15 Best Characters In Elden Ring, Ranked

Boc

Boc is a pitiable sort; appearing as a tree when he's first met, Boc is actually some kind of demi-human who seems to suffer from extreme self-esteem issues. Completing the first part of this NPC's questline in Limgrave's Costal Cave will grant him the ability to alter the player's garments for free, but he's scarcely seen after that.

In reality, Boc is secretly hoping to receive affirmation from the player. Offering him the Golden Needle, a piece of demigod armor to alter, and using the "you're beautiful" Prattling Pete in front of him affords him the praise he's so long desired. While he's not among the most useful characters in Elden Ring, he's one of a very small number of Elden Ring NPCs who aren't predestined for a terrible fate.

Roderika

Roderika can be encountered very early on in Elden Ring, as she's found hiding out in an abandoned shack near the entrance to Stormveil Castle. While she implies that she once commanded some sort of army, her forces have since been grafted by Godrick the Grafted, leaving her totally bereft. Speaking with her will grant the player the Spirit Jellyfish Ashes, easily one of the best spirit ashes in the game.

Plus, should the player find the Chrysalids' Memento in Stormveil Castle and deliver it to her, she will appear in the Roundtable Hold. At that point, selecting certain dialogue options when meeting with Roderika and Smithing Master Hewg results in her unlocking a latent spirit tuning ability. At that point, she'll be able to upgrade the player's spirit ashes.

Kenneth Haight

Kenneth Haight can be found in eastern Limgrave preaching atop a ruin about how he, not Godrick, is the rightful ruler of Limgrave. Much like the player, Kenneth has a very low opinion of Godrick and refers to him as a "jumped up country bumpkin."

Kenneth's questline later intertwines with Nepheli Loux's after Godrick is killed, but, before that, he wants the player to liberate Fort Haight, rewarding them with Erdsteel dagger and promising to knight them should the player swear allegiance to him. While he does come across as a bit arrogant, Kenneth Haight is an eccentric but useful ally in the otherwise brutish and hostile Lands Between.

D, Hunter Of The Dead

Though he can be encountered in Limgrave, most players are likely to come across D, Hunter of the Dead for the first time on their inaugural journey to Elden Ring's beautiful Roundtable Hold. There, he will warn of the danger posed by the Tibia Mariner. However, should the player defeat a Tibia Mariner and give D the Deathroot earned afterward, he'll clue the player into a secret portal that connects with a far-off section of Caelid.

Ultimately, while a springboard for further, more interesting events, D's role in Elden Ring isn't particularly meaningful. However, his fate, intertwined with that of Deathbed Companion Fia, should stick in the minds of diligent players.

Ansbach

You won't find Ansbach in the base game of Elden Ring, but this NPC is arguably one of the best additions in the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC. As a former servant of Mohg and current acolyte of Miquella, Ansbach adds a level of interesting insight into Miquella's followers.

Ansbach provides a compelling contrast to the fanatical Needle Knight Leda and to Miquella himself, with a surprisingly measured attitude that makes him easy to empathize with. While the nature of his current and past allegiances could easily set him at odds with the Tarnished, he's very capable of understanding and empathizing with their actions.

Rya/Zorayas

Although she's relatively easy to miss, Rya is an integral NPC who can help the player considerably in their travels. Speaking to her in Liurnia of the Lakes will allow the player to converse with Blackguard Big Boggart, and, when encountered in Altus Plateau, she'll offer to take the player to Volcano manner, thereby skipping the notorious ascent up Mt. Gelmir.

Rya is another fairly tragic Elden Ring character; secretly a man-serpent who is troubled because of her connections to Lady Tanith and Lord Rykard, the player can assuage her worries by giving her the Tonic of Forgetfulness. Unfortunately, completing her questline rewards players with Daedicar's Woe, the absolute worst Talisman in Elden Ring.

Smithing Master Hewg

When first introduced to Smithing Master Hewg at the Roundtable Hold, he seems to be a grumpy sort made to work for the Tarnished against his will. However, he later reveals that he has a passion for smithing and doesn't particularly mind his captivity.

In the end, it is revealed that Hewg remained in Roundtable Hold out of obligation rather than due to imprisonment. He was somehow bound by Queen Marika to craft a weapon that would be used to slay a god. Eager to complete that task, he earnestly smiths weapons for the Tarnished until the very end.

Igon

The Realm of Shadow is full of suffering, but you won't often encounter wails of anguish as explicit as Igon's. Rather than mumbling lines in typical FromSoft fashion, Igon declares his pain loud and proud, dead-set on revenge against the dragon Bayle. This can also give an extra emotional charge to the Tarnished's fight with Bayle, as Igon is willing to suffer and fight until the end.

In a way, Igon is one of the most empathizable characters for Elden Ring players, representing both the intense frustration and the drive to overcome the odds that pushes the Soulslike experience forward. Whether players find it funny or simply cathartic, his lines certainly stick in their memory.

Millicent

A young woman afflicted by Scarlet Rot, Millicent can first be encountered in the Church of the Plague in Caelid. After reviving her by finding the Unalloyed Gold Needle and speaking with Gowry, she will embark on a journey that requires the use of Valkyrie's Prosthesis, an item that can be found in the Shaded Castle.

A one-armed warrior, she may remind some FromSoftware fans of the One-Armed Wolf protagonist of 2019's Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. Ultimately, players can either defend or challenge her at the end of her questline, and each option yields unique end-game items.

Blaidd

A noble wolf-headed warrior, Blaidd is a loyal servant of Ranni the Witch who seeks to aid the player as they do her bidding. While he can be found in Limgrave's Mistwood, most will likely encounter him in an ethereal form in Ranni's Rise after they agree to help the witch.

Though he doesn't play a major role in the events of Elden Ring, depending on when he is met, he can be summoned during the battle against Starscourge Radhan. NPC summons are an integral aspect of that fight, and his presence is a welcoming comfort that could turn the tide in one of Elden Ring's hardest boss battles.