Echoes of Aincrad Main Quest List
Every main story quest in the floating castle, floor by floor. From the Prologue's seven scripted bosses through all 16 Floor 1 quests to the Floor 2 climb toward Asterius the Taurus King — with objectives, key bosses, and what each quest unlocks.
Aincrad spans 100 floors. This list covers the two complete floors available at launch.
What Each Quest Gives You
Experience & Col
Most main quests award a little EXP and Col — typically around 100 EXP on Normal difficulty. The amount varies slightly by difficulty setting.
Cardinal Rank
Several quests raise your Cardinal Rank. Higher rank scales enemies up but improves loot drops and unlocks higher weapon upgrade tiers at the Smithy.
Unlocks
Key quests open Character Creation, new hub towns (Horunka, Urbus), and the path to the next floor once its Floor Boss falls.
| # | Quest | Key Boss / Enemy | What happens |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Prologue | 7 scripted bosses | Tutorial disguised as the closed beta. Defeat the Sentry Golem, Illfang the Kobold Lord, Snowcap Boar, the Glenspore Grizzly (twice), Dire Strife Wolf, and the Wrathful Shrewman. Ends at the Town of Beginnings. |
| 2 | Iori's Request | Snowcap Boar | Head to the inn, reunite with your friends, explore town with Iori, then defeat the Snowcap Boar and reach the northwest Safe Area. |
| 3 | Within the Shadows | Shrewman · Glenspore Grizzly | Track the monster that stole Iori's Col, defeat the Shrewman, then take down the Glenspore Grizzly to recover it. |
| 4 | The Violet Fencer I | Dire Strife Wolf | Search for the Teardrop Cave entrance, defeat the Dire Strife Wolf, and activate the Warp Terminal inside. |
| 5 | The Violet Fencer II | Glenspore Grizzly · Wrathful Shrewman | Descend Teardrop Cave, defeat both bosses, and activate the deepest terminal. Completing this quest unlocks Character Creation. |
| 6 | Summons | Mob ambush | Create your character, witness the ~17-minute cutscene that reveals the Death Game, then make your way back to the Town of Beginnings. |
| 7 | Beaten to the Punch | Raging Boar | Travel to Horunka, make sense of what is happening, defeat the Raging Boar, and activate the Warp Terminal. |
| 8 | Secret Medicine of the Forest | — | Head into the forest to gather the medicine the story needs. A straightforward exploration step between fights. |
| 9 | Cave Diving | — | Explore the cave system. Keep your Safe Areas active and your consumables stocked before pushing deeper. |
| 10 | Dawning Fear | Shrewman Queen · Glenspore Grizzly | Returns to Teardrop Cave as a randomized dungeon. Clear it for an enhanced Annealed Blade and reach the new town of Horunka. |
| 11 | Onward to Tolbana | Scream Hornet | The 11th main quest. Journey to Tolbana through the Great Wetlands, meet new enemies (Ruin Kobold Warrior, Little Bao, Nepenthes), and beat the Scream Hornet. |
| 12 | Raid Call | — | Rally the party for the push toward the Floor 1 Labyrinth and its guardian. |
| 13 | Labyrinth | Kobold Champion | Enter the Floor 1 Labyrinth and defeat the Kobold Champion guarding the path. |
| 14 | Nightmare | — | A story-heavy beat that deepens the doomsday visions tied to your brooch. |
| 15 | Grip of Despair | — | An upsetting cutscene around Saayu and Clark pushes you to ascend toward Floor 2 and find Kirito. |
| 16 | Proof of Mettle | Kobold Champion · Ruin Kobold Chieftain · Illfang the Kobold Lord | The 16th and final Floor 1 quest. Run the Labyrinth again, beat all three bosses, and reach the top to ascend to Floor 2. |
| # | Quest | Key Boss / Enemy | What happens |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17 | Cliffside Marvel | — | Opens Floor 2 around the savanna hub of Urbus. The peaceful forests of Floor 1 give way to rocky canyons and dry grasslands. |
| 18 | The Black Swordsman I | — | Crosses paths with the series' iconic solo player as the Floor 2 story unfolds. |
| 19 | The Black Swordsman II | — | Continues the Black Swordsman thread and advances the climb toward the Floor 2 Labyrinth. |
| 20 | Original Sin | — | A quest that could black-screen after completion if a partner other than Iori, Zash, or Argo was selected — now fixed in Update Ver.1.0.4. |
| 21 | Legend of the High Elves | — | Expands the lore of Floor 2's elf settlements and their role in the story. |
| 22 | The Nightmare Recurs | — | The doomsday vision returns, tying the subplot back to the main climb. |
| 23 | Seeking Hope | — | A turning-point quest that pushes the party toward resolution. |
| 24 | Trees in the Sand | — | Desert exploration beat set among the dunes of Floor 2. |
| 25 | Que's Sanctuary | — | A sanctuary quest that grants a safe haven amid the savanna. |
| 26 | Onward to Taran | — | Journey toward Taran as the path to the Floor 2 boss opens. |
| 27 | The Diva I | — | The first Diva quest introduces the songstress storyline on Floor 2. |
| 28 | The Diva II | Asterius the Taurus King | The Floor 2 Floor Boss. A three-phase fight — bait his charge into a stone pillar in phase two to stun him — that unlocks access to Floor 3. More quests follow as the castle is climbed. |
Tips for Clearing the Main Line
Always Carry Exploration Items
Bring Bomb Stones, Blink Talismans, and Luminous Talismans before leaving town. Brittle rock walls, chasms, and dark caves all need the right item to pass — buy them from the Item Seller or craft them from materials.
Prioritize Safe Areas
The moment you enter a new region, head for the Safe Area. Until you activate it, the map hides paths, item locations, and puzzles. Even out-of-the-way Safe Areas become fast-travel points later.
Keep Consumables in Your Pouch
Store Healing Potions, SP Potions, and Mystic Crystals in your Pouch at all times. You cannot leave an Ark or boss door once the fight starts, so enter every major fight at full supplies.
Sync Cardinal Rank & Gear
Main quests raise your Cardinal Rank, which scales enemy level and loot. After each quest, return to town, spend Growth Points, and upgrade weapons at the Smithy so your gear never falls behind the climb.
Stuck on a Boss?
Our Boss Guide breaks down every Floor Boss and Labyrinth Guardian — parry timing, charged-heavy windows, and partner-synergy setups for each phase. Or jump to the Floor 2 boss for Asterius.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the quest list change after the main story?
After the credits, post-game content opens — including randomized Warped Dungeons and high-level side quests that award Key Stones. Our Warped Dungeons guide covers the loop that prepares you for the hardest fights.
Can I replay individual quests?
Finishing the demo unlocks mission replay, which lets you upgrade weapons and level up to the demo cap before the full climb. In the full game, progress is gated by the main quest line — you accept a quest in town, then explore the assigned region.
What comes after The Diva II?
Higher floors and expansion content will extend this list as the castle is climbed. Aincrad's full structure spans 100 floors, with post-launch updates planned to reveal more of the ascent.