Hornsent Quest Guide – Elden Ring: Shadow Of The Erdtree

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The expansive world of Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree features numerous characters with intricate personal narratives and moral complexities. Among these figures, Hornsent stands out with his compelling story of vengeance against those who destroyed his people. This comprehensive walkthrough details how to successfully navigate his multi-stage questline while avoiding common pitfalls that could lead to abrupt failure. Be advised that this guide contains significant spoilers regarding character fates and plot developments.

Hornsent’s narrative arc in the Elden Ring expansion consists of carefully sequenced objectives that demand precise execution. Missing a single interaction or progressing too far in certain areas can permanently lock you out of completion without warning. We provide exhaustive coverage of each requirement to ensure you can guide this tormented character toward his desired retribution.

The accompanying visual guide illustrates the complete journey path for Hornsent’s objectives throughout the DLC. Your expedition will span from the initial Gravesite Plain territory all the way to the mysterious Ancient Ruins of Rauh, covering multiple biome transitions and environmental challenges.

Most players encounter Hornsent during their initial DLC exploration phase. He positions himself at the Three-Path Cross Site of Grace, strategically located along the primary thoroughfare in Gravesite Plain. Importantly, he provides you with cartographic assistance by distributing a map pinpointing the initial trio of Miquella Crosses, which serve as crucial waypoints for your journey.

Your subsequent interaction with Hornsent occurs at the Highroad Cross Site of Grace, accessible only after conquering Rellana, the formidable boss guarding Castle Ensis. During this Highroad Cross rendezvous, he supplements your navigation tools with an additional map detailing further Miquella Cross locations.

Progressing northward along the central route eventually brings you to Shadow Keep’s imposing entrance, the ominous stronghold dominating Scadu Altus. Simultaneously, you’ll receive notification that Miquella’s Seal has been dismantled. This development signals that non-player character narratives can advance further, representing a critical juncture in Hornsent’s personal crusade.

Critical Path Note: Under no circumstances should you proceed deeper into Shadow Keep at this stage. Instead, immediately backtrack to Highroad Cross and engage Hornsent in conversation. He reveals that Messmer the Impaler systematically eradicated his civilization during a religious campaign and declares his imminent plans for retaliation.

Following your discussion with Hornsent, initiate dialogue with Needle Knight Leda, who remains stationed at Highroad Cross. She expresses concerns about potential betrayal among your expedition companions and presents you with a consequential choice. Initially, your options are restricted to accusing either Thiollier or Hornsent. Regardless of your selection, Leda independently determines that Hornsent represents the greater threat and resolves to eliminate him preemptively.

However, before Leda can execute her planned intervention, Hornsent mysteriously vanishes from the location. Subsequent conversation with Leda reveals intelligence indicating his destination: Shadow Keep, where he intends to confront his ancestral enemy directly.

Pro Tip: Many players inadvertently fail this quest by exploring Shadow Keep prematurely. The trigger occurs the moment you cross certain interior thresholds, so exercise extreme caution when approaching this area. For optimal quest preservation, complete all external interactions before venturing inside.

The branching narrative structure here demonstrates FromSoftware’s sophisticated approach to character development. Unlike simpler RPG quests, your decisions create ripple effects that influence multiple character arcs simultaneously, including Leda’s own storyline progression.

As you advance through Shadow Keep’s challenges, you’ll encounter the Golden Hippopotamus boss encounter. During this confrontation, Hornsent’s summon sign becomes available, providing valuable combat assistance while advancing his character development. This cooperative element represents one of the quest’s most engaging mechanical implementations.

The narrative climax approaches during your confrontation with Messmer the Impaler. Hornsent’s summon sign reappears for this pivotal battle, allowing him to directly confront the architect of his people’s destruction. His participation not only provides tactical support but also delivers profound narrative satisfaction.

Following the Messmer encounter, Leda confronts Hornsent directly, leading to an unavoidable duel between these determined characters. This confrontation resolves their conflicting agendas and determines the quest’s ultimate outcome.

Combat Strategy: When summoning Hornsent during boss fights, position yourself to draw aggro while he delivers sustained damage. His combat style complements aggressive player approaches effectively, making him particularly valuable against slower, heavy-hitting enemies.

Upon successful quest completion, Hornsent becomes available as an invasion target under specific conditions. Defeating him in this context yields his complete armor set and signature weapon, providing tangible rewards for your narrative investment.

Alternatively, you can acquire Hornsent’s distinctive gear through conventional means later in the campaign progression. This ensures that players who miss certain interactions can still obtain the gameplay benefits.

The Hornsent questline exemplifies the DLC’s sophisticated approach to character-driven storytelling. Unlike many RPG side quests that feel disconnected from main narratives, this arc integrates seamlessly with the expansion’s central themes while providing meaningful character development and substantial gameplay rewards.

Reward Optimization: For players seeking maximum efficiency, complete the quest naturally for narrative satisfaction, then utilize the later acquisition method for duplicate items or alternative character builds.

No reproduction without permission：SeeYouSoon Game Club » Hornsent Quest Guide – Elden Ring: Shadow Of The Erdtree Complete guide to Hornsent's revenge quest with strategic tips and reward optimization in Elden Ring DLC