Sir Ansbach questline steps in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree

By James On Jun 21, 2024

Lord Ansbach is one of the many NPCs in Elden Ring‘S Shadow of the Erdtree DLC. You meet him early in your adventure – in Grave plain – and if you follow his quest, he’ll be with you throughout the expansion.

In this Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree guide, I will show you how to complete Sir Ansbach’s quest in the Shadow Realm of the Lands Between.

Where to find Sir Ansbach NPC in Elden Ring DLC

Image: FromSoftware/Bandai Namco via Polygon

A Tarnished speaks with Sir Ansbach in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree

Sir Ansbach is hard to miss as he stands with the giant Miquella Cross outside Beluratthe first major dungeon you’re likely to encounter Shadow of the Erdtree.

As you drive towards the castle gate, keep left and look for a small bluff. Here you can officially meet Sir Ansbach – former servant of Lord Mohg – and Moore, the shopkeeper of the Main Gate Cross Site of Grace. Talk to Ansbach to find out more about him and his interests. He will tell you that he is researching Miquella’s crosses, and ask you to visit them and report any secret crosses you come across.

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 gives you a map showing the locations of a few hidden Miquella Crosses. When you find them, interact with them and then talk to Sir Ansbach for some additional knowledge.

Whether you get the extra lore or not, once you introduce yourself to Sir Ansbach, you can continue through the main story until the large rune outside Shadow Keep breaks.

I’m sending Sir Ansbach to Shadow Keep

A map showing the location of Sir Ansbach in Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree

When you get close to the Shadow Keep dungeon Scadu Atlusyou will receive a message that the major rune is broken. This should happen – you haven’t done anything wrong – and will promote all the various NPC missions around the world, including Ansbach’s.

Return to Ansbach and talk to him until he starts repeating himself. If you rest, he will disappear. You’ll meet Sir Ansbach again in Shadow Keep, on the first floor of the Sample repository area.

To reach Ansbach’s research corner, go forward from the Warehouse, site of grace on the first floor, past the big beast, left up the stairs and then hang right along the first bookshelf. You find him reading in the corner of a small room. Perform his dialogue again before continuing your journey through the warehouse.

Where can you find the Secret Rite Scroll?

A map showing the location of the Secret Rite Scroll in Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree

A Tarnished finds a staircase in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree

To advance Sir Ansbach’s quest, you must first complete the Secret Rite Scroll. Luckily, you’re already in the right place to find it: the Shadow Keep Specimen Storehouse. Go to the Warehouse, fourth floor Site of Grace.

From the place of mercy, turn left and follow the path past the burning boats and enemies. Take the next staircase up and go forward. On your left you will find a staircase leading down, away from the main path. Take these stairs and take out the enemies on the landing below. Enter the nearby doorway to find one small research library.

A Tarnished collects a Secret Rite Scroll in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree

Head towards the edge, but be careful not to fall. To your right, on a table, you will see a purple column of light. Interact with it to get the Secret Rite Scroll.

Should you give Sir Ansbach the Secret Rite Scroll?

With the Secret Rite Scroll in hand, return to Sir Ansbach on the first floor. Talking to him will give you the option to hand it over. If you do, he will find out that Lord Mohg’s body has been stolen and that Miquella has plans for it.

Complete Ansbach’s dialogue before proceeding to the next step.

How to get Redmane Freyja’s letter from Sir Ansbach

Now it’s time to help Redmane Freyjaanother NPC who has her own quest.

After the large rune is broken, you can talk to Freyja at the Three paths crossroads of grace back in Gravesite Plain to send her to Shadow Keep. You meet Freyja at the seventh floor from the Specimen Storehouse, just behind the place of mercy. She will crouch down near the fireplace, look through some objects and grumble loudly to herself.

A map showing Freyja's location in Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree

A Tarnished speaks with Freyja in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree

If you talk to her, she’ll tell you she’s busy and then complain that she didn’t talk to Ansbach when she had the chance. Travel back to the first floor and tell Ansbach about Freyja’s frustrations. Do his dialogue and then go back to rest. Return to Ansbach and he will hand you a letter intended for Freyja. (If he doesn’t give you the letter after you sleep, talk to Freyja again before talking to Ansbach).

Take the letter to Freyja to continue her quest, then talk to her until you exhaust her dialogue. She will give you the Golden Lion Shield for your problems. Then return to Ansbach to tell him about Freyja’s response to his letter.

Defending Ansbach against Leda

A Tarnished interacts with a summon icon in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree

Once you’ve done all of Ansbach’s quests in Shadow Keep, go visit Leda at the Grace’s Highroad Cross site, outside Ensis Castle. Talk to her a few times and eventually she will reveal that it is time to hunt for our friend Ansbach. Once she asks for your help, the quest will get moving, so head back to Ansbach’s hideout in Shadow Keep.

When you arrive, Ansbach won’t be there. Instead you will find one red call marker and a gold call marker.

A Tarnished defends Sir Ansbach against Leda in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree

If you want to see the end of Ansbach’s quest, go past the red summon maker and interact with the golden one — “assist Mr. Ansbach.” This will teleport you to an arena in the Specimen Storehouse. Ansbach will be with you and Leda will appear as an intruder. Work with Ansbach to defeat her.

Once you return to your own world, Sir Ansbach will still be missing, but you will receive Ansbach’s longbow And Leda’s Rune (worth 40,000 runes).

How do you complete Sir Ansbach’s quest?

With Leda defeated and Ansbach defended, you have completed most of the missable steps in the Ansbach mission.

Now all you have to do is continue the story to the end, where you’ll meet many of the game’s NPCs – including Ansbach – before Shadow of the Erdtree‘s final boss.

Looking for more Shadow of the Erdtree Guides? View our manuals at Elden Ring DLC armor, weapons, map fragments, places of mercy, bosses, and the Count Ymir and Hornsent Grandam quests.