Hornsent's Quest

Key takeaways

The quest is manageable if the player checks Hornsent's locations whenever the main route advances, but the Shadow Keep choice must be handled deliberately.

• Begin at Three-Path Cross Find Hornsent near the Three-Path Cross Site of Grace in Gravesite Plain and exhaust his dialogue before continuing.
• Return at Highroad Cross After progressing through Castle Ensis, speak with Hornsent again at the Highroad Cross to advance his storyline.
• Choose the Hornsent summon sign When Leda targets Hornsent in Shadow Keep, assist Hornsent if you want his later appearances, Messmer summon and Rauh invasion route.
• The route is missable Advancing too far without resolving the Shadow Keep summon-sign event can remove the intended opportunity to make the choice.
• Rauh contains the main equipment reward On the surviving route, Hornsent's invasion near the Church of the Bud provides his weapon and armor pieces when defeated.

Hornsent's Quest overview

Hornsent's Quest follows Hornsent's search for vengeance against the forces responsible for the destruction of his people. The quest begins in Gravesite Plain and later becomes tied to Needle Knight Leda's decision to eliminate members of Miquella's party.

Hornsent is first encountered near the Three-Path Cross Site of Grace in Gravesite Plain, where he can be spoken to after arriving in the Realm of Shadow. His dialogue establishes his hostility toward the Erdtree and the people associated with it, while also pointing the player toward Miquella's Crosses. Speak to him fully rather than treating the first conversation as a one-line introduction, because later appearances depend on progressing his dialogue and advancing through the early Shadow of the Erdtree route.

The quest develops after the player progresses through Castle Ensis and reaches the vicinity of Shadow Keep. Hornsent can then be found at the Highroad Cross, where his conversation reflects the growing conflict among Miquella's followers. This stage is easy to overlook because several NPCs occupy the same general route and the relevant progression is connected to area advancement rather than a conventional quest marker.

The decisive part of Hornsent's Quest occurs inside Shadow Keep after Needle Knight Leda turns her attention toward him. Two summon signs present a choice: help Hornsent resist Leda, or help Leda hunt Hornsent. Assisting Hornsent preserves his route and allows him to appear in later encounters, while siding with Leda ends his active path and changes the available rewards. This decision should be made before leaving the area, because it is the quest's principal branch.

On Hornsent's surviving route, the player can encounter him around the Storehouse and summon him against Messmer the Impaler. After that confrontation, Hornsent's story moves to the Ancient Ruins of Rauh, where he becomes an invader near the Church of the Bud. Defeating him there awards his distinctive equipment, whereas allowing the quest to progress without resolving that invasion can lead to a later confrontation connected to Leda's followers. The quest therefore matters both for its character outcome and for access to Hornsent's weapon and armor.

Where this sits

Requirements

The quest has no known character-level requirement, but it requires access to the relevant Shadow of the Erdtree areas and careful timing around Shadow Keep.

• RequiredAccess to the Realm of ShadowHornsent's Quest takes place in Shadow of the Erdtree and cannot be started in the base game's regions.
• RequiredReach Gravesite PlainHornsent's opening conversation is near the Three-Path Cross Site of Grace.
• RequiredProgress through Castle EnsisThe Highroad Cross stage becomes relevant after the early route advances beyond Castle Ensis.
• RequiredReach Shadow KeepThe branch involving Needle Knight Leda and Hornsent occurs inside Shadow Keep.
• RecommendedReturn to NPC locations after progressionHornsent does not use a permanent quest marker, so revisit the listed Sites of Grace and nearby areas after major events.

Objectives

1. Meet Hornsent near the Three-Path Cross Site of Grace.Begin the character's dialogue and establish his route through Gravesite Plain.
2. Speak with Hornsent at the Highroad Cross.Return after progressing through Castle Ensis and continue his dialogue.
3. Resolve the Shadow Keep summon-sign choice.Choose whether to aid Hornsent against Needle Knight Leda or aid Leda against Hornsent.
4. Summon Hornsent for Messmer the Impaler.This is an optional combat appearance available on the route where Hornsent is protected.Optional
5. Resolve Hornsent's later appearance in the Ancient Ruins of Rauh.On his surviving route, locate and defeat his invasion near the Church of the Bud.

WalkthroughSpoilers

1. 01

   Start Hornsent's Quest and learn about his search for vengeance.

