Smithing Master Hewg's Quest

Key takeaways

The quest is best understood as an ongoing hub storyline rather than a one-time mission.

Return to Roundtable Hold Hewg's dialogue and services are accessed inside Roundtable Hold. Visit him again after meaningful exploration or story progression instead of expecting a quest marker to identify every update.
Use Hewg for weapon progression Hewg is the hub blacksmith for standard weapon upgrades and later supports special-weapon upgrades. This makes the quest useful even when the narrative has not advanced.
Follow Roderika's move Roderika begins at Stormhill Shack and later becomes part of Roundtable Hold's upgrade infrastructure. Her conversations with Hewg are important to the combined character storyline.
Do not expect a conventional final reward The known payoff is access to services, expanded character context, and the continuation of Roderika's Spirit Tuning path rather than a clearly documented unique item granted for finishing Hewg's story.

Overview

Smithing Master Hewg's Quest is a character-focused side quest that unfolds through repeated conversations at Roundtable Hold rather than through a conventional chain of map objectives.

Smithing Master Hewg is the blacksmith stationed in Roundtable Hold. The player first encounters him after reaching the hub, where he offers the core weapon-upgrade service used throughout Elden Ring. Speaking with him begins the practical side of the quest: Hewg can improve compatible weapons, and his dialogue expands as the player returns to the Hold and advances through the wider game.

The quest is distinctive because its progression is tied to conversation, hub changes, and the presence of Roderika rather than to a visible quest marker. Roderika's path intersects with Hewg's when she moves from Stormhill Shack to Roundtable Hold and begins working toward Spirit Tuning. The player must speak to the relevant characters and exhaust available dialogue; simply upgrading a weapon is not, by itself, a separate quest objective.

Hewg's story also provides context for the Roundtable Hold. He is a Misbegotten smith held in service, and his dialogue gradually exposes his dedication to his craft, his obligation to the Tarnished, and his connection to Queen Marika. These revelations are easy to miss because they are distributed across visits instead of delivered in one cutscene. Rechecking Hewg after major progression is therefore the safest way to follow the narrative.

For a player deciding whether to pursue the quest, the main value is not a unique combat reward but reliable access to one of the game's most important services. Hewg supports regular Smithing Stone upgrades and, after the appropriate hub progression, Somber Smithing Stone upgrades for special weapons. His story can be followed alongside normal exploration, with no separate combat encounter required to unlock its central benefits.

Where this sits

Hub accessRoundtable Hold becomes available

Initial conversationsMeet Hewg and track Roderika's early dialogue

Spirit Tuning setupRoderika's role develops at Roundtable Hold

Ongoing progressionReturn after major game events

1Reach Roundtable HoldprerequisiteThe quest cannot be followed before the hub and Hewg are accessible.
●Speak with Smithing Master HewgcurrentUse his dialogue and inspect his available services.
3Advance Roderika's storyside-storyHer relocation and conversations provide the major intersection with Hewg's narrative.
4Revisit the hubfollow-upLater dialogue depends on wider progression and hub state.

The storyline is woven into Roundtable Hold's normal progression and does not use a conventional linear mission route.

Requirements

Reach Roundtable Hold to begin Hewg's part of the storyline; Roderika's related progression begins at Stormhill Shack.

RequiredAccess to Roundtable HoldHewg is encountered and used as a blacksmith inside the hub. The exact trigger for first access can vary with normal early-game progression, but the quest is not available before the Hold is reached.
RequiredVisit Smithing Master HewgSpeak to Hewg and inspect his dialogue and upgrade services. Returning to him is necessary because later conversations are not delivered all at once.
RecommendedFind Roderika at Stormhill ShackTo follow the intersecting character storyline, speak with Roderika at her early location and continue her dialogue before relying on her later Roundtable Hold role.
RecommendedAdvance the wider gameSome dialogue and hub developments are progression-dependent rather than unlocked by a single item or level threshold.

Objectives

Meet Smithing Master Hewg at Roundtable HoldLocate the smith in the hub and speak with him to establish the quest's central relationship.
Use Hewg's smithing servicesUpgrade suitable weapons through Hewg while progressing through the game; this is the quest's main practical function.
Follow Roderika's character progressionSpeak with Roderika at Stormhill Shack, then continue checking her and Hewg's dialogue after she becomes associated with Roundtable Hold.
Revisit Hewg after major progressionReturn to the hub and exhaust new dialogue when the Hold or the wider story changes.

