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In Elden Ring, many of the game’s rarest and most powerful items aren’t just lying around waiting to be picked up—they’re locked behind specific faction or questline progress. Whether it’s a powerful talisman, unique spell, or stylish armor set, you’ll often need to ally with a particular NPC group or complete certain objectives to unlock these hidden treasures.

As someone who has completed the game multiple times and intentionally followed different faction paths each run, I’ve experienced firsthand the thrill—and the frustration—of trying to obtain all the faction-locked Elden Ring items. In this guide, I’ll walk you through exactly how to acquire these exclusive rewards, and offer some advice for players who want to optimize their playthrough or explore the Elden Ring item shop for alternatives.

1. Choose Your Faction Wisely

Several factions exist in Elden Ring, each tied to major questlines and NPCs. The most notable ones that offer unique items include:

• Volcano Manor (assassin-based)

• Roundtable Hold (default progression)

• Ranni's Covenant (Dark Moon)

• The Frenzied Flame (chaotic ending path)

• The Haligtree (Miquella’s legacy)

• Goldmask’s Order (orderly ending path)

Each faction rewards you with gear, spells, or talismans tied to their ideology. For example, completing Ranni’s questline gives you Dark Moon Greatsword, one of the best Intelligence-scaling weapons in the game. During one of my sorcery-focused runs, this weapon alone justified my decision to follow her entire arc.

2. Progress the Questline in the Right Order

Faction-based item rewards are often missable if you deviate too far or complete key story events too early. Here’s a breakdown of how to stay on track with a few major factions:

Volcano Manor:

• Speak to Tanith at Volcano Manor.

• Accept the assassination contracts.

• Complete at least three invasions.

• You'll be rewarded with items like the Magma Shot spell and Serpentbone Blade.

Ranni’s Questline:

• Start by meeting Ranni at Ranni’s Rise after defeating Royal Knight Loretta.

• Complete Nokron and Ainsel River objectives.

• At the end, you'll gain items like the Dark Moon Ring and Dark Moon Greatsword.

Goldmask & Brother Corhyn:

• Follow Brother Corhyn’s journey from Roundtable Hold.

• Interact with Goldmask at Altus Plateau.

• Finish the Law of Regression puzzle.

• You'll receive the Golden Order incantations and Mending Rune of Perfect Order.

In my own experience, failing to progress Ranni’s quest before burning the Erdtree locked me out of her entire storyline, forcing me to wait for New Game Plus just to get the Dark Moon Greatsword. Timing is everything.

3. Look for Item-Specific Rewards from NPC Interactions

Sometimes, factions don’t offer traditional rank progression, but instead reward you with unique Elden Ring items through consistent dialogue and side objectives.

• Seluvis’ Puppet Quest can reward you with powerful Spirit Ashes.

• Fia’s Deathbed Companion questline can unlock unique armor and talismans tied to death sorcery.

• Tanith’s loyalty gives access to the Taker’s Flames, a devastating weapon art on the Blasphemous Blade.

Each of these paths has emotional depth and storytelling baked in. When I finished Fia’s questline for the first time and received the Mending Rune of the Death-Prince, I realized how much the game rewards those who pay attention to quiet NPCs.

4. Use the Elden Ring Item Shop (Carefully) for Missables

Let’s be honest—sometimes you miss a quest step, or a key NPC dies. While some items are gone forever in that playthrough, you can recover or experiment with different builds by browsing a trusted Elden Ring item shop.

Personally, I’ve used shops to test out late-game faction gear on my low-level builds, helping me decide what to aim for in my next playthrough. It’s a practical solution, especially for busy players who don’t want to replay 60 hours just to access a single item.

5. Don’t Trigger Endgame Events Too Early

Burning the Erdtree, defeating Maliketh, or killing certain NPCs can block off faction quests permanently. Make sure you:

• Complete all faction-related side quests before entering Crumbling Farum Azula.

• Avoid killing key NPCs (like Tanith or Brother Corhyn) before their story is finished.

• Always keep multiple save files if you’re unsure.

In one of my earliest playthroughs, I rushed through Farum Azula without finishing Millicent’s questline, missing out on the Unalloyed Gold Needle and the Malenia’s armor set. Lesson learned: take your time.

Getting faction-locked Elden Ring items is a rewarding process that requires patience, attention to detail, and an understanding of the game’s branching narrative. The stories you uncover through these paths add emotional depth to the items you collect—whether it’s a weapon forged from a demigod’s legacy or a talisman representing an NPC’s sacrifice.

If you ever get stuck, or simply want to try out a build without starting over, browsing the Elden Ring item shop can give you flexibility. But for the full experience, nothing beats earning these items through hard-fought progress and faction loyalty.

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