WARNING: This article contains spoilers for Elden Ring.
Already seeing huge critical and fan acclaim, Elden Ring is a massive game with plenty of things for players to uncover. Featuring sprawling regions and a myriad of characters, players can meet many different faces throughout their time in The Lands Between. These run the gamut from apostate sorcerers to fan-favorite returnees, to giant pots, and more.
As is the case in most games similar to Elden Ring, some quests are more useful than others. Some might only yield an item or some dialogue, some offer much more, giving access to unique relics, powerful bosses, entire swaths of the world, and more. Elden Ring is a large game, but these characters add both further play time and depth to The Lands Between.
Alexander
Even before the release of Elden Ring, Alexander The Iron Fist became a fan-favorite character, mostly due to his unique design and boisterous attitude. However, Alexander’s quest is also a game-long endeavor, with a number of different stops along the way. The player will meet Alexander for the first time in the first region of the game, Limgrave. After helping him out of a tight spot, he will regale the player of a story of a massive festival of combat.
Eventually, he will even help the player in this festival, where warriors from across The Lands Between team up to fight the demigod, Starscourge Radahn. However, even this is not the end of Alexander’s quest. The player can meet him several other times, culminating with a fight to the death in a late game area. This helps to bring Alexander's story to a close, while also rewarding the player with some great loot.
Ranni
Ranni, under the guise of Renna, can be found incredibly early on in Elden Ring. However, her questline, fully accessible in the Liurnia of the Lakes area, is long and complex. Several massive areas are only accessible through aiding Ranni, as well as a handful of bosses.
While finishing Ranni’s quest does open up a new ending, the reward for aiding her might be particularly eye-catching for long-time fans of FromSoftware’s game. Ranni's story is both interesting and tragic, and the sheer amount of content this quest hides makes it one of the best.
The Path To Malenia
Malenia, The Blade of Miquella, was one of the first characters seen in Elden Ring’s promotional material, and quickly became a fan favorite. Massive amounts of Elden Ring art and cosplay revolve around the character and her unique design. Players might notice that she is oddly absent in the game's main story. Nevertheless, she is indeed fightable and is one of the hardest boss battles in Elden Ring. However, the path to do so is a massive quest all its own.
Involving secret items, multiple hidden regions, and an entire legacy dungeon, finding Malenia is a massive and rewarding challenge for any Elden Ring player to undertake.
Fia
Fia, the Deathbed Companion, can be found as soon as the player first joins The Roundtable Hold. In exchange for maximum health (temporarily), she will give the player a consumable item.
However, there is much more to Fia’s story to discover. Not only does helping her reveal more about the lore of The Lands Between but there is a hidden area and two completely unique boss fights intertwined with Fia’s quest, as well as a unique ending.
Goldmask
Goldmask is a character alluded to in Elden Ring’s opening, but he will not be seen again until the midpoint, when another character, Brother Corhyn, goes searching for him.
While fairly standard in many ways, Goldmask’s quest can also reveal massive plot details to the player; ones that are not easily found through other ways. Furthermore, completing his quest will allow the player to choose a different ending for the game, complete with a unique cutscene.
Gurranq
Gurranq, the Beast Clergymen, is introduced to the player by D, another NPC. Gurranq tasks the player with finding Deathroot, a mysterious plant that grows near places rife with death. Doing so will give the player a bevy of unique spells and items, and powerful upgrade materials.
Furthermore, Gurranq is not a mere quest giver. Throughout their playthrough, players can discover his true identity, and how he fits into the greater narrative of Elden Ring. Fighting Gurranq is even possible, and the events surrounding this change if the player completes his questline beforehand.
Blaidd
Blaidd, one of Ranni’s faithful servants, has a quest all his own. First found howling in the Mistwood ruins, the half-wolf will attempt to help both Ranni and the player as they attempt to discover the Eternal Cities of the underground.
However, the truth behind Blaidd’s origins will eventually conflict with Ranni’s greater plans, forcing the player to take him on in a climactic duel. Not only does this allow players to acquire Blaidd's armor and weapon, but their duel is sure to be a particularly emotional story beat for many players.
Sellen
Sorceress Sellen can be encountered early on in a playthrough of Elden Ring, but her quest will take players to the far corners of The Lands Between. Sellen hopes to rediscover the teachings of two other sorcerers, Azur and Lusat, and will help the player discover their resting places.
The spells uncovered will prove immensely useful for players, and Sellen also offers a number of powerful spells for sale. Furthermore, Sellen's quest will help players to discover more about the mysterious history of the Raya Lucaria Academy, one of the game's legacy dungeons, as well as some of its more mysterious characters.
Yura
Yura, sworn enemy of the Bloody Fingers, can be seen throughout the Lands Between. After he helps the player to vanquish an invader, they can return the favor throughout their playthrough. However, even when Yura falls in battle, that is not the end of his quest.
Yura’s body will be possessed by the mysterious Shabriri, who can be found in a late game area. Shabriri will inform players of a secret, leading to a hidden ending if they choose to pursue it. If players want to acquire a bleed-focused Twinblade, or a powerful crystal tear for their Flask of Wonderous Physick, this quest might be particularly interesting for them.
Patches
Patches the Untethered is one in a long line of characters named Patches in FromSoftware’s library of releases. Deceitful and backstabbing, trusting Patches is never a good idea. However, while these still hold true in Elden Ring, Patches’ quest gives access to many items and types of equipment.
While Patches can be fought in Limgrave, choosing to forgive him sees him pop up in a wide variety of areas. From pushing the player off a cliff to meeting them in the distant Volcano Manor as a vendor, Patches fulfills a similar role to his past appearances, often selling some very important items early on in Elden Ring.