Delve into the enigmatic journey of Sir Ansbach, the retired Pureblood Knight, in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree. Tasked with unraveling Miquella’s cryptic intentions, his questline intertwines lore, danger, and pivotal choices that shape the fate of key NPCs. From uncovering Miquella’s Crosses to navigating tense alliances with Freyja and Leda, this walkthrough ensures you won’t miss a step—or a reward—in one of the DLC’s most captivating narratives.
Where to find Ansbach?
Where to find Ansbach?
Sir Ansbach can first be found near the Main Gate Cross Site of Grace in the Gravesite Plain, just outside the Belurat Tower Settlement. He introduces himself as a retired soldier and former follower of Mohg, now investigating Miquella’s purpose in the Land of Shadow. Later in the questline, Ansbach relocates to the Specimen Storehouse in Shadow Keep, near the First Floor Site of Grace. To reach him, navigate past the Vulgar Militiamen and Shades, taking the stairs upwards and turning left at the bookcases before entering a room where he awaits with further tasks.
You will meet Sir Ansbach for the first time at the entrance to the Belurat castle complex, in the northwestern part of the Gravesite Plain. The man is there with another NPC, Moore, at the Main Gate Cross site of grace. Talk to him and exhaust all dialogue options.
If you find Miquella’s Crosses nearby, you will unlock a few additional dialogue lines with Ansbach, but they are completely optional and have no impact on the course of the quest.
Continue the game until you see information about the breaking of the Great Rune in front of the Shadow Keep (in the Scadu Altus region). This is a predefined plot event that you have no influence on. However, it will change the attitude of many NPCs, pushing many quests forward.
Where to find the Secret Rite Scroll?
To find the Secret Rite Scroll in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree, head to the Specimen Storehouse within Shadow Keep. Start at the Storehouse, Fourth Floor Site of Grace. Exit west and ascend the stairs on the left, being cautious of the Fire Knight guarding the area. After passing the knight, descend a staircase into a room where the scroll lies on a table. This item is crucial for progressing Sir Ansbach’s questline and unlocking additional lore about Miquella’s plans.
You will meet Ansbach for the second time while exploring the Shadow Keep and reaching the first floor of the Specimen Storehouse. The man is absorbed in reading, in a small room at the back of the location. You can talk to him, but before you take certain necessary actions, you will not be able to continue his story.
Your first task will be to find the Secret Rite Scroll. It is located near the fourth floor of the Storehouse:
- After reaching the Storehouse, Fourth Floor site of grace, go out to the balcony adjacent to the room and turn left.
- Climb the stairs that go around the building. When you reach a small descent near the wall, use it to get a little lower.
- Enter the room. In the corner, behind one of the shelves, you will find a scroll lying on the table.
Interaction with Freyja
Interaction with Freyja
Freyja plays a pivotal role in Sir Ansbach’s questline in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree. The Tarnished first encounters her at the Three-Path Cross Site of Grace in the Gravesite Plain, where she discusses her concerns about Miquella and seeks Ansbach’s insights. Later, in the Shadow Keep’s Storehouse on the Seventh Floor, Freyja provides critical information that ties into Ansbach’s investigation. Players can deliver the “Letter for Freyja,” obtained from Ansbach after progressing his storyline, which prompts further revelations and rewards, including the Golden Lion Shield. This interaction not only deepens the lore but also intertwines their fates, culminating in a confrontation near the DLC’s climactic events.
Sir Ansbach’s and Freyja’s quests are closely related. If you want to learn more about the story of the former follower of Radahn, check out the Freyja – walkthrough page.
There’s one more thing you should do before returning. Go to the seventh floor of the Storehouse. Activate the site of grace there and a little further, Freyja will appear next to the fireplace. Exhaust the heroine’s dialogue options and then return to Ansbach on the first floor.
When talking to Ansbach, you will be able to choose two dialogue options. First, inform him about Freyja’s actions. Then give him the Secret Rite Scroll you found.
Make sure Ansbach finds out about Freyja first. Giving him the Scroll first may prevent you from further progressing the heroine’s quest.
After resetting the location (e.g. at the site of grace) talk to Ansbach again and he will give you a letter to Freyja. You can give it to the heroine on the seventh floor. You can read about the consequences of delivering the letter on the page of the guide dedicated to Freyja.
Leda’s invasion (optional)
Leda’s Invasion (Optional)
As Needle Knight Leda’s paranoia deepens, she becomes convinced that Sir Ansbach poses a threat to Miquella. At this point in the questline, players face a critical choice: assist Leda in invading Ansbach or stand against her. If you choose to help Leda, you’ll summon her to attack Ansbach, leading to his death and the loss of his unique rewards and later appearances in the story. Conversely, siding with Ansbach will result in Leda’s demise, granting her Rune and other rewards. This pivotal moment underscores the intertwined fates of these characters and the weight of your decisions in Shadow of the Erdtree.
