This guide explains how to attain all NPC 'gifts' (free items they give you), usually after some requirement has been met. Gifts can include weapons, armor, consumables, rings and more not necessary to further the plot (so for example the King's Ring and the Ashen Mist Heart aren't 'gifts' despite them being given for free). Characters are assigned by location you receive the items, not locations they are first found etc.

I will not be covering covenant-obtained items. (Any item given to you after you have reached a certain rank in a covenant)

If I have forgotten any, please do not hesitate to leave a comment so I can update the guide accordingly.

Gift giving NPCs: 2

Milibeth:



The young woman in the firekeeprs' hut. Gives the Handmaid's Ladle Hammer upon defeating two of the three ogres in Things Betwixt (Specifically the two near the gender-swapping coffin). The one on the side path further up is not necessary, but killing all three does not void the reward.

Strowen

One of the Old Firekeepers inside the hut. She is the only one you can actually hold a conversation with, so if you get confused, remember that. Gives Six Human Effigies if you talk to her after obtaining the King's Ring, which can be found in Vendrick's room in the Undead Crypt.

Gift giving NPCs: 10

Merchant Hag Melentia:



First encountered in Forest of Fallen Giants, moves to Majula after killing The Last Giant and going through all her dialogue. After purchasing ten thousand souls worth of items from her, she will gift you the Covetous Serpent Ring +1. (Note that she can gift this at either The Forest of Fallen Giants or Majula)

Blacksmith Lenigrast:

Blacksmith who moves into his shop once the door has been opened (via a key purchased from Merchant Hag Melentia). He will give you the Blacksmith's Hammer after spending eight thousand souls and talking to him. (Important: These eight thousand souls must be spent on his services, reinforce equipment or repair equipment, and not on his wares)

Maughlin the Armourer:

The merchant in the house to the left of the pit. Once you have spent fifteen thousand souls on his goods (you'll know because he will no longer be sitting on the floor and he'll talk about how he's rich), return to him with zero souls in your inventory and he will gift you the Invisible Aurous Armour Set.

Carhillion of the Fold:

The Sorcerer found in No Man's Wharf. He will not talk to you here if your intelligence stat is below eight (natural stat, any equipment bonuses are not counted). Once you have beat the Flexile Sentry and talk to him, he will move to Majula, under a tree to the left of the death monument. He will give you the Northern Ritual Band +1 if you talk to him with thirty or more intelligence. (Note that he can also gift this at No Man's Wharf)

Rosabeth of Melfia:

Found petrified, trying to pull a lever, by the gate into the Shaded Woods. Unpetrify her with a Fragrent Branch of Yore, give her clothes, and she will come to Majula, where you can find her by the foot of the death monument. Talk to her at this point and she will give you a Prism Stone as thanks.

Crestfallen Saulden:



Depressed guy sitting next to the death monument plaque, and leader of the Way of the Blue covenant. Talk to him after dying one hundred or more times, and he will give you a Ring of Steel Protection.

Additionally, after bringing at least four new residents to Majula (any four from: Merchant Hag Melentia, Stone Trade Cholanne, Rosabeth of Melfia, Carhillion of the Fold, Licia of Lindeldt, Laddersmith Gilligan or Cale the Cartographer), talk to him to receive a Soul Vessel.

Cale the Cartographer:



Initially found in the Forest of Fallen Giants, in a cave with a rolling boulder near the second bonfire. Once he is in Majula, you can find him in the basement of the manor house standing next to a map. To inherit his equipment, you must have eight fires on the map lit, which is achieved by doing the following:

1. Kill the Last Giant, boss of Forest of Fallen Giants
2.Kill the Lost Sinner, boss of Sinner's Rise
3.Kill the Old Iron King, boss of Iron Keep
4.Kill The Rotten, boss of Black Gulch
5.Kill The Duke's Dear Freja, boss of Brightstone Cove Tseldora
6.Obtain the King's Ring, found in Vendrick's room in the Undead Crypt.
7. Kill the Throne Watcher and the Throne Defender, first bosses of the Throne of Want
8. Obtain the Ashen Mist Heart by speaking to the Ancient Dragon at the top of Dragon Shrine

After doing all of that, return to Cale (with the Ashen Mist Heart in your inventory) and he will gift you Cale's Helm, Cale's Leather Armor and Cale's Shoes. You will also be granted the achievement 'Curious Map'.

