Hornsent is an NPC you meet at the beginning in the Three-Path Cross Site of Grace Ring of Fire‘S Shadow of Erdtree DLC.
He has a few maps to pass on, but his quest line becomes much more complicated once you reach the Shadowkeep.
Hornsent is not to be confused with Granny Hornsent, who is another NPC you will find locked in Belurat.
Our Ring of Fire The DLC guide will walk you through the process where to find Hornsentand all the steps you need to complete to complete his questline, incl Hornsent or Leda choice.
Hornsent’s locations
You will first encounter Hornsent near Gravesite Plain. He will be meeting with Red-maned Freya at the Three Paths Cross in the Place of Grace.
After defeating Rellana, the Twin Moon Knight in Ensis Castle, he will travel to the Highroad Cross Place of Grace on Scadu Altus. There he meets Needle Knight Leda. Their questlines intertwine for a while until Hornsent becomes involved in your journey to the Shadowkeep.
The final location is the invasion outside the Church of Bud in the Ruins of Rauh region.
Hornsent’s first encounter on Gravesite Plain
Photo: FromSoftware/Bandai Namco via Polygon
From the beginning Shadow of Erdtree on The Grave Equal place of grace, you will follow the road north. Passing the burnt ruins and the first furnace golem, you will reach A three-track intersection of a place of grace.
Talk to both Redmane Freyja and Hornsent there and exhaust their dialogues. Hornsent will give you one Cross map this marks the location of several Miquella crosses.
Hornsent’s second meeting in Scadu Altus
Before you meet Hornsent again, you’ll have to go through Belurat, the Tower Settlement, and defeat the Dancing Lion of the Divine Beast. And then you’ll have to explore Ensis Castle and defeat Rellana, the Twin Moon Knight.
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Photo: FromSoftware/Bandai Namco via Polygon
After this, you will meet Hornsent and Needle Knight Leda at the Highroad Site of Grace in Scadu Altus. This time Hornsent will give it to you New cross map that means a few more Miquella Crosses.
If you want, you can give him some Scorpion stew from Grandma Hornsent. This gives you a bit of extra dialogue, but it doesn’t seem to affect their questlines.
Pick up the amulet and return to Hornsent and Leda
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Photo: FromSoftware/Bandai Namco via Polygon
Before anything else can happen with Hornsent, you have to do it approach Shadowkeep. Just before you reach the front door you will receive some messages: “Somewhere a huge rune broke…” AND “And that has a powerful appeal, too.” Both involve Miquella and the NPCs you’ve met so far.
Enter the Shadowkeep to unlock the Main Gate of the Shadowkeep, Place of Grace, but don’t fight with Golden hippopotamus Already. Instead, return to the Highroad Site of Grace.
Talk to both Hornsent and Leda. Make sure you have exhausted both dialogues.
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Photo: FromSoftware/Bandai Namco via Polygon
Summon Hornsent for the Golden Hippopotamus boss fight
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Photo: FromSoftware/Bandai Namco via Polygon
Return to the main gate of Shadowkeep, the Place of Mercy. This time there will be a golden summon sign on the right side of the door. Summon Hornsent to support you fight the Golden Hippopotamus boss.
You can go through any part of Shadowkeep, but be sure to stop when (or before) you reach the entrance to the Dark Chamber of Grace.
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Photo: FromSoftware/Bandai Namco via Polygon
At any time after the fight with the Golden Hippopotamus and before the boss fight with Messmer the Impaler, return to the Highroad Cross Site of Grace. Contact Hornsent and Leda again. Talk to them until Leda decides it’s time to start killing people.
He will ask you for your opinion, but you don’t have to decide anything at this moment. Ultimately, you just wait for Leda to say she’ll kill Hornsent – it may take a few rests at a place of favor to trigger.
Before she can kill him, Hornsent will disappear. Contact Leda again and then return to the Shadowkeep.
Be summoned to support Hornsent or Leda
From Shadowkeep’s Main Gate of Mercy, exit through the door on the right (east) side and go up the ramp. At the top of the rampart, turn right and you will find a pair of summon signs – one red and one gold.
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Photo: FromSoftware/Bandai Namco via Polygon
Here you have a choice: be called to the aid of Needle Knight Leda Or be called to support Hornsent. Ultimately, it’s about Leda’s decision to kill Hornsent.
- If you choose Leda, you will (try to) kill Hornsent and, not surprisingly, you will complete his mission right away. However, you will still receive his drops, so that is an option.
- If you choose Hornsent, you will be summoned to another world and have to fight a ghostly version of Leda (she doesn’t actually die here). When you defeat her, you will receive Swift Slash Ash of War and Leda’s Rune (worth 40,000 runes).
Summon Hornsent for the Messmer Impaler boss fight
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Photo: FromSoftware/Bandai Namco via Polygon
Once you’ve done all this, you’ll find a Hornsent summon sign inside Ta boss fight arena for him Messmer the Impaler.
WITH Entrance area to the Dark Chamber of Mercy, push through the door and watch the cutscene. Before things get too hectic, check the floor behind you and to your right for a golden Hornsent summon sign.
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Photo: FromSoftware/Bandai Namco via Polygon
After the fight, rest on a novel one Messmer’s Dark Chamber Place of Grace. When you step back, Hornsent will be there giving a tiny monologue. Let him talk it through and then you can move on.
The Hornsent invasion of the Bud church
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Photo: FromSoftware/Bandai Namco via Polygon
The final leg of Hornsent’s journey comes much later near the church Bud w Ruins of Rauha. As you travel through the caves towards the church, just before entering the main entrance to the Bud Church, you will be attacked by a Hornsent.
Defeat him as an invader and he will abandon his Scythe curved swords, Caterpillar Mask, Bathrobe made of braided string, Braided armbandsAND A filthy loincloth.
I’m looking for more Shadow of Erdtree guides? Check out our novel release guides Ring of Fire Weapons, armor, map fragments, places of favor and talismans from the DLC. We also have tips on where to find the Scadutree Fragments and Reverend Spirit’s Ashes, as well as an interactive Ring of Fire DLC map.