Elden Ring's eldritch monstrosity that is Lord Rykard awaits your presence at Volcano Manor. There are two different ways to get to Lord Rykard: one of them is to offer your services as a hitman to the masked owner of Volcano Manor, Lady Tanith.

With a total of three contracts to follow and three difficult opponents to vanquish, you will need all the help you can get. From returning to Limgrave to ascending the Mountaintops of the Giants, there is no duty too insurmountable for a lowly Tarnished to complete.

Updated October 19, 2023, by Sean Murray: The Volcano Manor contracts are tough, but we've got your back with this refreshed guide which now has improved formatting and more breakout tips. We've also given it more links to other helpful Elden Ring topics.

How To Start The Volcano Manor Contracts Quest

In order to trigger the questline, you must have reached Volcano Manor. Once you open the main doors, head down toward the end of the main hallway where a fireplace and roundtable reside. There you'll find Lady Tanith and her bodyguard.

Talk to her and she will ask you whether you would like to join Volcano Manor, to which you must agree. She will hand you the key to the manor's drawing-room.

After speaking to Tanith, turn right down a corridor and open the second or third door to the left-hand side with Tanith's key. There you will find Rya, Diallos, Knight Bernahl, and a long table in the center of the room.

Go down the other end of the table in front of where Bernahl is sitting, and you will find the first contract letter--and subsequent contracts--on a plate. Tanith will reward you for each completed assassination, so don't forget to speak to her after each one.

All targets are able to heal only once.

Old Knight Istvan

Location

After reading each letter, a red mark will appear on your map. The first target, Old Knight Istvan, can be found in the Limgrave region, near Stormhill Castle. You can get there from the Warmaster's Shack Site of Grace.

Strategy

Istvan wields a two-handed blade that deals massive damage. You can block his standard swing attack with your shield, but it is best to dodge in order to avoid taking damage or getting staggered. If you're doing this fight melee, it's always best to use a weapon that causes Bleed buildup.

Istvan is able to perform the Gravitas Ash of War attack.

The best time to attack is when he leaps into the air and slams his weapon to the ground, as it takes a few seconds for him to recover. Otherwise, you can use projectiles like a Fire Pot or cast Poison Mist for some extra HP drain and create some distance.

Rileigh The Idle

Location

After informing Tanith of the completion of the first contract, a second letter will appear on the same spot in the drawing-room. Your next target is located in the Altus Plateau, and you can travel to the red mark indicated by using the Bridge of Iniquity Site of Grace.

Strategy

Rileigh the Idle will most likely start off by shooting his crossbow, so make sure to keep an eye out. Since Rileigh's dagger inflicts Scarlet Rot damage in one hit and his attacks are really fast, using Bloodhound's Fang's Bloodhound Finesse skill is your best bet for a melee strategy, as you'd want to create as much distance as possible after dealing a quick hit.

Rileigh has low defensive capabilities, so you can stagger him by dealing a quick succession of attacks with a dex-based weapon.

If you're playing as a sorcerer, use the Opaline Bubbletear for extra protection. You'd have to time your spellcasting since you're vulnerable during the casting animation. Keep your distance when he whips out his dagger and use Rock Sling for maximum damage.

Juno Hoslow, Knight Of Blood

Location

The third and final target is located in the Mountaintops of the Giants, so make sure you've obtained the Rold Medallion beforehand. To get to the red mark indicated, teleport to the Ancient Snow Valley Ruins Site of Grace.

Strategy

Juno Hoslow is armed with two razor-sharp and swift whips that have impeccable range. Juno can perform Bloodhound's Step, so maintaining distance is crucial. Again, use Opaline Bubbletear as this NPC causes a heck of a lot of damage.

Use a shield for this fight to prevent damage, but remember it doesn't negate bleed buildup.

For sorcerers, Rock Sling is your best bet, as it causes him to stagger. Melee users should coat their weapon in blood grease to improve their bleed status build-up. Also, jump attacks are recommended.

The best times to attack him are when he's leaping; trying to heal a second time; or when he's running toward you.

Next: Elden Ring: Complete Guide And Walkthrough