WalkthroughSpoilers

01
Find Smithing Master Hewg.
Reach Roundtable Hold
Gain access to Roundtable Hold through normal early-game progression, then explore the hub rather than leaving immediately. Smithing Master Hewg is located in the smithing area, and his presence establishes the quest even if you do not yet have the materials or runes to upgrade a weapon.
Location: Roundtable Hold
TipTreat Roundtable Hold as a place to revisit, not a one-time stop; character dialogue and services change as the game advances.
Watch outThe quest does not begin at Stormhill Shack or through a map marker. If you leave without speaking to Hewg, the storyline simply remains unadvanced rather than displaying a clear reminder.
Checkpoint
02
Establish Hewg as the hub blacksmith.
Speak with Smithing Master Hewg
Talk to Hewg and cycle through the available conversation options before departing. Inspect his smithing menu as well, because weapon upgrading is the main practical reason to return and confirms that you have found the correct character.
Location: Roundtable Hold smithing area
TipBring weapons and Smithing Stones back to the Hold when you need an upgrade; the service is useful throughout the game and does not require a separate quest item.
Watch outA single conversation is not a reliable indication that Hewg's dialogue is exhausted permanently. Check again after major events or after progressing other Roundtable Hold characters.
Checkpoint
03
Advance Roderika's early dialogue.
Find Roderika at Stormhill Shack
Travel to Stormhill Shack and speak with Roderika before assuming that Hewg's story is isolated from other hub characters. Exhaust her available dialogue so that her personal progression can move forward and her later relationship with Hewg can be followed.
Location: Stormhill Shack
TipIf Roderika is no longer at Stormhill Shack, check Roundtable Hold rather than searching the entire Limgrave region; her location changes as her story progresses.
Watch outDo not treat Roderika's relocation as a reward for completing Hewg's dialogue alone. The two storylines intersect, but they are not identical objectives.
04
Follow the Hewg–Roderika connection.
Return to Roundtable Hold and check both characters
After advancing Roderika's early story, return to Roundtable Hold and speak with Roderika and Hewg. Their conversations establish the change in Roderika's role and lead toward Spirit Tuning, while Hewg remains available for weapon upgrades.
Location: Roundtable Hold
TipSpeak with Roderika first and Hewg second when both are available, then repeat the conversation cycle if either character still offers new dialogue.
Watch outThe relevant dialogue is easy to overlook because the game does not present a conventional objective list for this character relationship. Leaving the hub is not required to trigger every conversation once the prerequisites are met.
Checkpoint
05
Make use of the services connected to the storyline.
Use the expanded Roundtable Hold services
Once Roderika's progression has established her role, use her Spirit Tuning service when available and continue using Hewg for weapon upgrades. Hewg's quest is therefore partly narrative and partly a permanent hub-service progression path rather than a sequence ending in a single chest.
Location: Roundtable Hold
TipSpirit Tuning improves the usefulness of Spirit Ashes, while Hewg's smithing service improves weapons; decide which resource to spend based on your current build rather than treating one service as a replacement for the other.
Watch outNo separate unique quest reward is confirmed for this stage. Do not discard upgrade materials or skip the characters because you are waiting for a named completion item.
06
Complete the available character dialogue.
Revisit Hewg as the story advances
Continue returning to Roundtable Hold after substantial progression and speak with Hewg again. His later conversations reveal more about his status, his craft, and the force that keeps him at the Hold; the exact dialogue order is tied to the game's broader progression rather than to a fixed number of errands.
Location: Roundtable Hold
TipIf Hewg appears quiet, progress another part of the game and return later; exhausting every possible line in one visit is not always enough to expose later dialogue.
Watch outLater hub changes can alter who is present and what services are available. The storyline should be checked before treating a major Roundtable Hold transition as the end of all optional dialogue.
07
Follow Hewg's arc through the available endgame progression.
Continue through the Roundtable Hold end state
The character arc ultimately belongs to the wider story of Roundtable Hold and the Tarnished's journey. Follow the hub's later state and speak with Hewg whenever the game permits; the known narrative payoff is his characterization and context, not a conventional mission-clear screen.
Location: Roundtable Hold
TipIf you want the full narrative context, avoid treating Hewg only as a menu interface and read his dialogue before moving on from the hub.
Watch outThe later status of Roundtable Hold contains major story material. Stop and review your remaining conversations before advancing a point of no return if preserving optional dialogue matters to you.

Mission mechanics

Hewg's Quest uses hub-state progression instead of a conventional mission script. There is no dedicated route through a dungeon, no required enemy group, and no boss arena associated with the quest itself. The player's repeatable actions are to return to Roundtable Hold, speak with Hewg, inspect his services, and advance the wider game until new dialogue becomes available.

The smithing system gives the quest its practical identity. Hewg upgrades ordinary weapons with the standard smithing-material path and can also handle special weapons through the separate somber-upgrade path once that service is available. The two upgrade categories are not interchangeable: a player should check the weapon's upgrade requirements and use the corresponding materials rather than expecting every weapon to appear in the same menu.

Roderika's Spirit Tuning path adds a second service to the same hub. Spirit Tuning is separate from weapon smithing and improves Spirit Ashes, so the player is choosing how to allocate resources between personal weapon growth and summon improvement. Following both characters is valuable for players who use summons, while a player who does not rely on Spirit Ashes can still pursue Hewg's dialogue and weapon services independently.

The main navigation problem is recognizing when to return. Because the game does not provide a complete visible checklist for Hewg's conversations, the reliable method is to revisit him after major exploration, bosses, and hub changes, then speak until his currently available dialogue is exhausted. This is a precaution against missing context, not a confirmed failure condition that permanently destroys the quest.

