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As is the tradition in the Soulsborne franchise, everything is vague in Dark Souls 4— sorry, Elden Ring. Despite going open world, the game has a notable absence of mini-maps, clear instructions, or quest markers. Players will have to listen carefully to the rather cryptic NPCs as even their seemingly dismissible quips might late blossom into a full-blown questline.
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For that matter, Elden Ring is filled to the brim with hidden side quests. Most of them are elusive and are easily missed. This can be rather troublesome as some of these hidden side quests can unlock secret endings. To know which of them are worthwhile or have dire ramifications, then make sure to squint really hard to look for these hidden side quests.
Updated June 1, 2024 by Erik Petrovich: Some of the best questlines Elden Ring players can experience are not obvious to start. They won't call out to the Tarnished from the side of the road, like Irina outside of Castle Morne – many of the best Elden Ring side quests require players to go far out of their way, or go off of convoluted directions to reach often unexplained locations to progress. But it's worth hunting down every Elden Ring best side quest because of their often-powerful rewards. This guide to the best side quests Elden Ring players can experience has been updated to include a full list of the major rewards for each questline, including armor sets, weapons, spells, and much more.
This list is only comprised of quests that can be found in the base version of Elden Ring. For information regarding Shadow of the Erdtree, stay tuned as Game ZXC covers the Elden Ring DLC on launch.
14 Dung Eater's Questline
Dung Eater is responsible for one of the bad endings in Elden Ring where everyone gets a horrible fate. He makes his presence known in Roundtable Hold, alright. However, he won't budge until players give him at least one Seedbed Curse . Three are in Leyndell, Royal Capital , two are in Miquella's Haligtree , and one is in Volcano Manor .
Players will have to free him from his dungeon, then fight the Dung Eater (don't kill him unprovoked as this will ruin the questline) in the outer wall of Leyndell. After giving him all Seedbed Curses, he'll give players a Mending Rune that will alter the ending.
How To Start Dung Eater's Questline
Speak to the Dung Eater after entering the Altus Plateau for the first time, who will spawn in an off-room near the Twin Maiden Husks in Roundtable Hold.
Dung Eater's Questline Rewards
- Sword of Milos
- Omen armor set
- Dung Eater Puppet Ashes (if given the Seluvis potion)
- Mending Rune of the Fell Curse
13 Iron Fist Alexander's Questline
The closest thing to the Onion Knight in Elden Ring would be Alexander the Iron Fist . He's an absolute unit of a jar-man or pot-man and surprisingly, those things know how to fight. Alexander also has his own martial arts. Players can seek him out in northern Stormhill.
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Early in the game, he'll be there stuck on the ground asking for help. Players will have to smack him to free him in order to set off his quest chain. Afterward, players will have to look for him in the Carian Study Hall in Liurnia of the Lakes, the Gael Tunnel in Caelid, the Seethwater Terminus in Mt. Gelmir, and finally in Crumbling Farum Azula where he'll challenge players to a duel.
How To Start Alexander's Questline
Head north from the Lake Agheel North Site of Grace until you get to Stormhill . Head east through the woods until you find a bridge with a Mad Pumpkin Head on it. Double back and look for a way up the cliffs to the south, where Alexander's cries for help will quickly ring out.
Iron Fist Alexander's Questline Rewards
- Exalted Flesh x2
- Triumphant Delight emote
- Ability to summon Alexander during the Starscourge Radahn, Magma Wyrm, and Fire Giant bosses
- Alexander's Innards
- Shard of Alexander
12 Blaidd's Questline
Blaidd is the big wolfman who serves Ranni the Witch and players can find him brooding on top of some ruins in the Mistwood . He'll also howl, though it's easy to miss it so be sure to increase the game's volume in the area. Players will have to ask Merchant Kalé in the Church of Elleh about this and he'll instruct them how to get Blaidd's attention.
