Summary
Two rare items inElden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtreehave hidden uses that players can only activate once. As they journey through the Land of Shadow, players will find two new types of consumables - theIris of GraceandIris of Occultation. There are at least two Irises of Grace and three Irises of Occultation in the DLC. They work similarly to Rune Arcs, activating the player’s equipped Great Rune for a variety of buffs. However,players should never use their Irises of Grace or Occultation, as they have hidden uses in one of the DLC’s quest lines.
At certain points during Fire Knight Queelign and Swordhand of Night Jolán’s respectivequests inShadow of the Erdtree, the Tarnished will have the opportunity to use either an Iris of Grace or an Iris of Occultation on them. Each item has a different effect, but what they do isn’t immediately clear from either the item descriptions, the dialogue, or the nature of the quest. And remember:each item is single-use only, and once the player uses one on a particular character, they can never use another item on the sameperson. As a result, it’s important to choose wisely.
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Should You Use Iris Of Grace Or Iris Of Occultation On Swordhand Of Night Jolán?
Jolán’s Quest Line In Elden Ring: Shadow Of The Erdtree
In order to use either Iris on Jolán,players will first have to complete Ymir’s quest in its entirety. They can first encounter both NPCs at the Cathedral of Manus Metyr, where Ymir will ask them to travel to three different Finger Ruins in sequence, and ring a bell in each. After doing so, both Jolán and Ymir will invade the player in sequence. Once they’re both defeated, the player will find Jolán lying crumpled on the floor. Interacting with her will give them the opportunity to use either Iris, and claim their reward for finishing this quest line.
Generally, using the Iris of Grace on either NPC will reward the player with the relevant NPC’s summon, and using the Iris of Occultation will reward them with the NPC’s weapon. In this particular case,using the Iris of Grace grants the player Jolán’s Spirit Ash,Swordhand of Night Jolan. This is an incredibly useful summon: as the player may have noticed in their battle against her, Jolán specializes in breaking enemy guard. She can create indispensable openings in otherwise impenetrable defenses, dealing consistent damage even while the player waits for an opening. This canhelp withShadow of the Erdtree’s bosses, whose incessant attack chains can deplete the Tarnished’s stamina and frustrate the player to no end.
Both of the Irises of Grace thus far discovered inShadow of the Erdtreeare located in the Shadow Keep: one beneath the Specimen Storehouse, and another above the Tree Worship Sanctum.
It’s also important to note thatgiving Jolán the Iris of Grace is the only way to continue her quest line, which picks up later at Rabbath’s Rise. By doing so, players can also claim another Spirit Ash,Jolan and Anna, arguably better than Jolán’s solo Spirit Ash, as it allows the player to summon two allies. In this way, giving Jolán the Iris of Grace could be considered the good-aligned option, as it relieves her pain and allows her to continue living, albeit only as a summoned spirit.
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By contrast, giving Jolán the other Iris could be considered the evil-aligned option, akin to killing her for good.Giving Jolán the Iris of Occultation rewards players instead with her signature weapon, theSword of Night. This is a katana that scales with Dexterity. Its flavor text explains that, since it’s not totally corporeal, it can never be fully blocked: even guarded strikes will deal some damage to their targets. It also has a unique default skill, Witching Hour Slash, a circular swing that can’t be blocked. That said, it’s really only useful if the player is using aDex build inElden Ring.
As a result, unless the Sword of Night sounds perfect for a particular character,it’s best to use theIris of Graceon Jolán. Doing so allows the player to get two separate Spirit Ashes, and to see the full extent of Jolán’s quest. Doing anything else cuts this plot thread short, and rewards the player with a weapon that’s only useful for certain builds.
Should You Use Iris Of Grace Or Iris Of Occultation On Fire Knight Queelign?
Queelign’s Quest Line In Elden Ring: Shadow Of The Erdtree
Much as they must progress Ymir’s quest to have their choice of Iris with Jolán,players must progress Queelign’s quest to a certain point before they can use an Iris on him. Queelign’s quest is a lot simpler, though: he first invades the player as they progress through Belurat, in a courtyard near the Small Private Altar Site of Grace. He’ll invade again when the player reaches the Church of the Crusade in Scadu Altus. After defeating Queelign in this second invasion, players must also pick up thePrayer Room Keyto continue his quest. After using the key to open a door in the Shadow Keep’s Church District, they’ll find Queelign much as they found Jolán: in a ball on the floor.
Using the Iris of Grace on Queelign at this moment rewards the player with the Fire Knight’s summon, theFire Knight QueelignSpirit Ash. This Spirit Ash begins attacking right out of the gate, which can make him an excellent option for starting a boss battle on the right foot. It’s not necessarily thebest Spirit Ash inElden Ring, but it has its uses, and can be pretty helpful in certain fights. Again, this is the kindlier option, alleviating Queelign’s pain and allowing him to fight another day.
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But if the player gives Queelign theIris of Occultationinstead, they’ll receive his weapon,Queelign’s Greatsword. This is a Thrusting Sword that scales with Strength, Dex, and Faith. It’s perfectly fine for a Strength build, but unfortunately, it’s not quite as cool as the Sword of Night. Its default skill, Impaling Thrust, isn’t at all unique - several other weapons, including common drops like rapiers, estocs, short spears, and partisans, use the same skill.
Irises of Occultation tend to be dropped byenemies inShadow of the Erdtree. An Ulcerated Tree Spirit in Shadow Keep’s sunken chapel rewards one, and a Lesser Omenkiller in the Fort of Reprimand drops another.
But unlike Jolán’s,Queelign’s quest ends the moment the player gives him either of the Irises. As a result, the player’s decision here is less impactful to the story. As a result,it’s best to choose whichever reward they think they’ll use more often, and give Queelign the corresponding item. If they have a Strength build, or don’t use summons, they should give Queelign the Iris of Occultation. Otherwise, give him the Iris of Grace.
Ultimately, the decision of which Iris to give which character mostly only affects the rewards the player receives. There are benefits to all possible options, but it’s best to give an Iris of Grace to Jolán so the player can see the rest of her story, and whichever Iris they prefer to Queelign. This can ensure the best rewards and most fulfilling story outcome for all parties involved inElden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree.
Players venture into the shadowed realm of the Land of Shadow to confront new biomes, dungeons, and formidable bosses. Guided by the enigmatic Miquella, they face the terrifying Messmer the Impaler and uncover the dark secrets shrouded beneath the Erdtree’s influence, featuring new weapons, magic, and challenges.