Leda’s attack on Ansbach will only take place if you make very specific choices during the Needle Knight’s quest. For more information on this topic, check out Needle Knight Leda – walkthrough page.
If Leda decides to attack Sir Ansbach in her storyline, two summoning symbols will appear in the place where he stood on the first floor of the Storehouse. You can choose one of the sides of the conflict:
- If you help Leda kill Ansbach, his storyline will end at this point. He will not appear during the later battles in Enir-Ilim. In return, you will receive a full set of Ansbach’s armor, his bow, and after a later conversation with Leda, also a new talisman – Retaliatory Crossed-Tree .
- By helping Ansbach repel Leda’s attack, you will gain the man’s sympathy, which will allow you to summon him during the fight with Leda in the Cleansing Chamber and during the fight with the final boss of the expansion. After the fight, you will still receive his bow and some runes.
Final fight in Enir-Ilim
The final fight in Enir-Ilim marks the climactic conclusion of Sir Ansbach’s questline in Shadow of the Erdtree. After burning the Sealing Tree, players are transported to Enir-Ilim, the DLC’s final Legacy Dungeon, where Ansbach can be summoned to aid in two pivotal battles if his storyline has been completed. The dungeon is filled with perilous enemies and intricate pathways leading to its ultimate confrontation. Here, players face Promised Consort Radahn, Miquella’s loyal companion, in a grueling battle that tests their mastery of combat mechanics and strategy. Choosing Ansbach’s side earlier in the quest ensures his assistance during this challenging encounter, providing a fitting end to his journey and a crucial ally in defeating Radahn.
If you managed to deliver the scroll from the Storehouse to Ansbach and supported him during the optional fight, you will be able to summon him to help during the final fight with Leda in the Cleansing Chamber. His presence can make this fight much easier for you. Especially when many of the remaining NPCs from the Land of Shadow side with Leda.
What are the key moments in Sir Ansbach’s questline
The key moments in Sir Ansbach’s questline in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree include:
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Initial Meeting: Sir Ansbach is first encountered at the Main Gate Cross Site of Grace in Gravesite Plain. He reveals his past as a Pureblood Knight and his current mission to uncover Miquella’s intentions, asking you to report back on discovered Miquella’s Crosses.
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Miquella’s Crosses: Reporting back after finding Crosses triggers dialogues where Ansbach reflects on Miquella’s influence and his growing unease about Miquella’s motives.
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The Shadow Keep: Ansbach moves to the Shadow Keep after regaining independence from Miquella’s charm. Here, you must retrieve and deliver the Secret Rite Scroll to him, advancing his quest.
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Conflict with Leda: At the Specimen Storehouse, you face a choice between siding with Ansbach or Needle Knight Leda. Choosing Ansbach ensures his survival and allows him to assist in future battles.
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Final Encounter: Before the final boss fight, Ansbach acknowledges your role in Mohg’s death but offers his aid. Summoning him for the battle against Miquella leads to his death, after which you can claim his armor and weapons as rewards.
What rewards can I get from completing Ansbach’s questline
Completing Sir Ansbach’s questline in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree can yield several valuable rewards depending on your choices. Here’s a breakdown:
Rewards for Siding with Ansbach
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Ansbach’s Longbow: A powerful bow with the unique “Fan Shot” skill.
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Leda’s Rune: Grants 40,000 Runes.
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Ansbach’s Armor Set: Includes Wise Man’s Mask, Ansbach’s Attire, Manchettes, and Boots. This is obtained after the final boss fight if Ansbach survives until then.
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Obsidian Lamina: A reaper weapon available after summoning Ansbach for the final boss fight.
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Furious Blade of Ansbach: An incantation rewarded post-final boss if Ansbach is summoned.
Rewards for Siding with Leda (Killing Ansbach)
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Ansbach’s Longbow: Still obtainable.
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Ansbach’s Armor Set: Collected immediately after defeating Ansbach.
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Retaliatory Crossed-Tree Talisman: A unique talisman awarded by Leda.
Post-Final Boss Rewards
If you summon Ansbach in the final boss fight and he dies, you can loot his corpse for:
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Ansbach’s Armor Set
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Obsidian Lamina
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Furious Blade of Ansbach
The best rewards come from siding with Ansbach and completing his questline through to the end, ensuring his assistance in critical battles.
