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Among the first characters that players meet in Shadow of the Erdtree is the Hornsent. After interacting with Leda outside of Miquella's Cocoon, you will enter the DLC and quickly find your way to the nearby site of grace where this new NPC stands – if you don't go for the Blacgaol Knight first, that is. One of the many followers of Miquella, Hornsent is actually native to the Realm of Shadow. Interestingly, Hornsent is not his name but the name of his people, who were spurned by grace and burned by Messmer.

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The Tarnished never learns Hornsent's real name in Shadow of the Erdtree, but nevertheless, his quest is one of the most extensive and wide-reaching in the Elden Ring DLC. Hornsent's questline takes players all over the Realm of Shadow, even to the steps of the final zone, and you have to make some specific decisions to progress his quest to its vengeful end successfully.

How To Start Hornsent's Quest in Shadow of the Erdtree

Hornsent First Location: Three-Path Cross Site of Grace

Shadow of the Erdtree Hornsent Questline First Location Three Path Cross Site of Grace

After entering the Realm of Shadow in Shadow of the Erdtree, Hornsent is one of the first major NPCs most Tarnished will meet. This is because the first Hornsent location is just outside the tunnel that leads to Belurat, Tower Settlement, at the Three-Path Cross Site of Grace.

This Site of Grace is located just north of the initial spawn location in the DLC, and can be seen from quite a long distance away thanks to the gigantic Miquella's Cross. You will also be able to begin Freyja's quest here.

It's important to pick up Scadutree Fragments early to level up in the DLC, and you can find one of these crucial upgrade materials beneath each of these crosses.

Here, speak with Hornsent, who will give you the first Map of Crosses as you continue his dialogue. This map shows the location of nearby Miquella's Crosses in the Gravesite Plain, but you do not need to find these crosses to continue Hornsent's quest.

After you defeat the Divine Beast Dancing Lion, Hornsent will move from the Three-Path Cross site of grace. To find his second location, you must either beat Castle Ensis or find the Scadu Altus shortcut in Gravesite Plain.

Continue The Hornsent Questline in Scadu Altus

Hornsent Second Location: Highroad Cross Site of Grace

Shadow of the Erdtree Hornsent Questline Second Location Highroad Site of Grace

After conversing with the Hornsent in his first location, and after defeating the Divine Beast Dancing Lion atop Belurat, Tower Settlement, Hornsent will move to the Highroad Cross Site of Grace. There are two ways to reach this Miquella's Cross – beat Rellana at the end of Castle Ensis, whose boss arena leads directly to the Cross, or travel around Castle Ensis via the Fort of Reprimand.

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After crossing the bridge that leads to Ensis, travel far to the south to find a Sealed Spiritspring beneath a fort above. Find the Spirit Cairne nearby and destroy it (or use the Mohg's Shackle item) to unseal the Spiritspring and jump to the Fort of Reprimand. Make your way through this fort and travel north to find a crossroads, where northeast leads to Shadow Fort. Head southwest instead to find the Highroad Cross Site of Grace.

Talk to Hornsent and Leda here. Hornsent will give you another map of nearby Crosses after you continue his dialogue a few times, but be sure to exhaust Leda's dialogue here too.

At this Site of Grace, you can give Hornsent a Scorpion Stew, which itself can be acquired by completing the Hornsent Grandam's short quest. In return, he will give you 3x Furnace Visages, which are used to craft some of the DLC's best Pot items.

After exhausting all of his dialogue, head northeast to reach the Shadow Keep. When you get close, the message "...a Great Rune has broken..." will appear. Head back to the Highroad Cross to continue Hornsent's questline.

After this point in the game, the charm affecting all of Miquella's followers in the Realm of Shadow is broken, and they are no longer under any illusion of being allies. As such, Leda will begin to hunt down others she suspects will not follow through with following Miquella to the end, and her first target is the Hornsent.

If you want to continue the Hornsent's questline (and continue Thiollier's quest, too), you must help Hornsent fend off Leda in the Shadow Keep.

Find Hornsent's Summon Sign in Shadow Keep & Help Him

Hornsent Third Location: Bridge Near Shadow Keep Promenade

Shadow of the Erdtree Hornsent Questline Third Location Shadow Keep Summon Sign Leda

The Hornsent's third location, after he leaves the Highroad Cross site of grace, is inside the Shadow Keep, but not under normal circumstances. After you reach the Main Promenade in Shadow Keep (by defeating the Golden Hippopotamus), continue through the legacy dungeon until you see two summon signs on the bridge with Shadow Militiamen hiding behind graves – the same bridge that shadows a hidden path that leads to the Abyssal Woods.

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Leda's summon sign will appear in Red, as you will be invading Hornsent alongside Leda to kill him. Hornsent's summon sign will appear in Gold, as you will be summoned to help him fend off Leda. Use the Gold summon sign to assist Hornsent. For helping him here, you will get the Swift Slash Ash of War, which can be imbued onto Backhand Blades, and the Leda's Rune item, which grants 40,000 Runes on consumption.

What Happens If You Kill Hornsent Before His Quest Is Over?

If you kill Hornsent at this point, by helping Leda, you will receive Hornsent's armor set, the Falx curved sword, and the Lacerating Crossed-Tree talisman by continuing Leda's quest. Unless you really want the Lacerating Crossed-Tree, choose to assist Hornsent here, as he will become available as a summon for the fight against Messmer and make it significantly easier.

Summon Hornsent During The Messmer Boss Fight

Hornsent Fourth Location: The Dark Chamber, Shadow Keep

Shadow of the Erdtree Hornsent Questline Fourth Location Messmer Boss Summon

Once you progress far enough into the Shadow Keep, you will find the Dark Chamber where Messmer the Impaler lies in wait for the Tarnished to pass through his boss door. If you helped Hornsent fend off Leda earlier in Shadow Keep, he will be an available summon for this fight. However, summoning Hornsent for the Messmer fight does not increase his HP or damage output – because the Hornsent summon sign location is actually inside the boss arena.

His summon sign can be found a little forward and to the right of the Messmer boss arena entrance. It should appear as a gold sign on the ground, and Hornsent will almost immediately appear and begin to fight when summoned. After you defeat Messmer, and rest at the grace that spawns after the fight is over, talk to Hornsent again.

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Complete Hornsent's Quest When He Invades Atop Rauh

Hornsent Final Location: Just Before Romina, Saint of the Bud Boss Arena

Shadow of the Erdtree Hornsent Questline Final Location Ancient Ruins of Rauh Invasion

After Hornsent has his revenge on Messmer, he still is not satisfied, and eventually invades the Tarnished themselves despite their assistance in helping him seek vengeance – and despite staying Leda's hand earlier.

After you explore the Ancient Ruins of Rauh and get close to the Church of the Bud in the southeast of the zone, you will reach a cavernous area absolutely infested with Scarlet Rot and Rot Pests. After dashing through the Pests, you should find a stairway that leads upward toward the Church of the Bud itself.

Just like with all NPC invaders, you will be dismounted when you get close to this stairway. Hornsent spawns at the top of these steps, and will charge in with his curved swords and various Incantations in an attempt to kill you. Defeat Hornsent here and you will receive his entire Armor Set, including the Caterpillar Mask, and his Falx weapon.

This serves as the conclusion to Hornsent's questline, however, he will appear as an Invader in Enir-Ilim at the end of the game if you do not kill him at the Church of the Bud entrance.