In Aether & Iron, side missions aren’t thrown at you with markers—they’re tied to story progress, locations, and party members. If you don’t revisit areas or bring the right character, it’s very easy to miss them.
There are 7 total side missions:
- 4 in White Street
- 3 in Dreamland
- None in Nation’s Crusade (as of now)
This guide focuses on how to unlock each quest and what it’s about, in a natural order so you don’t miss anything.
White Street Side Missions
These become available as you progress early story events, especially after recruiting Cress.
Boy on the Run
After the massacre event, go back to the parade ground. There will be a woman standing in the street—talk to her to start the quest.
This mission is simple in concept: you’re helping a worried mother track down her missing son, who has gotten himself mixed up with soldiers. It’s one of the earliest side quests and easy to miss if you don’t revisit the area.
Ghost in the Rigging
This one begins automatically after Cress joins your party, so you don’t need to hunt for it.
It revolves around an abandoned airship rumored to be haunted. As you explore, the quest leans more into mystery than horror, uncovering what actually happened there.
Good to the Last Drop
Head to the Raiment District and speak to a character named Fence. He’ll give you this quest.
You’re tasked with delivering contraband to a restaurant, which sounds simple but ties into the game’s underground economy and shady dealings. It’s a quick mission, but adds some flavor to the world.
Life on the Edge
After recruiting Cress, keep moving around the airship areas and you’ll trigger a surprise encounter.
In this quest, you lose your weapon and have to recover it. It’s more action-focused than the others and feels like a sudden interruption rather than a planned mission—which is why many players stumble into it unexpectedly.
Dreamland Side Missions
These unlock later and are more tied to specific conditions and characters, so they’re easier to miss.
Bread and Circuses
First, complete the story task where you patrol the Downtown Exchange with Sophie (the quest often referred to as Her Heart Has Two Beats). After that, go to the Hippodrome.
This mission puts you into a chaotic death race involving other racers. It’s one of the more gameplay-heavy side quests and stands out because of how different it feels from standard missions.
Wolf at the Gate
Once you unlock Coney Island, visit Nellie in her lab.
What starts as a lighthearted outing quickly turns into chaos when things spiral out of control—this quest leans more into humor and character interaction than serious stakes.
Souls Scratched in Iron
This one is easy to miss because it depends on your party.
If Luca is in your party, explore the lower part of the Dreamland map. You’ll trigger a hidden encounter that starts the quest.
It’s a more narrative-heavy mission focused on Luca’s past, touching on worker unrest and his personal history. This is one of the more story-driven side quests in the game.
- Always revisit old areas after major story events
- Keep different party members active (especially Luca)
- Some quests trigger as random encounters, not NPC prompts
If you’re trying to 100% the game, the biggest mistake is just rushing forward—most of these are hidden in places you’ve already been.