dectus, or by braving the perilous tunnels of the Ruin-Strewn Precipice north of Liurnia.
More critically, you must have initiated Ranni the Witch’s questline. Speaking to her at Ranni’s Rise in the Three Sisters sub-region of Liurnia is the key that opens the door to the underground. Her quest is the golden thread that leads you through the necessary dungeons.
Ensure you have a healthy supply of Flask charges, potent Spirit Ashes, and weapons upgraded to at least +15 to +18 (Somber +6 to +8). The enemies on this path are relentless, and Astel itself is a formidable endgame challenge.
Step One: Descending to the Lake of Rot
Your true journey to Astel begins after a pivotal moment in Ranni’s quest. You must have retrieved the Fingerslayer Blade from Nokron, the Eternal City, and given it to Ranni. She will then give you the Carian Inverted Statue.
Take this statue to the Divine Tower of Liurnia. Place it on the empty plinth in the tower’s study to invert the Carian Study Hall. Traverse this now-upside-down dungeon to reach its new apex, which grants access to the Divine Tower of Liurnia’s summit. Here, you will find the Cursemark of Death and trigger the next phase.
Return to Ranni’s Rise. She will be gone, but a new grace site and teleporter will appear at the top of the tower. Use this teleporter. It sends you to the heart of the underground: a vast, open area within the eternal city of Nokstella.
Your goal here is to navigate through Nokstella, battling Silver Tear enemies and avoiding the deadly Malformed Star enemies that drop from the ceiling. Follow the main path, cross the giant roots, and you will eventually find a Site of Grace called “Nokstella, Eternal City.”
From this grace, continue forward. You will encounter a cavern with a massive waterfall. To the side, you’ll find a coffin. Yes, a coffin. Interact with it to climb inside. This initiates a surreal ride down the waterfall, transporting you to the Lake of Rot.
Step Two: Crossing the Lake of Rot
Emerging from the coffin, you’ll be at the Lake of Rot Shore Site of Grace. Before you stretches a vast, scarlet lake that steadily builds up Scarlet Rot. This is a brutal environmental hazard.
To cross, you have several options:
– Run from platform to platform, using Flame, Cleanse Me or Preserving Boluses to cure the Rot buildup.
– Use the Spellblood Leeches sorcery or other rot-curing items liberally.
– Quickly activate the several stone pillars in the lake by hitting their switches. This raises platforms that create a safer path.
Navigate to the far side of the lake. You’ll find the Grand Cloister Site of Grace. Rest here and prepare for the final leg.
The Final Path to Astel, Naturalborn of the Void
From the Grand Cloister grace, your path is linear but treacherous. Head into the temple structure and descend. You will find yourself in a moist, rocky tunnel system inhabited by Kindred of Rot pests and a few Basilisks.
Fight or run through these enemies. The tunnel eventually leads to a large open cavern with a cliff edge. This is the point of no return. Peer over the edge, and you’ll see a sea of faint, glowing mist far below.
You must jump. There is an invisible pathway here. Step off the cliff edge and you will land on an unseen bridge of solidified moonlight. Follow this narrow, invisible path forward as it winds through the cavern. It is easy to fall to your death here, so move slowly and deliberately.
The path ends at a stone balcony overlooking an immense, star-filled cavern. A Site of Grace, “Astel, Naturalborn of the Void,” waits for you. Touch it. When you are ready, proceed through the natural stone archway and drop down into the boss arena.
Confronting the Cosmic Horror
Astel is a spectacle boss. Its design is a masterclass in cosmic horror—a gargantuan, malformed star composed of a skeletal humanoid torso, a massive skull, and a tail of shimmering nebula. The arena is a wide, open space littered with glowing crystals, perfect for its devastating, area-of-effect attacks.
Astel’s move set is punishing. It employs gravitational magic, teleportation, a devastating tail slam, and a iconic grab attack where it disappears and materializes directly above you to snatch you in its mandibles for massive damage.
Key Strategies for Victory
Staying alive against Astel requires patience and awareness. Its head is its primary weak point. Melee builds should aim for hit-and-run tactics, striking the skull after it completes an attack animation before retreating to mid-range.
Magic users have a slight advantage. Spells like Rock Sling, which deal physical damage and can poise-break, are exceptionally effective. Astel is also weak to Frostbite, so spells like Adula’s Moonblade or weapons infused with Frost can deal significant burst damage.
The most critical advice is to manage your camera. Locking on can be disorienting when Astel teleports. Learn to fight it with a free camera, keeping the entire beast in view to anticipate its sweeping tail attacks and teleport grabs.
When it disappears in a shower of light, immediately start sprinting in any direction. This is its grab telegraph. Do not stand still. Summoning Spirit Ashes, like Mimic Tear or Black Knife Tiche, is highly recommended to draw its agresso and create openings.
What You Gain From Victory
Defeating Astel, Naturalborn of the Void, rewards you with 80,000 Runes and its Remembrance. This Remembrance can be taken to Enia at the Roundtable Hold to be exchanged for one of two powerful items: the Ash of War: Waves of Darkness, or the incredibly unique Flail, Astel’s Wing.
More importantly, victory here is mandatory for completing Ranni the Witch’s questline. Astel guards the way to the Moonlight Altar, the final surface region of Ranni’s journey. Beyond its chamber lies a portal that takes you to the final steps of one of the game’s most intricate and rewarding narratives, ultimately leading to a specific ending.
Alternative Encounters and Common Points of Confusion
It is crucial to note that there are two versions of Astel in the Lands Between. The one described in this guide is “Astel, Naturalborn of the Void,” found at the end of Ranni’s quest.
Another, slightly different boss named “Astel, Stars of Darkness” can be found in a hidden cave in the Consecrated Snowfield. This is a completely separate, optional encounter. If you are following a guide to complete Ranni’s quest, you must find the Naturalborn of the Void in the Lake of Rot depths.
A common point of failure is missing the coffin ride in Nokstella. If you are in the eternal city and cannot proceed, ensure you have given Ranni the Fingerslayer Blade and checked for the teleporter at her rise. The coffin will not appear until you have progressed her quest to the correct stage.
Another issue is dying repeatedly on the invisible path. There is no trick to it other than cautious movement. Some players drop glowing stones or use arrows to mark the safe route. The path is mostly straight with one gentle curve.
Your Next Steps in the Eternal Darkness
With Astel vanquished, a new path opens. The portal at the back of its arena transports you to the Moonlight Altar, a hidden plateau above Liurnia. Here, you can find the legendary Dark Moon Greatsword and proceed to the final, emotional conclusion of Ranni’s tale at the Cathedral of Manus Celes.
If you sought Astel for its Remembrance or the thrill of the hunt, your journey is complete. You have braved one of the most hidden and beautifully desolate sequences in all of Elden Ring. The path was obscure, but the reward—both in loot and in the sheer scale of the encounter—defines the spirit of discovery that makes this game legendary.
Should the Stars of Darkness in the Consecrated Snowfield call to you next, remember the strategies honed here. The cosmos of the Lands Between is vast, but now you know how to navigate its deepest, most stellar secrets.
