Most War in the North side quest guide advice focuses on the critical path, but the Legacy Edition's optional missions hide some of the best loot and lore in the game. Skipping them means missing unique gear, bonus skill points, and key story context that ties directly into the main campaign. This guide walks through every optional objective from Bree to Carn Dûm, so you know exactly where to look and what you'll earn.
Players who rush the main story often discover they've permanently locked themselves out of certain rewards, because several side quests disappear once you advance past a chapter's point of no return. The good news is that most optional content is easy to spot if you know the trigger conditions. Whether you play solo or with a co-op party, this War in the North side quest guide gives you a chapter-by-chapter breakdown of every missable objective.
Understanding the Side Quest Structure in War in the North
The game organizes optional content differently from the main campaign, and understanding that structure is the first step toward completing everything. Unlike the linear chapter progression, side quests activate through conversation triggers, environmental discoveries, or specific enemy kills that aren't always obvious on your first playthrough. Some missions appear on your map automatically, while others require you to explore off the beaten path or talk to the right NPC at the right time.
The core campaign follows a fixed path from Bree through Fornost, Rivendell, the Ettenmoors, Mount Gundabad, and finally Carn Dûm, as detailed in the Wikipedia plot summary. Side quests weave around this main route, and understanding which optional missions sit inside each chapter helps you plan your exploration efficiently.
| Chapter | Main Location | Side Quest Count | Missable Risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chapter 1 | Bree & Sarn Ford | 4 | High |
| Chapter 2 | Fornost & Barrow-downs | 5 | High |
| Chapter 3 | Rivendell & Ettenmoors | 4 | Medium |
| Chapter 4 | Mount Gundabad | 3 | Medium |
| Chapter 5 | Carn Dûm | 2 | Low |
The missable risk rating above reflects whether you can return to the area after completing the chapter. Chapter 1 and 2 locations become inaccessible once you move forward, so those optional quests demand immediate attention. Later chapters offer more flexibility, but you still want to clear objectives before the final boss encounter.
What Counts as an Optional Quest
The game doesn't label quests with a "side" tag, which confuses many players. The distinction lies in whether the objective advances the main story or not. Missions tied to the main narrative arc move you toward the next story beat, while optional quests involve helping NPCs, clearing optional areas, or hunting specific creatures. Some side quests even unlock bonus skill points that permanently enhance your character.
If you're tracking your completion percentage, note that the game counts side quests separately from main missions. The achievement system tracks all 46 achievements, and several require complete optional quest lines. Our War in the North achievements guide breaks down exactly which trophies need side quest completion, so check that if you're hunting 100% completion.
Chapter 1 Side Quests: Bree and Sarn Ford
Chapter 1 sets the tone for everything that follows, and it contains some of the most easily missed optional content in the entire game. The chapter opens with the trio arriving in Bree, where the story runs parallel to the main Lord of the Rings narrative, set days before Frodo reaches the Prancing Pony. This timing matters because several NPCs reference events that haven't happened yet in the main timeline.
The first optional quest triggers when you speak to Belaram the innkeeper, who asks you to retrieve a family heirloom from a bandit camp south of Bree. This quest is easy to miss because the innkeeper only offers it after you've completed the initial Prancing Pony conversation with Aragorn. If you rush out to Sarn Ford immediately, you lose the chance to pick up this quest.
| Optional Quest | Trigger Location | Reward | Missable Window |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Innkeeper's Request | Prancing Pony | Elven Dagger | Before leaving Bree |
| Lost Caravan | Sarn Ford entrance | Leather Armor Set | Before Sarn Ford boss |
| The Barrow-Wight's Lament | Barrow-downs | Ancient Rune | Before Fornost |
| Ranger's Debt | Bree outskirts | Skill Point | Before Chapter 2 |
The Lost Caravan quest deserves special attention because it requires you to explore a side path before the main bridge crossing. A merchant NPC stands near the caravan wreckage, and he asks you to recover three supply crates scattered across the area. The crates are guarded by warg packs, so bring your best crowd-control abilities if you're playing solo.
The Barrow-Wight's Lament Deep Dive
This quest is arguably the most rewarding optional mission in Chapter 1, but it's also the easiest to miss. After clearing the Barrow-downs area, a ghostly NPC appears near the eastern edge of the map. The Barrow-Wight asks you to recover three burial artifacts from nearby tombs and return them to the central altar. Each artifact is guarded by a mini-boss with unique mechanics.
The first artifact sits behind a Wight Champion who uses a devastating ground slam attack. The second requires solving a simple pressure-plate puzzle in the northern tomb. The third artifact is the trickiest, because it only appears after you defeat a group of grave worms that burrow underground. Completing this quest grants the Ancient Rune, which provides a permanent passive bonus to your resistances.