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After that, Blaidd will task players with finding and defeating someone. All this leads to a fight in the Forlorn Hound Evergaol which is easy enough. Blaidd will then reward players with a Somber Smithing Stone [2] which is an upgrade item for special weapons.
How To Start Blaidd's Questline
Listen for the howling in the Mistwood in eastern Limgrave, then talk to Kale to get an emote that will call Blaidd down from his perch. Blaidd's quest can also be started later on, as part of Ranni's when you get to the Three Sisters in Liurnia.
Blaidd's Questline Rewards
- Finger Snap emote
- Somber Smithing Stone [2]
- Carian Filigreed Crest will be sold by War Counselor Iji
- Blaidd's Armor set
- Royal Greatsword
11 Millicent's Questline
Millicent is a tragic character in Caelid suffering from the Scarlet Rot plague, but Gowry seeks a way to cure her. Hence, Gowry will ask players to retrieve a needle that can do just that. It's dropped by Commander O'Neil , a boss in the swamp near Sellia.
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Afterward, players will earn Millicent's friendship (make sure to return to Gowry's shack to look for her after curing her). She'll then move a lot. First in the north of the Erdtree-Gazing Hill Grace in Altus Plateau; then in Windmill Heights Grace after defeating the village's boss; then the Ancient Snow Valley Ruins Grace at Mountaintop of the Giants; finally at the Prayer Room Grace at Elphael, Brace of the Haligtree.
How To Start Millicent's Questline
Speak with Gowry, in his shack to the south of Sellia, Town of Sorcery, in central Caelid. Get through Sellia to find Millicent in the Church of the Plague above.
Millicent's Questline Rewards
- Prosthesis-Wearer Heirloom
- Millicent's Prosthesis (if defeated)
- Rotten Winged Sword Insignia (if helped)
- Sacramental Bud x5
- Golden Runes (3), (5), and (10)
- Unalloyed Gold Needle/Miquella's Needle
10 Patches' Questline
It's not that hard to miss Patches (NPC) ' questline but it's easy to mess it up, meaning some parts of it might as well be hidden. Players will have to spare him in the boss fight in Murkwater Cave and then keep looking for him all over Limgrave and Mt. Gelmir.
He eventually ends up in Volcano Manor, where he'll give an important quest that rewards players with the most protective armor in the game. He eventually moves to the Volcano Manor and then back to Murkwater Cave. As usual, it's best to treat Patches without any ounce of trust even though players are compelled to spare him.
How To Start Patches' Questline
Head to the Murkwater Cave, up the chasm that leads north from Lake Agheel, and into the cave. Be sure to spare Patches when he surrenders, and you will encounter him again in Liurnia of the Lakes and later in the Volcano Manor.
Patches' Questline Rewards
- Patches' Crouch emote
- Extreme Repentance emote
- Grovel for Mercy emote
- Calm Down! emote
- Patches Emporium access (Gold Pickled Fowl Foot, Margit's Shackle, etc)
- Bull-Goat armor set
9 Rya's Questline
Rya 's questline can be triggered earlier in Liurnia of the Lakes but it doesn't really officially begin until players have pledged themselves to the Volcano Manor. There, players will discover Rya's deepest and darkest secret along with the Volcano Manor's oddities.
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The rewards for this questline aren't really much, but Rya moves a lot within the Volcano Manor so it can be easy to miss her and to progress the quest. However, it being one of the saddest stories in Elden Ring makes it worthy of players' attention.
How To Start Rya's Questline
Find Rya in a rotunda in mid-south Liurnia, just on the edge of the southern forest. She will request you retrieve Rya's Necklace from a nearby thief named Blackguard Big Boggart . No matter how you get it back, she will teleport to Volcano Manor upon reaching Altus Plateau. Continue her questline by discovering her secrets throughout the Manor and its hidden areas.
