Step into the shadowy depths of Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree and unravel the mysterious journey of Sir Ansbach, a once-proud Pureblood Knight Captain now seeking answers in a realm steeped in danger and intrigue. From your first encounter at the Main Gate Cross to epic battles alongside Ansbach against formidable foes like Needle Knight Leda, this questline offers a rich tapestry of lore, challenging encounters, and valuable rewards-including Ansbach’s Longbow and the chance to summon him in the final boss fight. Whether you aim to uncover every secret or simply survive the perilous Shadow Realm, our comprehensive walkthrough will guide you through every step of Sir Ansbach’s captivating quest in the Lands Between.
Sir Ansbach questline steps in Elden Ring DLC
The Sir Ansbach questline in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree DLC involves multiple steps across the Land of Shadows, beginning at the Main Gate Cross Site of Grace where you first meet Ansbach. Players must exhaust his dialogue, then assist him by collecting the Secret Rite Scroll in the Shadow Keep Storehouse and giving it to him. Throughout the quest, you interact with other characters like Freyja and Needle Knight Leda, and assist Ansbach in a key battle inside the Specimen Storehouse by summoning him to fight alongside you against Leda. After defeating Leda, Ansbach’s quest progresses toward the final areas of the DLC, where he can be summoned for the last boss fight. Completing his quest rewards players with unique items such as Ansbach’s Longbow and his armor set, and reveals more lore about his past ties to Lord Mohg. Careful timing in giving items and progressing the story is important to avoid locking the quest prematurely.
Here’s a list of all the steps you need to go through in order to complete Sir Ansbach’s quest:
- Meet Sir Ansbach at the Main Gate Cross Site of Grace
- Break the Great Rune
- Meet Sir Ansbach in the Shadow Keep Storehouse
- Find the Secret Rite Scroll
- Return to Sir Ansbach and give him the Secret Rite Scroll
- Talk to Redmane Freyja in Shadow Keep
- Talk to Sir Ansbach again to get his letter
- Give the letter to Redmane Freyja
- Visit Leda at the Highground Cross Site of Grace
- Return to Sir Ansbach’s spot and interact with the gold summon labeled “assist Sir Ansbach”
- Defeat the Leda invader with Sir Ansbach
- Progress to the end of the game and work with Sir Ansbach to defeat the DLC’s final two bosses
What follows is a breakdown of all the above, step-by-step.
Where to find Sir Ansbach NPC in Elden Ring DLC
Sir Ansbach can be found early in the Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree DLC at the Main Gate Cross Site of Grace, just outside Belurat in the Gravesite Plain region. He is usually standing near the giant Miquella Cross at this location. After meeting him here, he later moves to the Shadow Keep Storehouse, First Floor, where you can continue his questline by speaking with him and progressing through related tasks. Ansbach’s presence is key throughout the DLC, and he can also be summoned to assist in certain boss fights, including the final boss of the expansion.
Sir Ansbach is pretty tough to miss, as he’s standing by the giant Miquella Cross outside of Belurat, the first major dungeon you’re likely to encounter in Shadow of the Erdtree.
As you’re riding up to the castle gates, keep left and look for a little bluff. Here you can formally meet Sir Ansbach – former servant to Lord Mohg – and Moore, the shopkeep at the Main Gate Cross Site of Grace. Talk to Ansbach to learn a bit more about him and his interests. He’ll tell you he’s researching Miquella’s Crosses, and ask you to visit them and report back any secret ones you find.
This is an optional part of Sir Ansbach’s quest, and plays a bit into the quest of another NPC, Hornsent. During the first half of the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC, Hornsent will give you a map showing you the locations of a few hidden Miquella Crosses. If you find them, interact with them, and then speak to Sir Ansbach to get some additional lore.
Whether you get the extra lore or not, once you’ve introduced yourself to Sir Ansbach you can progress through the main story until the great rune breaks outside of Shadow Keep.
Sending Sir Ansbach to Shadow Keep
Upon reaching Shadow Keep in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree, head to the Specimen Storehouse where you will find Sir Ansbach on the first floor. Engage with him and exhaust all dialogue to progress his questline. Before handing over the Secret Rite Scroll to Ansbach, it is crucial to speak with Redmane Freyja on the seventh floor to learn about her decision, as this sequence ensures both their questlines remain accessible. After informing Ansbach of Freyja’s choice, give him the Secret Rite Scroll and rest at a Site of Grace to receive a letter for Freyja from Ansbach. This careful progression allows you to assist Ansbach further, including summoning him for key battles later in the DLC.
When you get close to the Shadow Keep dungeon in Scadu Altus, you’ll get a notification that the great rune has broken. This is supposed to happen – you didn’t do anything wrong – and will progress all the various NPC quests throughout the world, including Ansbach’s.
Return to Ansbach and talk to him until he starts repeating himself. If you rest, he’ll disappear. You’ll bump into Sir Ansbach again in Shadow Keep, on the first floor of the Specimen Storehouse area.