Chapter 2 Optional Errands After Leaving Fornost
Chapter 2 takes the party to Fornost, and this chapter contains the highest concentration of optional content in the game. The ruined city is packed with side quests, and several of them connect to the main story in meaningful ways. According to community reports, players who skip these quests miss roughly 20% of the total experience points available in the chapter.
The Fornost Garrison quest line is the most substantial optional content here. A surviving soldier named Captain Faramir's Aide asks you to clear three guard towers around the city perimeter. Each tower contains a mini-boss and a treasure chest with unique gear. The final tower unlocks a shortcut back to the city entrance, which saves significant backtracking time.
| Optional Quest | Trigger Location | Reward | Missable Window |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fornost Garrison | City entrance | Captain's Sword | Before Fornost depths |
| The Lost Legion | Western ruins | Legion Shield | Before leaving Fornost |
| Eagle's Aid | Eastern cliffs | Beleram's Blessing | Before Chapter 3 |
| The Smith's Request | Fornost forge | Masterwork Upgrade | Before Chapter 3 |
The Eagle's Aid quest is particularly important for players who want the best ending. This quest introduces you to the Great Eagle Beleram, who becomes a crucial ally in the final confrontation at Carn Dûm. If you complete this side quest, Beleram remembers your aid and appears during the final boss fight. Skip it, and he survives the battle but doesn't intervene, changing the ending outcome.
The Lost Legion and Its Hidden Rewards
This quest starts when you find a legion standard in the western ruins of Fornost. Picking up the standard triggers a conversation with a ghostly soldier who asks you to find the remains of his fallen comrades. The quest sends you across three separate locations, each containing a skeleton you must interact with.
The reward structure here is generous but spread out. Each skeleton gives you a small amount of gold and experience, but the real prize comes from the final location. After recovering all three remains, the ghost grants you the Legion Shield, a defensive item with excellent block recovery stats. This shield pairs well with the best shield options we've ranked in our War in the North best shield guide, so check that if you're optimizing your loadout.
Chapter 3 Optional Errands in Rivendell and the Ettenmoors
Chapter 3 shifts the pace significantly, offering a mix of peaceful hub exploration in Rivendell and intense combat in the Ettenmoors. The side quests here are more spread out, but they offer some of the best rewards in the game. The chapter's optional content also ties directly into the main story's eagle subplot.
In the Ettenmoors, the party helps the Eagles kill the Stone-giant Bargrisar, and Gwaihir joins with eagles Baranthor and Armenel. These eagle encounters are tied to optional quests that reward you with unique blessings. According to the Wikipedia plot summary, these events run parallel to the main narrative, and completing the optional eagle quests changes how the final battle plays out.
| Optional Quest | Trigger Location | Reward | Missable Window |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rivendell Archives | Elrond's library | Lore Tome | Before leaving Rivendell |
| The Stone Giant's Bane | Ettenmoors cliffs | Giant Slayer Axe | Before Chapter 4 |
| Eagle's Nest | High peaks | Feather Cloak | Before Chapter 4 |
| The Herbalist's Cure | Rivendell gardens | Healing Salve x5 | Before Chapter 4 |
The Rivendell Archives quest is a pure exploration mission that rewards lore enthusiasts. Elrond's librarian asks you to recover three lost manuscripts scattered around the valley. The manuscripts are hidden in out-of-the-way corners, and finding them requires careful exploration. The reward is a Lore Tome that grants bonus experience for the next five levels, making it valuable for players who want to stay ahead of the level curve.
Maximizing Eagle Quests for the Best Ending
The eagle-related side quests in this chapter have a direct impact on your ending, which makes them the highest-priority optional content in the game. The Eagle's Nest quest is the most important because it strengthens your bond with Beleram. Completing this quest ensures he responds when you summon him during the Carn Dûm confrontation.
If you're planning a completionist run, prioritize these eagle quests before advancing to Chapter 4. The War in the North chapter 3 guide covers the full chapter breakdown, including which side quests affect the ending. Missing these quests doesn't lock you out of the main story, but it does change the final cutscene in a meaningful way.
Chapter 4 Optional Errands Around Mount Gundabad and Nordinbad
Chapter 4 takes the party deep into dwarf territory, and the side quests here reflect the dwarven culture and history. At Mount Gundabad, you assist dwarves Nordri and Bruni in activating a sonic weapon that collapses the fortress. This main story event is surrounded by optional quests that expand the dwarven lore.
