What Happens If You Kill Blaidd In Mistwood? Explained

Killing Blaidd in Mistwood early in Elden Ring does not prevent you from progressing through his questline. However, it does lock you out of specific dialogue and potential rewards associated with his initial encounters. The main quest can still be completed by finding Ranni through other means, but you’ll miss key interactions with him.

The Encounter in Mistwood

When you first enter the Mistwood, it’s a place shrouded in mystery. The air is thick with ancient magic. Strange noises echo through the fog.

It’s easy to feel a sense of unease.

As you push deeper, you might hear a howl. This sound draws you towards a specific area. There, you find Blaidd.

He’s a formidable warrior. He wears wolf armor. His presence is striking.

He’s often seen looking up at the sky. He seems troubled. He’s on a quest of his own.

Blaidd is searching for someone. He’s looking for General Radahn. He needs Ranni.

His mission is crucial to the game’s narrative. His tone is usually direct. He might even ask for your help.

He’s not a typical enemy. He’s an ally, or at least a potential one.

Your Choice: Friend or Foe?

At this point, you have a choice. You can talk to Blaidd. He’ll explain his situation.

He’ll tell you about his quest for Ranni. This conversation is important. It sets you on a path to aid him.

Or, you can attack. Mistwood is a dangerous place. Your instincts might tell you to fight first.

You see a strong enemy. You might think it’s a boss fight. You might be curious about his loot.

This is where the decision has consequences.

If you attack Blaidd, he will fight back. He’s a skilled combatant. He uses a greatsword.

He’s fast and powerful. The fight can be tough. Especially early in the game.

He’s not designed to be killed here easily. He’s meant to be an ally.

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What Happens Immediately After?

If you manage to defeat Blaidd in Mistwood, the immediate aftermath is… quiet. He drops his gear. This includes his iconic wolf armor set.

It also includes his greatsword. These are powerful items. They can be very useful early on.

However, something is missing. You don’t get his full story. You don’t hear about his loyalty.

You don’t learn about his connection to Ranni. This connection is key to many events later.

The world doesn’t stop. The game continues. You can still explore.

You can still find other quests. But a door has been closed. A certain path has been altered.

The game doesn’t break, but it changes.

You might think getting good loot early is worth it. And it can be. But it’s important to know what you’re giving up.

The game’s narrative is rich. It’s built on character interactions. Blaidd is a significant character.

The Questline and Blaidd’s Absence

Blaidd is tied to Ranni’s questline. This is one of the longest and most complex questlines in Elden Ring. It leads to one of the game’s alternate endings.

If you kill Blaidd early, his quest progression is altered. You can no longer interact with him in Mistwood. This means you miss his initial dialogue.

He won’t be there to give you specific pointers. He won’t react to your actions in the same way.

However, Ranni’s quest doesn’t become impossible. You can still find Ranni. You can still talk to her.

You can still start her quest. This is usually done at Ranni’s Rise. You need to reach Liurnia of the Lakes for this.

What changes is that Blaidd’s role becomes more distant. He won’t be your companion in the same way. He won’t show up at certain key locations to offer support or commentary.

You’ll still meet him later. But the context will be different. His dialogue might change.

He might not remember your initial encounter.

This means you miss out on a lot of the story. You miss his personal journey. You miss his dedication.

His character development is a big part of Ranni’s story. Without him, that part feels incomplete.

Some players enjoy the challenge of getting powerful gear early. Others want to experience the story as intended. Both are valid ways to play.

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Alternative Paths and Consequences

If you kill Blaidd in Mistwood, you need to find another way to progress Ranni’s quest. This usually involves speaking to the NPC “Roderika” in Stormhill. She can give you a clue about Ranni.

She might point you towards the Three Sisters area.

Once you are in Liurnia, you can find Ranni’s Rise. This is a large tower. You can enter it.

Inside, you’ll find Ranni. She’s at the top. This is where you officially start her quest.

When you meet Ranni, she will offer you a position. You can serve her. If you accept, she will mention Blaidd.

She might ask you where he is. If you killed him, you can’t tell her. This is a missed opportunity for dialogue.

Later in the quest, Blaidd is supposed to meet you at the entrance to Nokron. He’s supposed to help you fight through the area. If you killed him, he won’t be there.

You’ll have to fight these enemies alone.

There’s also a moment where Blaidd is trapped. He’s at the Forlorn Hound Evergaol. He asks for your help.

If you killed him earlier, this encounter will be different. He might not even be there. Or his dialogue will be altered significantly.

This means you miss a chance to help him.

It’s a strange feeling. You might have killed him. Then you find him trapped.

But if he’s already dead, that scenario can’t happen. The game tries to adapt. But some moments are lost.

Think about it like this: You have a friend who asks you for help with a task. If you ignore them or get angry and hurt them, they might not ask again. Or they might approach you differently.

The task can still get done, but the friendship is strained.

This is similar to Blaidd. The game is designed to be flexible. But certain actions have ripple effects.

Story Implications and Narrative Depth

Blaidd is more than just a warrior. He’s a loyal companion. He has a deep connection to Ranni.

