Shadow of the Erdtree – Full Story and NPC Quest Guide

A step-by-step guide in all NPC quests so you don't miss anything.

Game Guide by Nine_toes on Jul 07, 2024

There are quite a lot of quests in Shadow of the Erdtree with little or no direction on when to do what. It’s really easy to make one wrong decision and mess up another side quest on a side of the map you don’t even know about yet! This guide’s got you covered so that does not happen to you. It covers the main story quests and all the intricate NPC side quests, ensuring you snag every reward and avoid any missteps.

Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree, Full Story, NPC Quests, Step-by-step, Guide, Screenshots
Warning: Following the steps in a different order might disrupt some quests. It's best to follow this guide to a T to make sure you don’t miss any of the quests.

Entering the DLC
Our journey begins by speaking with Needle Knight Leda at the outset of the DLC in Mohgwyn’s Palace.

Gravesight Plains

As you venture into the Gravesight Plains, seek out Redmane Freyja and Hornsent at the Three Path Cross Site of Grace. Remember to exhaust all dialogue options with every NPC you encounter. Resting at Sites of Grace can refresh their dialogue options, ensuring you don't miss anything crucial.

Belarut Tower Settlement

Next, head to the main gate Site of Grace in the Belarut Tower Settlement. Here, you'll find Sir Ansbach and Moore. Speak with them both. After resting at the Site of Grace, talk to Ansbach about Moore, then return to Moore to ensure you've exhausted all their dialogue.

Pillar Path

Make your way to the Pillar Path Site of Grace. Here, you'll encounter Thiollier. After a conversation, return to Moore to acquire the Black Syrup. Bring this back to Thiollier to receive Thiollier Concoction, which will be useful later on.

Meeting Igon

At the Pillar Path waypoint, you'll meet Igon fuming about Bayle. There's no immediate action required here; simply acknowledge him for now.

Back to Belarut Tower Settlement

Progress through the Belarut Tower Settlement until you reach the Small Private Altar Site of Grace. Locate the Storehouse Rift Key and use it to access Hornscent Grandam. Exhaust all her dialogue options to stay up-to-date with her story.

Fire Knight Queelign

In the same vicinity, head up and around to initiate the Fire Knight Queelign quest. When he invades you, take him down.

Miquella's Crosses (Optional)

These lore items are optional, but if you're interested in the backstory, you can find them within the tower settlement, near the location with birds on the main path.

Belarut Tower

Conquer the Belarut Tower and defeat the Dancing Lion boss. Before entering the boss chamber, summon Freyja at the door. After emerging victorious, don't forget to pick up the Dancing Lion's head.

Hornscent Grandam Revisited

Return to Hornscent Grandam and equip the Divine Beast Head. Talk to her to receive the Watchful Spirit Incantation. Rest at the Site of Grace and speak with her again to obtain Scorpion Stew. You can acquire more Scorpion Stew later after defeating Messmer.

Ansbach and the Crosses (Optional)

Speak with Ansbach about the Crosses. These are also optional lore items and finding them all isn't mandatory for completing his questline.

Freyja and Hornsent

Return and chat with Freya and Hornscent. You can give Hornsent the Scorpion Stew for an optional reward. Make sure to exhaust all their dialogue options to stay informed.

Castle Ensis

Complete Castle Ensis to reach the Scadu Altus. Summon Needle Knight Leda at the Castle Ensis boss door. There are no quest-related items to be found inside the castle itself.

High Road Cross

At the High Road Cross Site of Grace, speak to Leda and Hornscent once more (be sure to exhaust all dialogue). Don't forget to pick up the Monk's Missive and the May the Best Wind gesture near Hornscent. Hornscent offers a map to help you locate more Miquella’s Crosses (again, optional lore items).

Church of Crusade

From the High Road Cross, head to the Church of Crusade. Here, you'll be invaded by Fire Knight Queelign again. Defeat him to claim the Prayer Room Key.

Dryleaf Dane

Seek out Dryleaf Dane in the Moorth ruins. Use the May the Best Wind gesture to be transported to a realm where you'll face him in combat. Defeat him and collect your well-deserved rewards.

