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Like many FromSoftware games, Elden Ring is filled with optional side quests that are introduced in rather obtuse ways. Most RPGs have you speak to an NPC, then it prompts you to accept the quest with a menu, and then it places a marker on your map for the quest destination. FromSoftware's games have always handled side quests differently. In games like Dark Souls, it is a regular occurrence to encounter an NPC and finish the dialogue without necessarily knowing how to continue the side quest or even if the character has a side quest. Elden Ring is no exception to this.
Due to the sheer size and scope of Elden Ring, it is possible to get lost in trying to complete certain characters' questlines—or miss them entirely. There are several characters with side quests attached to them that you may never even encounter. Because of this, one of the longest side quests in Elden Ring is also one the easiest to miss. Millicent has an extended side quest that can yield interesting rewards and reveal new pieces of lore. However, she is tough to find, and her quest is even harder to complete.
How to Start Millicent's Quest and Getting the Unalloyed Golden Needle
Step One: Talking to Gowry
One of the things that makes it easy to miss is Millicent's location. She is located deep in Caelid, which is infamously one of the harder areas of Elden Ring. To start the quest, you must find a character named Gowry. He is located in a shack just south of Sellia. There should also be a site of grace just outside Sellia as well. That will be helpful because you will have to return to Sellia soon. When you talk to Gowry, he will tell you that Millicent is near death and plead with you to help him try to save her life. If you agree, he will ask you to get an Unalloyed Golden Needle. It can be found just West of Sellia in a scarlet rot swamp called Aeonia. You must fight a challenging boss named Commander O'Neil.
Step Two: Defeat Commander O'Neil
Fighting Commander O'Neil can be quite difficult, especially if you are fighting him earlier in the game. Fortunately, if you have already spoken to Gowry, you can summon an NPC character named Pollyanna to assist you. She isn't incredibly useful at dealing damage to O'Neill, but she can distract him while you attack him from behind. There are also archers that will appear and fire arrows at you. It is better to just try to dodge the arrows because the archers will respawn if you kill them all. It also helps to attack O'Neill at a distance and brace yourself to deal with his scarlet rot attacks.
How to Find Millicent and Light the Beacons to Sellia
Step Three: Talk to Gowry
After getting the Unalloyed Golden Needle, you can take it back to Gowry who will then give you a piece of paper. When inspected, it reveals that you have to light three beacons in Sellia. The three beacons are located in three separate towers located around the town. Lighting all the beacons will remove a magical barrier that prevents you from journeying up the hill behind Sellia. After all the beacons are lit, you can return to Gowry who will return the Golden Needle and send you to find Millicent. It is important to note that you can light the beacons before talking to Gowry, and the pathway will open. However, you will still have to talk to Gowry to get the Golden Needle fixed before you can continue the quest to help Millicent
Step Four: Find and Help Millicent
Once you have lit the beacons and talked to Gowry, you can head through the barrier and climb the hill to Millicent. Beware of the magical, giant Ball Bearings that will appear and roll towards you. They are easy enough to dodge, but they can deal a lot of damage if you are hit. Atop the hill, you will find the Church of Plague guarded by two Lesser Kindred of Rot outside. Once you have defeated them, run inside, then you will be able to present the needle to Millicent. After that, rest at the site of grace and talk to her again. Then she will give you the Prosthesis-Wearer Heirloom. There is a lot of back and forth after that. Return to Gowry's shack, and Millicent will be there. Speak to her until her dialogue is exhausted, and you will learn she is slowly regaining her memory. Then travel away and return to the site of grace at Gowry's shack, and then talk to Gowry. He will now sell you some sorceries if you wish.
Journey to the Altus Plateau
Step Five: Search the Shaded Castle
You have to make it to the Altus Plateau before continuing Millicent's quest. After venturing into the Altus Plateau, you can find Millicent at the Erdtree-Gazing Hill site of grace. From there, you must venture to the Shaded Castle to retrieve the Valkyrie's Prosthesis. Following the valley between Mt. Gelmir (which Volcano Manor lies atop) and the Altus Plateau will lead you to the castle. From there, you need to make your way to the northeast corner of the castle. The castle is filled with poison areas, but it can be navigated easily enough if you watch your footing. After defeating the Cleanrot Knight and entering the room it is guarding, you will find the Valkyrie's Prosthesis. Return to Millicent and give her the Prosthesis. Then exhaust her dialogue to move to the next step of the quest.
Step Six: Head to the Windmill Village
Millicent will appear at Dominula, the Windmill Village, next. It is located in the northeast area of the Altus Plateau just outside the wall of the capital. In the Windmill Village, you will have to fight your way through several enemies and then defeat a harder enemy in a Godskin Apostle at the end of it. Fortunately, after defeating the Apostle, a new site of grace will appear. Rest at the site of grace, and then Millicent will appear. Then, you just have to talk to her and exhaust her dialogue to continue her quest.
Journey to Miquella's Haligtree
Step Seven: Continue the Game and Get to Miquella's Haligtree
The next leg of Millicent's quest can potentially have a large gap in it. You can't continue Millicent's quest until you get to Miquella's Haligtree, and that could take a while depending on how far into the game you are when starting Millicent's quest. To get to the Haligtree, you must fight your way through the Leyndell Royal Capital in the Altus Plateau and defeat the boss at the end. You also need to find both halves of the Haligtree Secret Medallion in Liurnia. They can be found in the Lakeside Crystal Cave and Albinauric Village respectively. Then you still have to go through Castle Sol, fight Commander Niall, and solve the Liturgical Town puzzle to make it to the Haligtree. Once you have done all of this, you still have to fight your way through the Haligtree to reach the Elphael Prayer Room in the Haligtree. After doing all of that, you will find Millicent in the room, and you can then exhaust her dialogue to continue the quest.
Step Eight: Find the Drainage Channel
After you leave the Prayer Room, you must work your way down to a drainage room near the eastern part of the Inner Wall. Once you make it to the drainage room, you will find it is filled with plague pests and scarlet rot swamp areas. You will want to stock up on Preserving Boluses if you can. After you clear out the room or dash through, you will find the Drainage Channel site of grace. From there, you must defeat the Ulcerated Tree Spirit, and then you need to rest at the site of grace and return to the room you fought the Tree Spirit in.
You Must Make a Choice
Step Nine: Choose Which Millicent to Summon
When you return to where you fought the Tree Spirit, you will find two summon signs. The signs are red and gold respectively, and you have to choose which one to activate. If you choose the red one, Millicent will be summoned, and you will have to fight and kill her. When you kill her, the quest will end there. However, the gold summon sign will bring you to Millicent's world, and you must help her fight invaders known as Millicent's Sisters. Successfully defeating Millicent's Sisters will allow you to progress to the final part of Millicent's quest.
Step Ten: Reload and Receive Your Reward
If you kill Millicent, you will be rewarded with Millicent's Prosthesis talisman, which raises dexterity and attack power with successive strikes. On the other hand, helping Millicent will give you the Rotten Ring Sword Insignia, which is a talisman that "greatly" boosts attack power with successive strikes. After claiming your rewards, however, you must rest at a site of grace and reload the area. When you do this, you will find Millicent succumbing to scarlet rot. If you still want Millicent's Prosthesis, you can kill her here and claim it. This will also end the quest. Conversely, if you reload the area one more time, you will find Millicent dead. You may claim the Golden Needle from her and continue to the last part of her quest.
The Final Challenge is the Hardest
Step Eleven: Fight Malenia
This is easily the hardest part of Millicent's quest and the hardest part of Elden Ring. After claiming the Golden Needle, you must journey to the final boss of the Haligtree and fight Malenia. Malenia is widely regarded as the most difficult boss of Elden Ring. Fortunately, there are several different tips to beat Malenia, and there are many resources in, and outside, the game to assist you in the battle. She is weak against Frost and Bleed effects, and the Mimic Tear is a useful Spirit Ash to use in the fight. After defeating Malenia, you can use the Golden Needle on the scarlet blossom in her boss room to gain Miquella's Needle. This officially marks the end of Millicent's quest. While there is another side quest involving Miquella's Needle, that would warrant an entire guide of its own. Ending Millicent's quest does give you some decent talisman rewards, and defeating Malenia comes with its own rewards. Despite that, it is undoubtedly one of the hardest questlines in Elden Ring.