To reach Ansbach’s research nook, head forward from the Storehouse, First Floor Site of Grace, past the great beast, up the stairs on your left, and then hang right past the first bookshelf. You’ll find him reading in the corner of a small room. Exhaust his dialogue once again before continuing your journey through the storehouse.
Where to find Secret Rite Scroll
The Secret Rite Scroll in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree is found on the third floor of the Specimen Storehouse within the Shadow Keep. To reach it, start at the Storehouse, Fourth Floor site of grace, exit to the west, then ascend the stairs on the left while being cautious of a Fire Knight guarding the area. After defeating or bypassing the Fire Knight, descend a staircase on the left to enter a room where the scroll lies on a table. This key item is essential for progressing Sir Ansbach’s questline and can be handed over to him on the first floor of the Storehouse to reveal important lore about Miquella and Mohg’s corpse.
To progress Sir Ansbach’s quest further, you’ll first need to find the Secret Rite Scroll. Thankfully, you’re already in the right spot to locate it: the Shadow Keep Specimen Storehouse. Make your way to the Storehouse, Fourth Floor Site of Grace.
From the site of grace, turn left and follow the path past the burning boats and enemies. Take the next stairs up and move forward. To your left, you’ll find a staircase leading down, away from the main path. Take these stairs and take out the enemies on the landing below. Go inside the nearby doorway to find a small research library.
Head toward the edge, but be careful not to fall. To your right, on a table, you’ll see a purple pillar of light. Interact with it to get the Secret Rite Scroll.
Should you give Sir Ansbach the Secret Rite Scroll?
Giving Sir Ansbach the Secret Rite Scroll is a crucial step in his questline in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree. Handing over the scroll to him at the Shadow Keep Storehouse unlocks further progression in his storyline, allowing him to move from his initial location and enabling you to receive the Letter for Freyja, which is important for her questline as well. If you withhold the scroll, Ansbach will remain stationary, his quest will stall, and you will miss the chance to summon him for the NPC battle in Enir-Ilim and the final boss fight. However, be cautious not to give him the scroll before speaking with Redmane Freyja, as doing so may cause Ansbach to leave prematurely, potentially locking you out of Freyja’s quest progression. Therefore, timing your decision to give the scroll is key to fully experiencing both questlines and maximizing rewards.
With the Secret Rite Scroll in hand, head back to Sir Ansbach on the first floor. When you talk to him, you’ll get the option to hand it over. Give Sir Ansbach the scroll and he’ll learn that Lord Mohg’s body has been stolen and Miquella has plans for it.
Exhaust Ansbach’s dialogue before you continue to the next step.
How to get Redmane Freyja’s letter from Sir Ansbach
To get Redmane Freyja’s letter from Sir Ansbach in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree, first find Freyja at the Storehouse, Seventh Floor Site of Grace, and exhaust her dialogue. Then, locate Sir Ansbach in the library on the first floor of the Storehouse. Before giving Ansbach the Secret Rite Scroll, make sure you have spoken to Freyja to avoid him leaving prematurely. After handing over the scroll to Ansbach and discussing Freyja’s frustrations, rest at a Site of Grace and return to Ansbach. He should then give you the letter intended for Freyja. If he doesn’t, keep resting and talking to him until he does. Finally, deliver the letter to Freyja to progress her quest and receive the Golden Lion Shield as a reward.
Now it’s time to help Redmane Freyja, another NPC who has her own quest.
After the great rune breaks, you can talk to Freyja at the Three-Path Cross Site of Grace back in Gravesite Plain to send her to Shadow Keep. You’ll meet Freyja on the seventh floorof the Specimen Storehouse, just behind the site of grace. She’ll be ducked down by the fireplace looking through some objects and loudly grumbling to herself.
If you talk to her, she’ll tell you she’s busy and then complain about not talking to Ansbach when she had the chance. Travel down to the first floor again and tell Ansbach about Freyja’s frustrations. Exhaust his dialogue and then go rest again. Return to Ansbach and he’ll hand you a letter meant for Freyja.
What to do if Sir Ansbach is not giving the letter
If Sir Ansbach is not giving you the letter during his questline in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree, make sure you have first given him the Secret Rite Scroll, which is found on the fourth floor of the Shadow Keep Storehouse. After handing him the scroll, exhaust all his dialogue and then quit and reload the game while staying near him. This often triggers the letter to appear. Also, ensure you have spoken to Redmane Freyja before giving Ansbach the scroll, as giving the scroll too early can cause Ansbach to leave and prevent you from receiving the letter, potentially locking out Freyja’s questline. If Ansbach disappears after giving the scroll, it may be due to progressing the story out of order or missing dialogue steps, so retracing steps and careful dialogue exhaustion is recommended.
If he doesn’t give you the letter after you rest, talk to Freyja again before talking to Ansbach.
