6 Key Items That Impact Elden Ring’s Quests and Progression Paths

Elden Ring’s vast world is filled with hidden secrets, challenging bosses, and intricate questlines. For players aiming to unlock every ending, access every area, and follow every NPC storyline, specific Elden Ring items play a pivotal role. These aren’t just optional pickups—they directly influence quest progression, character fates, and your access to certain zones. Understanding these items helps you navigate the Lands Between more effectively and ensures you experience the game’s full depth.

Below are six key Elden Ring items that significantly shape your journey through the game, along with insights on how to obtain them safely and use them at the right time.

1. Haligtree Secret Medallion (Left and Right)

The Haligtree Secret Medallion is essential for unlocking the hidden path to Miquella’s Haligtree, one of the game’s most challenging late-game areas. This medallion is split into two halves:

  • Left Half: Found in the Village of the Albinaurics.
  • Right Half: Located in Castle Sol after defeating Commander Niall.

Using the complete medallion at the Grand Lift of Rold transports you to the Consecrated Snowfield, unlocking new quests and areas. Holding onto these pieces as safe Elden Ring items ensures you don’t miss out on critical late-game content.

2. Dectus Medallion (Left and Right)

The Dectus Medallion is another bifurcated key item that affects your mid-game progression. Assembling both halves allows access to the Altus Plateau via the Grand Lift of Dectus:

  • Left Half: Found in Fort Haight.
  • Right Half: Found in Fort Faroth.

While there are alternate routes to reach Altus Plateau, using the lift through the Dectus Medallion simplifies your path and maintains proper quest order for some NPCs.

3. Seluvis’s Potion

This quest-related item is tied to the fate of several NPCs, including Nepheli Loux and Dung Eater. Seluvis gives you the potion to administer to a character of your choice, leading to drastically different outcomes. The choice you make with this item has a lasting effect on the story and the NPCs involved.

Because of its potential to lock you out of certain questlines, it’s recommended to research or store this among your safe Elden Ring items until you decide how you want the story to unfold.

4. Frenzied Flame Seal and the Flame of Frenzy Items

To pursue the Lord of Frenzied Flame ending, players must interact with specific items and locations in Leyndell’s sewers and beneath the Subterranean Shunning Grounds. Accepting the Frenzied Flame locks you out of most other endings unless you perform a specific reversal later.

These Elden Ring items don’t just change the outcome—they radically reshape the lore and themes of your ending. Handle them carefully and keep backups or save states if you want to explore multiple outcomes.

5. Tonic of Forgetfulness

Given by Tanith at Volcano Manor, this item plays a key role in Rya’s storyline. Using it erases her memory, effectively ending her quest. Choosing whether to use or ignore the Tonic will change how her story concludes.

Because it’s easy to use accidentally, keeping this among your safe Elden Ring items is wise until you fully understand its implications.

6. Miquella’s Needle

This rare item allows players to reverse the effects of becoming the Lord of Frenzied Flame. Found only after completing Millicent’s questline and defeating Malenia, Miquella’s Needle is used at Dragonlord Placidusax’s arena.

It’s an essential item for players who want to unlock other endings after committing to the Frenzied Flame. Safeguarding this item is crucial if you want to keep your options open for narrative outcomes.


Elden Ring’s world is shaped not only by your actions but by how you interact with key quest items. Knowing which Elden Ring items impact progression—and how to keep them as safe Elden Ring items—can save you from missing vital storylines or locking yourself out of major areas and endings. With careful planning and a good understanding of item functions, you’ll be better prepared to uncover every layer of the Lands Between.