Rya's Questline Rewards
- Ability to access the Volcano Manor as soon as you reach the Altus Plateau
- Daedicar's Woe talisman
- Tonic of Forgetfulness (which can be used for other quests)
8 Boc's Questline
Boc the Seamster is literally hidden in Elden Ring since he's been transformed into a shrub by someone near the road past Agheel Lake North. He will call out to the players if they're in close proximity, but, even then, it's a bit difficult to pinpoint his exact location if players are unaware that NPCs can also disguise themselves as environmental props.
After that, he'll move to several locations and it can be hard to keep track of him. In any case, players will want to donate their Tailoring Tools and Sewing Needle s to Boc as he can make some rather fine and exquisite adjustments to most armor in Elden Ring.
How To Start Boc's Questline
Listen for Boc's cries for help as you head east over the bridge southeast of the Lake Agheel North Site of Lost Grace. Attack the tree, and he will transform back into his normal form and lead you on the rest of his quest.
Boc's Questline Rewards
- Free clothing and armor alterations from Boc, including free Boss Armor alterations
- Sewing Needle
- Gold Sewing Needle
- 10x Mushroom
- The My Lord gesture
- Prattling Pate "You're Beautiful"
7 Nepheli Loux's Questline
Nepheli Loux 's questline is another long one and it starts early with Kenneth Haight looking for an heir to Limgrave. It turns out that Nepheli is the only viable candidate, but, throughout the game, she runs into plenty of issues that could have easily barred her from the Limgrave throne.
For one, players will have to keep Gatekeeper Gostoc alive as she'll be Nepheli's servant. Moreover, players will need to find a way to reinvigorate a defeated Nepheli by returning to the game's starting area (Chapel of Anticipation). The reward is worth it, thankfully.
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How To Start Nepheli Loux's Questline
Look for Nepheli Loux in an off-room on the way to Godrick's boss arena, after which she will appear at Roundtable Hold on his defeat. Exhaust her dialogue here, then meet her under the Village of Albinaurics. After summoning her for the Omenkiller fight, talk to her again in Roundtable Hold, talk to Gideon, then find her again in Godrick's throne room later on.
Nepheli Loux's Questline Rewards
- The Arsenal Charm talisman
- Ability to summon Nepheli Loux for a variety of boss fights leading up to Margit
- Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone
- Another Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone, if Gostoc is spared
6 Volcano Manor Questlines
The reason why this one's easy to miss is that accessing the main road of the western Altus Plateau is quite a monumental trek. And even as players get acquainted and indoctrinated into the Recusant covenant, doing invasion errands for them, it will be easy to mess up that quest chain.
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For one, there are several characters here that give out their own quests. Initiating the Rykard, Lord of Blasphemy boss fight too early (and defeating him) will lock players out of these questlines for good (until NG+). For safer measures, simply hold off on fighting Rykard until players have exhausted all NPC dialogues after each visit to the Volcano Manor.
5 Unlocking The Consecrated Snowfield & The Haligtree
The area to the west of the Mountaintop of the Giants is actually a hidden optional place. It's a huge frozen wasteland that can be accessed if players explore Liurnia of the Lakes thoroughly and locate the Village of the Albinaurics to put together both halves of the Haligtree medallion. After unlocking a Site of Grace in this area, they need only look for a lone pot at the top of the hill hit it once.
This will reveal an old Albinauric man who imparts them the left half of a medallion along with instructions on finding the right half. As Gideon Ofnir in the Roundtable Hold for more information about his other half. Once players find it, they can use the medallion in the Grand Lift Rold to get to these secret areas.
4 Brother Corhyn's Questline
Technically, Brother Corhyn 's questline isn't hidden since he's conspicuous enough in the Roundtable Hold. However, the steps in-between once he's decided to leave the Roundtable Hold. Players will then have to look for a creepy character named Goldmask if they want to keep track of Brother Corhyn's progress. Goldmask is all over two locations in the Altus Plateau.
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Corhyn will then join Goldmask then move to the Colosseum inside Leyndell – here, you must learn the incantation Law of Regression to reveal a specific message west from Erdtree Sanctuary Grace. The final missable step is talking with Corhyn and Goldmask on a bridge south of Stargaze Ruins. After the boss fights in the Crumbling Farum Azula, Goldmask can be found dead on Leyndell with an important Great Rune on its corpse. This will alter the ending.
