Moore's Quest

Key takeaways

Use these points to avoid the most common ways of interrupting Moore's Quest.

• Start at Main Gate Cross Find Moore near the Main Gate Cross Site of Grace in the Gravesite Plain and exhaust his dialogue before leaving the area.
• Do not attack the Forager Brood The Forager Brood are tied to Moore's quest and can provide Cookbook rewards. Treat them as friendly quest targets rather than enemies.
• Return after the Great Rune breaks The breaking of Miquella's Great Rune triggers a new conversation with Moore. His response determines the quest's later direction.
• The quest is missable Major progression through the Realm of Shadow can alter or end NPC questlines, so complete Moore's conversations before pushing toward the expansion's final areas.
• The choice is thematic and practical Moore's dialogue choice decides whether he moves forward with Miquella's followers or remains overwhelmed by grief, leading to different later encounters.

Moore's Quest overview

Moore's Quest follows Moore, a merchant associated with the followers of Miquella, and his concern for the gentle Forager Brood in the Realm of Shadow.

Moore's Quest begins when the Tarnished encounters Moore near the Main Gate Cross Site of Grace in the Gravesite Plain. He is identifiable by his large pack and merchant role, and he can provide useful supplies during the early Shadow of the Erdtree journey. Speaking with him more than once is important because his initial dialogue establishes both his loyalty to Miquella and his attachment to the Forager Brood.

The quest's central activity is finding Forager Brood members scattered through the Realm of Shadow. These creatures are not ordinary hostile scavengers: they are associated with the merchants and can provide Cookbook rewards when approached correctly. The quest therefore rewards exploration and restraint rather than simply clearing every creature in an area.

A major progression point occurs when Miquella's Great Rune breaks. This world event changes the situation for Miquella's followers, including Moore, and prompts a conversation about how he should respond to his grief and confusion. The choice made in that conversation determines Moore's later role and changes how the quest concludes.

Moore's Quest is easy to overlook because it is interwoven with expansion-wide exploration rather than presented as a long chain of marked objectives. It is also vulnerable to progression changes: advancing too far through the expansion, killing relevant non-hostile characters, or ignoring Moore's post-event dialogue can prevent the intended sequence. Players seeking the most complete outcome should speak with Moore whenever his dialogue changes and avoid attacking the Forager Brood.

Where this sits

Requirements

The quest requires access to Shadow of the Erdtree and careful attention to NPC dialogue and world-state changes.

• RequiredShadow of the Erdtree accessMoore's Quest takes place in the Realm of Shadow and is unavailable in the base game's regions.
• RequiredReach the Gravesite PlainTravel far enough into the expansion to reach the Main Gate Cross Site of Grace, where Moore first appears.
• RequiredSpeak with MooreExhaust his available dialogue at each stage instead of treating him only as a shopkeeper.
• RecommendedKeep the Forager Brood aliveDo not attack the peaceful creatures connected to Moore while searching the Realm of Shadow.
• RequiredReturn after the Great Rune eventRevisit Moore after Miquella's Great Rune breaks to receive the decision dialogue that advances his story.

Objectives

1. Talk to Moore at Main Gate CrossEstablish the quest and exhaust his current dialogue.
2. Locate the Forager BroodFind the friendly brood members encountered during Realm of Shadow exploration and interact with them safely.
3. Revisit Moore after Miquella's Great Rune breaksThe changed world state unlocks the conversation that defines Moore's future.
4. Choose Moore's responseDecide whether Moore should put his grief behind him or remain sad forever.
5. Follow the resulting quest pathContinue exploring and respond to the later NPC encounter associated with the selected choice.

WalkthroughSpoilers

1. 01

   Speak with Moore

   Find Moore at Main Gate Cross

   In the Gravesite Plain, travel to the Main Gate Cross Site of Grace and look for Moore close to the cross and Miquella's followers. Speak with him until his dialogue repeats; this both introduces his merchant inventory and confirms that the quest has started.

   Location: Main Gate Cross Site of Grace, Gravesite Plain

   TipRest at the Site of Grace and speak to Moore again if a single conversation does not exhaust all available lines.

   Watch outLeaving the area without exhausting Moore's dialogue makes it easier to miss the Forager Brood instruction and later changes.

2. 02

   Find and interact with Forager Brood members

   Search for the Forager Brood

   Explore the routes branching away from Main Gate Cross and watch for the Forager Brood in open areas and around the early Realm of Shadow paths. Approach rather than attack; interacting with the brood is what advances Moore's related rewards and information.

   Location: Various locations in the Realm of Shadow

   TipIf a Forager Brood member is present near a path, lower your weapon and check for an interaction prompt before clearing nearby wildlife.

   Watch outKilling a Forager Brood member can remove the associated interaction and may prevent the intended reward or progression for that part of the quest.