What works and what does not

Strengths

Its central service is useful for nearly every build because weapon upgrades directly support progression.
The quest is easy to pursue alongside normal exploration; it does not require a dedicated combat loadout or a separate mission route.
Hewg and Roderika together connect weapon improvement, Spirit Tuning, and Roundtable Hold's character story in one hub.
Repeated visits let the player follow the narrative without consuming a separate travel route once Roundtable Hold is accessible.

Weaknesses

The game does not present the storyline as a fully explicit quest chain, so players can mistake Hewg's dialogue for ordinary hub flavor.
There is no confirmed standalone completion reward that makes the quest attractive to players seeking a specific weapon, spell, or armor piece.
Progress depends partly on wider game events, making it difficult to identify the exact trigger for every later conversation.
Hewg's smithing services and Roderika's Spirit Tuning service solve different problems; pursuing one does not replace the resource requirements of the other.

Best uses

Follow it when you want reliable access to weapon upgrades and the full Roundtable Hold character context.
Prioritize the connected Roderika progression if your build regularly uses Spirit Ashes.
Return to Hewg for dialogue after major progression even when you do not currently need an upgrade.

Quest checklist

Reach Roundtable HoldHewg's quest is hub-based and cannot be followed before the smith is accessible.
Speak with Smithing Master HewgCycle through available dialogue and inspect his smithing services.
Use Hewg's weapon-upgrade service when neededCheck whether your weapon uses the standard or somber upgrade path.Optional
Speak with Roderika at Stormhill ShackThis advances the character whose story intersects with Hewg's.Optional
Return to Roundtable Hold after Roderika's early progressionCheck both Roderika and Hewg for new dialogue and services.Optional
Use Spirit Tuning when it becomes availableThis is a connected hub service for improving Spirit Ashes, not a Hewg smithing reward.Optional
Revisit Hewg after major story or hub changesLater dialogue depends on wider progression.Optional
Review dialogue before major Roundtable Hold transitionsUseful for players who want to preserve optional character context.Optional

Failure conditionsSpoilers

Leaving Roundtable Hold without speaking to HewgThis does not constitute a confirmed permanent failure; it simply leaves the character storyline unadvanced. Return to the hub and begin the conversation there.
Not checking Hewg after progressionThe game does not provide a complete visible reminder for every dialogue update. Skipping visits can cause the player to miss context, although a permanent lockout from the known core storyline is not confirmed.
Confusing Hewg's quest with Roderika's questRoderika's movement and Spirit Tuning progression intersect with Hewg, but they are not the same objective. Advance and check both characters rather than assuming one conversation completes both paths.
Advancing a major Roundtable Hold transition without reviewing dialogueLater hub states can change character presence, services, and available conversations. The exact permanent-loss boundaries for every line are not confirmed, so review optional dialogue beforehand if it is a priority.

On failure

No dedicated quest checkpoint or conventional fail screen is confirmed. The safest practice is to return to Roundtable Hold regularly and exhaust available dialogue.

Rewards and services

Weapon upgrades
Hewg provides the blacksmith service for improving compatible weapons. This is the principal gameplay benefit of finding him, but it is a recurring service rather than a one-time quest-clear reward.
Special-weapon upgrades
Hewg can support the separate upgrade path for special weapons when that service is available, using Somber Smithing Stones rather than the standard material path.
Spirit Tuning access
The connected Roderika progression can establish access to Spirit Tuning at Roundtable Hold. Spirit Tuning improves Spirit Ashes and is distinct from Hewg's weapon-upgrade menu.
Character and setting context
Further conversations reveal Hewg's status, his smithing purpose, and his relationship to the Tarnished and Queen Marika. This is narrative progression rather than an inventory item.

Characters in this missionSpoilers

AftermathSpoilers

Hewg's story is tied to the fate of Roundtable Hold

Hewg's later dialogue and circumstances are bound to the Roundtable Hold's wider story state. Players seeking his full narrative should revisit him and review available dialogue before major hub transitions, because the quest's most important developments are contextual rather than presented as a single reward screen.

Trivia and contextSpoilers

Hewg is a Misbegotten smith, which makes his appearance and status part of the broader social and political context of the Lands Between rather than a purely functional blacksmith role.
The quest is easy to overlook because its progress is expressed through repeated hub dialogue instead of a visible objective chain, a structure shared by several Roundtable Hold character stories.
Hewg's story and Roderika's story meet through services that address different forms of progression: weapon improvement for the Tarnished and Spirit Tuning for Spirit Ashes.
Hewg's dialogue connects his personal service to Queen Marika, giving the blacksmith a narrative relationship to the game's central history.

Relationships

Characters

Smithing Master HewgCentral characterThe imprisoned blacksmith whose services and dialogue define the quest.
RoderikaConnected character questRoderika's progression intersects with Hewg's through Roundtable Hold and Spirit Tuning.

Locations

Roundtable HoldPrimary locationThe hub where Hewg's conversations, weapon upgrades, and related progression occur.
Stormhill ShackEarly Roderika locationThe location where the connected Roderika storyline begins.