Astaple of FromSoftware’s games, or at least those that follow the Souls formula, is the ability to progress quests associated with the world’s various NPCs. These NPCs are people that the player can talk to, interact with beyond just combat, and complete quests and collect items for to gain their aid – or earn their ire.
NPC questlines inShadow of the Erdtreearen’t just there for a bit of extra flavor, though. By completing, or at least progressing,mostElden Ring DLCquestlines, you can gain new items, summonable help for bosses, and other rewards. This guide details all fourteen new quest lines inShadow of the Erdtree– including one, listed at the end, which may be considered spoilers by some particularly lore-hungry players.
Updated July 26 ,2024 by Erik Petrovich: There are a lot of new NPCs in Shadow of the Erdtree, NPC quests to take on, and decisions to make in your quest to reach the end of Shadow of the Erdtree. Every new NPC questline offers players some kind of tangible reward, and some of them offer a lot more than that. In fact, most of the NPC armor sets in the Elden Ring DLC are obtainable as part of these quests, as well as a host of other useful items that you may only get by following these new SOTE NPC quests. This guide has been updated to include information on these Elden Ring DLC NPC quest rewards, including new Armor sets, weapons, Talismans, and other useful things that each NPC quest unlocks.
Needle Knight Leda
Initial Location: Cocoon of the Empyrean
Needle Knight Leda is the first of Miquella’s Followers that players meet in theShadow of the ErdtreeDLC. In fact, you don’t meet her for the first time in the Realm of Shadow. After activating the DLC on your version ofElden Ring, Needle Knight Leda will appear next to Miquella’s cocoon atop the Mohgwyn Dynasty Mausoleum.
Here, she guides the player toward Miquella’s withered arm, which grants entry to the Realm of Shadow. Leda is one of Miquella’s most devoted followers, and eagerly serves what she believes to be the young Empyrean’s will – even after she is no longer forced into subservience.
Hornsent
Initial Location: Three-Path Cross Site of Grace
Hornsent is actually one of the many Hornsent people in the Realm of Shadow, though players never learn his true name. Nevertheless,he follows Miquella’s footstepsin the Realm of Shadow despite in-universe reasons for him not to trust anyone tied to Queen Marika – including both Miquella himself and the Tarnished.
To begin the Hornsent questline,Shadow of the Erdtreeplayers simply need to head to the Three-Path Cross Site of Grace, north of the first Gravesite Plain questline near the tunnel that leads to Belurat. Hornsent will provide the player with maps that lead to nearby crosses, until a certain point in his questline.
Redmane Freyja
Redmane Freyja, as her name suggests, is a former follower of the great General Radahn, whose forces were known as the Redmanes (hence, Redmane Castle where Radahn is defeated by the player). She can be summoned for the Divine Beast fight, and will comment on the battle if talked to afterward.
To begin Redmane Freyja’s quest, you must head to the same Site of Grace where you meet the Hornsent. This can be found north of the very first Gravesite Plain site of grace.
Sir Ansbach
Initial Location: Main Gate Cross Site of Grace
Sir Ansbach, like most of the followers of Miquella, used to follow a different lord before being guided to the Realm of Shadow by the young empyrean. Interestingly, Ansbach used to followMohg as a Pureblood Knight, but now in his old age (and under Miquella’s influence), he is drawn to learn the locations of the various crosses across the Realm of Shadow.
The Ansbach questline start point can be found by the entrance to Belurat, Tower Settlement at the Main Gate Cross site of grace. Moore can also be found here offering his goods.
Moore
Moore is one of the few followers of Miquella whose former service to a different lord is difficult to figure out. He doesn’t outright say it, but he is likely a follower of the Rot Goddess, Malenia herself – as evidenced by his fellow members of the Forager Broodliterally being Rot Pests.
Find Moore’s first location at the Main Gate Cross site of grace just outside of Belurat to gain access to his shop – and remember not to hurt any Rot Pests that give Cookbooks and other goods, who are all members of his Brood. If you’re unsure, use Target Lock to determine if a Rot Pest is an enemy or a member of the Forager Brood.
Thiollier
Initial Location: Pillar Path Cross Site of Grace
Thiollier is one of the DLC’s more subtle but lore-significant figures. He speaks softly, can only offer Poisons to the player, is “as weak as a kitten and as thick as two planks,” and is absolutely obsessed with St. Trina. It was heavily implied in the base game that St. Trina was Miquella’s other half, and inShadow of the Erdtree, Thiollier’s questline confirms this.
Find Thiollier’s quest start location at the Pillar Path Cross site of grace, to the north of the Suppression Pillar in the Gravesite Plain.
