As a seasoned Tarnished, I've walked the Lands Between countless times. The world of Elden Ring is filled with memorable characters, each with their own stories, dreams, and, most importantly for the pragmatically ruthless player, unique rewards. While immersion in the narrative is a core appeal, the allure of powerful gear often presents a moral crossroads. Is tradition worth upholding? Is efficiency worth the guilt? And with the expanded world of the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC now fully integrated into the core experience, the list of tempting targets has only grown. This guide isn't for the faint of heart—it's for those who view the Lands Between as a treasure trove, and its inhabitants as potential loot piñatas. Let's delve into the most lucrative, if morally questionable, NPC eliminations you can perform in 2026.
15. Edgar: A Father's Final Despair
Let's start with one that truly tests your conscience. Edgar, the broken commander of Castle Morne, is a picture of despair when you first meet him. He's lost everything to the misbegotten. A letter from his daughter, Irina, offers a sliver of hope, but we seasoned players know the tragic fate awaiting them both. So, what's the pragmatic choice?
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The Reward: Killing Edgar (or being invaded by him later) nets you the Banished Knight's Halberd +8. In the early game, this is a phenomenal weapon, giving you a massive power spike.
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The Cost: Your soul, presumably. You're murdering a man already shattered by grief. Is an early-game advantage worth such a heartless act? For min-maxers, the answer is often a resounding yes.
14. Patches: To Troll or Not to Troll?
Ah, Patches. The iconic trickster of the Soulsborne universe. He'll kick you into pits, sell you overpriced goods, and generally make your life amusingly difficult. So, why would killing him be monstrous? It's about tradition. Patches is a constant, a familiar face (or bald head) across worlds. Ending him early feels like breaking an unspoken rule.
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The Reward: A Spear +7, a set of Leather Armor, and 800 Runes. A decent early haul.
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The Cost: You miss out on his later quests, his unique merchant inventory, and the simple joy of seeing what scam he'll try next. Killing Patches is efficient, but it robs the world of its most charming rogue.
13 & 12. The Volcano Manor Hitlist: Istvan & Tragoth
The Volcano Manor contracts offer a structured path to sanctioned murder. Two targets stand out for their gear.
Old Knight Istvan is your first contract. He's an elderly Tarnished who has helped many. Killing him feels particularly cruel, but the reward is the versatile Scaled Set armor. It's well-balanced and looks imposing.
Great Horned Tragoth, however, is the real prize. This kind, hulking warrior aids you in multiple major boss fights. He's a true bro. And yet, Patches (or the Manor) will ask you to end him.
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The Reward: The legendary Bull-Goat Set. This armor boasts the highest poise in the game. Want to trade blows without flinching? This is your set.
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The Cost: You murder one of the few genuinely altruistic figures in the Lands Between. The armor may weigh a ton, but the weight of this betrayal is infinitely heavier.
10. & 9. Heartbreaking Heirlooms: Millicent & Alexander
These two represent some of the most tragic narratives in the game—and their rewards are tantalizing.
Millicent, afflicted with scarlet rot, struggles to reclaim her destiny. Helping her is a poignant quest. Betraying her at the end, however, grants Millicent's Prosthesis, a talisman that boosts dexterity and successive attack power. It's a top-tier item for dex builds. You just have to kill a sick, one-armed woman and steal her artificial limb. Simple, right?
Iron Fist Alexander is everyone's favorite jovial jar. He's polite, honorable, and seeks only to become a great warrior. Smashing him early yields a Warrior Jar Shard (boosting skill damage by 10%). You forfeit the upgraded version later, but getting this power spike early can be game-changing. Who needs friends when you have a 10% damage buff?
8. & 7. From Friends to Foes: Boggart & Nepheli
These NPCs can become genuine allies, making their betrayal even more potent.
Blackguard Big Boggart starts gruff but warms up, selling you delicious boiled prawns and crabs. He even helps in a boss fight. Killing him gets you his Iron Ball fist weapon. An arguably worse fate is letting the Dung Eater kill him for you. Efficiency often wears a cruel face.
Nepheli Loux is a warrior of strong principles. Killing her gets her axes. But the truly monstrous option? Give her Seluvis's potion. This turns her into a mindless puppet, a Spirit Ash summon you can use forever. Enslaving a heroic warrior's soul is arguably the single most evil act a player can commit for power.
6. D, Hunter of the Dead: A Cool Set for a Cold Heart
D is helpful, introducing you to key figures and aiding in battles. His crime? Wearing the fantastically stylish Twinned Set. To get it, he must die. You can attack him outright, or, more insidiously, complete Fia's questline which leads to his passive assassination. You don't even have to get your hands dirty.
5. Sorceress Sellen: The Ultimate Betrayal
Sellen can be your mentor, guiding you through the world of glintstone sorcery. She supports your ambition to become Elden Lord. Her questline culminates in a magical schism at Raya Lucaria. Siding with her rival, Witch-Hunter Jerren, and killing her as she achieves her dream yields an Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone. This rare item lets you upgrade a regular weapon to its maximum (+25). For those not wedded to the academic life, this stone is worth the betrayal. Is knowledge power, or is a maxed-out weapon true power?
The Shadow of the Erdtree Additions (2026 Integration)
Since the DLC's release, the Realm of Shadow has introduced new characters with equally tempting rewards. While the original article hinted at them, we now have full clarity. Characters like Moore and certain followers of Messmer hold unique weapons and armor sets that are only obtainable through... decisive action. The rules remain the same: compelling stories stand between you and top-tier gear. The expansion didn't change the calculus, it just added more variables to the equation.
Final Judgement: A Tarnished's Moral Inventory
So, who is truly worth killing? Let's break it down by motivation:
| Motivation | Primary Targets | Key Reward | Moral Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early Game Power | Edgar, Patches | Banished Knight's Halberd +8, Spear +7 | High to Medium |
| Best-in-Slot Gear | Great Horned Tragoth, D | Bull-Goat Set, Twinned Set | Very High |
| Critical Build Talismans | Millicent, Alexander | Millicent's Prosthesis, Warrior Jar Shard | Extreme |
| Ultimate Upgrade Materials | Sorceress Sellen | Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone | High (Betrayal) |
| For the Truly Ruthless | Nepheli Loux (via potion) | Nepheli Loux Puppet Spirit Ash | Maximum |
In the end, the choice is yours. The Lands Between is a harsh place, and survival often demands harsh actions. But as I look at my collection of talismans and armor sets, each with a story of betrayal attached, I sometimes wonder: did the gear make me stronger, or did the act of acquiring it simply make me another monster in a world full of them? The next time you raise your blade against a friendly face, ask yourself—is the reward worth the memory? For most of us, the answer, again and again, is a silent, pragmatic yes.
Evaluations have been published by The Verge - Gaming, which is widely respected for its comprehensive coverage of both the technical and narrative aspects of modern video games. Their recent features on Elden Ring and its Shadow of the Erdtree expansion delve into the ethical dilemmas players face when choosing between narrative immersion and optimal gameplay rewards, echoing the tough decisions highlighted in this guide.