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.

Elden-Ring-13-Overpowered-Builds
Elden Ring: Best Overpowered Builds

These powerful, OP builds will make adventuring and fighting through the world of Elden Ring feel like a walk at the local park.

2
By 

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 September 20, 2024 by Erik Petrovich: In Shadow of the Erdtree, players can progress through a huge number of new NPC questlines, most of which are pretty easy to find. But one new hidden Elden Ring quest can only be accessed once you unlock a secret room, defeat a boss, and figure out how to talk to an NPC who refuses to be friendly with the Tarnished. The Hornsent Grandam (once called the Empyream Grandam) questline can be found in Belurat, Tower Settlement, but to get there you will have to find a key, backtrack, and look for the hidden secret entrance to the Storeroom. This guide has been updated with details on this secret Elden Ring questline, which rewards a powerful consumable and a new Incantation on "completion".

15 The Hornsent Grandam Questline

Elden Ring - Shadow of the Erdtree - NPC Grandam

The Hornsent Grandam is something of a secret character in the Elden Ring DLC, even though you can meet her relatively early in Shadow of the Erdtree. Found in a secret Storage Room in the Belurat, Tower Settlement legacy dungeon, Hornsent Grandam doesn't appear to want to speak with the Tarnished.

Then, after progressing through Belurat, you will face the Divine Beast Dancing Lion, the "first" Remembrance boss in the DLC. During its intro cutscene you can hear the Hornsent Grandam's voice, sounding as if she is speaking it to life. After the fight, you will get a Divine Beast Head which, when worn, unlocks the rest of the Hornsent Grandam's dialogue and grants a great consumable item: the Scorpion Stew. You can even return to the Grandam to receive more Stew.

How To Start Hornsent Grandam's Questline

Hornsent Grandam can be found about halfway through Belurat, Tower Settlement in the Gravesite Plain. Acquire the Storeroom Key from a chest after climbing a ladder, just after you walk through the castle runoff, then go back to the Private Altar Site of Grace. Head south through the door to see a bridge with two enemies that use Incantations of the Spiral. Defeat them and continue across the bridge until you get to the Storeroom. Use the Storeroom Key to open the door and speak with Hornsent Grandam. Return to Hornsent Grandam when you have defeated the Divine Beast Dancing Lion to see the rest of her dialogue.

Hornsent Grandam Quest Rewards

  • Watchful Spirit
  • Scorpion Stew (restores HP and boosts Physical damage negation). Can be traded to Hornsent for Furnace Visage s.
  • Gourmet Scorpion Stew (greatly restores HP and greatly boosts Physical damage negation)

14 Dung Eater's Questline

Elden Ring Dung Eater Cinematic

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

13 Iron Fist Alexander's Questline

elden ring pot boy

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.

elden ring elden bling fashion armor
Elden Ring: 26 Most Fashionable Armor Sets For Peak Elden Bling

While armor is crucial to keep players alive in Elden Ring, for those willing to sacrifice safety for fashion, these are the perfect sets to find!

By 

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

12 Blaidd's Questline

Elden Ring Blaidd

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.

blaidd location in Siofra River in Elden Ring
Elden Ring: Where to Find Blaidd in the Siofra River Well

Blaidd the Half Wolf can be found in the Siofra River in Elden Ring; here's his exact location.

1
By 

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

11 Millicent's Questline

Elden Ring Sellia Town of Sorcery

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.

Elden-Ring-Best-Endings,-Ranked
Elden Ring: Best Endings, Ranked

Not all endings in Elden Ring are made equally. Here's how they rank.

By 

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

10 Patches' Questline

Elden-Ring-Patches

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

9 Rya's Questline

elden ring rya

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.

Ranni, Blaidd, Melania and Miquella in Elden Ring
6 Most Gut-Wrenching Quotes In Elden Ring

Some of the saddest stories in Elden Ring also provide some gut-wrenching quotes that'll have even the most emotionless of Tarnished shed a tear.

By 

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

8 Boc's Questline

Elden-Ring-Boc-NPC-Why-He-Appears-As-A-Tree-Mimic-First

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

7 Nepheli Loux's Questline

Nepheli_Loux_Elden_Ring_resized
elden ring nepheli loux

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.

19-Elden-Ring-Mods-That-Make-The-Game-Easier
20 Elden Ring Mods That Make The Game Easier

For those craving more accessibility, these Elden Ring mods can make the game considerably easier for Tarnished who just want to enjoy the ride.

By 

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

6 Volcano Manor Questlines

Elden Ring volcano manor

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.

dung eater facts in elden ring
Elden Ring: 12 Things You Need To Know About Dung Eater

The infamously horrible Dung Eater from Elden Ring has quite a bit of lore attached to him. Here's what fans need to know about him.

By 

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.