Needle Knight Leda Quest and Location | Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree｜Game8 (2024)

Needle Knight Leda is an NPC in the Elden Ring DLC, Shadow of the Erdtree, initially found in Mohgwyn Palace. Read on to learn more about Needle Knight Leda's questline walkthrough, location, armor and weapon drops, and lore!

Needle Knight Leda Quest Walkthrough

Talk to Leda by the Cocoon of the Empyrean

After defeating Mohg, Lord of Blood and refreshing the area (by fast traveling away and returning), you will find Needle Knight Lena in front of the Cocoon of the Empyrean.

Talk to her and she will tell you to touch the withered arm in front of you to be transported to the realm of shadow, starting your journey through the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC.

Can Be Summoned for the Rellana Fight

Leda can be found next as a gold summon sign before the fight against Rellana. This interaction is optional and Leda's questline will progress even if you decide not to seek her help in this fight.

Speak With Leda by the Highroad Cross

You will reach the Scadu Altus area after defeating Rellana and exiting the castle. Follow the road north and you will soon find the the Highroad Cross along with Leda.

Talk to her again and exhaust her dialogue to progress the questline. You can even ask her about the Hornsent nearby who will give you another map of crosses if you talked to him at the Three-Point Cross site of grace.

Approach the Shadow Keep to Break Miquella's Charm

Keep following the road north until you reach the Shadow Keep. As you get closer to its gates, a message will appear on your screen saying:

"Somewhere a great rune has broken. And so too, a powerful charm."

This "charm" likely belongs to Miquella, as it adds new dialogue lines to most of the DLC NPCs, especially his followers. This could also progress the questlines of the affected NPCs.

Talk to Leda and Decide Who to Investigate

Return to the Highroad Cross and talk to Leda again. She will tell you that she's starting to doubt the devotion of Miquella's followers and ask you who you think is to be investigated.

You can respond with any of the three choices: Thiollier, the Hornsent, or no one. Regardless of your choice, Leda will still go after the Hornsent.

Now, rest at the site of grace and talk to Leda again to learn about her next move. This step is necessary to trigger the next interaction with both Leda and the Hornsent.

Additional Dialogue With the Hornsent

You can speak with the Hornsent for additional dialogue. After exhausting his dialogue and resting again at the site of grace, you will notice that the Hornsent is nowhere nearby.

Talk to Leda when this happens and she will tell you that she will hunt the Hornsent down, and you will find both of them next in the Shadow Keep.

Assist Leda or the Hornsent

Return to the Shadow Keep by fast travelling to the Storeroom, First Floor site of grace. Take the lift and head to the room at the bottom left of the Shadow Keep icon on the map and you will find two summoning signs.

Choosing the Red Summon Sign (Assist Leda)

Answering the red summon sign means progressing Leda's questline and assisting her against the Hornsent. Successfully defeating Leda's enemy locks you out of having the Hornsent's summon sign against Messmer.

Winning this fight rewards you with the Hornsent's armor set and the Falx curved sword. You can also return to the Highroad Cross afterwards and receive the Lacerating Crossed-Tree talisman from Leda.

This will also end the Hornsent's questline.

Choosing the Gold Summon Sign (Assist the Hornsent)

Siding with the Hornsent by answering the gold summon sign starts a fight against Leda. After winning, Leda will no longer be found at the Highroad Cross afterwards.

This route rewards you with the Swift Slash ash of war and Leda's Rune. The Hornsent will also be available as a gold summon sign to assist you against the Messmer boss fight.

We are currently investigating if this choice actually ends Leda's questline.

Progress Sir Ansbach's Questline

For the next step, you'll have to progress Sir Ansbach's questline until he appears in the library area of the Shadow Keep's Storeroom, First Floor (Specimen Storehouse). Exhaust his dialogue to continue both his and Leda's story.

Assist Leda or Sir Ansbach

Speak with Leda at the Highroad Cross again and she will tell you that he will go after Sir Ansbach next. Return to the library where you previously found Sir Ansbach to find two more summon signs—Leda's and Ansbach's.

Take note that these signs will only appear if you assisted Leda against the Hornsent. Regardless of whose side you choose, Leda's questline will continue.

Choosing the Red Summon Sign (Assist Leda)

The red summon sign will still be Leda's call in this fight and answering it will make you hostile to Sir Ansbach. Defeat him to obtain Sir Ansbach's armor set and Ansbach's Longbow.

Return to the Highroad Cross afterwards to receive the Retaliatory Crossed-Tree talisman from Leda. She will then move away from this area and tell you to "go to Miquella".

You will need to continue the DLC's story until you burn the Sealing Tree for the next interaction.

Choosing the Gold Summon Sign (Assist Sir Ansbach)

Answer to Sir Ansbach and the Leda will oppose you as an invader. This is where you will get the Swift Slash ash of war and Leda's Rune if you chose not to fight Leda earlier when she's hunting the Hornsent.

You will also get Ansbach's Longbow for assisting him against Leda.

Fight Leda at Enir-Illim

Progress the DLC's story until you reach Enir-Illim. Once you find the Cleansing Chamber Anteroom site of grace, proceed to the large room ahead to find three summon signs.

You can ask Sir Ansbach and Thiollier's help through the gold signs before starting the fight against Leda and the other followers through the red sign.

Various NPCs Will Appear During This Fight

We are still confirming if there are other conditions for each NPC to take sides.

Defeat Leda's Group to Obtain Her Gear

Defeating Leda and the other hostile NPCs in the Enir-Illim fight allows you to retrieve Leda's Armor and Leda's Sword from her body.

Needle Knight Leda Location

By the Cocoon of the Empyrean

Needle Knight Leda will be first found in front of the Cocoon of the Empyrean after defeating Mohg, Lord of Blood.

Needle Knight Leda Armor and Weapon Drops

Leda's Sword and Armor are only obtainable by winning the final encounter against her and the other Miquella followers at Enir-Illim, while Leda's Rune is rewarded if you side against her in either of the Hornsent's or Ansbach's events.

Elden Ring Related Guides

Shadow of the Erdtree NPCs

All Elden Ring NPCs

Other NPC Guides