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Leda questline guide - Elden Ring: Shadow Of The ErdtreeHere is a full walkthrough of Leda’s sidequest and all possible outcomes

Here is a full walkthrough of Leda’s sidequest and all possible outcomes

Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun/Bandai Namco

Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun/Bandai Namco

Screenshot of Needle Knight Leda overlooking a Miquella Cross in Elden Ring: Shadow Of The Erdtree.

Looking for a walkthrough of the Needle Knight Leda quest in Elden Ring: Shadow Of The Erdtree?Needle Knight Leda is a dedicated follower of Miquella inShadow Of The Erdtree. So much so, that she plays a primary role in guiding the Tarnished through the Land of Shadow, following Kindly Miquella’s footsteps in thecorrect progression order.

Leda has a group of allies. Naturally, this means she has the largest, most complex quest that spans across multipleNPC questlinestoo. Read our full rundown of Leda’s quest inElden Ringto make sure you don’t miss out on important Leda questline steps and to make informed decisions about choices like ‘assist Leda or Hornsent’ ‘assist Ansbach or Leda’ with all outcomes and rewards listed.

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Elden Ring Leda questline steps

Below is a summary of the keyLeda quest steps in Shadow Of The Erdtree. We recommend seeing our full explanation for each stage below this, however, as this is a quest with many winding paths and will take you throughout the DLC, right to the last boss. We also have a full summary section which details which NPCs will side with or against you in thepenultimate fightof the DLC.

Here are the key steps for Leda’s questline in Elden Ring:

How to start the Knight Leda quest in Shadow Of The Erdtree

As mentioned above, Leda is the very first NPC you’ll encounter in the Shadow Of The Erdtree DLC. She is a Knight of Miquella and a staunch loyalist who promises to offer you aid in the Land of Shadow if you follow the footsteps of Kindly Miquella.

This promise does come to fruition as Leda acts as something of a guide, offering clues as to where you need to go to progress the main quest of finding Miquella.

You’ll need to progress through Castle Ensis to get to the Scadu Altus region. |Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun/Bandai Namco

Two screenshots from Elden Ring: Shadow Of The Erdtree. Left: the player sits next to the Castle Ensis Checkpoint Site Of Grace. Right: the location of that Site Of Grace on the map.

How to get to Scadu Altus

There are two major ways to enter the Scadu Altus region. The first is to make your way toCastle Ensisin the eastern region of the Gravesite Plain. The second is to travel via the southeastern road from the Castle Front Site Of Grace and take a fewSpiritspringsfrom below the Fort of Reprimand.

Here are both the optional routes into Scadu Altus. |Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun/Bandai Namco

Elden Ring: Shadow Of The Erdtree map image showing two routes into the Scadu Altus region.

If you choose Castle Ensis, there will be a letter from Leda at the Castle Ensis CheckpointSite Of Grace, which explains that the tower of shadow is locked behind shadowy branches. To expel the branches and reach Miquella, you’ll need to go to the ruins beyond the Shadow Keep and ‘burn the tree that seals the path’.

In short, the way forward and the next time you meet Leda will be at theHighroad Cross Site Of Gracein Scadu Altus. To progress through Castle Ensis you’ll need to defeatRellana, Twin Moon Knight. For this fight, you can summon either Leda or Dryleaf Dane to assist you.

Meet Leda at the Highroad Cross

When Marika installed Messmer in the Land of Shadow, he started an unjust ‘culling’ of the Hornsent’s people. |Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun/Bandai Namco

Elden Ring: Shadow Of The Erdtree screenshot of the Hornsent NPC next to a Cross of Miquella in the Lands of Shadow.

After travelling to the Highroad Cross Site Of Grace, Leda will explain that Miquella has placed a charm on her fellow travellers which has allowed them to serve Miquella together and quelled any friction amongst them.

Here, you can pick up the ‘Monk’s Missive’ and ‘May the Best Win’ gesture (which you’ll need later on to gain Hand-to-Hand Arts, anew weapon type). You can also converse with both Leda and Hornsent and ask Leda about Hornsent and his people:

You can gain additional dialogue aboutDryleaf Daneafter advancing his questline and meeting him at Moorth Ruins. Upon returning to Leda, she will suggest that Dane has followed Miquella for longer than even she has.

How to break Miquella’s charm

Now, to progress Leda’s quest in Shadow Of The Erdtree you mustbreak Miquella’s charm. This will subsequently move along most of the other NPCs' quests, so make sure you’re ready to do so first and consult our hub guide full of allNPC questlinesfor more info to make sure you haven’t been locked out of anything. To break Miquella’s charm, travel to one of the following areas for the first time:

You’ll know when the charm has broken when you hear a shattering sound and receive the following notification:

Hornsent or Thiollier?

All choices seem to lead back to the Hornsent; however, the outcomes are different later on down the line. |Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun/Bandai Namco

Elden Ring: Shadow Of The Erdtree screenshot of the NPC Leda offering a choice of other NPCs to target via her questline.

After breaking the charm, return to Leda at the Highroad Cross Site Of Grace. She will confirm that Miquella’s charm has broken, and whilst her devotion to the god remains unchanged, she becomes paranoid as to whether her comrades feel the same devotion to Miquella or not.

She resolves to ‘weed out’ the non-believers and asks you who she should target first. Here you can suggest the following options:

Whichever option you choose, Leda will ultimately target and follow Hornsent to The Shadow Keep. Depending on your next few choices it is possible, however, to keep him alive.

