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 Feb 2, 2024 by Erik Petrovich: Elden Ring side quests vary enormously, from NPC character questlines that span the entire Lands Between to Volcano Manor assassination requests and more. Some of the best side quests in Elden Ring are out of the way, though, and players may never run into the start points naturally for several playthroughs. What's more, some of these side quests give players fantastic rewards, often in the form of game-changing talismans and gear. This guide to the best side quests Elden Ring has to offer has been updated to give at-a-glance details on how to initiate each questline, as well as the potential rewards for following each to the end.

14 Patches' Questline

It's not that hard to miss Patches' 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 Volcano Manor.

Patches' Questline Rewards

Several emotes, including Patches' Crouch, Extreme Repentance, Grovel for Mercy, and Calm Down, and access to Patches' store, where he sells useful items like Gold-Pickled Fowl Foot and Margit's Shackle.

13 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.

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 her necklace from a nearby thief, and 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

Easier access to the Volcano Manor, earlier than normal. Also, Daedicar's Woe, a Talisman that doubles damage received – by the player, not by enemies. Don't equip this.

12 Boc's Questline

Boc is literally hidden in Elden Ring since he's been transformed into a shrub by some evil demi-humans somewhere 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 Needles 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

Players have access to free alterations for their armor with Boc, as well as the My Lord gesture and 10 Mushrooms.

11 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 cheer up a sad Nepheli through some obscure hoop that requires returning to the game's starting area (Chapel of Anticipation). The reward is worth it, thankfully.

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.

Nepheli Loux's Questline Rewards

The Arsenal Charm talisman, and an Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone (and another one if you spare Gostoc).

10 Iron Fist Alexander's Questline

The closest thing to the Onion Knight in Elden Ring would be Iron Fist Alexander. 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.

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 Lake, Gael Tunnel, Seethwater Terminus in Mt. Gelmir, and finally in the 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 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

Alexander's Innards and Shard of Alexander talismans at the conclusion of his questline, as well as Exalted Flesh for freeing him.

9 Blaidd's Questline

Blaidd is the big wolfman who serves Ranni and players can find him brooding on top of some ruins in Mistwood. He'll also howl though it's easy to miss it so be sure to increase the game's volume. 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.

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

Somber Smithing Stone [2], access to Iji the Blacksmith, and his armor set and sword (minus the head).

8 Millicent's Questline

• Trigger Location: Gowry in his shack near the road to Sellia's gate in Caelid
• Rewards: Unalloyed Gold Needle

Millicent is a tragic character in Caelid suffering from the Scarlet Rot plague but his adoptive father Gowry plans to cure her. Hence, Gowry will ask players to retrieve a needle that can do just that. It's dropped by Commander O'Niel, a boss in the swamp near Sellia.

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

Several Golden Runes (if invaded), Unalloyed Gold Needle, and Millicent's Prosthesis talisman.

7 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.

For one, there are several characters here that give out their own quests. Initiating the Rykard 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.

6 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 if they located the Village of the Albinaurics. After unlocking a Site of Grace in this area, they need only look for a lone pot and hit it once.

This will reveal an old albino man who imparts them a 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 the secret area.

5 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.

Corhyn will then join Goldmask then move to the colosseum at Leyndell. He'll also give an incantation, Law of Regression that players will have to use 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 his Incantation shop, Goldmask's Set, and the Mending Rune of Perfect Order.

4 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 Elphael, Brace of the Haligtree, and one is in Volcano Manor.

Players will have to free him from his dungeon, complete a Boilprawn Shack side quest, and then get to fighting Dung Eater (don't kill him unprovoked as this will ruin the questline). After giving him all Seedbed Curses and defeating him, 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 set, and the Mending Rune of the Fell Curse.

3 Lord Of Frenzied Flame Questline

For an even worse ending, make sure to meticulously follow the Lord of Frenzied Flame questline. This one begins in 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.

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 Grapes to progress her quest throughout Liurnia.

Lord Of Frenzied Flame Questline Rewards

As You Wish gesture, access to the Three Fingers, the Frenzied Flame Seal, and Frenzyflame stones – as well as 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 is part of the main quest), then Fia will start giving them a task.

This involves murdering someone and accessing a hidden boss fight. Players will also have to have completed Ranni the Witch's questline in order to fully progress this questline. Once it's all done, 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

Radiant Baldachin's Blessing, the Inseparable Sword, the Mending Rune of the Death-Prince, and the Twinned set.

1 Ranni's Questline

Ranni the Witch's version of Elden Ring's ending is considered by some as 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, 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

Access to several secret areas and side areas, which themselves have dozens and dozens of items and NPCs and enemies. You will also get the Dark Moon Greatsword, the Snow Witch set, and the ability to see Ranni's unique ending.