He’s a half-wolf, part of an ancient lineage. His story is one of duty and purpose.

When you kill him early, you miss out on understanding his motivations. You don’t see his dedication to Ranni. You don’t witness his struggles.

His character arc is a significant part of the Elden Ring lore.

The game often presents you with moral choices. Or choices that feel like them. Do you prioritize immediate gain?

Or do you preserve the narrative? In Elden Ring, often, preserving the narrative leads to a richer experience.

Many players find that going through Ranni’s quest with Blaidd as an active participant makes the story more compelling. You see his reactions. You hear his thoughts.

He becomes a more fleshed-out character.

If you kill him, he becomes just an NPC you defeated. His armor and sword are just loot. You don’t get to see his loyalty tested.

You don’t see him fight alongside you in spirit. This is a narrative cost.

Some players are completionists. They want to see every outcome. Killing Blaidd offers a different path.

It’s a way to experiment. But it’s not the path that showcases his character fully.

Consider his dialogue. He speaks with a sense of duty. He’s committed to Ranni’s cause.

He sees himself as her shadow. This loyalty is something players can connect with. When you deny yourself that connection, the story feels less personal.

The impact isn’t just on Blaidd. It affects how you perceive Ranni. Her quest is about her ambitions.

Blaidd is her most trusted follower. His absence changes the dynamic.

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What About the Ending?

The most significant questline Blaidd is involved in leads to one of the possible endings of Elden Ring. This is the Age of Stars ending, which is Ranni’s ending.

If you’ve killed Blaidd early, you can still achieve the Age of Stars ending. The quest itself is not blocked. However, your journey to that ending will be different.

Blaidd’s presence throughout the quest is lessened.

You will still find the Dark Moon Greatsword. This is a key item in Ranni’s quest. You will still be able to interact with Ranni at the end.

But the emotional weight might be different.

Some players have reported that Ranni’s dialogue at the end might subtly acknowledge Blaidd’s absence. It depends on how the game flags your actions. But generally, the ending itself is achievable regardless.

The real loss is in the journey. The steps you take to get to that ending. The characters you meet.

The bonds you form, or fail to form. Killing Blaidd early means you miss out on a significant part of that character-driven narrative.

Imagine watching a movie. If you skip a key character’s scenes, you might still get the plot. But you’ll miss out on their story arc.

Their motivations. Their relationships. It’s the same with Elden Ring.

The Importance of Blaidd as a Character

Blaidd is a fan favorite for many reasons. He’s a noble warrior. He embodies loyalty.

He’s also a bit of a tragic figure. His devotion to Ranni is unwavering. He stands by her, even when her plans are shrouded in mystery.

His backstory is tied to the greater lore of the Lands Between. He’s part of the ancient order. He’s bound to serve.

This sense of duty is something many players respect.

When you meet him in Mistwood, he’s a beacon of hope. He’s someone on a clear mission. He asks for your help.

This makes the player feel important. It makes them feel like they are part of something bigger.

If you kill him, you are essentially rejecting that opportunity. You are saying that the immediate reward of his gear is more important than his story. It’s a valid choice for a player.

But it’s a choice that changes the narrative experience.

His wolf-like appearance adds to his mystique. He’s not quite human. He’s something ancient and wild.

This makes him stand out from other characters.

Many players who kill Blaidd early later regret it. They often return to the area on a new playthrough. They want to experience his questline as intended.

They want to see him as an ally. This shows his importance.

His interactions with other characters are also noteworthy. He has a unique dynamic with Iji, the blacksmith. He also interacts with Seluvis.

These interactions flesh out the world. They show the relationships between different NPCs.

By killing Blaidd, you remove him from these interactions. You don’t see how he plays a role in the larger tapestry of the Lands Between.

A Personal Story: When I First Met Blaidd

I remember my first playthrough of Elden Ring. Mistwood was one of the first truly unsettling places I explored. The fog was thick.

The wolves were aggressive. I was low on Flasks. I was jumpy.

Then I heard it. A howl. It wasn’t like the normal wolf howls.

It was deeper. More resonant. It drew me in.

I was cautious. I expected a boss.

I found him. Standing there, a tall, imposing figure. He looked like a wolf, but he carried himself with nobility.

He spoke directly to me. He asked about Ranni. My first thought was, “Can I fight this guy?” He looked tough.

I decided to talk. He explained his search. He asked if I’d seen Ranni.

I hadn’t yet. He told me where to go next. He was friendly, in a stern, warrior-like way.

He mentioned he’d be at the next step.

Later, when I reached the Academy, and then Liurnia, I found him again. He was waiting for me. He remembered me.

He was ready to help. It felt good. It felt like I had a companion.

We fought through some tough spots together.

It wasn’t until much later, on a different character, that I experimented. I went back to Mistwood. I was geared up.

I saw Blaidd. This time, I attacked. The fight was intense.

I won. I got his gear.

It felt… empty. I had the cool armor. I had the greatsword.

But I’d lost the interaction. I’d lost the feeling of having an ally. When I met Ranni later, she didn’t ask about him.

It was like he never existed in my playthrough. That felt wrong. It made the quest feel less impactful.

