The Leda and Allies encounter is one of the most memorable and demanding NPC battles found in Elden Ring, available exclusively through the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC. This confrontation is deeply rooted in the DLC's narrative, placing the Tarnished directly against Needle Knight Leda and a group of devoted followers loyal to Miquella. Their goal is clear: prevent you from interfering with Miquella's path to godhood. Unlike many optional side encounters scattered across the Lands Between, this battle is mandatory, and players must overcome it to continue progressing through Shadow of the Erdtree.

 

A Mandatory Tarnished-Style Boss Fight

 

Leda and Allies is not a traditional boss encounter with a single enemy and a health bar. Instead, it is a Tarnished boss battle, meaning the enemies function much like player characters. They wield fully equipped weapons, use combat skills intelligently, and behave in ways similar to human opponents. This makes the fight more unpredictable and often more dangerous than standard boss battles.

 

To advance, players must defeat between two and five NPC enemies, depending on the decisions made throughout the DLC and specific questlines. These branching outcomes reward careful quest management but can also punish players who overlooked dialogue or character interactions earlier in the story.

 

Which Allies Will Oppose You

 

Several characters may appear as enemies during this encounter:

 

Redmane Freyja will fight you if you delivered the Letter for Freyja and did not kill her while she was still friendly.

 

Hornsent becomes hostile if you failed to summon him for the battle against Messmer the Impaler and left him alive. Even if he assisted during the Messmer fight, neglecting to speak with him afterward will still cause him to appear as an enemy later.

 

Moore joins the fight if you chose the dialogue option "Put it behind you" after Miquella's rune shattered.

 

Dryleaf Dane is unavoidable and will always fight you.

 

Needle Knight Leda herself always appears and serves as the final and most dangerous opponent.

 

Depending on these conditions, the number of enemies can vary significantly, affecting both the length and difficulty of the encounter.

 

Battle Structure and Strategy

 

One of the defining mechanics of this fight is its staggered enemy spawns. Leda's allies appear first, entering the battlefield one at a time. Needle Knight Leda always arrives last. This design gives players a crucial advantage: if you defeat each ally quickly before the next one spawns, you can dramatically reduce the overall difficulty.

 

Efficient damage output, crowd control, and proper use of Elden Ring Items such as consumables, buffs, and throwing weapons can make a major difference. Because enemies behave like players, aggressive pressure often works better than passive play. Managing stamina, spacing, and healing windows is essential.

 

The closest Site of Grace is the Cleansing Chamber Anteroom, making retries relatively manageable. However, players should still prepare carefully, as mistakes can be costly, especially when Elden Ring Runes are on the line.

 

Multiplayer, Summons, and Spirit Ashes

 

This encounter allows for a wide range of support options:

 

Multiplayer co-op is enabled, allowing other players to assist.

 

Spirit Ashes can be summoned, giving solo players valuable distractions and damage support.

 

NPC summons are also available, though they depend heavily on quest progression.

 

You may summon Thiollier if you have progressed his and St. Trina's questline far enough, including defeating his invasion at the Garden of Deep Purple and exhausting his dialogue afterward.

 

Another possible ally is Sir Ansbach, provided he is still alive and has been given the Secret Rite Scroll during Leda's questline. If Ansbach is dead or never received the scroll, Sanguine Noble Nataan will appear instead. Importantly, you cannot summon both Ansbach and Nataan at the same time.

 

NPC summons do not appear immediately. They only arrive after the first of Leda's allies has spawned. Players can stall the fight defensively until their reinforcements arrive, which can significantly improve survivability.

 

Important Warning for Cooperators

 

There is a major risk for summoned cooperators in this battle. If a co-op player dies during the fight, they will lose all Elden Ring Runes they are carrying, exactly as if they had died while invading another world. This makes caution essential, especially for high-level characters holding large rune totals.

 

Boss Location and How to Start the Fight

 

To begin the encounter, travel to the Cleansing Chamber Anteroom Site of Grace. From there, exit eastward. You will find a red summon sign that initiates the challenge against Needle Knight Leda and her allies. Nearby, gold summon signs allow you to call in friendly NPCs or other players before the battle begins.

 

Final Thoughts

 

Leda and Allies stands out as a test of both combat skill and narrative awareness. Your past choices shape the enemies you face, while mastery of Elden Ring Items, summons, and timing determines whether you prevail. With proper preparation, smart use of allies, and careful management of Elden Ring Runes, this mandatory battle can become a satisfying milestone in the Shadow of the Erdtree journey rather than an insurmountable roadblock.