   Find Hornsent at Three-Path Cross

   Travel through Gravesite Plain to the Three-Path Cross Site of Grace and look for Hornsent nearby. Speak to him repeatedly until his available dialogue is exhausted; stopping after the first exchange can leave the opening stage incomplete.

   Location: Three-Path Cross, Gravesite Plain

   TipRest at the Site of Grace after the conversation if Hornsent does not immediately respond to a later progression change.

   Watch outDo not assume the quest is active merely because Hornsent has been seen; complete the conversation before moving on.

2. 02

   Advance the world state far enough for Hornsent's next appearance.

   Advance through Castle Ensis

   Continue along the main route through Castle Ensis and emerge into the region beyond it. This progression is used to move Hornsent to his next conversation point, so revisit the NPC route rather than searching only around his opening location.

   Location: Castle Ensis and the route beyond it

   TipKeep track of the Highroad Cross Site of Grace as the next intended stop.

   Watch outLeaving Hornsent's opening dialogue unfinished can make the next stage difficult to identify.

3. 03

   Continue Hornsent's dialogue and prepare the Shadow Keep branch.

   Speak with Hornsent at Highroad Cross

   After Castle Ensis, travel to the Highroad Cross and speak with Hornsent there. Exhaust his dialogue again before entering the later stages of the expansion, because this conversation connects his personal objective to the gathering conflict among Miquella's followers.

   Location: Highroad Cross

   TipCheck the nearby NPCs separately; Hornsent's conversation is part of a wider group of character updates at the crossroad.

   Watch outThe quest's later branch is tied to progression in Shadow Keep, so do not rush past that area without checking for summon signs.

4. 04

   Open the branch that determines Hornsent's fate.

   Reach Shadow Keep and trigger Leda's target choice

   Progress into Shadow Keep until Needle Knight Leda decides to target Hornsent. In the relevant interior area, locate the two summon signs associated with the conflict and read their descriptions before activating one.

   Location: Shadow Keep, Storehouse area

   TipIf you want Hornsent's later route, identify his sign before interacting with Leda's sign.

   Watch outThis is the major missable decision. Choosing Leda's side ends Hornsent's active route and prevents the later Hornsent appearances on the opposing path.

5. 05

   Preserve Hornsent's questline and unlock his later appearances.

   Assist Hornsent against Needle Knight Leda

   Select the summon sign that allows you to aid Hornsent in the fight against Needle Knight Leda. The battle takes place as an allied summon encounter rather than a normal field fight; focus on surviving the transition into the arena and support Hornsent while Leda is pressured.

   Location: Shadow Keep, Storehouse

   TipUse the space around the encounter to avoid being isolated by Leda, then punish her recovery windows instead of trading continuously.

   Watch outSelecting Leda's summon sign is a different quest branch and changes the rewards and later character encounters.

6. 06

   Advance Hornsent's surviving route after the Leda conflict.

   Revisit Hornsent in the Storehouse

   After resolving the Shadow Keep branch, search the Storehouse for Hornsent and speak with him again. His position is associated with the Storehouse progression, so check the relevant floors and Sites of Grace if he is not visible immediately.

   Location: Shadow Keep Storehouse

   TipRest and reload the area if an NPC is not present after the branch has been completed.

   Watch outDo not leave the area permanently assuming the branch has no follow-up; Hornsent's later dialogue is easy to miss among the Storehouse's vertical routes.

7. 07

   Use Hornsent's optional assistance in the Messmer encounter.

   Summon Hornsent for Messmer the Impaler

   At the approach to Messmer the Impaler's boss encounter, look for Hornsent's summon sign if you protected him in Shadow Keep. Activating it brings him into the battle as an ally; the summon is optional, so the quest can continue without using it, but the opportunity is part of Hornsent's route.

   Location: Messmer the Impaler's boss approach, Shadow Keep

   TipIf you are struggling with the boss, an NPC summon can help divide attention, but additional allied presence can affect the fight's overall scaling or pacing.

   Watch outThe summon sign is tied to the earlier Shadow Keep choice and is not available on Leda's branch.

8. 08

   Trigger Hornsent's invasion and final equipment encounter.

   Travel to the Church of the Bud in Ancient Ruins of Rauh

   Continue through the expansion until reaching the Ancient Ruins of Rauh and the Church of the Bud area. On Hornsent's surviving route, his invasion occurs near the Church of the Bud, so search around the approach and nearby Site of Grace rather than expecting him inside the main boss arena.