Fire Knight Queelign
Initial Location: Belurat, Castle Settlement
Fire Knight Queelign is a devoted follower of Messmer, one who seems to be a true believer in his crusade in the Realm of Shadow. Wielding a greatsword and a distracting bowl cut, Queeligninvades the player twicebefore becoming an interactable NPC in the Shadow Keep.
Head to Belurat, Tower Settlement to find the first Queelign spawn location inShadow of the Erdtree, then head to the Church of the Crusade in the Scadu Altus to be invaded again. After this, he can be found in the Prayer Room in Shadow Keep.
Igon
Initial Location: Southeast of the Pillar Path Cross
Igon is quickly becoming one of the most beloved characters in theShadow of the ErdtreeDLC. In stark contrast to the soft-spoken, sleepy Thiollier, Igon is fuelled by vengeance, anger, and the thirst for revenge against the Dread Bayle.
Compared by some to Captain Ahab, Igon’s sole goal is to defeat the great Bayle the Dread atop the Jagged Peak. Look for Igon’s first location onthe way to the Dragon’s Pit, a dungeon found a layer below the Suppression Pillar in Gravesite Plain.
Hornsent Grandam
Quest Start Location: Belurat, Castle Settlement
The Hornsent Grandam is both a hidden NPC and someone that mostShadow of the Erdtreeplayers will encounter early on. When you fight the Divine Beast, the Hornsent Grandam is the one calling it to life with a prayer that rings out over the boss arena.
This elusive NPC can actually be found earlier in the legacy dungeon, though, behind the Storeroom Door near the Small Prayer Altar site of grace. If you defeat the Divine Beast,and equip its headpiece, she will talk to you as a friend and grant a special Incantation. Return again after beating Messmer for another reward.
Shadow of the Erdtree Hornsent Grandam Quest Rewards
Dryleaf Dane
Dryleaf Dane is one of Miquella’s followers who doesn’t show himself until after the Tarnished has entered the Scadu Altus region, either by the little-known shortcut or the main entrance via Castle Ensis. Dryleaf Dane gives the player the Dryleaf Arts weapons, but only after an honorable battle.
Dryleaf Dane can be found near the Moorth Ruins, but first head to the Highroad Cross site of grace behind Castle Ensis to find his note, challenging you to a fight without words. Use the emote found here at Dryleaf Dane’s location to initiate the fight.
Dragon Communion Priestess
Quest Start Location: Grand Altar of Dragon Communion
The Dragon Communion Priestess has a relatively simpleElden Ring DLCNPC questline compared to some. This half-dragon priestess stands near the body of an enormous dead Ancient Dragon, and warns the player about taking on Bayle the Dread, an insanely difficult boss fight atop the Jagged Peak. By completing her questline, players gain access to unique spells and theability to transform into a half-dragonthemselves.
The Dragon Communion Priestess can be found by heading to the Dragon Pit (and jumping in the pit) to reach the Foot of the Jagged Peak. Continue southeast to find the Grand Altar and the Dragon Communion Priestess location.
Count Ymir
Quest Start Location: Cathedral of Manus Metyr
Count Ymir has something of a menacing presence, and the information that he imparts to the player about the world, the Fingers, and the Greater Will have sinister and strange implications indeed. Count Ymir may be one of the most lore-impactful new NPCs inShadow of the Erdtree, and his quest is worth following to reach a secret boss and to learn more about the hierarchy and cosmos of the world.
The Cathedral of Manus Metyr is where you will find Count Ymir for the first time. To get to the Cathedral,Shadow of the Erdtreeplayers can explore the hole in the Moorth Ruins until it leads to Bonny Village, then take the road north that leads to it.
Swordhand of Night, Jolan
Another NPC questfound at the Cathedral of Manus Metyris the Swordhand of Night, Jolan questline. This NPC looks a bit like Sauron, and you’re able to indeed get this armor set for your own Elden Bling. The Swordhand of Night only appears after you speak with Count Ymir for the first time, leaning against a wall within the cathedral.
The Swordhand of Night’s quest is pretty short and requires one of two specific items to progress. Depending on your choices, Jolan may invade you at the end of Count Ymir’s quest.
St. Trina
Quest Start Location: Deep Purple Garden
The final, and arguably most highly anticipated NPC inShadow of the Erdtree,is St. Trina herself. The female half of Miquella,St. Trina is associated with Sleepand many of Miquella’s most important qualities. But St. Trina is not a part of Miquella anymore, for reasons the St. Trina questline explains once you find her.
To reach St. Trina, head to the Cerulean Coast, then ride to the southwestern peninsula with a gigantic crater in it. Make your way down this crater to reach the Stone Coffin Fissure, an area only accessible once you have received the “A Great Rune Has Broken” message upon approaching the Shadow Fort.
