Elden Ring’s one and only DLC Shadow of the Erdtree just launched yesterday. Many people are rushing to replay the entire game to brush up on their rusty skills. In this playthrough, you will encounter several NPCs. Before beginning the expansion, you will need to be at your level best so here’s a list of the NPCs who are worth your time.
The best NPCs in Elden Ring are:
- Blaidd
- Milicent
- Patches the Untethered
- Preceptor Seluvis
- Knight Bernahl
- Ensha
- Gatekeeper Gostoc
- Kenneth Haight
- Nomadic Merchants
- Tanith
- Diallos Hoslow
1Blaidd
Where: Mistwood Ruins
Drops: Nil
Rewards: 2520 Runes, Somber Smithing Stone x2, Blaidd’s Full Set, Royal Greatsword
In Ranni’s quest, you will encounter Blaidd. He is Ranni’s associate, shadow and loyal guardian. Despite how it begins, Blaidd will turn against you. The fight will give you nothing but follow the questline to receive rewards.
2Milicent
Where: Church of the Plague
Drops: 6000 Runes & Millicent’s Prosthesis
Rewards: Prosthesis-Wearer Heirloom Talisman, Rotten Winged Sword Insignia Talisman (Millicent’s Prosthesis Talisman), Unalloyed Gold Needle
Caelid is a place where the only thing you should be concerned about is getting out well and alive. Nothing and nobody can be trusted. So naturally when you come across a sickly woman named Milicent who asks for your help, you will question her intentions. In this quest, one of the options is to kill her which will grant you Milicent’s Prosthesis Talisman.
3Patches
Where: Murkwater Cave
Drops: 800 Runes, Spear +7, Leather Armor, Leather Gloves, Leather Boots, Patches’ Bell Bearing
Rewards: Merchant Access, Calm Down Gesture, Magma Whip Candlestick, Dancer’s Castanets
If you know how Patches is, you will agree that the only option is to kill him. Off the top of my head, there are just so many instances of Patches’ betrayal. This trickster will always find ways to stab you in the back and set you back.
4Preceptor Seluvis
Where: Ranni’s Rise
Drops: Preceptor’s Full Set, Seluvis’s Bell Bearing
Rewards: Merchant Access, Dung Eater or Nepheli Loux Spirit Ashes, Magic Scorpion Charm
This pretentious character is conceited, twisted, and just evil. Seluvis makes an appearance early on in the game during Ranni’s quest. Although you can’t technically kill him, he does eventually die.
5Knight Bernahl
Where: Warmaster’s Shack
Drops: 2000 Runes, Bernhal’s Bell Bearing, Beast Champion Full Set, Devourer’s Scepter
Rewards: Gelmir’s Fury, Blasphemous Claw, Access to his Ash of War shop
Knight Bernhal can be found at the Warmaster’s Shack located in Limgrave. While Knight Bernhal is of great help to the Tarnished, he does turn into an invader later on. It is recommended to kill him off during the invasion later on in the questline.
6Ensha
Where: Roundtable Hold
Drops: Clinging Bone & Royal Remains Full Set
Rewards: ‘What Do You Want?’ Gesture
Ensha has probably ambushed you when you were busy obtaining the Haligtree Secret Medallion Halves.
7Gatekeeper Gostoc
Where: Stormveil Castle Entrance
Drops: Gostoc’s Bell Bearing, Silver Pickled Fowl Foot, Glass Shard
Rewards: Get an Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone for 20,000 Runes
At Stormveil, upon discovering the locked gate, you will find a tiny entryway on the side where Gatekeeper Gostoc will be standing. The odd man will help you in navigating the castle but not everything is what it looks like.
Gostoc will stalk you through various points in the shady dungeon. If you are wondering why, it is because he will consistently try to kill you. Upon the player’s death, Gostoc will take 30% of the Runes dropped. Now you see, the seemingly friendly gatekeeper is not so friendly after all.
8Kenneth Haight
Where: Atop the ruins by Third Church of Marika
Drops: 500 Runes, Golden Seed
Rewards: Erdsteel Dagger, Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone x1
Kenneth has a very harrowing backstory. Overthrown in his castle, he is left stranded on a ruined building. He calls out to the Tarnished for help. Sadly, his fate does not meet a happy ending. Upon his death, players will receive a Golden Seed, a very important resource which will increase the number of healing flasks one can hold.
9Nomadic Merchants
Where: Across the Lands Between
Drops: All types of Merchant’s Bell Bearing
Rewards: Nil
There are fifteen merchants in total consisting of– Nomadic Merchant, Isolated Merchant, Hermit Merchant, Imprisoned Merchant, and Abandoned Merchant. Most of them are friendly so killing them can be emotionally distressing.
10Tanith
Where: Volcano Manor
Drops: Consort’s Mask, Consort’s Robe, & Consort’s Trousers
Rewards: Shortcut to the Site of Grace before Rykard, Lord of Blasphemy
Volcano Manor is an interesting plot line in Elden Ring. Although optional, it is a way to learn more about the time before Erdtree. Head of the Volcano Manor, Tanith, will ask you to join forces against the Fingers. Here’s a tip– kill Tanith when she is ‘feasting’ to earn an extra reward.
About Elden Ring
Elden Ring is a major title released by FromSoftware in 2022, the developers of Demon’s Souls, Bloodborne, and the Dark Souls franchise. Set in the ‘Lands Between’, players are on a quest to repair the Elden Ring and become the new Elden Lord.
Shadow of the Erdtree is a full-fledged expansion for Elden Ring added in June 2024. It is a whole new map with new Weapons, Sorceries, Ashes, and Craftables. It is a challenging DLC and as players continue to explore the map, they find surprises and easter eggs left by the developers every day.
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