   Location: Ancient Ruins of Rauh, near the Church of the Bud

   TipPrepare before crossing the invasion trigger: the surrounding terrain can restrict movement and make healing dangerous.

   Watch outEntering the later endgame stages without resolving this appearance can move the quest toward a different confrontation and may change which equipment can be collected.

9. 09

   Resolve Hornsent's surviving quest route and collect the equipment he drops.

   Defeat Hornsent's invasion

   Fight Hornsent when he invades near the Church of the Bud. Maintain enough distance to identify his aggressive approach, punish the end of his attack strings, and avoid spending all healing before the surrounding area is secure.

   Location: Church of the Bud approach, Ancient Ruins of Rauh

   TipCreate room before healing; the invasion's danger comes from being pressured while navigating the area's obstacles.

   Watch outThis encounter is the principal opportunity to obtain Hornsent's distinctive weapon and armor through the surviving route.

10. 10

    Claim the route-specific equipment reward.

    Check the post-quest reward drop

    After Hornsent is defeated, collect the items left at the invasion site and verify them in the inventory. The reward includes Falx and Hornsent's equipment, giving the player a curved sword associated with the character and armor pieces tied to his appearance.

    Location: Hornsent's invasion site near the Church of the Bud

    TipPick up the drops before moving on so they are not overlooked during the surrounding Rauh progression.

    Watch outThe exact reward route depends on the earlier Shadow Keep decision and on whether Hornsent was resolved before the later Leda-related events.

Mission mechanics

Hornsent's Quest is driven by world-state progression rather than a visible objective chain. The practical routine is to exhaust Hornsent's dialogue, advance through the next major area, then revisit the NPC's known location. Sites of Grace are useful reset points: resting or reloading can make an NPC appear after the associated event has been triggered.

The Shadow Keep branch is a summon-sign event, not a conventional dialogue choice. The player is choosing which side to enter as an ally, so the signs should be read carefully before activation. Helping Hornsent preserves his route; helping Needle Knight Leda treats Hornsent as the target and closes the later Hornsent sequence.

Hornsent's Messmer appearance is an optional summon rather than a requirement to win the boss fight. It is valuable for players who want another allied combatant or who want to see the character's role in the confrontation, but the quest's branch was decided earlier in Shadow Keep.

The Rauh stage changes the quest from an allied NPC storyline into a hostile invasion. This encounter is also the clearest equipment checkpoint: defeating Hornsent there allows the player to collect Falx and his associated equipment. Because later expansion progression can alter NPC availability, resolving the invasion when it appears is safer than postponing it.

What works and what does not

PhasesSpoilers

1. 1

   Shadow Keep summon encounter

   Starts: Interact with either summon sign when Needle Knight Leda targets Hornsent.

   The player enters the conflict as an ally of either Hornsent or Leda. The encounter's main mechanic is allegiance: the selected sign determines which character remains on the active route.

   • Hornsent's aggressive pressureTell Hornsent advances directly and uses his close-range weapon attacks when engaged.Answer Support him by drawing Leda's attention when needed, then punish Leda after her attack sequence ends.
   • Needle Knight Leda's pursuitTell Leda focuses on her chosen target and can rapidly close distance across the encounter space.Answer Avoid prolonged trades and attack during her recovery rather than standing between both combatants.
   • Read both summon signs before choosing.
   • The encounter is not just a combat challenge; it permanently determines the quest branch.
   • If the goal is Hornsent's equipment and later appearances, enter through Hornsent's sign.
2. 2

   Messmer the Impaler support encounter

   Starts: Use Hornsent's summon sign at the approach to Messmer the Impaler after preserving Hornsent in Shadow Keep.

   Hornsent appears as an optional allied summon during the boss fight. His presence can split the boss's attention, giving the player opportunities to heal, reposition or attack from another angle.

   • Messmer's boss attacksTell Messmer's attack patterns are telegraphed through his weapon and flame-based animations.Answer Use the arena's space, avoid committing during his long sequences and attack after his recovery windows.
   • The summon is optional and is not required to progress the quest.
   • Summoning before entering the fog gate is the relevant action; the sign will not be available on Leda's branch.
3. 3

   Church of the Bud invasion

   Starts: Reach the Church of the Bud area in the Ancient Ruins of Rauh on Hornsent's surviving route.