The side quests in this chapter are less missable than earlier ones because you can return to the area after completing the main objectives. However, some quests only trigger during specific story moments, so you still need to explore thoroughly before advancing. The Nordinbad Refugee quest is the standout optional mission here, as it involves helping displaced dwarves find new homes.
| Optional Quest | Trigger Location | Reward | Missable Window |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nordinbad Refugee | Dwarf camp | Dwarven Armor | Before leaving Nordinbad |
| The Sonic Weapon | Mount Gundabad | Resonance Gem | Before fortress collapse |
| Lost Dwarf Company | Cave system | Battle Axe | Before Chapter 5 |
| The Miner's Map | Nordinbad mines | Gold Cache | Before Chapter 5 |
The Sonic Weapon quest is unique because it runs parallel to the main story objective. While Nordri and Bruni work on the sonic weapon, they ask you to collect three resonance crystals from nearby caves. The crystals are guarded by frost trolls, which are tough but manageable with coordinated attacks. The Resonance Gem reward provides a passive damage boost against mechanical enemies.
The Miner's Map: A Hidden Treasure Hunt
This quest is easy to overlook because it starts with an unassuming map found on a dead dwarf in the Nordinbad mines. Reading the map triggers a treasure hunt that sends you across three locations in the chapter. Each location contains a buried chest with gold and crafting materials.
The final chest contains a substantial Gold Cache that's worth roughly 2,000 gold pieces, making this one of the most lucrative side quests in the game. The hunt also rewards you with a unique Dwarven crafting recipe that lets you forge high-tier equipment at any forge. Players who complete this quest report that the gold alone covers most of their upgrade costs for the final chapter.
Chapter 5 Optional Errands Ahead of the Carn Dûm Battle
The final chapter is the most linear, but it still contains a couple of optional quests worth pursuing. At Carn Dûm, the final confrontation with Agandaûr awaits, and the side quests here are designed to prepare you for that fight. The optional content is shorter but offers powerful rewards that can tip the balance in the boss battle.
The Fell Beast Hunt quest is the standout optional mission in this chapter. A scout NPC asks you to clear a nest of fell beasts before the main assault on the fortress. Completing this quest thins out the enemy ranks during the final battle, making the encounter noticeably easier. The reward is a Dragon Bane weapon that deals bonus damage to large enemies.
| Optional Quest | Trigger Location | Reward | Missable Window |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fell Beast Hunt | Carn Dûm approach | Dragon Bane | Before final boss |
| The Last Stand | Fortress courtyard | Warden's Cloak | Before Agandaûr fight |
| Agandaûr's Relic | Throne room approach | Dark Amulet | Before final cutscene |
The Last Stand quest triggers when you find a dying soldier in the fortress courtyard. He asks you to deliver a message to his family, and while the delivery isn't possible until after the game ends, completing the quest grants the Warden's Cloak. This cloak provides excellent protection against fire damage, which is useful in the final fight.
Preparing for Agandaûr with Optional Rewards
The final boss fight against Agandaûr is challenging, and the optional quest rewards can make a significant difference. The Dragon Bane weapon from the Fell Beast Hunt deals extra damage to Agandaûr, who counts as a large enemy type. The Dark Amulet from Agandaûr's Relic provides resistance to dark magic, which is his primary attack type.
If you're playing co-op, coordinate which players take which optional quests. One player can pursue the Fell Beast Hunt while another handles the Last Stand, ensuring you collect all rewards before the final confrontation. The game's total playtime depends heavily on how much optional content you pursue, and our War in the North how long is the game guide breaks down the time investment for completionist runs.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many side quests are in War in the North?
The game contains 18 optional side quests spread across five chapters. Chapter 2 has the most with five quests, while Chapter 5 has the fewest with three. Completing all side quests adds roughly 4-6 hours to a standard playthrough and grants access to unique gear and bonus skill points.
Can I return to earlier chapters to complete missed side quests?
No, you cannot return to Chapter 1 and 2 locations after advancing past their points of no return. Side quests in those chapters are permanently missable if you don't complete them before moving forward. Later chapters allow more flexibility, but you should still complete optional objectives before triggering the final boss fight.
Do side quests affect the game's ending?
Yes, the eagle-related side quests in Chapter 3 directly affect the ending at Carn Dûm. If you complete the Eagle's Aid and Eagle's Nest quests, Beleram intervenes during the final boss fight and changes the outcome. Skipping these quests results in a different ending where Beleram survives but doesn't participate.
What's the best reward from a side quest?
The Dragon Bane weapon from the Chapter 5 Fell Beast Hunt is arguably the best side quest reward because it deals bonus damage to Agandaûr in the final battle. The Ancient Rune from Chapter 1 is also excellent, providing permanent resistance bonuses that benefit your entire playthrough.
Are side quests required for 100% achievement completion?
Yes. War in the North's achievement list tracks all optional objectives, so finishing every side quest in chapters like Fornost and the Ettenmoors is mandatory for completionist achievements. Check the full achievement list before your playthrough, and prioritize the Eagle-related quests in the Ettenmoors, since they affect the Carn Dûm ending.