Stone Trade Chloanne:

First found in Harvest Valley, close to the Poison Pool bonfire. Exhaust her dialogue for her to move to Majula, where she can be found sitting on a rock in front of the blacksmith shop. Spend twenty thousand souls on her merchandise then talk to her to receive a Twinkling Titanite.

Laddersmith Giligan:

Initially in Earthen Peak, on a ledge upstairs from the Central Earthen Peak bonfire, past the wooden balustrades. Exhaust his dialogue here, or kill Mythra the Baneful Queen and he will move to Majula, right next to the pit. In Majula, purchase the twelve-thousand soul ladder, his most expensive, (from the 'set up ladder' option) to receive the Melu Scimitar. You will also receive the achievement 'Garrulous Miser'.

Licia of Lindeldt:

First found in Heide's Tower of Flame, by the Tower of Flame Bonfire. Exhaust her dialogue and she will move to the mysterious contraption on the way from Majula to Heide's Tower of Flame. If your faith is thirty or higher without buffs, she will give you Idol's Charm, Saint's Hood, Saint's Dress, Saint's Long Gloves and Saint's Trousers. (These can also be given in Heide's Tower of Flame)

Gift giving NPCs: 3

Merchant Hag Melentia:

See Majula

Cale the Cartographer:

Found in a cave near the Cardinal Tower Bonfire, down the ladder and across the tree roots (The Cave has a giant boulder that can flatten you). Here, talk to him to receive the House Key, which opens the central house in Majula. (For his inheritance, see Majula)

Mild Mannered Pate:

Found past Cardinal Tower Bonfire. Go through the hole in the wall, down the ladder past the room full of Ballistas and straight on to find him sitting by a gate. Talk to him after going through the gate (which activates a trap you must solve) to receive the White Sign Soapstone.

Gift giving NPCs: 1

Licia of Lindeldt:

See Majula

Gift giving NPCs: 2

Carhillion of the Fold:

See Majula

Lonesome Gavlan:

Alcoholic Gyrm. Can be found in the room near a Lucatiel of Mirrah summon. Purchase fifteen thousand souls worth of merchandise and he will gift you the Gyrm Greataxe. (Once talked to here, he will move to Harvest Valley, then the doors of Pharros, where he will stay permenantly; Gyrm Greataxe can be gifted at any of these locations)

Gift giving NPCs: 2

Steady Hand McDuff:

Found next to the McDuff's Workshop bonfire. First give him the dull ember to access infusions. After spending at least fourteen thousand souls specifically on upgrades (you have to buy at least 1 of every type of infusion), he will gift you a Titanite Slab. You will also unlock the 'Smith for Life' achievement.

Straid of Olaphis:



Found in front of the Straid's Cell bonfire, petrified. Unpetrify him to unlock access to boss soul trades. After trading four boss souls to him, and talking, he will gift you the Black Hood, Black Robes, Black Gloves and Black Boots.

Gift giving NPCs: 1

Felkin the Outcast:

Can be found directly before the first bonfire. Talk to him with at least twenty faith and twenty intelligence without buffs, and he will gift you the Sunset Staff, Hexer's Hood, Hexer's Robes, Hexer's Gloves and Hexer's Boots.

Gift giving NPCs: 2

Lonesome Gavlan:

See No Man's Wharf

Stone Trade Chloanne:

See Majula

Gift giving NPCs: 1

Magerold of Lanafir:



Found immediately right after going across the bridge and inside the Iron Keep, all the way at the end of the corridor. Spend ten thousand souls on his goods, and he will give you a Covetous Gold Serpent Ring +1

Gift giving NPCs: 2

Head of Vengarl:

Found to the left up a hill in the misty, ghost-ridden part of Shaded Woods. Exhaust his dialogue to receive Vengarl's Helm. You will also receive the achievement 'Reflections on Disembodiment'.

Manscorpion Tark:



The scorpion dude in the sandy pit to the left of Shaded Ruins bonfire. You must have the ring of whispers to talk to him. After beating Scorpioness Najka, he will gift you a Fragrant Branch of Yore. After defeating The Duke's Dear Freja, he will gift you the Black Scorpion Stinger.

