Dryleaf DaneOptional NPC duel and source of the Dryleaf Arts hand-to-hand weapon style in Shadow of the Erdtree.

Boss encounter strategy

• Location
  Moorth Ruins
• Health
  Not verified

Begin by creating enough space to observe Dane's approach rather than immediately committing to a long attack. His hand-to-hand style is strongest when the player remains directly in front of him and trades blows, so use lateral movement, a controlled retreat, or a brief disengagement to make his combination finish away from you. After a completed string, use a short punish and reset; repeated greedy attacks are more likely to be interrupted by his next advance. Players using ranged attacks should avoid firing while he is already closing, because the distance disappears quickly. Players using a shield or heavy weapon should still respect his speed and attack from recovery windows instead of assuming that poise or guard alone will end the duel.

Strategy

1. 01

   Find Dryleaf Dane

   Travel to Moorth Ruins

   Reach Moorth Ruins in Shadow of the Erdtree and locate Dryleaf Dane near the local Site of Grace and Miquella's Cross. Approach carefully and confirm that you are interacting with Dane rather than beginning combat through an accidental attack.

   Location: Moorth Ruins

   TipRest at the Site of Grace before attempting the duel so the area is familiar and your healing is replenished.

   Watch outDo not attack Dane as a substitute for the activation gesture; the intended trigger is May the Best Win.

   Checkpoint
2. 02

   Prepare the encounter trigger

   Equip May the Best Win

   Open the gesture menu and place May the Best Win somewhere you can select it reliably. The gesture must be performed close to Dane, so select it while facing him rather than activating it while moving through the ruins.

   Location: Near Dryleaf Dane at Moorth Ruins

   TipIf the duel does not start, move closer to Dane and perform the gesture again while facing him directly.

   Watch outSelecting the gesture without actually performing it does not begin the encounter.

   Missable
3. 03

   Challenge Dryleaf Dane

   Start the duel

   Perform May the Best Win in front of Dane. The peaceful interaction changes into the optional one-on-one fight, so make sure your desired equipment and healing setup are ready before activating the gesture.

   Location: Moorth Ruins

   TipStart with enough room around you to maneuver; the open ruins are more useful for spacing than for hiding.

   Watch outOnce the duel begins, Dane immediately becomes an active opponent. Do not activate it while sorting equipment or while low on healing.

   Checkpoint
4. 04

   Survive Dane's pressure

   Bait out Dane's combinations

   Keep Dane in view and avoid standing directly in front of him for extended exchanges. Let him approach, evade the main sequence, and wait for the end of his punches or kicks before committing to an attack.

   Location: Moorth Ruins duel area

   TipA single hit after a completed combination is usually safer than trying to interrupt the first strike.

   Watch outRepeated panic rolls and backward movement can leave you cornered against the ruins, where Dane's advancing attacks are harder to avoid.

5. 05

   Deal damage safely

   Punish the recovery window

   After Dane finishes a longer hand-to-hand sequence, land a brief attack or spell and immediately return to spacing. Heavy weapons and slow casts should be started only when the recovery is clearly complete, while fast weapons can take smaller openings.

   Location: Moorth Ruins duel area

   TipPrioritize consistency over burst damage: Dane's speed makes a missed heavy attack more dangerous than a slower series of small, confirmed hits.

6. 06

   Win the duel

   Defeat Dryleaf Dane

   Continue the spacing-and-punish rhythm until Dane is defeated. There is no verified phase change to prepare for, so maintain the same discipline throughout rather than expecting a new moveset at a particular health threshold.

   Location: Moorth Ruins duel area

   TipCreate distance before healing instead of healing immediately after a successful hit, because Dane can close the gap quickly.

   Watch outIf you die, return to the encounter area and repeat the gesture if the duel is not active; do not assume the failed attempt permanently completes or cancels the event.

   Checkpoint
7. 07

   Obtain Dryleaf Arts and Dane's Hat

   Collect the rewards

   After the duel, collect the rewards associated with Dryleaf Dane. The important combat reward is Dryleaf Arts, while Dane's Hat is the associated headgear reward for players who want to complete the outfit or keep a memento of the encounter.

   Location: Moorth Ruins

   TipCheck your equipment and inventory after the fight so you can confirm that both rewards were collected before leaving the ruins.

   Watch outThe exact post-fight pickup behavior should be checked in-game if either reward is not immediately visible; the source material does not verify a separate pickup location.

   Missable

Weaknesses and damage

Rewards

• Dryleaf Arts
  A hand-to-hand weapon style associated with Dryleaf Dane. It matters because it lets the player build around unarmed martial-arts attacks rather than a conventional equipped weapon.
• Dane's Hat
  Headgear associated with Dryleaf Dane. It is the encounter's equipment reward and can be used by players who want Dane's distinctive appearance.