Dragonscale Blade

Ainsel River

Starting Site of Grace: Lake of Rot Shoreside

Before you go

• Reach Lake of Rot through the Ainsel River underground route.
• Bring a way to remove Scarlet Rot and enough healing for the crossing.

1. Give Ranni the Fingerslayer Blade from Nokron, then use the waygate at the top of Renna's Rise to reach Ainsel River Main. Renna's Rise is the northern tower in the Three Sisters area behind Caria Manor, separate from Ranni's own tower.
2. Activate Ainsel River Main grace and follow the water through the Claymen toward the hanging creature in Uhl Palace Ruins. Use the ruins on the left as cover from its stone volleys and continue beneath it into the river tunnel.
3. Pass the ants, including the flying ones. At the open cavern, follow the river to the right; the left branch returns toward the lower river merchant.
4. Go through the doorway on the right and down the steps to Nokstella, Eternal City grace. The ordinary Ainsel River Well in Liurnia does not reach this upper entrance.
5. Stay on Nokstella's lower river path instead of taking the stairs into the city. Follow the river to the lift at its far end and ride down to Nokstella Waterfall Basin grace.
6. Follow the tunnel past the Basilisks. Their clouds cause Death Blight, so move out of the clouds rather than trying to heal through a full buildup bar.
7. If you have spoken to Miniature Ranni and accepted her request, the Baleful Shadow appears in the open cavern ahead. Defeat it to continue that quest. Speaking to the doll is not required to reach the lake.
8. Continue beyond the cavern to the lift down to Lake of Rot Shoreside. Activate the grace and prepare healing plus Preserving Boluses or Flame, Cleanse Me before entering the lake.
9. From Lake of Rot Shoreside, look across the eastern part of the lake for the large Dragonkin Soldier resting in the rot. Cross between the small stone islands toward it, stopping on dry ground when needed.
10. Find the nearby floor switches and step on them to raise platforms around the soldier. These give you space to fight without standing in the rot throughout the encounter.
11. Defeat the Dragonkin Soldier to receive Dragonscale Blade. This is the Lake of Rot encounter, not the Dragonkin Soldier bosses in Siofra River or Ainsel River's lower section.