Shadow of the Erdtree’s Hornsent quest is a gripping tale of vengeance, betrayal, and moral dilemmas set in Elden Ring’s haunting new DLC. As one of the first NPCs you encounter, Hornsent—a survivor of the brutal slaughter of his people—offers cryptic maps and uneasy alliances. But as his quest unfolds, players must navigate choices that pit loyalty against justice, culminating in a climactic confrontation that could alter the fate of the Realm of Shadow forever. Will you stand by Hornsent or betray him for greater rewards?
Where will you first encounter Hornsent?
You will first encounter Hornsent at the Three-Path Cross Site of Grace in the Gravesite Plain, a short distance from a massive stone archway and one of Miquella’s glowing crosses. He is accompanied by Redmane Freyja, making him hard to miss. When you speak to Hornsent, he will provide you with the Cross Map, which marks the locations of Miquella’s Crosses in the area. Despite his initial hostility toward Tarnished, this interaction marks the beginning of his extensive questline, which spans much of the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC.
You will meet Hornsent for the first time in the Gravesite Plain area next to the Site of Grace: Tree-Path Cross. You can talk to him to receive a useful tip – a map of the area with the locations of the three closest Miquella’s Crosses, which you can learn more about on this page of our guide.
Encounter with Hornsent in Scadu Altus
In Scadu Altus, you encounter Hornsent at the Highroad Cross Site of Grace after defeating Rellana in Castle Ensis. Here, Hornsent provides you with the New Cross Map, which reveals additional locations of Miquella’s Crosses and advances his quest. As you explore the region, Hornsent shares details about his tragic past, including the massacre of his people by Messmer the Impaler. This encounter sets the stage for a critical decision later in the questline, as Needle Knight Leda expresses distrust toward Hornsent, hinting at potential betrayal. The meeting in Scadu Altus deepens the narrative tension, emphasizing themes of trust and vengeance central to Hornsent’s storyline.
After getting through Castle Ensis and defeating the main boss of this location (more about fighting this enemy can be found on the page How to defeat the boss Rellana, Twin Moon Knight?), you will enter a new region – Scadu Altus. You will, again, come face to face with an old friend shortly after entering the new region.
Hornsent will be waiting for you at the Site of Grace Highroad Cross. He’ll be accompanied by Needle Knight Leda, who will prove to be very important later in this quest.
After a short conversation with Hornsent, he will give you another map of the nearby Miquella’s Crosses.
Hornsent is connected with a short quest of Hornsent Grandam in Belurat. More about this interaction can be found on the page Hornsent Grandam – walkthrough.
Breaking of the Great Rune
Breaking of the Great Rune
To progress Hornsent’s questline, you must break Miquella’s Great Rune, a pivotal moment in the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC. This event occurs after entering Shadow Keep via Messmer’s Army Encampment. Navigate through the Bonny Village and proceed to the eastern part of Scadu Altus. Upon breaking the rune, a message will appear: “Somewhere a great rune has been broken. And so too, a powerful charm.” This act not only disrupts Miquella’s influence but also unlocks new dialogue with Hornsent at the Highroad Cross Site of Grace. Exhausting his dialogue here triggers his relocation to Shadow Keep, setting the stage for the next phase of his quest.
As you approach the Shadow Keep (the large castle visible on the horizon), your game will be interrupted by a loud sound and a pop-up will appear saying that “somewhere the great rune has been broken”. This event is automatic and significantly affects the behavior of many NPCs in the game. It is no different in the case of Hornsent.
Return to the Highroad Cross again and talk to Hornsent. He will comment on recent events and his desire to punish Messmer. After exhausting the dialogue options, Hornsent will leave shortly after that.
Then approach Leda. Talk to the warrior. When she asks you for a suggestion on who she should get rid of, point to Hornsent. The knight will ask for some time to think about this option. Approach the Site of Grace and select the option to speed up time.
Talk to Leda again. After weighing the pros and cons, she will agree with you and consider killing Hornsent to be the right option.
Should you choose to fight Leda or Hornsent?
Choosing whether to fight Leda or Hornsent in Shadow of the Erdtree depends on your desired rewards and narrative alignment. Siding with Leda allows you to invade Hornsent, granting access to the powerful Falx weapon and Hornsent’s armor set, which are excellent for players seeking offensive upgrades early in the DLC. On the other hand, aiding Hornsent against Leda rewards you with a unique talisman and concludes Leda’s questline, offering a more defensive option. Both choices impact subsequent events in the DLC, so consider your playstyle and interest in their storylines before making a decision.
Before you make a decision about Hornsent, you will meet him once again as a summon in front of the arena to fight the Golden Hippopotamus. More information about the fight against this boss can be found on the How to defeat the Golden Hippopotamus boss?.
After getting through the first wave of enemies in the Shadow Keep, you will finally reach the walls of the castle. At the intersection of two paths, you will find two summoning signs. Choosing one of them will determine whether you support Hornsent or Leda.