3. 03

   Check Moore's updated dialogue

   Return to Moore during early exploration

   After meeting the brood or advancing through nearby expansion content, return to Main Gate Cross and check Moore's dialogue again. NPC dialogue in Elden Ring often changes after an apparently unrelated discovery, so a repeated visit is safer than assuming the quest is complete.

   Location: Main Gate Cross Site of Grace

   TipUse the Site of Grace as a quick checkpoint for revisiting Moore whenever a major map or NPC event occurs.

   Watch outDo not assume that buying from Moore is enough; the quest state is advanced through conversation.

4. 04

   Reach the event in which Miquella's Great Rune breaks

   Trigger the Great Rune change

   Continue the Shadow of the Erdtree story until Miquella's Great Rune breaks. This is a major world-state event and changes the attitudes of Miquella's followers, including Moore.

   Location: Realm of Shadow, during the expansion's main progression

   TipBefore advancing into late expansion areas, revisit Moore and other members of Miquella's group so their pre-event dialogue is not skipped.

   Watch outThe event can move several NPC questlines forward at once. Make the earlier Moore and Forager Brood interactions before reaching it if you want the complete sequence.

5. 05

   Reach Moore's decision dialogue

   Ask Moore what he should do

   After the Great Rune breaks, return to Moore and speak through his new dialogue. He asks for direction because the loss of Miquella's charm leaves him uncertain about how to continue.

   Location: Moore's post-event location near the Miquella-followers' gathering area

   TipIf Moore offers only old dialogue, rest at a Site of Grace, reload the area, and speak with him again before moving farther into the story.

   Watch outThis is the quest's main branching conversation; do not select an answer casually if you want a specific ending for Moore.

6. 06

   Select the forward-looking response

   Choose “Put it behind you”

   Telling Moore to put his grief behind him sends him toward the path of Miquella's followers. This keeps him aligned with the group and leads to a later appearance in the expansion's faction conflict.

   TipChoose this route if you want Moore to remain associated with the followers rather than resolving the quest through an invasion.

   Watch outThe response commits Moore to a different later outcome from the “Remain sad forever” choice.

7. 07

   Select the grief-bound response

   Choose “Remain sad forever”

   Telling Moore to remain sad forever leaves him consumed by grief and leads to a hostile later encounter instead of the follower-aligned outcome. Prepare for a fight if you select this branch and continue through the relevant area.

   TipThis route is the direct option for obtaining Moore's combat rewards through his later hostile encounter.

   Watch outSelecting this response prevents the alternative follower-side appearance and its associated role in the later battle.

8. 08

   Resolve Moore's branch

   Complete Moore's chosen path

   Continue the expansion until the quest's branch resolves. On the grief-bound route, Moore becomes an invader; on the forward-looking route, he remains connected to the followers and can appear in the later conflict involving Needle Knight Leda.

   Location: Later Realm of Shadow progression

   TipIf pursuing the invasion route, keep enough healing and stamina-management resources for a human-sized NPC fight rather than a conventional boss encounter.

   Watch outAdvancing beyond the relevant late-game events can end the opportunity to encounter Moore in his branch-specific role.

Mission mechanics

Moore's Quest is governed primarily by dialogue flags and world-state progression. The important checks are not conventional quest items or a visible objective counter: speaking with Moore, interacting with the Forager Brood, and returning after Miquella's Great Rune breaks are the actions that establish the quest's state.

The Forager Brood encounters test the player's assumptions about the Realm of Shadow. Their appearance near dangerous routes can make them look like ordinary environmental targets, but they are tied to Moore's story and should be approached peacefully. The safest procedure is to identify the creature before attacking, interact if possible, and only then continue along the route.

The Great Rune event functions as the branch trigger. Moore's post-event question is not a cosmetic dialogue choice; it determines whether his story follows the followers into their later confrontation or turns him into a hostile encounter. Make a manual decision before selecting an answer, because the two outcomes serve different completion goals.

The quest also illustrates why Elden Ring NPC quests should be checked at Sites of Grace. A character can retain a shop function while holding new quest dialogue, and a changed world state may not be obvious until the player reloads the area. Returning to Moore after major story events is the reliable way to detect the next stage.

What works and what does not

Moore branch phasesSpoilers

1. 1

   Merchant and quest-giver phase

   Starts: First meeting at Main Gate Cross

   Moore is non-hostile and functions as a merchant while introducing the Forager Brood connection.

   • Do not attack Moore while establishing the quest.
   • Exhaust dialogue before leaving the Site of Grace.
2. 2

   Post-Great Rune decision phase

   Starts: Miquella's Great Rune breaks and Moore is revisited

   Moore asks the Tarnished how he should respond to the loss of Miquella's charm.

   • Reload the area if the new dialogue does not appear immediately.
   • Choose the response based on whether you want a faction appearance or a later invasion.
3. 3

   Hostile invasion phase

   Starts: The “Remain sad forever” branch is selected and the later invasion state is reached

   Moore becomes a hostile NPC invader. The encounter is a human-sized duel rather than a conventional arena boss.

   • Moore's heavy weapon attacksTell Watch for deliberate, committed swings and avoid trading directly when stamina is low.Answer Use spacing, punish recovery windows, and do not remain in front of him after a missed swing.
   • Defensive equipment and pressureTell Moore's equipment allows him to withstand casual punishment and continue advancing.Answer Use short attack strings, status or elemental options available to the build, and heal only after creating distance.
   • Treat the fight as an NPC invasion and keep the surrounding terrain in mind.
   • Do not assume that a stagger or one successful punish makes the encounter safe; reset spacing before attacking again.
4. 4

   Follower conflict phase

   Starts: The forward-looking branch is selected and the late expansion conflict is reached

   Moore remains aligned with Miquella's followers and can take part in the later confrontation associated with Needle Knight Leda.

   • The exact lineup of the confrontation depends on broader NPC quest progression, not Moore's decision alone.
   • Complete other follower conversations before the late-game event if you want the fullest possible allied lineup.

Boss and invasion encounterSpoilers

• Location
  Later Realm of Shadow area on the “Remain sad forever” branch
• Health
  Not specified

Moore's branch encounter is an NPC invasion rather than a named boss with a published health bar or fixed arena strategy. Keep him at the edge of weapon range, bait a committed attack, punish the recovery, and retreat before his next swing. Avoid healing in his immediate reach; create separation around terrain or after a whiff, then heal and re-engage. Exact resistances and a definitive damage-type weakness are not included because they cannot be verified here.

Choices and consequencesSpoilers

• Tell Moore to “Put it behind you.”

  Moore continues with Miquella's followers and can appear in their later conflict, rather than becoming the branch's hostile invader.

  Spoiler
• Tell Moore to “Remain sad forever.”

  Moore remains overwhelmed by grief and later appears as a hostile invader, allowing the player to fight him for his branch-specific rewards.

  Spoiler
• Attack the Forager Brood

  The peaceful creature's interaction and related quest reward can be lost, and Moore's quest may no longer follow the intended progression.

  Spoiler
• Advance through major expansion events without checking Moore

  Changed NPC states can make earlier dialogue or the intended sequence unavailable, which may prevent full quest completion.

  Spoiler

Moore's Quest checklist

• Reach the Main Gate Cross Site of Grace in the Gravesite Plain.
• Speak with Moore until his dialogue repeats.Do this before moving deep into the expansion.
• Identify the Forager Brood before attacking creatures near exploration routes.
• Interact with the Forager Brood members you encounter.Optional
• Return to Moore after major early-expansion discoveries.
• Reach the event where Miquella's Great Rune breaks.
• Reload or rest, then speak with Moore again.The post-event dialogue may require an area reload.
• Decide between “Put it behind you” and “Remain sad forever.”
• Follow Moore's selected branch before entering the expansion's final sequence.This protects the opportunity to see the branch-specific outcome.
• Collect Moore's branch rewards before leaving the resolved encounter.

Quest-related collectibles

• 01
  Forager Brood Cookbook rewards

  Where: Obtained through interactions with Forager Brood members in the Realm of Shadow

  These are Cookbook rewards tied to the peaceful brood encounters. The specific Cookbook entries vary by the brood member and should be collected before treating the quest as complete.

  Missable
• 02
  Moore's equipment

  Where: Associated with Moore's hostile branch and its resolution

  Moore's equipment is obtained through the branch-specific NPC outcome rather than as a standard early merchant purchase.

  Missable

Failure conditionsSpoilers

• Kill a Forager Brood memberThe creature's interaction is lost, which can remove the related Cookbook reward and disrupt Moore's quest.
• Kill Moore before completing his dialogueMoore's quest and merchant services end prematurely, preventing later dialogue and outcomes.
• Miss Moore's post-Great Rune conversationWithout the decision dialogue, the quest cannot be deliberately directed toward the desired branch.
• Advance beyond late expansion quest-state changesNPC questlines can resolve or disappear when the player progresses too far, making Moore's remaining steps unavailable.

Rewards and dropsSpoilers

• Forager Brood Cookbooks
  Cookbook items obtained by interacting with eligible Forager Brood members. They expand the crafting recipes available to the player and are the main exploration rewards tied to the brood portion of the quest.
• Moore's equipment
  Equipment associated with Moore's hostile branch. It is obtained through the later combat outcome rather than simply completing the opening conversation.
• Moore's merchant inventory
  Moore can serve as a merchant near the beginning of the quest, giving the player access to purchasable supplies while he remains available.

AftermathSpoilers

Trivia

• Moore's identity combines two roles that are common in Elden Ring NPC design: he is both a practical merchant and a character whose personal quest is shaped by the expansion's larger faction story.
• The Forager Brood encounters make peaceful interaction mechanically important in an area where the player is frequently encouraged to attack unfamiliar creatures.
• Moore's branch reflects two readings of grief: moving forward with a group or remaining attached to the loss of Miquella's charm.

Relationships