Shadow of the Erdtree: Needle Knight Leda quest walkthrough Elden Ring guide, walkthrough

Needle Knight Leda is the first NPC character you will interact with in the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC. On this page, we will give you a detailed description of how to go through the long Quest of the devout follower of Miquella.

Last update: 11 July 2024

Needle Knight Leda is a devout worshiper of Miquella and one of the most important NPCs in the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC. Her story is strongly intertwined with the story of other NPCs in the game. Most of the storylines are tied up in a common climax at the end of the game. On this page, you will learn how to handle Leda's storyline, as well as the potential consequences of your decisions.

• First meeting with Leda
• Where can I find Leda's messages?
• Second meeting with Leda
• Who should I suggest to Leda?
• Who to help during the fight in the Shadow Keep?
• Who to help in the fight between Leda and Sir Ansbach?
• Confrontation in the Cleansing Chamber

First meeting with Leda

Needle Knight Leda will be the first heroine of the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC, which you will encounter in the game. After defeating Mohg in the Mohgwyn Palace and resting at the Site of Grace in the boss arena, a figure dressed in neat armor will appear next to the giant cocoon. This is Leda, who will instruct you to touch the hand sticking out of the cocoon and go on a journey to the Realm of Shadow. She'll also announce that your paths will cross again in the future.

Where can I find Leda's messages?

Before you meet the knight again, the heroine will communicate with you indirectly, through the messages she leaves behind. The first note of this kind can be found at the end of the Belurat dungeon within the Gravesite Plain.

After defeating the boss of this location, the Dancing Lion, use the newly opened elevator. One floor up, go to the top of the stairs, where you'll find a note on the right saying that Leda has gone east.

The next message is located in Castle Ensis, located between the regions. In its central part you will find the Site of Grace: Castle Ensis Checkpoint. Right next to it, there is a Miquella's Cross and the note we are interested in. You will also learn from it that the knight went to the Shadow Keep - a location in the central part of the map.

During the fight against the final boss of Castle Ensis, Rellana, you will be able to summon Leda's spirit to help you.

Second meeting with Leda

Your second direct encounter with the Needle Knight will take place shortly after entering Scadu Altus. The NPC will be waiting next to the Site of Grace Highroad Cross, along with another hero - Hornsent. Exhaust the characters' dialogue options and collect the items near them. Follow the main story line towards the Shadow Keep.

As you approach the Keep looming in the distance, information about the breaking of the Great Rune will appear on your screen. This will affect the behavior of most NPCs in the Realm of Shadow and will allow you to push the story further.

Who should I suggest to Leda?

When you return to Leda and Hornsent standing by the road after breaking of the Seal, their behavior will change significantly. Hornsent will express his desire for revenge on Messmer and Leda will begin to doubt the righteous intentions of Miquella's remaining followers.

When a woman asks you who she should take a closer look at, you will have to choose one of three options:

1. Suggest Hornsent;
2. Suggest Thiollier (if you have interacted with him before);
3. Don't suggest anyone.

Regardless of which dialogue option you choose, Leda will still decide to chase Hornsent. However, before you can continue Leda's mission, make sure you have exhausted her dialogue options (to do this, you may need to wait at the Site of Grace).

Who to help during the fight in the Shadow Keep?

While exploring the Shadow Keep (after defeating the Golden Hippopotamus), you will eventually reach the castle walls. At the intersection with the stairs leading from the hippopotamus arena, you will find two summon signs carved on the ground. With their help, you can side with Hornsent or Leda during the fight.

1. By standing by Leda and killing Hornsent, you will lose the opportunity to continue his storyline. In return, however, you will receive the armor and weapons carried by Hornsent. After talking to Leda again (Site of Grace: Highroad Cross), she will give you an additional talisman and she will focus on hunting Ansbach.

1. If you support Hornsent and defeat Leda, you will be able to continue his storyline further down the road. Defeated Leda will drop some runes, as well as Ashes of War: Swift Slash.
2. If you ignore the fight altogether and don't support anyone, both characters' quests will continue. However, Leda will target someone else now: Sir Ansbach.

Who to help in the fight between Leda and Sir Ansbach?

Complete a series of quests for Ansbach until he appears on the second floor of the Specimen Storehouse in the Shadow Keep. Go to the Highroad Cross, where Leda usually resides, and talk to her. Then return to Ansbach's hideout where you will find two summoning stones. Again, you can support either Leda or her opponent in battle.

1. If you support Leda in the fight against Ansbach, his storyline will come to an end. You won't be able to summon him as a combat ally during the last two fights in Enir-Ilim. As a reward for winning the fight, you will receive a full set of Ansbach's armor and his bow. After talking to Leda later, you will be rewarded with a talisman (Retaliatory Crossed-Tree) again.
2. Helping Ansbach will allow you to summon him during combat in Enir-Ilim later. You will also be able to continue his storyline. You'll still get his bow and some runes.

Confrontation in the Cleansing Chamber

Continue the expansion's storyline until you reach the final location of Enir-Ilim. After reaching the Cleansing Chamber, you will face Leda. The Needle Knight will appear there regardless of the choices you made while completing her quests or the quests of any of the other NPCs. However, your decisions will drastically affect who else will appear in the arena.

1. Dryleaf Dane will appear in this encounter no matter what and will ALWAYS be hostile towards you.

Optional NPCs that will stand AGAINST you also include:

1. Hornsent - he will fight against you if you previously helped him defeat Leda in Shadow Keep, but you did not summon him during the fight against Messmer or you did not kill him during the invasion at the Church of the Bud.
2. Moore - will appear in the arena if you previously told him to put it behind him while completing his quest.
3. Freyja - she will fight you if you have completed her quest and given her the letter from Ansbach.

Some of the characters you meet may choose YOUR SIDE. These include:

1. Sir Ansbach - he will help you if you completed his quest (gave him the scroll) and helped him fend off Leda's attack (if it took place).
2. Thiollier - he will fight on your side if you have completed his quest.
3. Sanguine Noble Nataan - he will replace Ansbach if Ansbach does not appear in the Cleansing Chamber (e.g. will die during Leda's invasion).

Depending on your configuration, the difficulty level of this fight can vary significantly. After the battle is over, you will be able to collect the full equipment of all the warriors who participated in it. The fight in the Cleansing Chamber concludes the Needle Knight storyline and most of the NPCs' stories too in the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC.