Elden Ring: 10 Secret Uses for Items You Thought Were Useless

In Elden Ring, there’s an abundance of hidden secrets, some evident while others are expertly concealed, making it more practical for most gamers to look up solutions online rather than solving the riddles on their own. From Software often employs a clever tactic by placing seemingly insignificant items in their games, which later prove crucial for side quests and puzzles. This strategy consistently succeeds due to there typically being enough in-game hints for players to uncover the solution and feel intelligent in the process.

As an ardent enthusiast of the Elden Ring universe, I can’t help but marvel at the intricate details hidden within this expansive game. The Shadow of the Erdtree DLC has only added to the mystery, introducing even more enigmatic items. It’s quite understandable for players to overlook some or all of these items during their journey, or even stumble upon them and remain oblivious to their true significance. Herein lies a compilation of seemingly insignificant items in Elden Ring that, upon closer inspection, reveal hidden purposes.

In this discussion, we strive to keep significant plot twists hidden, but please be aware that there might be some light and moderate spoilers related to character stories and secret elements from both Elden Ring and Shadow of the Erdtree DLC.

10. “You’re Beautiful” Prattling Pate

Save Boc the Seamster From a Rebirth That Changes Him Entirely

In Elden Ring, Prattling Pate items appear to serve little practical purpose other than providing a fun method for interacting with fellow players. When dropped on the ground, they utter a brief phrase, such as “You’re beautiful“. It might seem quite significant to address another player’s character in this manner, but it turns out that there are certain NPCs who appreciate and require these words.

In the storyline, when character Boc, who accompanies the player and customizes their attire, reaches Leyndell, the royal capital, he expresses a desire to transform his less-than-attractive appearance. By completing this sequence of quests, players have the option to provide Boc with a larval tear, sending him to Rennala for a new beginning. Alternatively, if players choose to tell Boc that he’s already stunning as he is, he finds contentment in his current form and spares himself from the process of rebirth and potential death.

9. Thiollier’s Concoction

Send the Sleeping Dragon to a Different Slumber with the Ancient Dragon Priestess

To obtain Thiollier’s Mixture, you need to follow several quest stages that involve interacting with NPCs, acquiring black syrup from Moore, and delivering it before Thiollier moves from his initial location at the Pillar Path Cross. Although the reward appears insignificant since the concoction causes instant player death upon use, the dialogue when you acquire it is actually providing its intended purpose directly.

As a seasoned gamer, I stumbled upon a mysterious potion that, surprisingly, could put the eldest dragons to slumber. Since Elden Ring only features one ancient dragon NPC, it’s safe to assume this concoction has a specific purpose. To uncover its secrets, I sought out the Ancient Dragon Priestess at the Dragon Communion Altar under the cover of night. When I found her, she was in a trance-like state, seemingly offering her sleep to her dragon lord. With the potion in hand, I administered it to her, and she drifted off into a deep slumber. This action set her NPC questline on an entirely new course.

8. O Mother Gesture

Access Hinterland To Continue Count Ymir’s Quest

In “Shadow of the Erdtree,” the use of gestures as keys wasn’t something fresh, as it was present in the original “Elden Ring” game. However, the gesture from the DLC appears harmless initially until players discover a concealed part of the Shadow Keep. This particular gesture can be found beside a statue without a head in Bonny Village, close to a shed made of serpent skin. The gesture itself offers no hint about its secret function.

When players reach the back of Shadow Keep and the entrance to Commander Gaius’ boss room, they’ll discover a side room featuring a large statue and a substantial hint that, if used correctly, will unlock the pathway. However, if players haven’t figured out the correct gesture by this stage, it might leave them puzzled.

7. Stone Sheathed Sword

Visit Altars for the Hidden Powers For a Sword of Light or Sword of Darkness

At a glance, the Ancient Sheathed Sword may appear ordinary, but most gamers soon discover it’s far from simple. In the game, you’ll find this relic on one of three altars, the one you encounter first determining its location. Regardless of your initial choice, you’ll initially receive a seemingly ordinary stone sword. However, wielding it at any other altar will unveil its hidden might.

The player’s weapon can change into either the Light Sword or the Dark Sword based on which secondary altar they visit. They can switch between these forms by visiting the third altar, and reverse the transformation by revisiting the appropriate altars again. For those seeking the hidden altars, you’ll find them in the Fogrift Catacombs, the Ancient Ruins of Rauh, and the Ruins of Unte.

6. Seluvis’s Puppets

Convert Seluvis’ Slumbering Puppet Into a Vessel For Sorceress Sellen

Exploring the secret, puppet-filled cellar of mage Seluvis initially appears to be a lore disclosure rather than an immediate gameplay element. It offers glimpses into his complex personality and the way he manipulates his puppets. Besides deepening the interaction with Seluvis, this concealed room serves another, less apparent function. A purpose that players can only uncover by pursuing the apparently unrelated questline of Sorceress Sellen.

In order to aid Sellen during her adventures as your “apprentice“, you’ll eventually need to rescue her from perilous situations. To accomplish this, you’ll transfer her soul into a lifeless puppet body. Luckily, Seluvis mysteriously possesses a doll-like body suitable for Sellen in his secret basement. This allows you to animate the seemingly inactive doll and effectively transform it into the real Sellen, enabling you to continue her journey.

5. Jellyfish Spirit Ash

Reuniting The Sisters to Access the Stargazer Ruins

Players usually get the Jellyfish Spirit Ash as a gift from Roderika in the Stormhill Shack early in the game. This summon is handy at first, but most players tend to overlook it by the time they reach the Mountaintops of the Giants. However, it’s at this point that players will uncover the real function of this Spirit Ash.

At the beginning of the Mountaintops, within the Stargazer Ruins, you’ll encounter another spirit who expresses a few lines, longing for her sister and intending to visit the stars. Interestingly, this sister is none other than the Spirit Ash that players have been carrying throughout their journey. By summoning the Spirit Jellyfish at this location, you’ll grant the spirit’s wish and unlock access to the Stargazer Ruins, which just so happen to contain a useful talisman for casters.

4. Hefty Furnace Pots

Destroy Furnace Golems and Unlock the Ruins of Unte

An object that causes harm, while not entirely worthless, may prompt players to question the necessity of the prolonged throwing motion for the Hefty Furnace Pot. However, these pots possess other hidden functions. For instance, in the Land of Shadow, some Furnace Golems have armored legs and can’t be attacked directly. But, interestingly, these pots can be used to manipulate these golems in unexpected ways.

The Hefty Furnace Pots are their secret vulnerabilities; placing them into the fiery inferno atop the Golem inflicts tremendous damage. This item, however, has another hidden purpose as well. The Hefty Furnace Pot serves as a crucial tool for unlocking the Ruins of Unte. By using it to awaken the dormant Furnace Golem that obstructs the path within.

3. Erudition Gesture

Used to Access Areas in the Converted Towers

In the game “Shadow of the Erdtree“, a method called “using gesture as a key” was employed by players to gain entry into the Shaman Village. This trick was initially introduced in the base game, where the Erudition gesture was used. With this gesture and the crowns from Raya Lucaria’s magic schools, players can unlock various secretive sorcerer’s locations, mainly the towers of mages that conceal memory stones for expanding spell-casting slots.

hidden areas are marked by developer notes, however, the action itself doesn’t provide any hint to players that it’s a crucial move unless they visit these locations and perform the action repeatedly, not just for emotional expression.

2. Miniature Ranni

Find Ranni’s Soul in a Talking Doll

Initially, when gamers grab the Small Figurine of Ranni the Sorceress, they might find themselves perplexed about how this static item advances their storyline. However, it’s only when players take a break at the closest grace site in Ainsel River Main that the choice to converse with the doll becomes available. Despite choosing to “talk“, players will receive no response from the figurine.

Those who keep choosing the dialogue option will eventually figure out that Ranni’s spirit dwells inside the doll. Despite her initial reluctance, she’ll converse with the player. This gives players the opportunity to advance her storyline and choose her unique ending, should they desire to do so.

1. Law of Regression

Help Gold Mask Find the Ultimate Secret

This enchantment called Golden Order, which appears to dispel detrimental conditions within Elden Ring’s core game, conceals one of its most significant secrets. The final line of its usage hints at this, stating that the spell “displays mimicry in every aspect.” Given its high intelligence requirement and limited practical applications, the Law of Regression might seem rather pointless unless players understand its hidden function.

If players embark on the side quest of the Gold Mask, they will encounter a moment where he encounters a puzzling question. Though he discerns an underlying issue within the Golden Order, he remains perplexed about its source because a secret concerning the Order’s true essence escapes him. This unfolds in Leyndell, and as players delve into this region, they will ultimately stumble upon a statue of Radagon. By applying the Law of Regression to that statue, they can uncover the very secret that Gold Mask is hunting for, which is one of the most significant lore disclosures in Elden Ring before the DLC.

2025-02-03 11:35