Gift giving NPCs: 1

Lonesome Gavlan:

See No Man's Wharf

Gift giving NPCs: 1

Cromwell the Pardoner:



Immediately after the Prowling Magus and Congregation boss fight, leave the chapel and turn left into the indentation. Take the ladder up to find Cromwell. If your natural faith is higher than 35, he gifts you the Ring of Resistance.

Gift giving NPCs: 2

Chancellor Wellager:



Found directly up the stairs from the entrance (he's the spooky ghost). Talk to him after defeating the Giant Lord, and he will gift you the Royal Dirk and Espada Ropera weapons.

After defeating the Throne Watcher and the Throne Defender, he will gift you Llewellyn Armor, Llewellyn Gloves and Llewellyn Shoes.

Imprisoned Milfanito:

Once the lift before the Looking Glass Knight fight is active, go to top floor. Unlock the cage with the woman inside (one of the Amana Milfanito Sisters) and she will give you the Ring of the Dead.

Gift giving NPCs: 2 (technically 1 shared entity I guess)

Milfanito Sister #1:



The first sister you encounter, in the hut down from the bonfire after the Looking Glass Knight fight. After freeing her sister (the one in Drangleic Castle) she will gift you a Divine Blessing.

Milfanito Sister #2:

The one near the Rise of the Dead bonfire (after Demon of Song). You must be hollow to enter her chamber. After freeing her sister (the one in Drangleic Castle), talk to her to receive a Fire Seed.

Gift giving NPCs: 1

Grave Warden Agdayne:

The annoying blue guy who tells you not to produce light, found before the giant room up some stairs. Provided you have not permenantly aggrivated him by producing light, speak to him after aquiring the King's Ring to receive Darkdrift, Agdayne's Black Robes, Agdayne's Cuffs and Agdayne's Black Kilt.

Gift giving NPCs: 2

Lucatiel of Mirrah:



You must talk to her in Aldia's Keep only after doing everything below, otherwise she will disappear and you will not get anything.

A pretty long-winded gift set to obtain, you must exhaust Lucatiel's dialogue in four locations.

Her dialogue locations can be found at:
1. Next to the bonfire in No Man's Wharf
2.In the tower after the Tower Apart bonfire in Lost Bastille
3.In Black Gulch, drop to a ledge on the right and you will find her
4.Near the bonfire Lower Earthen Peak in Earthen Peak

With the exception of Aldia's Keep, the other four can be done in whatever order you like. Additionally, you must summon her for three boss fights, which she must survive.

Any three from:

1. Flexile Sentry
2.Lost Sinner
3.The Smelter Demon in Iron Keep
4.The Rotten

Whilst she can be summoned for the Burnt Ivory King, I have not confirmed whether this contributes to the progress. After doing everything above, exhaust her dialogue in Aldia's Keep by the bonfire to receive Lucatiel's Mask, Lucatiel's Vest, Lucatiels Gloves and Lucatiel's Trousers. You will also receive the achievement 'Lucatiel'.

Royal Sorcerer Navlaan:



If you want to do Navlaan's entire questline and receive his gift, under no circumstances pull the lever the right of the dragon skeleton in Aldia's Keep, as this will irreversibly turn him into a hostile phantom for the duration of the NG cycle.

Whilst you are Hollow, talk to him to initiate an assassination questline (although every item can be obtained without assassinating the individual). There are four targets:

-Laddersmith Giligan
-Cale the Cartographer
-Felkin the Outcast
-Emerald Herald

After killing (or not killing, he never finds out) each target, talk to him again whilst Hollow to receive Chaos Hood, Chaos Robes, Chaos Gloves and Chaos Boots.

Gift giving NPCs: 1

Captain Drummond:

Found at the end of the starting hallway, sitting down the side. Come to him after killing the Giant Lord in Memory of Jeigh, and he will gift you his inheritance, Drangleic Helm. You will also unlock the 'Holder of the Fort' achievement.

