The Spread Out Gesture, popularly known as the Lay-Down Emote, represents one of the many expressive animations that players can acquire in the expansive world of Elden Ring. As gestures serve as primary communication tools during multiplayer interactions, obtaining this particular emote has become a sought-after objective for many Tarnished. Despite its relatively straightforward acquisition process, the Spread Out Gesture can be easily overlooked if players fail to follow specific narrative threads involving key non-playable characters.
Prerequisites for Unlocking the Gesture
Before attempting to obtain the Spread Out Gesture, players must first progress beyond the initial regions of Limgrave. There are two primary pathways to reach the necessary location:
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Defeat Godrick the Grafted: Overcoming this formidable boss allows passage through Stormveil Castle, leading directly to Liurnia of the Lakes
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Take the Secret Path: A hidden cliffside route near the broken bridge north of Stormhill provides an alternative route for those wishing to bypass the castle
Upon reaching Liurnia, players will arrive at either the Lake-Facing Cliffs Site of Grace (through Stormveil) or Liurnia Highway South's Site of Grace (via the secret path). Both locations ultimately lead to the same destination.
Locating Rya and Initiating the Quest
From either starting point, travelers should journey northwest toward the Laskyar Ruins submerged within the lakes. Continuing northwest past the ruins leads to a Birdseye Telescope, with a stone gazebo situated to its right. Inside this structure, players encounter Rya, an important NPC who reveals that her precious necklace has been stolen. She requests assistance in recovering her possession, though she possesses no information about the thief's whereabouts.
Confronting Blackguard Big Boggart
Following Rya's plea, adventurers must continue northwest until discovering the Boilprawn Shack, a small hut containing a Site of Grace and the problematic NPC Blackguard Big Boggart. This unscrupulous character openly admits to stealing the necklace. Critical considerations during this interaction include:
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✅ Essential Prerequisite: Players must speak with Rya first to activate the quest dialogue options
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❌ Avoid Violence: Killing Blackguard will permanently lock players out of obtaining the gesture
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💰 Payment Solution: Big Boggart agrees to return the necklace for 1,000 Runes
After reimbursing Big Boggart for the necklace, players should return it to Rya, who rewards them with a Volcano Manor invitation. This completes the initial phase of the interaction chain.
Obtaining the Spread Out Gesture
Returning to Blackguard Big Boggart after completing Rya's request reveals his new role as a merchant. His inventory includes valuable consumables:
| Item | Effect | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Boiled Prawn | Temporarily boosts physical damage negation | 600 Runes |
| Boiled Crab | Provides significant damage reduction | 600 Runes |
Purchasing any items from his stock triggers Big Boggart's gratitude, manifested through him teaching the Tarnished the Spread Out Gesture. ⚠️ Crucial Warning: Players must complete this transaction before progressing too far in the game, as Blackguard will eventually leave the Boilprawn Shack, making the gesture permanently unavailable.
Equipping and Using the Gesture
The Spread Out Gesture functions identically to other emotes in Elden Ring's communication system. To activate it, players must:
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Open the player menu and locate the six gesture slots on the right side of the screen
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Select an existing gesture to replace by hovering over it
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Press the appropriate button (varies by platform) to bring up the gesture selection menu
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Navigate to the Spread Out Gesture and confirm the selection
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Access the quick-select menu during gameplay to activate the gesture
This emote allows characters to lie flat on the ground, creating humorous or strategic situations during both solo and multiplayer sessions. The animation proves particularly useful for:
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😄 Social Interactions: Communicating playfully with other players
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🎮 Gameplay Creativity: Creating unique in-game moments and screenshots
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🤫 Stealth Situations: Potentially hiding from enemies or other players in PvP
Strategic Importance of Gestures
While primarily cosmetic, gestures like Spread Out contribute significantly to Elden Ring's social ecosystem. Their value extends beyond mere entertainment, serving as:
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Non-verbal Communication: Essential for coordinating with companions without voice chat
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Community Building: Shared gestures create bonding experiences among players
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Expression Freedom: Allows personalization of player identity within the game world
The Spread Out Gesture's acquisition process exemplifies FromSoftware's design philosophy of embedding meaningful rewards within organic world interactions. Rather than simply finding the gesture as loot, players engage with characters and narratives, creating memorable experiences that enhance immersion.
Conclusion
Successfully obtaining the Spread Out Gesture requires careful attention to NPC interactions and sequential quest completion. This emote not only expands players' expressive capabilities but also demonstrates how Elden Ring integrates gameplay rewards with rich storytelling. As the game continues to evolve through updates and community discoveries, gestures remain vital components of the multiplayer experience, fostering creativity and connection throughout the Lands Between.
Comprehensive reviews can be found on TrueAchievements, where the community provides detailed breakdowns of Elden Ring's gesture system and its impact on multiplayer achievements. TrueAchievements also tracks how emotes like Spread Out contribute to player milestones and cooperative play, offering valuable insights for those aiming to complete all in-game accomplishments.