I learned then that some choices have a bigger story cost than others.

Is It Ever Worth Killing Blaidd?

For players focused purely on mechanics and power, killing Blaidd early can be seen as beneficial. The Blaidd’s Royal Greatsword is a strong weapon for Strength builds. The Blaidd’s Armor set offers good physical protection.

Getting these items early can make the game easier for certain playstyles.

If you are a new player and struggling with Mistwood, and Blaidd seems like an insurmountable obstacle, you might be tempted to just kill him to get past him. But he’s not a mandatory obstacle. He’s meant to be an ally.

Attacking him is a choice, not a necessity.

Some players also explore different endings. They might want to see how the game reacts to a character being removed from the narrative. This is a valid form of exploration.

However, for the vast majority of players, especially those who enjoy the lore and story of Elden Ring, killing Blaidd early is not recommended. The narrative depth you gain from experiencing his questline as intended far outweighs the early gear advantage.

You can always get his gear later. If you don’t kill him in Mistwood, you’ll encounter him again. He’ll be at the Forlorn Hound Evergaol.

You can fight him there if you wish. You can still obtain his armor and weapon. But by then, you will have experienced his story.

This way, you get the best of both worlds. You experience his character arc. You can still acquire his powerful gear.

It’s a win-win situation.

So, while there are mechanical benefits to killing Blaidd early, the narrative cost is significant. For most players, it’s best to let him live and experience his story.

What Happens if Blaidd Dies Naturally?

Blaidd can also die naturally during certain events in his questline. This happens during the Radahn Festival. He’s a participant in that epic battle.

If the player doesn’t engage with him properly or if he falls during the chaos, he might die.

In these cases, his death is part of the narrative. It’s meant to happen. His armor and weapon will still be available.

They will usually be found where he last fell or at a specific location related to his quest.

This is different from attacking him in Mistwood. His natural death is integrated into the story. It serves a purpose.

It doesn’t feel like you’ve broken the narrative.

The key difference is intent. If you attack him in Mistwood, you are choosing to end his story prematurely. If he dies during the Radahn Festival, it’s a consequence of the grand narrative unfolding.

The game accounts for this.

So, if Blaidd dies during a major event, don’t worry too much. The game is designed to handle it. You won’t be locked out of content.

His gear will still be obtainable.

Quick Checks and When to Worry

When you first encounter Blaidd in Mistwood, he is not aggressive. He’s looking for help. If he attacks you, it’s because you attacked him first.

So, if he’s hostile, you know what you did.

If you are exploring Mistwood and can’t find him, don’t worry. He’s not always visible. The fog can be thick.

He moves around.

If you’re worried about missing his quest, just talk to him. He’s usually near the cliff overlooking the Mistwood Ruins. Listen to what he has to say.

He will tell you his purpose.

He will mention Ranni. He will tell you he’s looking for her. He will often give you a hint about where to go next.

Pay attention to these hints.

If you’re unsure if you’ve progressed his quest, you can check your inventory. If you have the Black Wolf Mask, you might have met him. But this is rare.

Usually, you need to talk to him.

The main thing to worry about is making sure you don’t attack him on sight. Treat him as an NPC. He’s a friend, not a foe.

If you have already killed him, and you’re in the Forlorn Hound Evergaol, and he’s not there, that’s a sign. It means you missed that encounter. You can still progress Ranni’s quest, but that specific moment is gone for you.

The best advice is to explore cautiously. Approach unknown figures with curiosity, not aggression. Especially when they speak to you directly.

Frequently Asked Questions About Blaidd in Mistwood

Can I kill Blaidd and still finish Ranni’s quest?

Yes, you can still finish Ranni’s quest even if you kill Blaidd in Mistwood. However, his role in the quest will be altered, and you will miss certain interactions and dialogue.

What loot do I get if I kill Blaidd in Mistwood?

You get Blaidd’s Royal Greatsword and his full armor set (Black Wolf Helm, Blaidd’s Armor, Blaidd’s Gauntlets, Blaidd’s Greaves).

Will Ranni still be available if I kill Blaidd?

Yes, Ranni will still be available. Her questline can be initiated by finding her in Ranni’s Rise in Liurnia of the Lakes, regardless of Blaidd’s fate in Mistwood.

Does killing Blaidd affect other quests?

Killing Blaidd primarily affects Ranni’s questline. Other quests are generally not impacted directly by this specific action.

Is Blaidd a boss fight in Mistwood?

No, Blaidd is not a mandatory boss fight in Mistwood. He is an NPC who becomes hostile if attacked. His intended role is as an ally.

When can I get Blaidd’s armor if I don’t kill him early?

If you don’t kill Blaidd in Mistwood, you can obtain his armor later in his questline, typically after he is imprisoned in the Forlorn Hound Evergaol and you defeat him there, or through other specific quest triggers.

Conclusion

Deciding whether to fight Blaidd in Mistwood is a choice that impacts your Elden Ring journey. While killing him yields powerful gear early on, it comes at the cost of narrative depth and character interaction. His story is woven into the fabric of Ranni’s quest, and experiencing it fully with him as an ally offers a richer, more complete understanding of the game’s lore.