Do you want to know How to Speak to Dryleaf Dane in Shadow of the Erdtree?

Meet Dryleaf Dane, one of the coolest new characters in Elden Ring’s Shadow of the Erdtree DLC.

Dane is a master of the Dryleaf Arts and an expert in hand-to-hand combat. If you want to take on a dragon with your fists, you’ll need to impress him first by challenging him to a one-on-one fight. But that’s easier said than done.

You’ll find him at the Moorth Ruins Site of Grace, just east of the Highroad Cross, after you defeat Rellana, Twin Moon Knight.

When you approach him, he won’t say a word. Any attempt to speak with him is met with silence.

However, if you read the Monk’s Missive he left at the nearby Highroad Cross of Miquella, you’ll get a small clue.

It Would surprise you to know that you already have everything you need to talk to Dryleaf Dane. Here’s what you need to do.

How to Speak to Dryleaf Dane in Shadow of the Erdtree?

To speak to Dryleaf Dane, approach him and perform the “May the Best Win” emote.

You automatically got this emote when you picked up the Monk’s Missive, but it’s easy to miss in the excitement of beating Rellana and discovering this new area.

Get close enough to Dane so that the “talk” interaction appears on the screen. Otherwise, the emote won’t work.

To perform the emote, open the start menu and use the d-pad to move to the right side of the screen.

Highlight one of the emotes, then press triangle on a PlayStation controller or Y on an Xbox controller to “switch” and open the emote menu.

Press square on PlayStation or X on Xbox to “test now” on the “May the Best Win” emote.

This will trigger a scene where you challenge Dane to a fight. He will likely showcase his Dryleaf Arts by beating you until you learn his attack patterns.

If you have an AoE or ranged attack (like the Ash of War on Rellana’s Twinblade), this fight becomes easier, as you can stagger Dane before he gets close.

If you’re wondering how you were supposed to figure this out, the Monk’s Missive hinted at it. Dane mentioned that “no words are necessary,” suggesting you should use an emote instead of trying to talk to him.

This mechanic shows up again later in the DLC when you need to access the Hinterlands towards the end of Shadow of the Erdtree.