Elden Ring: How to Complete Gatekeeper Gostoc's Quest

Elden Ring is filled with mysterious characters who blur the line between friend and foe. One of the earliest and most peculiar NPCs you'll meet is Gatekeeper Gostoc, a lanky and suspicious figure who offers his help—or perhaps a trap—at the gates of Stormveil Castle. His questline, while not as epic as others, offers interesting moral choices and valuable rewards, including access to a shop, unique Elden Ring Items, and an unusual interaction with your Elden Ring Runes.

 

This guide walks you through everything you need to know about Gostoc's quest, what choices you can make, and what you'll earn along the way.

 

Who Is Gatekeeper Gostoc

 

Gatekeeper Gostoc is first found outside Stormveil Castle. He appears to be a frail, hunched man who whispers his way into your trust by suggesting a side entrance into the castle—an alternate route to avoid the heavily guarded main gate. His mannerisms and tone make him seem untrustworthy, and as it turns out, those suspicions are well-founded.

 

Despite his shady behavior, Gostoc's questline is worth completing, as it ties into other characters and grants you early-game access to useful Elden Ring Items and rune-related benefits.

 

Step 1: Meeting Gostoc at Stormveil Castle

 

As you approach Stormveil Castle, you'll be greeted by Gatekeeper Gostoc at a small side gate. He advises against charging through the front and offers to unlock a safer path through the cliffs. Accepting his offer triggers the beginning of his questline.

 

While the alternate route does help you bypass the main army, Gostoc follows you as a background presence throughout the castle. Unseen by the player, he secretly steals 30% of your dropped Elden Ring Runes every time you die within Stormveil Castle (except in the Warhawk zone, where this mechanic does not apply). This theft continues until a specific event alters his behavior.

 

Step 2: Defeating Godrick the Grafted

 

Once you've battled through Stormveil Castle and finally defeat Godrick the Grafted, Gostoc will reappear in the Throne Room of Stormveil. At this point, two outcomes are possible depending on your progress and interactions with other NPCs.

 

    If Nepheli Loux's questline is active and progressing positively, Gostoc will eventually join her and Kenneth Haight in the castle's throne room. In this ending, he seemingly redeems himself and becomes a respectful vendor.

 

    If Nepheli is not present or her questline is abandoned, Gostoc remains a sneaky loner in the throne room and continues to mutter and mock Godrick's corpse.

 

In both cases, he opens up a shop, offering several helpful Elden Ring Items.

 

Step 3: Gostoc's Shop – What You Can Buy

 

Once he becomes a merchant, Gostoc sells a variety of goods. While some of the items are standard, they are useful for players who need backup gear or consumables in the early-to-mid game. Notably, he sells:

 

    Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone – A rare Elden Ring item used to max out special weapons. This is one of the most valuable items in the game, available only after completing Nepheli's questline.

 

    Rune Arcs

    Festering Bloody Fingers

    Bandit and Knight gear pieces

    Throwing Daggers and Bolts

 

The Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone alone makes it worthwhile to see Gostoc's story through to the end. Using this item requires a significant amount of Elden Ring Runes, but it allows you to fully upgrade your weapon to +10.

 

Step 4: Optional Outcome – Killing Gostoc

 

If you don't like having your runes stolen and find Gostoc particularly irritating, you can choose to kill him at any time. If you do, he drops:

 

    Bell Bearing (for use in the Twin Maiden Husks' shop)

    A small number of Elden Ring Runes

 

However, this ends his questline permanently, and you will miss out on his shop and the Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone. Killing Gostoc also prevents some of the endgame Stormveil throne room scenes involving Nepheli and Kenneth from playing out properly.

 

Elden Ring Runes and Gostoc's Theft Mechanic

 

The most notorious part of Gostoc's questline is his hidden mechanic: when you die in Stormveil Castle, he steals 30% of the runes you drop. This mechanic is not directly communicated in-game, but becomes clear when comparing rune recovery after death. The only safe death zones in the castle are outside near the Warhawks—there, your rune count is untouched.

 

Once you defeat Godrick and Gostoc opens his shop, he stops stealing your runes. So, if you're tired of mysteriously losing a portion of your Elden Ring Runes, progressing past Godrick is the fix.

 

Conclusion

 

Gatekeeper Gostoc may not be the most beloved character in Elden Ring, but his questline is a great example of FromSoftware's signature blend of subtle storytelling and consequential gameplay. Whether you let him live and reap the benefits of his merchant stock or cut him down for his treachery, Gostoc's role ties neatly into the broader world of Elden Ring.

 

From stolen Elden Ring Runes to high-value Elden Ring Items like the Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone, Gostoc's arc proves that even the slimiest characters can lead to surprising rewards. Just be sure to watch your back when he's around—and maybe don't die too often in Stormveil Castle.