- Sengoku Rance ran route entry requires a Second Game and a carefully prepared Houjou sequence.
- Ran recruitment depends on Souun disappearing and the Petroleum Pit event chain.
- Route timing matters because the path locks after five gourds or another route begins.
- Main objective is sealing Xavier, closing hell holes, and defeating Sekimei in Saitama.
- Best preparation includes strong commanders, open roster space, and reliable Search and Negotiation stats.
Sengoku Rance ran route requirements
Sengoku Rance ran route entry is an alternate-route objective available only in a Second Game. The route begins through the Houjou storyline, so your early preparation should focus on Ran, Souun, and the Petroleum Pit rather than rushing into the Honnoji Temple Incident.
The route must be entered before the Honnoji Temple Incident and before another route has already started. You also need to remain below the five-gourd threshold while preparing the final sequence. Once the fifth gourd breaks and Kouhime goes missing, the Ran route opportunity is generally lost.
| Requirement | What to prepare | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Second Game | Clear at least one route first | IF routes are unavailable in a First Game |
| Houjou storyline | Reach the point where Souun can disappear | Ran cannot be recruited before this progression |
| Ran recruitment | Talk to Ran after recruiting her | Required before the Petroleum Pit route event |
| Route timing | Stay before five gourds and Honnoji | The route becomes locked after major story transitions |
| Resources | Keep Action Fans, NP, and roster space | Several events consume actions or require open slots |
A practical preparation save should leave Houjou with one territory while keeping enough actions to defeat the final province, speak with Ran, and enter the Petroleum Pit. This gives you flexibility to choose between the Ran route, Kenshin route, or another outcome if your plans change.
Do not trigger the Honnoji Temple Incident, enter another route, or break the fifth gourd before completing the Ran route setup. These events can remove the entry option.
Keep Houjou Alive
Reduce Houjou to its final territory, but do not conquer the clan until the Ran setup is ready.
Prepare Ran
Recruit Ran after Souun disappears, then view her required purple event before entering the Petroleum Pit.
Protect Your Timing
Preserve enough Action Fans for the final Houjou battle, Ran interaction, and Petroleum Pit entry.
For background mechanics, use the Sengoku Rance Walkthrough as a reference for gourd progression, route locks, and Houjou event conditions.
How to enter the Ran route
The most reliable entry path uses a prepared Houjou save. The objective is to complete the Ran-related requirements immediately before the final Houjou battle, then use the remaining actions in the correct order.
Reach the Houjou endgame state
Fight the Houjou Clan until only its final territory remains. Do not complete the conquest yet. You should have enough Action Fans to finish the battle and still perform the Ran and Petroleum Pit commands.
Recruit Ran after Souun disappears
Progress through the Houjou events until Souun is missing. Ran can then become available for capture and recruitment after her Suzaku-related storyline advances. Scout her battles carefully and wait until the game makes her capturable.
Complete Ran’s first required interaction
Recruit Ran and speak with her once. The route setup depends on Ran being present in your army, not merely captured or left in prison.
Defeat the final Houjou territory
Use one Action Fan to conquer the last Houjou territory. If the route conditions are valid, this advances the story without forcing you into a different route.
Enter the Petroleum Pit
Use the next Action Fan to enter the Petroleum Pit. This completes the Ran route entry sequence and consumes the remaining actions for the turn.
| Action order | Recommended move | Result |
|---|---|---|
| First action | Conquer the final Houjou territory | Removes Houjou as an active enemy |
| Second action | Talk to Ran | Confirms her route-related interaction |
| Third action | Enter the Petroleum Pit | Starts the Ran route |
| Before starting | Check route status | Prevents accidental entry into another path |
The order above is the standard setup described for a flexible save. If you enter the Petroleum Pit before defeating Houjou, the sequence may not produce the intended route result. If Ran is not recruited or her required interaction has not been seen, the route can fail even when the Houjou clan is nearly defeated.
Create a manual save before the final Houjou battle. This lets you test the action order without losing a prepared route setup.
Early Ran route objectives
After entering the route, the immediate priority is the Xavier encounter involving Manmaru. The route is more controlled than the Official History path, but several choices can still produce a Game Over.
Shortly after entry, Suzume and Chaos discover that a Fiend is connected to Honnoji. If Tenshiism has already been conquered, a later event gives you a choice involving Manmaru. Keeping her can lead to a Game Over, so release her when the route presents the decision.
You will then face a timed commander battle against Xavier and Toukichirou. The objective is not necessarily to defeat Xavier during the timed battle. Instead, survive until the timer ends while ensuring that Manmaru is no longer in your possession. Xavier is sealed afterward.
| Early event | Correct focus | Main danger |
|---|---|---|
| Manmaru decision | Release Manmaru | Keeping her can force a Game Over |
| Timed Xavier battle | Survive and preserve key commanders | Damage output is less important than survival |
| Xavier sealed | Prepare for the long route phase | Action Fans are lost after the event |
| Post-sealing map | Hold Saitama and manage holes | Ignoring required defenses can cause later losses |
Once Xavier is sealed, the route changes into a defensive progression phase. You generally do not need to conquer the entire map. Holding Saitama is the central strategic requirement while the route introduces hell holes and periodic oni attacks.
