Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree NPC Locations Guide

Most of the major non-player characters in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree begin around Gravesite Plain, then move as you explore the Realm of Shadow and progress their quests. This guide gives the landmarks and nearby Sites of Grace to use, explains the key story triggers, and flags the choices that can make some encounters disappear.

How NPC locations and progression work

NPCs in the expansion do not all stay at their first meeting point. Some relocate after you reach a new area, defeat a boss, or trigger a major world event. Their quest steps can also overlap: you may find a character at a later location without having spoken to them at an earlier one, but that can mean missed dialogue or rewards.

Use Sites of Grace as navigation anchors, and talk to each character until their dialogue repeats. Reloading an area by resting at a Grace can update an NPC’s position after an important event. If someone is missing, check the next location listed below before assuming the quest is broken.

• Keep a mental note of who you have spoken to before advancing major story events.
• Explore side paths around the main road; several meetings are off the direct route.
• Do not attack characters just to test whether they are hostile. Most quest NPCs are not meant to be fought.

Gravesite Plain and the first meetings

Gravesite Plain is the expansion’s opening region and the starting point for several important characters. After entering the Realm of Shadow, find the Three-Path Cross Site of Grace on the road north from the starting area. Hornsent and Freyja are associated with this cross, while Moore is nearby at the Main Gate Cross, outside Belurat.

• Hornsent: At the Three-Path Cross, near the road leading toward the northern part of Gravesite Plain. Speak with him and inspect the map he offers for a clue to the region’s crosses.
• Redmane Freyja: Also at Three-Path Cross. Her presence connects to the group of followers gathered across the early map.
• Moore: At Main Gate Cross, just outside the entrance to Belurat, Tower Settlement. He is a merchant; exhaust his dialogue as well as checking his wares.
• Sir Ansbach: At the Main Gate Cross. Speak to him about the followers and the guidance available there.
• Needle Knight Leda: First encountered in the Roundtable Hold after beginning the expansion. Her later appearances depend on story progress.

These crosses are easy to overlook if you sprint directly into Belurat. They serve as useful hubs, so revisit them after exploring a new region or seeing a major message about the followers.

Belurat, Castle Ensis, and the southern route

Belurat, Tower Settlement is the large legacy dungeon west of the early cross. Its route contains the Hornsent Grandam, an important character tied to the settlement’s history. Find her in a small room reached from the settlement’s upper streets; the Storehouse key found in Belurat opens the relevant door. She is not one of the wandering followers, so do not expect her to relocate like Leda or Ansbach.

Castle Ensis lies east of the early Gravesite Plain roads, across the Ellac Greatbridge. It is a main route toward Scadu Altus, but there is no single follower hub inside the castle comparable to the crosses. Explore its side rooms and speak with any character you encounter before pushing onward.

To the south, the Cerulean Coast and the route toward the Stone Coffin Fissure are reached by a winding path from the southern part of Gravesite Plain. Thiollier’s early position is near the Pillar Path Cross, southeast of the starting area, along the road toward the coast. He sells items and has a quest involving St. Trina; meeting him there and following his dialogue is more reliable than searching the coast first.

Scadu Altus and the Shadow Keep approaches

Scadu Altus opens after Castle Ensis or through an alternate route from the eastern side of the map. The Highroad Cross Site of Grace, north of the castle exit, is a major gathering point. Leda can be found here, and Hornsent may also be present depending on your progress. Check the nearby map and talk to the group before entering the next major dungeon.

Moorth Ruins, east of the Highroad Cross, is another useful landmark. Dane’s Footwork and Dryleaf Dane are tied to this area: read the message near the Moorth Ruins Site of Grace and perform the “May the Best Win” gesture to initiate the encounter. The gesture is not a spoken conversation; using it in the appropriate spot is the essential step.

Shadow Keep, north of Scadu Altus, is a major turning point for NPC quests. Before entering or progressing through the keep, check the crosses and speak with the followers again. A prominent world message signals that a great rune has broken and a charm has shattered. This is a quest-state change, not a bug. It advances several characters’ stories, and some earlier dialogue opportunities may no longer be available afterward.

Later locations: Rauh, the coast, and Enir-Ilim

As the story advances, the followers’ paths converge around Shadow Keep and the route to the Ancient Ruins of Rauh. Ansbach’s movements are closely connected to the keep, while Leda’s decisions shape the group’s later conflicts. Search the keep’s Storehouse levels and nearby chambers rather than only following the main boss route; NPCs can be in side rooms.

Thiollier’s quest continues through the southern area and the Stone Coffin Fissure, where St. Trina is found. This is a separate route from the main northern progression. If you want to follow his story, return to him after reaching the fissure and exhaust his dialogue; later steps may require revisiting the area.

Enir-Ilim is the expansion’s late-game destination. A major confrontation there involves several followers, and the exact sides and available assistance depend on earlier quest decisions. Before passing the point of no return into the late sequence, finish conversations and summon-sign choices around Shadow Keep. If you reach the confrontation without seeing a character you expected, their quest may have been advanced or altered by an earlier choice.

Common missed encounters and quest problems

The most frequent reason an NPC seems absent is that the player has reached a later story stage. Check the next listed hub, rest at a Site of Grace, and revisit the character’s previous location. NPCs may also be present only after reading a message, interacting with an item, or exhausting dialogue.

• Dane does not respond: Read the nearby message and use “May the Best Win” at the correct location; ordinary dialogue is not the trigger.
• A cross is empty: The character may have moved after the great rune event or a later dungeon milestone. Check Highroad Cross and Shadow Keep.
• A quest reward seems unavailable: A choice or missed interaction may change the outcome. The game does not provide a quest journal that lists every required step.
• A character is hostile or dead: Avoid attacking NPCs. If you accidentally damage a non-hostile character, seek absolution at the Church of Vows if the game allows it; absolution does not revive a dead NPC.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do I find the main NPCs first in Shadow of the Erdtree?
Start at Three-Path Cross and Main Gate Cross in Gravesite Plain. These are the earliest hubs for Hornsent, Freyja, Moore, and Ansbach.

Where is Thiollier?
His early meeting point is the Pillar Path Cross, southeast of the starting area. His quest later takes him toward the Cerulean Coast and Stone Coffin Fissure.

How do I find Dryleaf Dane?
Go to Moorth Ruins in Scadu Altus, read the message by the Site of Grace, then perform the “May the Best Win” gesture where indicated.

Can I miss NPC quests in the DLC?
Yes. Major progression events and choices can move characters or change quest outcomes. Visit the crosses and speak with the followers before advancing deep into Shadow Keep.

What does “Somewhere, a great rune has broken” mean?
It marks a major story-state change that affects several follower quests. It is intentional; revisit NPC hubs and continue their updated dialogue.

Is there a quest log showing NPC locations?
No. The game relies on dialogue, map exploration, and environmental clues, so noting names and Sites of Grace can help track where to return.

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