Embark on a journey through Shadow of the Erdtree, the highly anticipated Elden Ring DLC, where every step unveils a labyrinth of interconnected quests, enigmatic NPCs, and hidden treasures. Follow the trail of Miquella, the forsaken demigod, as you navigate sprawling dungeons, uncover ancient secrets, and make choices that shape your destiny in this hauntingly beautiful expansion. Will you master the Scadutree blessings and forge alliances with characters like Ansbach and Thiollier, or will you succumb to the shadows? The adventure awaits!

List of all quests

The “Shadow of the Erdtree” DLC for Elden Ring offers a rich tapestry of interconnected quests, each tied to unique NPCs and locations. To ensure players don’t miss any rewards or storylines, the DLC includes 14 questlines that vary in complexity and length. From meeting Freyja at the Three-Path Cross Site of Grace to battling bosses like Fire Knight Queelign and the Divine Beast Dancing Lion, players will navigate through intricate paths filled with choices and missable steps. A structured order of progression is crucial to avoid being locked out of certain quests or rewards. Each quest introduces new characters, such as Hornsent Grandam and Igon the Drake Warrior, while offering opportunities to uncover hidden items, secret dialogues, and legendary equipment.

1. Needle Knight Leda – on this page we described the quest of the leader of Miquella’s followers.
2. Dryleaf Dane – here you will learn what secrets the master of hand-to-hand combat hides.
3. Hornsent – we explain how to complete the missions of this vengeful character.
4. Hornsent Grandam – we tell you how the old woman hiding in the Belurat castle complex can help you.
5. Ymir and Jolan – we explain the questline for the characters found in the Cathedral of Manus Metyr.
6. St. Trina, Thiollier and Moore – we tell you how to complete the interlocking tasks of these three characters.
7. Fire Knight Queelign – on this page of the guide you will learn how to deal with this aggressive NPC.
8. Redmane Freyja – learn how to complete tasks related to Radahn’s former ally.
9. Sir Ansbach – here you will learn what the intentions of Mohg’s former servant are.
10. Igon – we describe a series of missions that will take you to the very top of Jagged Peak.
11. Dragon Communion Priestess – on this page you will learn how you can help the dragon priestess.

Is it worth completing quests?

Completing quests in Shadow of the Erdtree is absolutely worth your time. These quests not only enrich the game’s lore and provide deeper insights into its characters but also reward players with powerful items, unique gear, gestures, and even access to alternate endings. Many quests are time-sensitive and can be missed if not completed before key story milestones, adding a layer of urgency to their exploration. Additionally, they offer opportunities to unlock hidden areas, gain strategic advantages, and enhance your overall gameplay experience.

Completing quests usually rewards you with the quest-related NPC’s equipment or the ability to summon that NPC for help during certain boss fights. However, this equipment can often be obtained by killing an NPC or looted at the end of the game from the NPC’s corpse if you have not completed their quest.

Summoning NPCs for help can be very useful during demanding boss fights, so it’s worth completing their quests. However, be especially careful when completing Leda’s quest – if you want to complete it by siding with her, you will have to kill Hornsent and Ansbach, which will prematurely end their tasks – this is not worth it.

Is there a point of no return?

In Shadow of the Erdtree, there are significant points of no return that players must be aware of to avoid missing key quests and NPC interactions. The first occurs after defeating Romina, Saint of the Bud, and burning the Sealing Tree, which drastically alters the game world and halts most ongoing NPC questlines. Similarly, breaking Miquella’s charm or burning the Sealing Tree in other contexts can lead to irreversible changes, including NPC relocations or disappearances. These moments emphasize the importance of completing side quests and exhausting NPC dialogues before advancing the main storyline.

In addition, there are several points of no return that prematurely end the tasks of specific heroes. Passing this point usually means that the character dies or disappears, and their equipment is left where that person was seen last time. These points of no return are:

1. Killing Messmer the Impalerin the Shadow Keep – prematurely completes the quests of Hornsent and Hornsent Grandam;
2. Burning the small Scadutree in the Church of the Bud – will prematurely end the tasks of almost all NPCs related to Miquella, i.e. Leda, St. Trina, Thiollier, Moore, Freyja, Ansbach and Dane.
3. Killing Bayle the Dreadon the top of Jagged Peak – prematurely ends the quests of Igon and Dragon Communion Priestess.
4. Queelign’s, Ymir’s and Jolan’s quests do not have a point of no return.

What are the main quests in Shadow of the Erdtree

The main quests in Shadow of the Erdtree revolve around uncovering the mysteries of Miquella’s journey and exploring the Land of Shadow. Here are the key questlines:

1. Gravesite Plain to Belurat, Tower Settlement

   • Begin at the Gravesite Plain, collecting Scadutree Fragments and Revered Spirit Ashes.

   • Progress through Belurat, Tower Settlement, defeating Fire Knight Queelign and the Divine Beast Dancing Lion.

2. Scadu Altus to Shadow Keep

   • Navigate through Scadu Altus, meeting NPCs like Needle Knight Leda and Hornsent.

   • Face invaders like Dryleaf Dane and Fire Knight Queelign again, leading to Shadow Keep.

3. Cerulean Coast to Stone Coffin Fissure

   • Explore Cerulean Coast and descend into Stone Coffin Fissure to defeat the Putrescent Knight and meet St. Trina.

These quests involve intricate NPC interactions, boss battles, and uncovering lore tied to Miquella’s Crosses and Scadutree Blessings3.

What are the key story moments in Shadow of the Erdtree

The key story moments in Shadow of the Erdtree revolve around exploring the origins of the Lands Between, the conflict between light and shadow, and the tragic journey of Miquella. Here are the major highlights:

1. Miquella’s Sacrifice

   • Miquella undertakes a self-sacrificial journey, divesting himself of his fears, doubts, and even his love to reshape the Land of Shadow. His actions include breaking his Great Rune, which shatters a charm that had unified various factions under his influence2.

2. Messmer’s Crusade

   • Messmer, under Marika’s orders, leads a brutal crusade against the Hornsent in the Realm of Shadow. This war decimates the region but leaves lasting scars, as remnants of life and charred ruins bear witness to the devastation24.

3. Marika’s Origins and Betrayal

   • The DLC delves into Marika’s early history, her abandonment of Messmer in the Shadowlands, and her role in creating the Erdtree. Her betrayal of her own people and their subsequent suffering is a recurring theme.

4. The Shaman Village and Hidden Lore

   • Players discover a hidden Shaman Village tied to Marika’s past. Key items like a spell that conjures a minor Erdtree and a lock of Marika’s hair reveal her regret over abandoning her people4.

5. The Final Arena and Miquella’s Transformation

   • The climactic battle occurs at a divine gate where Marika once ascended to godhood. This arena features corpses with horns, symbolizing both divine qualities and societal rejection. Miquella’s transformation into something monstrous is hinted at through NPC dialogue2.

These moments intertwine themes of sacrifice, betrayal, and redemption while expanding on Elden Ring’s rich lore.