You’ve seen her. Slumped against a wall in a crumbling church in Caelid, rotting from the inside out and barely clinging to her own name. Millicent is one of the most tragic figures in all of Elden Ring, but her journey isn't just a side story for a cool talisman. Honestly, it's the closest thing the game has to a true redemptive arc—one that mirrors Malenia’s own path but with a final, heartbreaking twist.
The Elden Ring Millicent's quest is notorious for being easy to break. One wrong turn or a missed dialogue prompt and she’s gone. Or worse, you accidentally jump on her head at the very end and ruin hours of work. It happens.
Starting the Rot: Caelid and the Needle
Basically, the whole thing kicks off in a shack. Sage Gowry lives just south of Sellia, Town of Sorcery. He’s a bit... creepy. He wants you to save a girl from the Scarlet Rot. To do that, you need the Unalloyed Gold Needle.
You’ll find the needle being held by Commander O’Neil. He’s deep in the Swamp of Aeonia, surrounded by those annoying rot-geysers and a small army of spectral exiles. Look, O'Neil is a tank, but he’s slow. Use Torrent to kite him or just blast him from a distance. Once he’s down, grab the broken needle and head back to Gowry.
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Gowry needs a minute to fix it. Just rest at a Site of Grace and come back. Now comes the part where you actually find Millicent. She’s uphill at the Church of the Plague. You can reach it by solving the brazier puzzle in Sellia or—if you’re lazy like me—by jumping down the cliffs from Dragonbarrow.
Give her the needle. She’ll pass out. Rest again. When she wakes up, she’s feeling better and gives you the Prosthesis-Wearer Heirloom. It’s a solid +5 to Dexterity. Not bad for the early game.
The Altus Plateau Connection
After Caelid, she moves. You’ll find her standing near the Erdtree-Gazing Hill in Altus Plateau, looking out at the view with her one remaining arm. She feels useless. To fix this, you need the Valkyrie’s Prosthesis.
It’s hidden in the Shaded Castle, that green, poisonous mess to the north. Go to the northwest tower, dodge the Cleanrot Knight, and grab it from the chest.
Giving her the arm is the real turning point. She becomes a summonable ally for several major fights now, including the Godskin Apostle at Windmill Village (Dominula).
Speaking of Dominula, that’s her next stop. You have to kill the Godskin Apostle yourself first. Once the creepy dancing ladies stop being quite so aggressive, Millicent will appear near the Windmill Heights Site of Grace. Talk to her until she repeats herself. If you don't, she won't move to the Mountaintops of the Giants, and you'll be wondering why the quest has stalled.
A Quick Detour to the Snow
She’ll eventually show up at the Ancient Snow Valley Ruins. This part is brief. She’s just thinking about Malenia and her heritage. There’s no item to fetch here, just lore. But don't skip it.
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The Haligtree and the Final Choice
This is where the Elden Ring Millicent's quest gets intense. You have to reach Miquella’s Haligtree, which is a whole ordeal involving the Secret Medallion and the Ordina liturgical town puzzle.
Find her in the Prayer Room. She’s worried. She’s starting to realize who she really is—a "bud" of Malenia. To finish her story, you have to descend into the drainage tunnels and kill a massive Ulcerated Tree Spirit in a pool of rot.
It is a nightmare of a fight. The arena is tiny, the rot is constant, and the Spirit has a habit of knocking you off the ledge. Once it’s dead, reload the area.
Two signs will appear on the ground:
- The Gold Sign: Help Millicent fight her four sisters.
- The Red Sign: Challenge Millicent and kill her.
Which Reward is Actually Better?
If you choose the Red Sign, you kill her and get Millicent’s Prosthesis. It gives +5 Dex and increases attack power with successive hits. It’s great for fast builds.
If you choose the Gold Sign, you help her win. You get the Rotten Winged Sword Insignia. This is arguably the best talisman in the game for anyone using twinblades, curved swords, or anything fast. It gives a massive boost to successive attacks that stacks higher than the regular version.
But there’s a catch. If you help her, she dies anyway—but on her own terms. She pulls the needle out so she can "rot into nothingness" rather than becoming something she isn't. You’ll find her body near the rot pool. Talk to her, reload one last time, and pick up the Unalloyed Gold Needle.
Why the Needle Matters for Your Ending
A lot of players finish the quest and wonder what the needle is for. It’s not just a souvenir.
If you take that needle to the arena where you fight Malenia (after she's dead) and interact with the large scarlet flower, it turns into Miquella’s Needle.
This is the only way in the entire game to "undo" the Lord of Frenzied Flame ending. If you touched the Three Fingers and regret it, you have to go to the heart of the storm in Crumbling Farum Azula and use this needle to cleanse yourself.
Without Millicent's sacrifice, you're stuck with the burning yellow eyes and the "burn it all down" finale.
Actionable Steps for a Perfect Run
- Don't kill Gowry too early. You can kill him at the very end for the Flock's Canvas Talisman, but doing it early can lock you out of the quest.
- Exhaust every line. If Millicent is still at a location, it’s usually because you didn't click "Talk" enough times.
- Be careful at the Haligtree. When she is lying on the ground after the sisters' fight, do not jump near her. People have accidentally crushed her and missed the final reward because she only has 1 HP.
- The "Both Items" Glitch? Most people say it's patched, but some still try to help her and then kill her before she finishes her dialogue. It's risky and usually results in losing the needle. Just pick the reward you want for your build.