What are the Best NPC Side Quests in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree?
Despite being “merely” a DLC expansion, Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree turned out to be packed with enough content to rival the base game. And so, just like in base Elden Ring‘s Lands Between, it can be all too easy to either get overwhelmed by everything there is to do in the Shadowlands and be rendered unable to decide what to do next.
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It’s still very easy to fully enjoy one’s time in Shadow of the Erdtree without doing all the available NPC quests, but all of them do a lot to add to that experience. And some are so good that they can elevate the DLC to even greater heights. Seriously, the top five side quests listed here are ones no Elden Ring fan will want to miss.
11
Fire Knight Queelign
Have at You!
Fire Knight Queelign isn’t a friendly NPC but rather a repeat invader who will accost the Tarnished if they happen across him. He can first be encountered in the courtyard of Belarut, Tower Settlement and again later on at the Church of the Crusade. After defeating him a second time, players can find his real self in the Prayer Room in Church District and claim their reward.
Over the course of the quest, players should have acquired both an Iris of Grace and an Iris of Occultation. Giving Queelign the former gains players his Ash Summons, while the latter will get them Queeilgn’s Greatsword. What’s the better prize? It depends on one’s build.
10
Hornsent Grandam
Nothing Like a Good Stew Before a Fight!
Hornsent Grandam is a quest that’s pretty simple in terms of finding and starting it. Players can talk to him in Belarut Tower in the storeroom next to the Small Private Altar Site of Grace, but only while wearing the Divine Beast Head. He’ll reward the player with Scorpion Stew but promises more if the Tarnished does something about Messmer.
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That “more” he promises turns out to be Gourmet Scorpion Stew, which grants a significant buff to physical damage negation and health regeneration when consumed. Players can always go back to him for more too, but he won’t give another helping while one still sits in the Tarnished’s inventory.
9
Moore
You Need It? Ol’ Moore’s Got It
Moore is a kindly warrior merchant who helps procure resources for Needle Knight Lead’s oddball band of Miquella devotees. Players can first encounter him at Main Gate Cross Site of Grace, where he’ll mention that he’s looking for Forager Brood cookbooks. He’ll also sell the Tarnished consumable items like Rada Fruit and assorted Pickled Livers.
After talking to the other party members and continuing past the point of breaking Miquella’s Charm, players can talk to him again and either leave him to wallow in his misery or tell him to stand up and move forward. In either case, players can get the Verdegris armor set, Verdegris Greatshield and Moore’s Bell Bearing after it’s all over.
8
Hornsent
I Promise You, Revenge!
Hornsent is unique among the members of Leda’s cohort in that his purpose is less about following Miquella out of sheer devotion and more about getting revenge against Messmer and the forces he commands. His quest spans across most of Shadow of the Erdtree’s critical path, and he himself is a great source of background lore for the Hornsent people, making his quest well worth taking on for lore enthusiasts.
His quest also yields a lot in terms of rewards, including the Swift Slash ash of war, the Falx sword, Hornsent’s Braided Arm Wraps, the Caterpillar Mask, the Braided Cord Robe, the Soiled Loincloth and the Lacerating Crossed-Tree Talisman. Not to mention that he can also show up as a helpful summon against a certain boss later on too, if you manage to stay on his good side.
7
Thiollier and St. Trina
Oblivion Never Tasted So Sweet
This is more Thiollier’s questline than it is St. Trina’s, as it’s Thiollier that sets it in motion as one of her followers. He doesn’t actually ask anything of the Tarnished, but he is extremely interested in anything to do with poisons and St. Trina. Checking in with him often, especially after encountering St. Trina and hearing her voice, will provoke interesting reactions from the poisoner.
While all the questlines in Shadow of the Erdtree yield lore and insight into the story, Thollier’s produces what are perhaps the most important insights, meaning it should be a high priority for serious players despite its somewhat lacking tangible rewards.
6
Freyja
Stalwart Devotion Will Only Get One So Far
Freyja, or “Redmane” Freyja, is another member of Leda’s unlikely troupe, as she once counted herself among General Radahn’s most loyal warriors. She’s compelled to follow Miquella now just like all the rest, but her specific purpose is to learn more about the relationship between her former lord and her current one.
She is first encountered at the Three-Path Cross Site of Grace, but her quest won’t truly begin until the Tarnished breaks Miquella’s Charm. This quest presents the player with both some interesting lore and tough choices, but, regardless of the path one chooses, completing it will yield the Golden Lion Shield and Freyja’s complete weapon and armor set.
5
Dryleaf Dane
True Martial Artists are Weapons Unto Themselves
Besides the fact that he’s a follower of Miquella, there’s very little concrete information about Dryleaf Dane or his reasons for coming to the Shadow Lands. However, perhaps he doesn’t really have any greater purpose beyond seeking a worthy opponent as a martial artist. He doesn’t have much to say, but he will accept a challenge from the Tarnished via the “May the Best Win” gesture (acquired at the Highroad Cross Site of Grace).
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Defeating him earns the Tarnished the unique (and very fun) Dryleaf Arts unarmed fighting style, as well as Dane’s gear and the ability to summon him as an ally against a couple of bosses later on.
4
Ansbach
Some Knowledge Might Be Better off Forgotten.
As one of the three most important members of Leda’s group, Ansbach’s questline grants players a great deal of information about what has led them all, the Tarnished included, to the Shadow Lands and what Miquella’s true objective is. He’s a former follower of Mogh, so, naturally, the greatest revelations revolve around Mogh’s involvement and what Miquella’s plans might have been for the now-deceased Lord of Blood.
He’s a former follower of Mogh, so, naturally, the greatest revelations revolve around Mogh’s involvement in all this.
As for gear rewards, following Ansbach to the end nets players his weapons and armor along with Leda’s Rune, the Retaliatory Crossed-Tree Talisman, Obsidian Lamina, Wise Man’s Mask and Ansbach as a summon.
3
Ymir and Jolan
Aliens.
In the base game of Elden Ring, players are asked to just accept that strange creatures resembling two-fingered (or three-fingered) hands are not only a thing that exists in The Lands Between but also the conduits for the will of the Greater Will. Kind of disappointing, but okay, right? Well, those who are still curious can finally get some answers by following Ymir and Jolan’s questline.
Both characters are found in the Cathedral Of Manus Metyr and are closely associated with the fingers, though exactly how won’t become clear until later. The actual rewards for this questline are also substantial, showering The Tarnished in runes, gear, weapons, spirit ashes and a bell bearing.
2
Needle Knight Leda
She’s the Leader of the Bunch; You’ll Know Her Well
Needle Knight Leda is perhaps the only member of her crew that’s fully devoted to Miquella outside the influence of his charm. As such, she’s the best source of background information about him as well as the one who’s perhaps most accepting of his aims once they’re fully revealed.
Hers is perhaps also the side quest that’s also the most difficult to miss, as it’s almost fully intertwined with Shadow of the Erdtree’s critical path. This is all to say that players likely don’t need to worry about losing out on its rewards, which include a great deal of gear, runes and more. Some of these intersect with other quest rewards, so completing this one is the best guarantee of collecting as much as possible.