Assist Hornsent or Leda?

Alternatively, you can choose neither NPC and ignore the summon sign. |Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun/Bandai Namco

Map image and gameplay screenshot showing where to find the Leda and Hornsent summoning signs in Elden Ring: Shadow Of The Erdtree.

True to their word, both Hornsent and Leda will move to the Shadow Keep. Specifically, you’ll want to travel to the map location above. There will be two summon signs in the eastern corner above the large stone incline. This is located opposite the stairs with the patroling Messmer soldier which leads to the large lift, right before the Specimen Storehouse.

There are a few possible outcomes depending on what you choose here:

If you sided with Hornsent or avoided making a choice, after killingMessmerHornsent is somewhat driven to madness and decides that his vengeance has yet to be quelled. He decides to target the rest of Marika’s offspring and says:

The next time you’ll see him will be at the Ancient Ruins of Rauh, where he will invade and you’ll have to kill him (earning his gear in the process). You can avoid this confrontation and keep him alive, however, if you discover the Ancient Ruins of RauhbeforedefeatingMessmerat The Shadow Keep.

Progress Ansbach’s quest

To progress this quest (if you sided with Leda or ignored the above choice), you must next speak to Ansbach in theSpecimen Storehouse(first floor, Shadow Keep) and assist him. This involves the following steps:

You’ll need to pick up the Secret Rite Scroll to advance Ansbach, Freyja and Leda’s questlines. |Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun/Bandai Namco

Elden Ring screenshots showing where to get the Secret Rite Scroll in Shadow Of The Erdtree. Left shows the map location.

Assist Ansbach or Leda?

After completing these steps and resting at a Site Of Grace, Ansbach will no longer be in his usual room. Instead, there will be two summon signs to choose from - either to help Leda or Ansbach. These are the following outcomes depending on what you choose:

Whichever option you choose will ultimately affect your next encounter with these NPCs. To get to this point, you need toadvance toEnir-Ilim. This will take a fair bit of progression as this is ultimately where Miquella is located.

To progress to the Church of the Bud, you need to travel to the Ancient Ruins of Rauh from the Shadow Keep. |Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun/Bandai Namco

Elden Ring: Shadow Of The Erdtree map screenshot of the Church of Bud and Cleansing Chamber Anteroom Sites Of Grace.

To access this area beyond the Belurat, Tower Settlement, you need to travel to the Church of the Bud within the Ancient Ruins of Rauh and defeat Romina, Saint of the Bud. Afterwards, light the Sealing Tree beyond with Messmer’s fire. Then, you’ll be transported to Enir-Ilim where you’ll need to progress and climb the tower until you discover the Cleansing Chamber Anteroom Site Of Grace (see the map image above).

Leda fight in Enir-Ilim

The number of foes in this fight depends on your previous quest choices. |Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun/Bandai Namco

Elden Ring: Shadow Of The Erdtree screenshot of Leda in a sandy boss arena, ready to challenge the Tarnished.

Upon discovering the Cleansing Chamber Anteroom Site Of Grace in Enir-Ilim, advance to the next room and Leda will appear. She has come to the realisation that your efforts to find Minquella aren’t the same as hers and that you have come to challenge him for power. She cannot accept this so she initiates a fight to stop you.

The choices you have made so far will determine who appears in the fight and whether they will fight with or against you. These are the following possibilities:

Leda’s Armor, Oathseeker Knight Set and more rewards

Leda’s Armor is a unique, upgraded version of the Oathseeker Knight set. |Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun/Bandai Namco

Elden Ring: Shadow Of The Erdtree screenshot of the Tarnished in Enir-Ilim, wearing Leda’s armor before the last boss fight.

After this fight, you should receiveLeda’s Swordand300,000 Runes, plus whatever you loot from the surrounding corpses. We got Freyja and Dryleaf Dane’s weapons and armor (having already acquired Moore’s earlier on in our playthrough). Don’t forget to also loot Leda’s body to the right of the archway to get her armor.

Leda’s Armor is actually an upgraded version of theOathseeker Knightset. This means it has a buff to attacks performed after a dodge, roll, backstep, or dash. With a weight of 10.6, it is a good option for players that want to remain light on their feet.

Now that most of Miquella’s followers are dead, that just leaves the god himself. You can continue through Enir-Ilim to face him. Depending on your choices, you may recieve a summon to help you take him on.

If you sided with Ansbach against Leda he will be available as a summon. After the fight you can gain his equipment along with theObsidian LaminaandFurious Blade of Ansbach.

If you completedThiollier’s questlinebefore advancing through Enir-Ilim (and relayedSt. Trina’smessage to him), he may join you as a summon against Miquella. Afterwards, you can retrieve his gear along withThiollier’s Hidden Needle.

This concludes Leda’s questline in Shadow Of The Erdtree.

That’s all for Leda’s quest in Elden Ring Shadow Of The Erdtree. For more Elden Ringtips and tricks, check out our guide to thebest early weaponsin Shadow Of The Erdtree to get you started. Or, if you’re further along in the DLC, see ourbest weaponsguide that goes through the best of the bunch. Be sure to also check out ourMap Fragment locationsguide to help you access and uncover every region in the DLC and see ourboss locationsguide so you won’t miss a single one.