Forager Brood Cookbooks (Missable)

Before venturing into Shadow's Keep, make sure to collect and deliver all Forager Brood Cookbooks to Moore. This is missable, so be vigilant!

Shadow Keep

Travel to the Shadow Keep in Scadu Altus. Upon reaching the entrance, a message will appear about a broken rune, signifying a change for all NPCs.

Speak with Ansbach until he disappears, then do the same with Freyja. Afterwards, talk to Hornsent, who expresses his need for revenge on Mesmer, saying, "How could I allow revenge alone?"

Choosing Allies

Leda will ask you to choose between Thiollier or Hornsent. Leda will later ask the same. Both choices have similar outcomes, but to be cautious, I recommend choosing Hornsent.

Moore's Choice

Moore poses a question: "Must we be sad forever?" You can choose to "put it behind you" or "remain sad forever." Choosing to remain sad forever grants you quest rewards earlier, including the game's best armor.

Assisting in Shadowkeep

Assist either Leda or Hornsent when you find their summoning signs just before the elevator to the storehouse first floor. Helping Leda to defeat Hornsent will prevent you from summoning Hornscent for the Mesmer fight. Helping Hornsent ensures that Leda moves to endgame and rewards you with the Ash of War Swift Slash. Ignoring the fight entirely is an option, but you’ll miss some rewards.

Confronting Messmer

Defeat Messmer and speak with Hornscent, who will ask you to help her defeat Ansbach. Siding with Ansbach and defeating Leda has minimal impact, though you'll see her later. Siding with Leda and defeating Ansbach earns you his bow and the Retaliatory Cross Tree Talisman but makes the final boss harder as you lose Ansbach as a summon.

Shadow Keep Quests

Proceed with Freyja and Ansbach's quests in Shadow Keep. Start at the storehouse's first floor, speak to Ansbach, then travel through Shadow Keep to reach Freyja on the seventh-floor site of Grace. Return to Ansbach to deliver Freyja’s message and collect the Secret Right Scroll on the fourth-floor site of Grace. Only pick up the scroll after speaking with Freyja to avoid breaking the quest line.

Delivering Messages

Give the scroll to Ansbach, then speak to Freyja again. Return to Ansbach to pass on Freyja's message. Both NPCs will disappear and reappear in the endgame.

Defeating Messmer

Make your way to the end of Shadows Keep and defeat Messmer. Ensure to summon Hornsent during the battle. After defeating Messmer, speak with Hornsent, who reflects on the suffering of his clan.

Needle Knight Leda

Return to Needle Knight Leda, who has decided to target Sir Ansbach. Find the two summoning signs at the storehouse's first floor and choose either one. Each choice offers different rewards and outcomes.

Church of Crusade

Return to the Church of Crusade to find Moore’s body and collect his armor, concluding his questline.

Unearthing the Iris

Our journey for the Iris of Grace and Occulations begins within the shadowy depths of the Shadow Keep's storeroom. Descend to the first floor and take a left turn. Navigate down the elevator and proceed through the right-hand door. Here, another door awaits, concealing the first Iris.

The second Iris resides within the imposing Fort of Reprimand. As you descend into the area on the left side of the fort, vanquish the foe you encounter to claim your prize.

The final two Iris lie hidden within the Shadow Keep's Church District. Traverse the designated path, leaping across the rooftops until you reach a holed roof. Descend and navigate through the door to find yourself outside. Ascend the ladder, ultimately draining the water from the Church District.

Once the water recedes, turn right from the grace point and descend to reach another point of Grace. From here, venture out of the Church and ascend the stairs, turning left. Follow this path until you encounter a formidable giant creature. Defeat this beast to claim another Iris.

To unearth the final Iris, return to the Church District's Grace Point. Head left past the withered tree and ascend the small staircase leading into a room. Before you stands a door guarded by a fire mage. Ignore him and proceed through the right-hand door. This passage leads to a set of stairs and an elevator descending further. Follow the path to reach a Church holding the final Iris. This area also boasts an optional encounter with the fearsome Scarrow Tree Avatar. Defeating this monstrosity grants you an item that will prove invaluable in the final confrontation.