Gift giving NPCs: 1

Benhart of Jugo:



Another long-winded one, with a swathe of requirements before being given the gift. Talk to him in Shaded Woods, before and after unpetrifying Rosabeth, to unlock him as a summon. To meet the requirements for Benhart's inheritance, you must take him into three boss fights as a summon, and he must survive.

Boss Fights that contribute to progress:
-Prowling Magus and Congregation
-Looking Glass Knight
-The Giant Lord
-Elana, the Squalid Queen

Note that whilst he can be summoned for the Throne Watcher and Throne Defender, Nashandra and The Scholar of the First Sin, none of those bosses count towards the progress. Using a Bonfire Ascetic and repeating one of the Bosses listed above apparently also works.

After completing three of the five boss fights with Benhart present, talk to him in the Memory of Orro to receive Bluemoon Greatsword, Benhart's Parma, Benhart's Helm, Benhart's Armor, Benhart's Gloves and Benhart's Boots. You will also unlock the 'Moonlight Greatsword' Achievement.

Gift giving NPCs: 1

King Vendrick:

A slightly different kind of gift, talking to King Vendrick in Memory of the King, whilst having the King's Crown and all three DLC crowns will access new dialogue, where Vendrick will bless all four crowns with a unique property that lasts for that NG cycle, preventing hollowing as long as one of the crowns is worn: Vendrick's Blessing

Every single gift can be obtained in a single playthrough, provided you are careful and calculating when it comes to NPC interactions. For those that have stat requirements, a soul vessel to temporarily adjust your stats works, and means you don't have to pour points into stats unnecessary for your class.

Additionally, many of the gifts are dropped by the NPCs giving them should you murder them, and their clothes will be sold by Merchant Hag Melentia.

Whilst not as time consuming as perhaps doing their quests, it will unfortunately add to your sin level, increasing the frequency with which you are invaded, and you will have to pay to both buy their clothes and revive the NPCs.

Sin carries over playthroughs, so planning to murder NPCs then switch to NG+ for a clean slate does not work.

Happy Hunting!

Milibeth - http://soulslore.wikidot.com/data:housekeeper-milibeth
Things Betwixt - https://vaguespeculations.wordpress.com/2015/04/04/dark-souls-2-diaries-day-01/
Majula - https://www.ign.com/wikis/dark-souls-2/Majula
Cale the Cartographer - https://www.supersoluce.com/soluce/dark-souls-ii/cale-le-cartographe
Merchant Hag Melentia - https://www.flickr.com/photos/139868724@N07/26130647241
Crestfallen Saulden - http://soulslore.wikidot.com/data:crestfallen-saulden
Forest of Fallen Giants - https://www.ign.com/wikis/dark-souls-2/Forest_of_Fallen_Giants
Heide's Tower of Flame - https://twitter.com/stayd3d/status/1219318739411193856
No Man's Wharf - https://www.giantbomb.com/no-mans-wharf/3035-4989/
Lost Bastille - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pph79_dZOzI
Straid of Olaphis - http://darksouls2.wikidot.com/straid-of-olaphis
Huntsman's Copse - https://www.celjaded.com/world-of-dark-souls-ii-huntsmans-copse/
Iron Keep - https://www.flickr.com/photos/154962984@N02/33355016578
Magerold of Lanafir - https://lokeysouls.com/2020/12/01/lanafir/
Manscorpion Tark - https://www.sportskeeda.com/slideshow/gaming-12-hidden-items-you-would-have-missed-in-dark-souls-2/2
Cromwell the Pardoner - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MpFRsfL7bdg
Drangleic Castle - https://www.celjaded.com/world-of-dark-souls-ii-drangleic-castle/
Chancellor Wellager - http://soulslore.wikidot.com/data:chancellor-wellager
Shrine of Amana - https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1116525986
Milfanito Sister - https://www.reddit.com/r/DarkSouls2/comments/24k1hp/any_theories_about_this_milfanito/
Benhart of Jugo - http://darksouls2.wikidot.com/benhart-of-jugo
Lucatiel of Mirrah - https://darksouls.fandom.com/wiki/Lucatiel_of_Mirrah
Royal Sorcerer Navlaan - https://www.ign.com/wikis/dark-souls-2/Royal_Sorcerer_Navlaan
Memory of the King: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f66HObyombI