   Hornsent becomes hostile and invades near the Church of the Bud. This is a single hostile NPC encounter whose completion resolves the route and makes his equipment available.

   • Hornsent's close-range assaultTell He presses the player at short range and attempts to maintain attack momentum.Answer Create space around the terrain, wait for the end of his string and heal only after securing distance.
   • Clear your immediate route and prepare healing before triggering the invasion.
   • Collect the dropped items after victory before continuing deeper into Rauh.

Choices and consequencesSpoilers

• Assist Hornsent against Needle Knight Leda in Shadow Keep.

  Hornsent survives this branch, can appear in the Storehouse aftermath, can be summoned for Messmer the Impaler and can later invade near the Church of the Bud in the Ancient Ruins of Rauh. His equipment becomes obtainable through that route.

  Spoiler
• Assist Needle Knight Leda against Hornsent in Shadow Keep.

  Hornsent's active quest route ends at the Shadow Keep conflict. The later Hornsent summon and Rauh invasion route are not available in the same way, while Leda's storyline proceeds along the opposing path.

  Spoiler
• Do not summon Hornsent for Messmer the Impaler.

  The boss fight proceeds without Hornsent as an ally. This does not by itself cancel the surviving quest route, provided the Shadow Keep choice protected Hornsent.

Checklist

• Speak with Hornsent at Three-Path Cross.Exhaust his opening dialogue before advancing.
• Progress through Castle Ensis.This enables the next stage of the route.
• Speak with Hornsent at Highroad Cross.Check the crossroad after the Castle Ensis progression.
• Reach the Shadow Keep summon-sign event.Look for the conflict involving Needle Knight Leda and Hornsent.
• Choose Hornsent's summon sign if preserving his quest.This is the decisive branch.
• Search the Storehouse for Hornsent afterward.Reload the area if necessary and exhaust his new dialogue.
• Check for Hornsent's summon sign at Messmer the Impaler.Optional combat assistance.Optional
• Reach the Church of the Bud in the Ancient Ruins of Rauh.Search the approach for Hornsent's invasion.
• Defeat Hornsent's invasion.This is the main surviving-route equipment encounter.
• Collect Falx and Hornsent's equipment.Confirm the drops before leaving the area.

Collectibles and secretsSpoilers

• 01
  Falx

  Where: Hornsent's invasion site near the Church of the Bud in the Ancient Ruins of Rauh

  A curved sword associated with Hornsent. It is obtained from the surviving Hornsent route after defeating his invasion.

  Missable
• 02
  Hornsent's equipment

  Where: Hornsent's invasion site near the Church of the Bud

  Hornsent's distinctive armor equipment is awarded through the invasion route and should be collected after the fight.

  Missable

Failure conditionsSpoilers

• Choose Needle Knight Leda's summon sign in Shadow KeepThis selects Leda's branch against Hornsent and closes the later Hornsent route, including the normal surviving-route sequence.
• Advance past the Shadow Keep branch without resolving itThe summon-sign decision is time-sensitive. Progressing too far can remove the opportunity to choose Hornsent's side.
• Fail to revisit Hornsent after major area progressionThe quest does not consistently direct the player to each new location, so skipped dialogue can make the sequence appear stalled.
• Leave the Rauh invasion unresolved while continuing late-game progressionLater character events can change the available encounter and may prevent the expected invasion reward route.

RewardsSpoilers

• Falx
  Hornsent's curved sword, obtained by defeating Hornsent during the surviving invasion route near the Church of the Bud.
• Hornsent's equipment
  Hornsent's distinctive armor pieces, obtained from the same invasion resolution and useful for players who want to reproduce his appearance.
• Hornsent as a Messmer ally
  An optional NPC summon opportunity rather than a permanent inventory item; it is available when the player protects Hornsent in Shadow Keep.

Characters in this mission

• Messmer the ImpalerThe major boss for whom Hornsent can provide optional assistance.

AftermathSpoilers

Trivia

• Hornsent's storyline is one of the expansion's clearest examples of a quest being advanced through summon signs rather than a standard dialogue-only decision.
• The quest moves through three distinct types of interaction: non-hostile NPC conversations at crossroads, an allied summon conflict in Shadow Keep and a hostile invasion in the Ancient Ruins of Rauh.
• Hornsent's equipment reward is tied to the character's combat resolution, so the quest functions both as a narrative branch and as an equipment-collection route.

Relationships