Fire Knight Queelign's Fate

To conclude Fire Knight Queelign's questline, retrace your steps back to the Church entrance. Follow the rooftop path and descend through the hole in the roof, reaching the very bottom. Locate a door that can be unlocked with the Prayer Room Key you acquired earlier. Inside, you'll find Queelign himself.

A momentous decision awaits you. Offer Queelign the Iris site of Grace to receive the Knight Queelign Assamine as your reward. Alternatively, present him with the Iris of Occulation to claim the mighty Queelign Greatsword. Remember, you can only choose one reward, marking the completion of Queelign's quest.

Igon and the Dragon Priestess: Intertwined Destinies

Igon's Path

Our pursuit of Igon begins at the Dragon's Pit. Conquer the dungeon and vanquish the Ancient Dragon Man, granting you access to the Dragon Pit Terminus. Ascend the hill overlooking the pit of dragons, where you'll discover a message left by Igon.

Journey to the Jagged Peaks Grace Point and ascend the hill until you encounter two colossal drakes locked in mortal combat. Eliminate both these beasts to progress in Igon's quest. Following their defeat, laughter will echo in the distance. Seek out the source of the laughter to find Igon. Engage in conversation and exhaust all dialogue options for now. Remember, his aid will be crucial during the battle against Bael.

The Dragon Priestess's Choice

Daybreak

Travel to the Grand Altar of Dragon Communion and seek an audience with the Dragon Priestess. During the day, she offers the Draconic Essence. Accepting this offering grants you her blessing.

Nightfall's Revelation (Alternative Path)

After defeating Bayle, return to the Dragon Priestess to claim the Flowerstone Gavel weapon and the Priestess's Heart, which grants you the power to transform into a Dragon. Alternatively, consume the Draconic Essence and rest until nightfall. Offer her Thiollier's Concoction, obtained earlier, to send her into slumber.

A New Dawn

Rest until morning twice and exhaust all her dialogue options. Upon conquering Bayle, return to her for the Dragon Bolt of Florisax Incantation and the Ancient Dragon Florisax summon. This quest can be buggy; if the Priestess vanishes, wait for nightfall elsewhere and then fast travel back.

Bayle’s Confrontation and Rewards

Travel to the Jagged Peak Summit to confront Bayle. Remember to summon Igon during this fight for his crucial assistance.

Once Bayle lies defeated, return to Igon's location to claim his armor set as your well-deserved reward. Then, return to the Dragon Priestess to receive her rewards.

Count Ymir and Jolan

Our next stop takes us to the enigmatic Count Ymir, who resides within the Cathedral of Manus Matyr. He pleads for your assistance in a task: locating the finger ruins and ringing their sacred bells.

The Finger Ruins' Call

Traverse the Cerulean Coast to find the first finger ruins. Locate and ring the bell that lies dormant there. Return to the Cathedral and speak with Ymir. Exhaust all dialogue options, and he will reveal the location of another finger ruin with a silent bell waiting to be rung.

Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree, Full Story, NPC Quests, Step-by-step, Guide, Screenshots, Jolan
Before departing, engage in conversation with Jolan, who appears after your exchange with Ymir. The dialogue will differ slightly if you equip the Talisman bestowed upon you by Ymir. Make sure to exhaust all dialogue options with both NPCs before venturing forth.

Seeking the Second Bell

Navigate through the Church District and reach the Shadow keep back gate to find the second finger ruin known as Deo. Utilize the "Oh Mother" gesture to unveil a hidden path leading to the Hinterland. Follow the path and ring the bell of the second finger ruin.

Make your way back to the Cathedral and exhaust all dialogue with both Ymir and Jolan. Keep going back and forth until you've gleaned all the information you can. Finally, rest at the Site of Grace to refresh the area.

The Hidden Descent

Ymir will mysteriously vanish after resting. Interact with the throne to reveal a hidden switch, triggering a concealed ladder beneath it. Descend with caution, for a fall could lead to Ymir's return and potentially disrupt the quest. At the bottom of the ladder, prepare to face Swordhand of Knight Anna in an intense battle. Emerge victorious from this confrontation.

The Final Bell and Beyond

Ring the final bell to be transported to a boss arena. Here, you must conquer Metyr, Mother of Fingers.

Ascend back to the throne room and interact with the throne once more. This act will trigger an invasion by Swordhand of Knight Jolan. Defeat her, followed by Count Ymir himself.

After vanquishing both foes, reset the area. To conclude this intricate questline, speak with Jolan. Offer her either the Iris of Occulation or the Iris of Grace.

The Iris of Occulation grants you the Sword of Knight.

The Iris of Grace bestows upon you the Spirit Summon Swordhand of Knight Jolan.

With the Swordhand of Knight Jolan in your possession, head to the Shaman Village in the Hinterland. Descend the cliff and locate a secret door hidden within Rabbit's Rise. This passage will lead you to Anna's body. Here, you can use the Swordhand of Knight Jolan to upgrade it to the Jolan and Anna Spirit Summon, considered one of the strongest summons in the entire game. This concludes our exploration of Count Ymir and Jolan's complex questline.

Finding Saint Trina

Our first step of the next questline is to locate Saint Trinna. Descend into the Stone Coffin at the foot of the Cerulean Coast. Enter the giant hole and battle your way through the dungeon until you confront the Putrescent Knight. Defeat this boss. If you speak with Thiollier before the fight, you can summon him as an ally.

After beating the Putrescent Knight, converse with Saint Trina. Return to Thiollier and inform him of her whereabouts. Then, go back to Saint Trinna and speak with Thiollier again, ensuring you exhaust all dialogue options with him.

Saint Trina's Influence on Thiollier

Saint Trinna offers a mysterious nectar. Drink from it six times, and she will eventually mention slaying Miquella. You can complete this step in two visits (four times now, two later) but doing it all at once is recommended.

Share Saint Trina's message with Thiollier twice. Witness his growing anger and make sure you exhaust all his dialogue options. Rest at the Site of Grace to trigger an invasion by Thiollier. Emerge victorious from this confrontation.

Rest at the Site of Grace again to reset the area. Return to Thiollier and deliver Saint Trinna's message once more. You'll encounter Thiollier again later.

Choices and Consequences

Before proceeding, a crucial decision regarding Ansbach awaits. If you aim to get his rewards, skip the Leda and Hornscent fight entirely when you reach Shadow keep. This allows you to participate in the Leda and Ansbach fight instead.

The Battle at Shadow Keep

The allies and enemies you encounter in this fight depend on your actions throughout the DLC.

Defeating Ansbach Previously: If you previously defeated Ansbach, Sanguine Noble Natan replaces him, essentially granting you two allies.

Freya: If you delivered the letter during her quest in Shadow keep, she joins Leda as an invader.

Moore: He becomes hostile if you chose to forgive him during his questline.

Hornscent: He joins the fight against you if you haven't defeated him before the final boss fight.

Regardless of your allies and opponents, the objective remains the same – defeat all enemies.

Victory's Spoils

After prevailing in the fight, loot the armors from Leda, Freya, Dryleaf Dane, Moore, and Hornscent (if you haven't already). Dryleaf Dane only mentions his footwork weapon when looted, but his armor set should also be in your inventory.

Ascend the stairs and take the elevator to speak with Sir Ansbach.

The Final Showdown

Before facing the final boss, you can summon both Sir Ansbach and Thiollier for assistance. However, this significantly increases the boss's health, making the fight more challenging. You don't need them to receive quest rewards, so tackling the boss solo is a viable option.

After defeating the final boss, collect the armor sets from both Ansbach and Thiollier.

Saint Trina's Farewell

Return to Saint Trinna and claim the Saint Trinna flower from her remains.

Beyond the Quests

The only remaining content in the DLC is to explore and conquer Midra, Lord of the Frenzied Flame, within the Abyssal Woods. While the Abyssal Woods hold some intrigue, it's not tied to any specific quest. Feel free to explore it at your leisure. After conquering this area, mop up any remaining locations within the DLC.

Also, check out our Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree review and other guides below: