Ainsel River
Ainsel River is a cavernous underground region reached via a deep elevator in eastern Liurnia of the Lakes. It features flooded caverns infested with Giant Ants, ruined Uhl Palace architecture, and an encounter with a Dragonkin Soldier. Navigating through the ruins leads toward the Lake of Rot, while the upper Ainsel River Main branch connects to Nokstella, Eternal City.
- Region
- Ainsel River
- Levels
- 50-70
- Getting there
- take the Ainsel River Well lift down from eastern Liurnia of the Lakes, just south-west of the Church of Vows
- Connects to
- Lake of Rot, Nokstella, Eternal City
- Related quests
- Ranni the Witch
- Enemy types
- Giant Ants · Claymen · Malformed Star · Basilisk · Dragonkin Soldier
Services and people
Merchants 1
- Hermit Merchant · Sells merchant items and drops Hermit Merchant's Bell Bearing [3] if killedUhl Palace Ruins, sitting beside a campfire in a south-western chamber underneath the Malformed Star
Quest NPCs 1
- Miniature Ranni · Communicates as an NPC when spoken to at nearby Sites of GraceAinsel River Main, in an open stone coffin near the Site of Grace
Invaders and enemies 3
- Baleful Shadow · NPC quest invader form of Blaidd who drops the Discarded Palace KeyWaterfall channel past Nokstella Waterfall Basin on the route leading to the Lake of Rot
- Dragonkin Soldier of Nokstella · Boss enemy in boss chamber dungeon area who unlocks a boss Site of Grace and drops Frozen Lightning SpearLarge cavern under the massive skeleton throne past Uhl Palace Ruins
- Malformed Star · Notable hanging creature bombarding the ruins who drops Somber Smithing Stone [7] and gravity stone itemsUhl Palace Ruins, perched above the southern ruins chamber
Services 7
- Ainsel River Well Depths · Site of Grace save point and rest locationDirectly at the bottom of the Ainsel River Well elevator
- Ainsel River Sluice Gate · Site of Grace save point and rest locationPast the ant tunnels leading toward Uhl Palace Ruins
- Ainsel River Downstream · Site of Grace save point and rest locationPast the Uhl Palace Ruins
- Dragonkin Soldier of Nokstella Site of Grace · Boss Site of Grace save point and rest locationBoss chamber dungeon area after defeating the Dragonkin Soldier of Nokstella
- Ainsel River Main · Site of Grace save point and rest locationNorthern section entrance accessed via Renna's Rise
- Nokstella, Eternal City · Site of Grace save point and rest locationNokstella, Eternal City, down past northern Uhl Palace Ruins
- Nokstella Waterfall Basin · Site of Grace save point and rest locationRiver basin past Nokstella leading toward the Lake of Rot lift
The short version
What matters
- •Map: Ainsel River reveals the cavern layout from the corpse right by the Hermit Merchant.
- •Miniature Ranni, found in the open stone coffin at Ainsel River Main, enables dialogue at nearby graces.
- •Dragonkin Soldier of Nokstella awards the Frozen Lightning Spear incantation and 12,000 Runes upon defeat.
- •Defeating the Baleful Shadow past Nokstella Waterfall Basin secures the Discarded Palace Key needed for progression.
Common mistakes
- •Attacking the Hermit Merchant beneath the Malformed Star permanently removes him from your world, though he drops his bell bearing.
- •Searching for the northern Ainsel River Main section from the southern well; it must be reached much later via Renna's Rise or Deeproot Depths.
What you can skip
- •Do not look for Astel, Naturalborn of the Void here, as that boss is housed within the Grand Cloister and Lake of Rot.
Walkthrough May be incomplete
The area in the order you play it. Tick things off as you go: they tick off in the checklists below too.
-
1
Descend the Well
Take the Ainsel River Well lift down from eastern Liurnia of the Lakes to arrive at the bottom. Rest at the Ainsel River Well Depths Site of Grace directly upon setting foot in the cavern, then venture forward into the winding ant tunnels. Continue along the path until you reach and unlock the Ainsel River Sluice Gate Site of Grace.
-
2
Uhl Palace Ruins and the Merchant
Emerge into the open cavern of Uhl Palace Ruins, dodging the bombardment raining down from the hanging Malformed Star. Head into the south-western chamber beneath the creature to find the Hermit Merchant beside a campfire. Pick up Map: Ainsel River from the corpse inside the stone ruins directly next to the merchant, and loot a Celestial Dew from a high ruin ledge dropped into from the queen ant nest.
Tip: Defeating the Malformed Star awards a Somber Smithing Stone and gravity stone items.
Watch out: Killing the Hermit Merchant makes him permanently unavailable, leaving behind Hermit Merchant's Bell Bearing .
-
3
Lower Caverns and Dragonkin Soldier
Move past the ruins to discover and rest at the Ainsel River Downstream Site of Grace. Search the downstream ant nest caverns to loot the Immunizing Horn Charm from a corpse near Giant Ants. Proceed into the massive throne chamber to challenge the Dragonkin Soldier of Nokstella, activating its boss Site of Grace once the beast falls.
Key fight: Dragonkin Soldier of NokstellaTip: Slaying the Dragonkin Soldier yields the Frozen Lightning Spear incantation along with 12,000 Runes.
-
4
Ainsel River Main
Much later, enter northern Ainsel River Main by taking the waygate at Renna's Rise (or via Deeproot Depths) and activate the Ainsel River Main Site of Grace immediately upon arrival. Search the open stone coffin right by the arrival point to retrieve Miniature Ranni, whom you can speak to at nearby Sites of Grace. Follow the branching ant tunnel into northern Uhl Palace Ruins out onto the ruined stone catwalk to open a small chest holding the Wing of Astel.
Tip: Miniature Ranni will remain inside the coffin until you retrieve her and does not permanently disappear.
-
5
Nokstella, Eternal City
Descend from the northern Uhl Palace Ruins into Nokstella, Eternal City and touch the Nokstella, Eternal City Site of Grace. Ascend the main staircase to loot the Ant's Skull Plate from a chest guarded by a Nox Swordstress, pick up another Celestial Dew guarded by Serpent Snails, and retrieve a Great Ghost Glovewort from a chest in the highest altar room behind Nox foes.
-
6
Basin Invasion and the Lake of Rot
Follow the river basin downwards until you locate and rest at the Nokstella Waterfall Basin Site of Grace. Advance through the waterfall channel beyond the basin to trigger an invasion by the Baleful Shadow, defeating him to acquire the Discarded Palace Key. After overcoming the invader, step onto the lift at the far end to descend into the Lake of Rot.
Choices here
What you decide here and what it leads to.
Hermit Merchant fate
Upon locating the merchant seated near his campfire inside the Uhl Palace Ruins
- Spare him→ Retain access to interact and trade directly with him at his camp
- Slay him→ He dies permanently, but drops Hermit Merchant's Bell Bearing so his wares can still be bought at another location
Most players pick: Spare him
Killing him is irreversible.
Checklists
Items May be incomplete
0/4
Key fights May be incomplete
Enemies: Dragonkin Soldier of Nokstella
Threats: sweeping ground slams, claw swipes, charging attacks, and a second-phase transformation featuring blue frozen lightning strikes
Tactics: Stay beneath or behind its legs during phase one to bait claw strikes that miss; in phase two, retreat when it charges up frozen lightning ground slams and strike its head after it lands
Rewards: Frozen Lightning Spear, 12,000 Runes
Enemies
Common in the initial caves; head carapace deflects physical strikes, making attacks to their soft abdomen most effective.
Slow-moving undead humanoids that wield harpoons and cast slow magic bubbles.
Stationary hanging monstrosity that pelts the lower ruins with homing gravity meteorites.
Shops and people
- Hermit Merchant (Ainsel River): Sells Fan Daggers, Gravity Stone Chunks, Celestial Dew, and the Nomadic Warrior's Cookbook [16]
Tips
- Giant Ants can be reliably staggered and knocked out of animations using Fire-infused weapons, Fire Grease, or fire-based spells.
- Bring Preserving Boluses or the Flame, Cleanse Me incantation when descending further into the southern caverns where Basilisks lurk, as they cause instant Death Blight.
Not listed for this area: secrets.
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