Exploration lies at the heart of the Metroidvania experience, and in the breathtaking world of Niwen, discovery is everything. If you have been traversing the lush environments of the game, you may have encountered NPCs with peculiar requests that seem disconnected from the main narrative. Among these, the multi-stage trading quest is a fan favorite for completionists. Specifically, the Ori and the Will of the Wisps Hand to Hand soup quest chain is the key to unlocking the full potential of your in-game map.
Completing this quest is not just about checking items off a list; it is about immersing yourself in the lore of the forest and assisting its inhabitants. By the time you finish the Ori and the Will of the Wisps Hand to Hand soup quest, you will have gained the ability to see every secret hidden in the environment. This guide will walk you through every step of the journey, ensuring you do not miss a single trade in this lengthy, rewarding endeavor.
Understanding the Hand to Hand Quest Chain
The Hand to Hand side quest is essentially a "fetch quest" that spans almost the entire duration of the game. It functions similarly to trading sequences found in classic adventure titles, where you must deliver an item to a specific NPC, who then rewards you with a new item to take to the next location.
Why is this quest so important? The final reward is arguably one of the most useful utilities in the game. It reveals every single secret location on your map, allowing you to backtrack and collect missed Life Cells, Energy Cells, and Spirit Shards with ease. Before diving into the steps, it is essential to understand the flow of the quest. You cannot sequence-break this; you must follow the trades in the specific order provided by the game.
The Complete Trading Sequence Table
To make your journey through the Ori and the Will of the Wisps Hand to Hand soup quest chain easier, we have compiled the entire sequence into the table below. Keep this handy as you explore.
| Step | Location | Item Given | Item Received |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kwolok's Hollow | N/A (Start) | Map |
| 2 | Wellspring Glades | Map | Backpack |
| 3 | The Wellspring | Backpack | Herb Pouch |
| 4 | Baur's Reach | Herb Pouch | Soup |
| 5 | Baur's Reach | Soup | Comfy Hat |
| 6 | Wellspring Glades | Comfy Hat | Lantern |
| 7 | Mouldwood Depths | Lantern | Mouldwood Silk |
| 8 | Luma Pools | Mouldwood Silk | Spyglass |
| 9 | Wellspring Glades | Spyglass | Canteen |
| 10 | Windswept Wastes | Canteen | Map Stone Fragment |
| 11 | Windtorn Ruins | Map Stone Fragment | Reveal Secrets |
Detailed Walkthrough of the Trading Chain
Navigating the Ori and the Will of the Wisps Hand to Hand soup quest requires patience and a good grasp of the world map. Below, we break down the most critical steps where players often find themselves confused.
Early Stages: Kwolok’s Hollow to Baur’s Reach
The quest begins in Kwolok's Hollow. Speak to the Moki there to initiate the chain. The early trades are straightforward but require you to move between the Wellspring Glades and the interior of The Wellspring. The crucial "soup" moment happens in Baur's Reach.
When you reach Baur's Reach, you will meet Veral, a character who is obsessed with his cooking. This is where the Ori and the Will of the Wisps Hand to Hand soup quest gets its name. You must trade the Herb Pouch you received from the Moki in The Wellspring to Veral. In exchange, he provides you with the hot bowl of soup. Do not consume it; this is a quest item! You must immediately take this soup to the freezing Moki located higher up in Baur's Reach.
Mid-Game Trades: Mouldwood Depths and Luma Pools
Once you have the Comfy Hat from the freezing Moki, the quest moves into more challenging terrain. Players often report difficulty finding the Moki in the Mouldwood Depths. Remember that this area is dark and filled with hazards. You are looking for a Moki standing near a yellow sac. Trading the Lantern here is the only way to proceed.
The Luma Pools section is equally atmospheric. According to community reports, the fishing Moki here is easy to miss if you are rushing through the area. Ensure you have the Mouldwood Silk before heading to this zone, or you will simply have to backtrack later.
Final Steps: The Reward
The final trade occurs in the Windswept Wastes, where you trade the Canteen to a Gorlek Miner. Once you have the Map Stone Fragment, you must travel to the Windtorn Ruins. This is the endgame of the quest. Placing the fragment will permanently upgrade your map, revealing all secrets.
