Should you join Volcano Manor in Elden Ring?

Elden Ring lacks any sort of official covenant system — factions with reputation and rewards — but Volcano Manor (and the Bloody Fingers) fill the hole admirably. Earning entrance to either can be a trial, with lengthy quest chains or long treks across the Lands Between. And is joining the blasphemous recusants of the Volcano Manor worth your time, or should you instead head east to the capital of Leyndell?

Related: Magma Sorceries in Elden Ring — what they are and where to find them

Is it a good idea to join the Volcano Manor in Elden Ring?

Though making your way to Volcano Manor takes quite a bit of time and effort, it’s worth every second. It’s the source of the best and best-looking armor in Elden Ring, plus an essentially free PvP item and some niche but still, fun Sorceries, to boot.

If you don’t meet with Rya in Liurnia and then on the Altus Plateau, you’ll need to wind your way around Mt. Gelmir and reach the manor proper. There, when asked by Tanith if you want to join, say yes. Refusing to join won’t negatively affect anything, and you can speak to Tanith again to join at your leisure (provided you haven’t killed Rykard).

Once a member of the Volcano Manor, head down the hall to the drawing room to pick up the Recusant Finger and the Letter from Volcano Manor. Speak also to Bernahl, as he’ll have some goodies for you later.

The Letter shows you the location of a target you are to invade and kill. These are NPC targets, so no PvP is necessary. Defeating each one yields rewards, and you’ll need to return to the Manor for a new letter and target. Tanith will also reward you each time you succeed.

• Target 1: Old Knight Istvan in Limgrave. Once defeated, you receive the Scaled set. Tanith awards the Magma Shot Sorcery.
• Target 2: Rileigh the Idle in Altus Plateau. Once defeated, you’ll receive the Crepus’s Vial and 20 Black-Key Bolts. Tanith awards the Serpentbone Blade.
• Target 3 (via the Red Letter): Juno Hoslow, Knight of Blood in the Mountaintops of the Giants. Once defeated, you’ll receive the Hoslow’s Petal Whip and the Hoslow’s Armor set. Tanith awards the Taker’s Cameo and easy access to Rykard’s boss room.

After receiving the second Letter, you can speak to Bernahl for a special quest: a two-on-two fight in Leyndell for the Raging Wolf set and Gelmir’s Fury Sorcery. If Patches is present at the manor, you can earn the Bull-Goat set and Magma Whip Candlestick.