Survival Team
Use durable front-line commanders, defensive Ashigarus, and units that can withstand repeated oni battles.
Magic Counter
Onmyoujis are especially valuable because they deal increased magical damage against the oni encountered in hole events.
Action Economy
Avoid unnecessary wars and preserve actions for required red commands, searches, and route events.
During the timed Xavier encounter, survival is the practical objective. Keep Rance and your strongest defensive tools available for later route battles.
Closing hell holes and surviving Saitama
About twenty turns after entering the route, red commands called Close hole to hell begin appearing in eligible provinces. These battles contain two Blue Onis and one Red Oni. Winning closes a hole, while losing usually costs an Action Fan without permanently killing commanders.
The holes follow a fixed province-order process rather than appearing randomly. The game checks your owned provinces in map order and places holes until it reaches the available limit or runs out of eligible locations. Vassaled provinces are excluded.
| Threat | Composition or effect | Recommended response |
|---|---|---|
| Hell hole battle | Two Blue Onis and one Red Oni | Bring strong magic damage and durable units |
| Hole upkeep | A random hole can reduce province NP | Close holes before NP becomes difficult to manage |
| Owari oni attack | Red and Blue Onis appear on scheduled turns | Prepare a defensive team before the attack cycle |
| Saitama dungeon | Twelve floors before the final boss | Keep your best commanders healthy and available |
At the beginning of turns while holes remain, one affected province may lose one National Power if its value is above one. On turns divisible by four, Owari can face an oni attack. These battles contain Red and Blue Onis, and their troop counts grow as more attacks occur.
Preparing for the battle does not provide the normal province preparation advantage, so do not waste actions trying to improve the battlefield. Instead, build a reliable combat team and use Onmyouji damage, defensive skills, and move control.
Ran Route Progress Checklist:
- Enter the route before the fifth gourd and Honnoji Temple Incident
- Release Manmaru when the route presents the choice
- Survive the timed Xavier and Toukichirou battle
- Keep control of Saitama during the hell-hole phase
- Close every hell hole before entering the Saitama dungeon
- Defeat Sekimei on the final dungeon floor
The route becomes much more manageable after every hell hole is closed. Until then, keep a dedicated defense team ready for Owari and avoid unnecessary battles elsewhere.
Saitama dungeon and Sekimei clear
After all hell-hole events are completed, a twelve-floor dungeon opens in Saitama. You can delay entry while preparing because the route does not immediately force you into the dungeon. This is the best time to improve levels, refill troops, review equipment, and reserve your strongest commanders.
The final boss is Sekimei, a level 80 enemy with 2,310 HP, high speed, and an attack that can reach the back row. He is accompanied by three level 30 Red Onis and two level 25 Blue Onis.
| Boss element | Encounter detail | Counterplay |
|---|---|---|
| Sekimei | Level 80, 2,310 HP, very high speed | Use fast commanders and defensive support |
| Sekimei attack | Standard attack can hit the back row | Protect fragile mages and support units |
| Red Onis | Three level 30 units, 320 HP each | Use magic damage and move-efficient attacks |
| Blue Onis | Two level 25 units, 275 HP each | Remove weaker units before focusing Sekimei |
| Retry system | Loss sends you to Alice’s Mansion | Reattempt after healing and enemy-level reduction |
Before the battle, commanders regain their moves and defeated commanders return with one HP, but units are not fully healed. Plan a healing cycle before entering the final floor, and avoid wasting key skills in earlier dungeon fights.
Sekimei’s speed is the main difficulty. Fast ninjas, reliable support, and defensive skills can reduce the risk of losing a critical commander before acting. Onmyoujis remain useful against the oni escorts, while Rance does not need to be preserved for a special Xavier damage condition in this final battle.
Winning the Sekimei battle clears the Ran route. The ending also changes depending on whether Ran is at Trust or Love, so raise her relationship before the final encounter if you want to influence the ending variation.
Do not enter the final dungeon with damaged core commanders. Moves are restored before Sekimei, but HP is not fully restored.
Q: Can I enter the Ran route in a First Game?
No. The Ran route is an IF route and requires a Second Game. First Games are limited to the Official History progression.
Q: What is the most important Ran route requirement?
You must recruit Ran after Souun disappears, complete the required interaction with her, and enter the Petroleum Pit before the route locks.
Q: Do I need to conquer the whole map after Xavier is sealed?
No. The route mainly requires holding Saitama, closing the hell holes, clearing the dungeon, and defeating Sekimei.
Q: What happens if I keep Manmaru?
Keeping Manmaru during the relevant route event can lead to a Game Over, even if Xavier is defeated in the timed battle.