Elden Ring: Dryleaf Dane quest walkthrough

The Dryleaf Dane quest in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree is a shorter NPC storyline that rewards you with a unique weapon Elden Ring items and an alternative combat style. While straightforward, it requires specific actions to start and complete. Here's a guide to help you find Dane, complete his challenge, and claim his Dryleaf Arts weapon.

Dryleaf Dane Quest Guide

Location of Dryleaf Dane

Where to Find Dane

You can locate Dane, a devoted monk of Miquella, near Moorth Ruins beside Miquella's Cross. He remains here, even after significant story events like the shattering of Miquella's Great Elden Ring Runes, as he remains loyal to Miquella's ideals.

Triggering Dane's Movement

After you burn the sealing tree in Rauh Ruins, Dane will leave his post. This event is an essential part of the quest, and you won't be able to interact with him or obtain his weapon if you haven't completed this part of the story.

Initiating the Quest: How to Speak to Dane

To start the quest, you'll need to:

Obtain the "May the Best Win" Emote

Dane won't respond unless you perform this emote, which you can earn by defeating Rellana at the end of Castle Ensis. If you took the shortcut behind the Fort of Reprimand and skipped Rellana, you won't have the emote, so return to complete this fight if needed.

Performing the Emote

Stand near Dane and open your emote menu (bottom right corner), then select May the Best Win. This will initiate Dane's response and begin his challenge.

Challenge Realm and the Invasion Fight

Entering the Challenge Realm

After using the emote, Dane will teleport you to a challenge realm, where he will invade as an opponent. He uses a mix of close-range combos and holy spells, making him an evasive but fragile target.

How to Defeat Dane

Heavy and Jump Attacks: Dane is easily interrupted by powerful strikes, so jump attacks and heavy weapons can disrupt his combos.

Recommended Weapons: For a strength build, use the Blackgaol Knight's Sword; for dexterity builds, try Milady or the Backhand Blade. For intelligence or faith builds, use a melee weapon that aligns with your stats.

Evasion Strategy: He dodges frequently, so use fast weapons to catch him after he evades. Patience and well-timed attacks are key to managing his evasive style.

Victory and Return to Miquella's Cross

After defeating Dane, you'll be transported back to Miquella's Cross, where you can claim Dane's Dryleaf Arts weapon. This unique armament enables punch and kick combos similar to Dane's move set, and infusing it with cold or bleed Ashes of War can make it surprisingly effective.

For more Elden Ring assistance, you can check out guides on navigating the Finger Ruins, strategies for defeating the Aging Untouchable in Abyssal Woods, and solving the Dragon Domain painting puzzle.