How To Start Brother Corhyn's Questline
Speak with Brother Corhyn at Roundtable Hold when you get there, then find him in the north of the Altus Plateau when he announces his departure from Roundtable Hold.
Brother Corhyn's Questline Rewards
- Access to Brother Corhyn's Incantations (and bell bearing)
- Corhyn's Robe
- Immutable Shield incantation
- The Goldmask armor set
- The Mending Rune of Perfect Order
3 Lord Of Frenzied Flame Questline
For an even worse ending, make sure to meticulously follow the Lord of Frenzied Flame questline. This eventually brings players to the sewers of Leyndell and requires players to defeat Mohg, the Omen . Behind his altar is a fake wall that will reveal a passage full of opponents that inflict madness.
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Players will have to proceed to this area (stripping their armor and weapons to unlock a certain door) until they get to the Three Fingers where their character will be branded. This will unlock a new ending and also possibly lock players out of all other endings.
How To Start Lord Of Frenzied Flame Questline
Speak with Hyetta near the Lake-Facing Cliffs Site of Grace just outside of Stormveil Castle, through the throne room where it exits into Liurnia. Bring her Shabriri Grape to progress her quest throughout Liurnia.
Lord Of Frenzied Flame Questline Rewards
- As you Wish emote
- Ability to inherit the Frenzied Flame from the Three Fingers
- The Frenzied Flame Seal
- 5x Frenzyflame Stone
- The Lord of the Frenzied Flame ending
2 Fia's Questline
Fia has something to give apart from those notorious hugs and that would be a chance to gain a debatably good ending. Because after the players have activated the Grand Lift of Dectus (which main quest), then Fia will start giving them a task.
Players will also have to have completed Ranni the Witch's questline in order to fully progress this questline. Once you have progressed though the many secret and out-of-the-way areas of this questline, including the hidden Deeproto Depths, Fia will reward the players with an ending-altering Great Rune.
How To Start Fia's Questline
Speak with Fia in Roundtable Hold, and continue through D's questline until they interact. When she leaves, you can find her later deep in the Deeproot Depths.
Fia's Questline Rewards
- Baldachin's Blessing
- Radiant Baldachin's Blessing
- The Inseparable Sword
- The Twinned armor set
- The Cursemark of Death
- Fia's armor set
- Mending Rune of the Death-Prince
1 Ranni's Questline
Ranni the Witch 's version of Elden Ring's ending is considered by many to be the best. To get to it, however, players will have to go through almost the entire game keeping her questline in mind. It involves talking to Ranni, exploring Siofra River Well , defeating Starscourge Radahn , exploring Nokron, and obtaining an item and ring (the one in the chest in the Rennala boss fight Grace) for Ranni.
That's the first half. The second half is doing some errands for Ranni's doll in Ainsel River , Nokstella, and Lake of Rot. Ranni's Moonlight Altar will become available after this. Completing her quest unlocks another ending where players take second-seat to Ranni's ascension as her Consort.
How To Start Ranni's Questline
After speaking with "Renna", find Ranni atop her tower in the Three Sisters, accessible after getting through Caria Manor, and enter her service to be directed to Nokron.
Ranni's Questline Rewards
- Unlocks access to several secret and side areas, including the Lake of Rot, Grand Cloister, the rest of the Ainsel River underground area, and the Moonlight Altar above Liurnia
- Access to Seluvis, Iji, and Blaidd's questlines
- Fingerslayer Blade
- Carian Filigreed Crest
- The Dark Moon Greatsword
- The Snow Witch armor set
- Starlight Shards
- Unlocks the Age of Stars ending
Elden Ring
- Platform(s)
- PS5 , Xbox One , PS4 , Xbox Series X , Xbox Series S , PC
- Released
- February 25, 2022
- Developer(s)
- From Software
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence