Sir Ansbach's Quest

Key takeaways

The safest route is to speak with Ansbach early, help him when Leda attacks, and finish his Storehouse dialogue before entering the final battle area.

• Start at Main Gate Cross Speak with Sir Ansbach at the Main Gate Cross and exhaust his dialogue before the follower questlines relocate.
• Find the Secret Rite Scroll After Ansbach moves to Shadow Keep, retrieve the Secret Rite Scroll from Storehouse, Fourth Floor, and bring it to him on Storehouse, First Floor.
• Assist rather than invade Choose the gold summon sign to assist Ansbach against Needle Knight Leda. Choosing the red sign to invade and kill Ansbach ends his quest.
• Complete Freyja's exchange After Ansbach learns what Freyja needs, take his letter to Freyja on Storehouse, Seventh Floor to receive the Golden Lion Shield.
• Use Ansbach's final summon If Ansbach survives the Shadow Keep confrontation and his quest is advanced, his gold summon sign appears before the final boss in Enir-Ilim.

Sir Ansbach's Quest

Sir Ansbach's Quest is an optional Shadow of the Erdtree NPC questline involving Sir Ansbach, a former Pureblood Knight who has begun questioning his place in Miquella's pilgrimage.

The quest begins at the Main Gate Cross in the Gravesite Plain, where Sir Ansbach stands near the Site of Grace and speaks about Miquella, the scattered crosses, and the followers gathered around them. Exhaust his dialogue before progressing deep into the expansion. The quest is tied to the wider movement of Miquella's followers, so several characters change location after the protective charm affecting the group is broken.

After the relocation, Sir Ansbach can be found in the Shadow Keep's Storehouse, First Floor. His investigation becomes connected to Freyja's search for information about the Redmane warriors and to Needle Knight Leda's suspicion of Ansbach. The key item for resolving Ansbach and Freyja's exchange is the Secret Rite Scroll, which is found inside the Storehouse rather than purchased from a merchant.

The most important decision occurs in the Shadow Keep when Leda moves against Ansbach. The player can use the gold summon sign to assist Ansbach against Leda or use the red summon sign to invade Ansbach. Helping Ansbach preserves the remainder of his quest and allows him to appear as a summon during the final encounter; killing him ends his storyline and prevents that later assistance.

If his quest is completed, Sir Ansbach joins the player during the climactic battle in Enir-Ilim. His storyline can also be coordinated with Freyja's quest: giving Ansbach the Secret Rite Scroll allows him to prepare information for Freyja, and delivering his letter to her produces her quest reward. The quest is therefore worth starting before the Shadow Keep sequence, especially for players who want Ansbach's summon and the rewards associated with both NPC storylines.

Where this sits

Requirements

No level or equipment requirement is attached to the quest, but its NPC events depend on reaching the relevant areas before advancing past them.

• RequiredAccess to the Shadow RealmThe quest takes place in the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion and begins in Gravesite Plain.
• RequiredVisit Main Gate CrossSpeak with Sir Ansbach at the Site of Grace before his later relocation.
• RequiredReach Shadow KeepThe Storehouse portion cannot be completed until the player reaches Shadow Keep and the follower storyline progresses.
• RequiredKeep Sir Ansbach aliveDo not choose the red summon sign to invade him if you want his later dialogue, rewards, and final-battle summon.
• RequiredReach Storehouse, Fourth FloorThe Secret Rite Scroll is needed for the Ansbach and Freyja exchange.

Objectives

1. Speak with Sir Ansbach at Main Gate CrossBegin the quest by exhausting his available dialogue.
2. Locate Sir Ansbach in Shadow KeepFind him in Storehouse, First Floor after the follower group relocates.
3. Find the Secret Rite ScrollSearch Storehouse, Fourth Floor and take the scroll to Ansbach.
4. Help Sir Ansbach survive Needle Knight Leda's attackSelect the gold summon sign rather than invading Ansbach.
5. Give Ansbach's letter to FreyjaDeliver the letter on Storehouse, Seventh Floor to complete the linked part of the quest.
6. Call on Sir Ansbach in the final battleUse his gold summon sign before the final boss in Enir-Ilim if it is available.

WalkthroughSpoilers

1. 01

   Begin Sir Ansbach's investigation.

   Speak with Sir Ansbach at Main Gate Cross

   Travel to Main Gate Cross in Gravesite Plain and speak with Sir Ansbach beside the Site of Grace. Continue talking until his dialogue repeats; this establishes his interest in Miquella's crosses and ensures that the NPC has registered the meeting before the followers move on.

   Location: Main Gate Cross, Gravesite Plain

   TipRest at the Site of Grace after exhausting his dialogue if you want to confirm that the conversation has advanced before exploring elsewhere.

   Watch outDo not treat the first conversation as optional flavor if you intend to complete the quest; the later NPC sequence is easiest to preserve when Ansbach has been spoken to at his starting location.

   Checkpoint
2. 02

   Find Ansbach after his relocation.

   Advance the follower storyline and return to Ansbach

   Progress through the Shadow Realm until the charm affecting Miquella's followers is broken and the group changes position. Return to the Shadow Keep and search Storehouse, First Floor, where Sir Ansbach continues his investigation.

   Location: Storehouse, First Floor, Shadow Keep

   TipSpeak with Ansbach before rushing through the Storehouse. Exhausting his dialogue gives the context for the Secret Rite Scroll and the problem involving Freyja.

   Watch outThe relocation is progression-sensitive. If you move too far through the expansion without checking the NPCs, you can miss conversations that explain the next step.

   Checkpoint
3. 03

   Learn what Freyja needs before returning to Ansbach.

   Speak with Freyja in the Storehouse

   Reach Storehouse, Seventh Floor and speak with Freyja. She explains that she needs information connected to the history of the followers and asks for help that Ansbach is better placed to provide.

   Location: Storehouse, Seventh Floor, Shadow Keep

   TipIf Freyja does not immediately provide new dialogue, exhaust her lines and revisit her after speaking with Ansbach on the First Floor.

   Watch outDo not leave the Storehouse sequence unfinished after beginning it; the relevant NPC conversations must be completed before the final area is cleared.

4. 04

   Obtain the key item for Ansbach's research.

   Retrieve the Secret Rite Scroll

   Search Storehouse, Fourth Floor for the Secret Rite Scroll. The item is found inside the Storehouse, so check the rooms and book-lined platforms on that floor rather than looking for a purchase or a drop from an enemy.

   Location: Storehouse, Fourth Floor, Shadow Keep

   TipUse the Storehouse Sites of Grace and lifts to control the route between the First, Fourth, and Seventh Floors; the vertical layout makes backtracking easier than trying to memorize every staircase.

   Watch outThe scroll is easy to overlook while climbing toward the upper floors. Do not proceed to the final portion of the expansion until it has been collected if you want the Freyja exchange.

5. 05

   Resolve Ansbach's part of the investigation.

   Give the Secret Rite Scroll to Sir Ansbach

   Return to Storehouse, First Floor and speak with Sir Ansbach while the Secret Rite Scroll is in your inventory. Hand it over, then continue speaking with him until he has finished explaining what the document means and has prepared the information intended for Freyja.

   Location: Storehouse, First Floor, Shadow Keep

   TipAfter selecting the handover option, speak to Ansbach again rather than immediately fast-traveling away; NPC quests frequently require the follow-up dialogue to update the next event.

   Watch outGiving the scroll to the wrong NPC is not the intended progression. If Ansbach offers no handover dialogue, recheck that you have actually picked up the item and exhausted his earlier lines.

   Checkpoint
6. 06

   Prevent Leda from killing Ansbach.

   Choose the gold summon sign to assist Ansbach

   When Needle Knight Leda challenges Ansbach in the Shadow Keep sequence, examine the summon signs and choose the gold sign that lets you assist Ansbach. Enter the encounter through that sign and defeat Leda with Ansbach's aid.

   Location: Shadow Keep, Ansbach's summon-sign encounter

   TipTreat the fight as a two-on-one encounter: draw Leda's attention when Ansbach is pressured, then punish her recovery instead of chasing damage into an active attack.

   Watch outThe red sign is the opposing choice. Invading Ansbach and killing him ends his questline, removes his later final-battle summon, and prevents the remaining Ansbach dialogue.

   Checkpoint
7. 07

   Obtain Ansbach's response for Freyja.

   Return to Ansbach and collect his letter

   After the Leda encounter, revisit Sir Ansbach in the Storehouse and exhaust his dialogue. He provides a letter intended for Freyja, which is the item needed to answer her request on the upper floor.

   Location: Storehouse, First Floor, Shadow Keep

   TipIf Ansbach is not present or has no new dialogue, rest at the Site of Grace and reload the area before assuming the quest has failed.

   Watch outDo not kill Ansbach or advance into the final boss sequence before collecting the letter; the letter is the bridge between his research and Freyja's reward.

8. 08

   Complete the linked Freyja exchange.

   Deliver Ansbach's letter to Freyja

   Take the letter to Freyja on Storehouse, Seventh Floor and speak with her. The letter gives her the information she needs, after which she rewards the player with the Golden Lion Shield.

   Location: Storehouse, Seventh Floor, Shadow Keep

   TipIf Freyja repeats an earlier line, return to Ansbach and exhaust his dialogue once more, then revisit her after resting.

   Watch outFreyja's reward is separate from Ansbach's final-battle rewards. Skipping this delivery can leave the linked NPC step incomplete even if Ansbach's own quest continues.

   Checkpoint
9. 09

   Use Ansbach's assistance in the final battle.

   Reach Enir-Ilim and summon Sir Ansbach

   At the final boss encounter in Enir-Ilim, inspect the available gold summon signs before entering the fog. If Ansbach's quest was preserved and advanced, his sign is available alongside the signs for other allied NPCs; activate it before beginning the fight.

   Location: Enir-Ilim, outside the final boss arena

   TipSummon allied NPCs before crossing the fog wall, and do not assume the sign will appear if the Shadow Keep choice was resolved by killing Ansbach.

   Watch outThis is the final opportunity to use Ansbach as an ally. His sign is not available if you selected the red invasion sign against him or otherwise ended his quest.

   Checkpoint
10. 10

    Claim the quest's concluding rewards.

    Speak with Ansbach after the final battle

    After the final encounter, return to the battlefield and inspect the area for Ansbach's remains and rewards. His storyline reaches its conclusion here, and the associated equipment can be collected after the fight.

    Location: Final boss arena, Enir-Ilim

    TipSearch the arena after the battle before leaving the area; NPC rewards are tied to the character's final presence and are easy to miss when immediately returning to the Site of Grace.

    Watch outThis section contains major story spoilers and should be completed only after deciding whether you want to see Ansbach's conclusion.

    Missable

Mission mechanics

Sir Ansbach's Quest is driven by NPC state changes rather than a conventional quest log. Conversations move from Main Gate Cross to the Shadow Keep Storehouse after the follower group changes, and each new stage is generally activated by exhausting the character's dialogue and then reloading or resting in the area. If a character appears to be repeating an old line, rest at the nearest Site of Grace and speak to the NPC again before progressing.

The Storehouse is a vertical dungeon, and the quest deliberately sends the player between separated floors. Ansbach is on the First Floor, Freyja is on the Seventh Floor, and the Secret Rite Scroll is on the Fourth Floor. The efficient order is to establish both NPC conversations, collect the scroll, return to Ansbach, then carry his letter up to Freyja.

The Leda confrontation is the quest's hard branch point. The gold sign represents assistance for Ansbach, while the red sign represents an invasion against him. The gold choice keeps Ansbach alive and preserves his later role; the red choice is not a harmless alternate route because killing him terminates his remaining quest content.

The final summon is optional but useful for players who want additional support in the last encounter. It is also a story payoff rather than a separate unlock purchased from a merchant: the sign appears because the player protected Ansbach and completed the relevant Storehouse sequence. Check for the sign before entering the fog, since the opportunity is tied to the pre-battle arena.

