Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar (NES)/Side quests

All information to get the rare items is already in the game, if the Stranger talks with every character. Although the NES remake has shorter dialogues, most information is still found in the same towns and also at the same pubs.

Shepherd items
If you are playing the NES remake, and in particular if you are playing as the shepherd, this is the first side quest you will do.

In the NES remake the party can include up to four companions, while the other ones can be left at the hostel in Castle Britannia. Because of this, some items were created to upgrade two characters (the shepherd and the fighter) considered weak, otherwise players would have seldom used them.
 * The sheep flute for the Shepherd: it allows to cast "Sleep" on all opponents unlimited times with no MP consumption;
 * the humble robe for the Shepherd: it is an armor upgrade excleusive to the shepherd class;

The flute and the robe are found in Magincia ruins. First of all, you need a companion who can cast the "cure poison" spell, then you also need to purchase the magic key that costs 2000 GP. In other words, if you are playing as the shepherd, it is impossible to obtain these items since game start. When you come back to the ruins, talk to the skeleton in the north-east, and it will give you permission to take them (otherwise, your virtue score will be lowered). Both items are in chests, in two different basements: the flute is at the centre of the ruins, and the robe is in the south-west.

Nightshade fungus

 * '' See also Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar/Side Quests

In the NES remake, all characters have been "shifted forward by one town". The first clue about the fungus comes from a fighter in Vesper (Presto); he directs you to the pub in Trinsic (instead of Vesper), then the companions are directed to a mage in Moonglow (Virgil, rendered as Brazil/Basil ), instead of Trinsic.

All the thread can be followed by moongates: start in Vesper, take the Minoc moongate to Trinsic, then the Trinsic moongate to Moonglow, eventually get back to mainland using the Moonglow moongate to Britain.

Three spells only require Nightshade fungus:
 * 1) Jinx: useful against large numbers of enemies;
 * 2) View: useful, but it might be more convenient to buy magic gems instead;
 * 3) Kill: not useful, ranged weapons are more reliable.

Mandrake root

 * '' See also Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar/Side Quests

As the Nightshade fungus, Mandrake root can only be found "on the darkest of nights".

Seven spells require Mandrake root:
 * 1) Jinx: useful against large numbers of enemies;
 * 2) Negate: useful against enemies that cast debuff spells (sleep) on the Companions;
 * 3) Resurrect: absolutely necessary, although hopefully used not often;
 * 4) Gate travel: use sparingly, because walking allows to fight and earn experience and gold;
 * 5) View: useful, but it's more convenient to buy magic gems instead;
 * 6) Tremor: not useful, ranged weapons are more reliable;
 * 7) Iceball: not useful, ranged weapons are more reliable.

The sextant

 * '' See also Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar/The Strongholds of the Principles

In order to reach the exact coordinates where nightshade fungus and mandrake root are located, you need a sextant. Sailor Sam of Trinsic said to ask to the barkeep in Jhelom. Leave a 100GP tip, and she reveals how to obtain it from a guild shop. The details depend on which port you are playing, but the explanation is extremely precise.

There are two guild shops: one in Vesper and one in Buccaneer's Den. The former is easier to reach. Once a sextant is purchased (for 900 GP), you can see the party's coordinates by selecting it from the "Use" menu. Travel to align exactly with either latitude or longitude, then turn at 90° and go straight to the coordinates of your destination. Search the location and retrieve some rare reagents.

Original spell quests

 *  See also Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar/Side Quests

Whenever the Companions learn a recipe from one or more characters, go to Moonglow. In the "Spells Unlimited" shop, they will be asked the recipe for that spell. If the correct recipe is given, the party becomes able to cast that spell.

NES exclusive spell quests

 *  See also Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar/Side Quests

In the NES remake, there are seven more spell recipes to be found:
 * Sleep: talk to a mage (Cosima) in Moonglow (in the original ports, the manual gave a more expensive recipe, and this character revealed the improved mix).
 * Reflect: talk to a mage (Jingles) in Cove; this is a NES exclusive spell (in the original ports, this character starts the thread for the Gate spell).
 * Negate: talk to a mage (Lord Terence) in the Lycaeum.
 * Destroy (Kill): talk to a black mage (Flatbush) in Vesper (in the original ports, this character starts the thread for the improved Quickness recipe).
 * Jinx: talk to a beardless mage (Garam) in Serpent's Hold.
 * Squish: talk to a woman (Kansas ranger) in Yew; this is a NES exclusive spell.
 * Tremor: talk to a beggar (Granted) in Skara Brae, to a fighter (Slithe) in Jhelom, and to a girl (Francesca/Teresa) in Paws.

Mondain's skull

 * '' See also Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar/Side Quests

Mystic arms

 * '' See also Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar/Side Quests

Legendary axe (NES exclusive)

 * The dragon scale to create the legendary axe for the Fighter: it is the second best melee weapon in the game, only inferior to the Mystic Sword.

The scale is found in the Serpent Spine mountains, that can only be reached by air. If it's brought to Zircon of Minoc, he will use it to create the legendary axe.