Why You Should Prioritize This Quest
Many players wonder if the effort is worth the reward. In our experience, the answer is a resounding yes. While the game is enjoyable without 100% completion, the ability to see every secret on your map saves hours of aimless wandering.
Here is a breakdown of why this quest is a "must-do" for any serious player:
| Benefit | Description |
|---|---|
| Efficiency | Eliminates the need to guess where health or energy fragments are hidden. |
| Completionism | Essential for players aiming for the 100% completion achievement. |
| Exploration | Encourages you to revisit areas with new abilities, deepening your understanding of the map. |
| Narrative | Provides small, charming vignettes of the lives of the Moki and other forest inhabitants. |
By completing the Ori and the Will of the Wisps Hand to Hand soup quest, you are not just getting a reward; you are effectively unlocking the "true" map of the game.
Tips for Navigating the Quest
Even with a guide, the platforming in Ori and the Will of the Wisps can be challenging. Here are some pro-tips to ensure you don't get stuck during your trading journey.
- Upgrade Your Movement Abilities First: Some of these items require you to reach areas that are otherwise inaccessible without abilities like the Double Jump, Dash, or Grapple. If you are struggling to reach a specific Moki, come back after you have unlocked more traversal skills.
- Check Your Inventory: The game does not always explicitly remind you what items you are carrying. If you are at a trade location and the NPC isn't interacting, double-check your inventory to ensure you have the correct item for that specific step.
- Use Spirit Wells: The game world is large. Don't waste time walking if you have unlocked a Spirit Well near your destination. Fast travel is your best friend when ferrying items across the map.
Tip
Don't Rush the Dialogue The NPCs in this game have a lot of personality. While it might be tempting to skip through the text to get to the trading prompt, the dialogue often provides clues about where to go next or adds flavor to the world. Take a moment to read what they have to say!
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Even the best-laid plans can go awry. Here are some common hurdles players face while completing the Ori and the Will of the Wisps Hand to Hand soup quest, along with how to solve them.
| Issue | Potential Cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| NPC won't accept item | Wrong item or wrong stage of quest. | Verify you have completed the previous step in the chain. |
| Cannot find the Moki | You are in the wrong area or floor level. | Use the map to check if you are in the correct biome. |
| Died during transport | The quest items are persistent. | You do not lose quest items upon death; simply respawn and continue. |
| Can't reach the NPC | Missing movement ability. | Prioritize main story progression to unlock necessary mobility skills. |
If you feel stuck, consider checking the official Steam page for the game to see if there are any updates or community discussions regarding specific quest bugs, though this quest is generally very stable.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. Can I complete the Ori and the Will of the Wisps Hand to Hand soup quest early in the game? No, you cannot. The quest requires access to multiple biomes, including the Mouldwood Depths, Luma Pools, and Windswept Wastes. You will need to progress through the main story to unlock these areas and the necessary movement abilities to reach the NPCs.
2. What happens if I miss an item? You cannot "miss" an item in a way that breaks the game. If you have the item in your inventory, you can complete the trade. If you haven't started the quest or are at a specific stage, the item will be waiting for you with the correct NPC.
3. Is the soup item used for anything else? No, the soup is strictly a quest item for the Hand to Hand chain. Once you trade it to the freezing Moki in Baur's Reach, it is removed from your inventory.
4. Does the reward reveal secrets in areas I haven't visited yet? Yes, the Map Stone Fragment reward reveals every secret on the map, regardless of whether you have physically entered that specific sub-area or not. It is the ultimate tool for late-game cleanup.
Final Thoughts
The journey through Niwen is one of the most visually stunning and emotionally resonant experiences in modern gaming. Engaging with side quests like the Ori and the Will of the Wisps Hand to Hand soup chain allows you to slow down and appreciate the intricate design of the world. While the primary goal of this quest is the utility of the map upgrade, the real reward is the time spent exploring every corner of this beautifully crafted environment.
Whether you are a completionist aiming for every achievement or a casual player looking to get the most out of your map, this quest is well worth the effort. Follow the steps, enjoy the scenery, and remember that even in a world filled with danger, there is always time to help a Moki in need. Happy adventuring!