What works and what does not

PhasesSpoilers

1. 1

   Needle Knight Leda confrontation

   Starts: Interact with the gold summon sign to assist Sir Ansbach, or the red sign to invade him.

   The encounter is the quest's decisive NPC combat branch. The player either fights alongside Ansbach against Leda or fights Ansbach as an invader.

   • Needle Knight Leda's close-range attacksTell Leda closes distance aggressively and commits to short melee strings.Answer Keep enough space to avoid trading into the full string, then attack during her recovery while Ansbach draws her attention.
   • Ansbach's ranged supportTell Ansbach contributes from a safer distance while the player engages the target.Answer Use his pressure to create openings, but intervene when Leda turns on him so he is not overwhelmed.
   • The gold sign is the quest-preserving choice.
   • The red sign is a permanent branch for the purposes of Ansbach's storyline; select it only if you deliberately want to kill him.
   • If the encounter does not immediately update after the fight, rest at the nearby Site of Grace and revisit Ansbach.

Choices and consequencesSpoilers

• Use the gold summon sign to assist Sir Ansbach against Needle Knight Leda.

  Ansbach survives the confrontation, his quest continues, and he can become an ally summon in the final battle. This is the recommended choice for completing the storyline.

  Spoiler
• Use the red summon sign to invade Sir Ansbach.

  The player fights Ansbach directly. Killing him ends his questline, prevents his later final-battle summon, and forfeits the remaining Ansbach dialogue.

  Spoiler
• Give the Secret Rite Scroll to Sir Ansbach, then deliver his letter to Freyja.

  Freyja's linked quest step is completed and the Golden Lion Shield becomes available as her reward.

  Spoiler

Checklist

• Speak with Sir Ansbach at Main Gate Cross.Exhaust his dialogue before advancing the follower storyline.
• Reach Shadow Keep and locate Ansbach in Storehouse, First Floor.Rest and reload the area if his dialogue has not updated.
• Speak with Freyja on Storehouse, Seventh Floor.Learn the information she needs.
• Collect the Secret Rite Scroll from Storehouse, Fourth Floor.Do this before entering the final sequence.
• Give the scroll to Ansbach and exhaust his follow-up dialogue.This produces the information or letter for Freyja.
• Choose the gold sign to assist Ansbach against Leda.Do not select the red invasion sign if you want the full quest.
• Return to Ansbach and collect his letter.Reload the area if necessary.
• Give the letter to Freyja on Storehouse, Seventh Floor.Claim the Golden Lion Shield.
• Check for Ansbach's summon sign in Enir-Ilim.Use it before entering the final boss arena.Optional
• Search the final arena after the battle.Collect Ansbach's concluding rewards.Optional

RewardsSpoilers

• Golden Lion Shield
  A shield obtained from Freyja after receiving Ansbach's letter and delivering it to her on Storehouse, Seventh Floor.
• Ansbach's set
  Sir Ansbach's equipment set, obtainable from the concluding stage of his storyline after the final battle when the quest has been completed.
• Ansbach's Longbow
  A weapon associated with Sir Ansbach's quest and his concluding rewards.
• Obsidian Lamina
  A weapon associated with Sir Ansbach's concluding quest rewards.
• Sir Ansbach as a final-battle summon
  Not an inventory item, but a practical quest reward: Ansbach can assist in the final encounter when the player preserved his storyline and uses his gold summon sign.

Characters in this mission

• Sir AnsbachQuest giver and investigator whose survival determines whether the storyline continues.
• ThiollierAnother follower who can be involved in the late-game allied summon sequence.

AftermathEnding spoilers

Trivia

• Sir Ansbach's storyline is unusual among the follower quests because its central item, the Secret Rite Scroll, is found in the same multi-level dungeon where both Ansbach and Freyja are located.
• The quest's most consequential decision is presented through summon signs rather than a conventional dialogue prompt: gold means assisting Ansbach, while red means invading him.
• Ansbach's investigation and Freyja's request are designed to intersect. The letter exchange makes the Storehouse sequence serve both characters rather than treating their quests as completely separate paths.

Relationships