Bring the letter to Freyja to progress her quest, then talk to her until you exhaust her dialogue. She’ll give you the Golden Lion Shield for your trouble. You should then return to Ansbach to tell him about Freyja’s reaction to his letter.
Defending Ansbach against Leda
In the “Defending Ansbach against Leda” segment of Sir Ansbach’s questline in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree, players encounter a critical choice at the Specimen Storehouse. Upon arriving, you will find two summon signs: a red one for Leda and a gold one for Ansbach. Choosing to assist Ansbach teleports you to an arena where you fight alongside him against Leda, who appears as an invader. Successfully defending Ansbach results in Leda’s defeat, earning you valuable rewards such as Ansbach’s Longbow and Leda’s Rune, and allows you to summon Ansbach for future battles, including the final boss fight. This choice is pivotal as siding with Ansbach keeps his questline active and provides significant combat support later in the DLC.
Once you’ve done all of Ansbach’s quests in Shadow Keep, go visit Leda at the Highroad Cross Site of Grace, outside Castle Ensis. Speak to her a few times and she’ll eventually reveal that it’s time to hunt down our buddy Ansbach. Once she asks for your help, the quest will be in motion, so head back to Ansbach’s hideaway in Shadow Keep.
When you arrive, Ansbach won’t be there. Instead, you’ll find a red summon marker and a gold summon marker.
If you want to see the end of Ansbach’s quest, move past the red summon maker and interact with the gold one – “assist Sir Ansbach.” This will teleport you to an arena inside the Specimen Storehouse. Ansbach will be there with you, and Leda will appear as an Invader. Work together with Ansbach to defeat her.
Once you return to your own world, Sir Ansbach will still be missing, but you’ll receive Ansbach’s Longbow and Leda’s Rune (worth 40,000 Runes).
How to finish Sir Ansbach’s quest
To finish Sir Ansbach’s quest in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree, start by speaking to him at the Main Gate Cross Site of Grace in Gravesite Plain to initiate his questline. Progress through the DLC areas, locating Miquella’s hidden crosses to unlock more dialogue and lore. After breaking Miquella’s great rune, return to Ansbach to advance his story and find him later in the Shadow Keep Storehouse. Collect the Secret Rite Scroll and give it to Ansbach, then assist him in the arena fight against Needle Knight Leda by interacting with the gold summon sign inside the Specimen Storehouse. After defeating Leda and completing key dialogues, you can summon Ansbach for the final boss fight of the DLC. Completing these steps will reward you with Ansbach’s Longbow, his armor set, and other valuable items, concluding his questline before the DLC’s final boss encounter.
With Leda defeated and Ansbach defended, you’ve completed most of the missable steps in the Ansbach quest.
Now you just need to progress the story to the end (our Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree walkthrough can help with the critical path) where you’ll meet up with many of the game’s NPCs – including Ansbach – before Shadow of the Erdtree’s final boss.
How does Sir Ansbach’s quest reveal hidden secrets in Shadow of the Erdtree
Sir Ansbach’s questline in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree reveals hidden secrets by guiding the player through the discovery of Miquella’s scattered Crosses, which are key to understanding the deeper lore of the Shadow Realm and Miquella’s true intentions. As you report these Cross locations to Ansbach, he shares insights into the mysterious plans involving Mohg’s remains and Miquella’s ultimate purpose, uncovering a plot to use Mohg’s corpse as a vessel. The quest also involves finding the Secret Rite Scroll, which further exposes the dark rituals at play and deepens the narrative around the Shadow Keep and the fate of major NPCs. Ultimately, Ansbach’s journey sheds light on the complex relationships between Miquella, Mohg, and the Tarnished, while offering new lore, challenging encounters, and the opportunity to summon Ansbach in the final battle, making his questline a crucial thread for uncovering the DLC’s hidden secrets.
What hidden secrets about Miquella’s purpose does Sir Ansbach uncover in Shadow of the Erdtree
Sir Ansbach uncovers that Miquella’s purpose in Shadow of the Erdtree involves a profound and unsettling divestment of his own flesh and Empyrean lineage, symbolized by the discovery of several Miquella’s Crosses marking where he has left behind parts of himself, including his eye and a “blossom of slumber.” These acts suggest Miquella is shedding his birthright as a child of the Erdtree and preparing to enter the Tower of Shadow, a divine gateway and the birthplace of a god, where he intends to ascend to true godhood.
Ansbach reveals that Miquella has used Mohg’s corpse as a vessel for his promised consort’s soul, effectively forsaking Mohg’s own soul. This plan to repurpose Mohg’s body highlights Miquella’s complex and morally ambiguous intentions, showing that he manipulates others to achieve his ends, which deeply troubles Ansbach and changes his view of Miquella from kindly to monstrous.
Thus, through Ansbach’s investigation and dialogue, players learn that Miquella’s ultimate goal is not just personal ascension but involves dark rituals and the use of others’ bodies to fulfill a divine but unsettling destiny within the Land of Shadow.