IF YOU DECIDE TO ALLY WITH LEDA:
You will be summoned to fight against Hornsent. Two-on-one combat definitely makes the fight easier, but don’t let your guard down during the fight. For defeating Hornsent, you will receive a set of equipment he wears, which includes:
- Caterpillar Mask;
- Braided Cord Robe;
- Braided Arm Wraps;
- Soiled Loincloth;
- Falx.
Additionally, if you talk to Leda after the fight, she will give you a special talisman – Lacerating Crossed-Tree.
Remember, however, that Hornsent’s death marks the end of his storyline, which you will not be able to return to later.
IF YOU DECIDE TO ALLY WITH HORNSENT:
You will stand shoulder to shoulder against the Needle Knight. For defeating her, you will receive:
- Ash of War: Swift Slash;
- Leda’s Rune (worth 40,000 runes).
Leda will then disappear from her usual post next to the Highroad Cross, but you will be able to continue Hornsent’s quest.
The third, alternative option is to ignore the fight completely. This option will allow you to keep both characters alive while continuing their storylines.
Fighting Messmer
Fighting Messmer
Messmer the Impaler serves as a pivotal boss in the Hornsent questline of Shadow of the Erdtree. This encounter is both challenging and narratively significant, as it represents Hornsent’s quest for vengeance against the one who led the slaughter of his people. Players can summon Hornsent to aid them in the fight by activating his golden summon sign located inside the boss arena, to the right of the entrance. Timing is crucial, as Messmer will charge immediately upon entering. Hornsent’s bleed-inducing Falx swords can be helpful during this battle, but his effectiveness is limited due to low damage output. After defeating Messmer, rest at the site of grace that appears and speak with Hornsent, who expresses gratitude for avenging his people while hinting at darker intentions for future Erdtree denizens1.
At the end of your Shadow Keep exploration, you will face Messmer the Impaler. Hornsent may be summoned during this fight. What is important though is that his summoning sign is located in a rather inconvenient place, right in the arena.
If you manage to defeat the Impaler together, Hornsent will appear in the empty boss arena (after you rest at the Site of Grace). When approached, he will share his thoughts with you.
Final battle with Hornsent
The final battle with Hornsent occurs near the Church of the Bud in Rauh Ruins, marking the climactic end of his questline. Here, Hornsent invades the player as an enemy, driven by vengeance and betrayal. The fight takes place close to the Church of the Bud Main Entrance, where players must face him directly. Upon defeating Hornsent, he drops several unique items, including the Caterpillar Mask, Falx curved swords, Braided Cord Robe, Soiled Loincloth, and Braided Arm Wraps. This encounter serves as a pivotal moment, concluding Hornsent’s tragic story and preparing players for the next steps in Shadow of the Erdtree.
The final fight with Hornsent will take place some time later, shortly before the fight with Romina, Saint of the Bud in the Church of the Bud in the western part of the Ancient Ruins of Rauh.
What are the key decisions in Hornsent’s quest
The key decisions in Hornsent’s quest in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree revolve around choosing sides and determining the fate of major characters. These choices significantly impact the storyline and rewards:
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Choosing Between Hornsent and Leda
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At the Shadow Keep, you encounter two summon signs: one to assist Hornsent (gold) and another to assist Leda (red).
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If you side with Leda, you kill Hornsent, ending his questline. Rewards include his Falx curved sword, Caterpillar Mask, Braided armor set, and the Lacerating Crossed-Tree talisman from Leda.
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If you side with Hornsent, you fight a spectral version of Leda. This allows Hornsent’s quest to continue, and you receive rewards like the Swift Slash Ash of War and Leda’s Rune (40,000 Runes).
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Suggesting a Target for Leda
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Earlier in the questline, Leda asks you to suggest either Thiollier or Hornsent as a potential traitor. Regardless of your choice, Leda ultimately targets Hornsent.
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Breaking Miquella’s Charm
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After breaking Miquella’s charm at Shadow Keep, Hornsent reveals his intent for vengeance against Messmer. This decision sets up later confrontations and determines whether Hornsent becomes available as a summon for the fight against Messmer.
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Each decision influences not only the narrative but also gameplay elements like available allies and loot.
What happens if I don’t help Hornsent
If you choose not to help Hornsent during the Shadow Keep encounter, several outcomes unfold:
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Hornsent’s Survival
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By ignoring the summon signs to assist either Hornsent or Leda, both characters survive past this point. Leda shifts her focus to Ansbach instead of Hornsent, advancing her own questline independently.
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Hornsent’s Role in Messmer Fight
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Hornsent becomes summonable during the Messmer the Impaler boss fight. He aids you in battle and delivers dialogue that provides deeper insight into the conflict between Messmer and his people.
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Impact on Leda’s Questline
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Without intervention, Leda continues her quest targeting Ansbach, which affects her storyline later in the game.
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Choosing not to assist Hornsent allows his questline to progress naturally while preserving his survival for key moments later in the DLC.
