Can You Get Dung Eater Without the Potion in Elden Ring? A Comprehensive Guide
Fast answer first. Then use the tabs or video for more detail.
- Watch the video explanation below for a faster overview.
- Game mechanics may change with updates or patches.
- Use this block to get the short answer without scrolling the whole page.
- Read the FAQ section if the article has one.
- Use the table of contents to jump straight to the detailed section you need.
- Watch the video first, then skim the article for specifics.
No, you cannot acquire the Dung Eater Puppet in Elden Ring without administering Seluvis’s Potion as part of his questline. Giving the potion to the Dung Eater is a crucial step, as it’s the only way to later obtain his puppet from Seluvis. Choosing to give him Seedbed Curses instead leads you down a different path, culminating in his Mending Rune and a drastically different ending for the game. It’s a true either/or scenario.
Understanding the Dung Eater’s Questline and its Implications
The Dung Eater, also known as the Loathsome Dung Eater, is one of the most unsettling and morally ambiguous characters in Elden Ring. His questline is intertwined with themes of defilement, despair, and a potential “bad” ending for the game. Successfully navigating his quest requires understanding the choices you’ll face and their consequences.
Key Decisions and Their Outcomes
The core of the Dung Eater’s quest hinges on two main decisions:
- Administering Seluvis’s Potion: This allows you to progress Seluvis’s quest, eventually leading to the option to acquire the Dung Eater Puppet from him. However, doing this locks you out of receiving the Mending Rune of the Fell Curse, essential for the Dung Eater’s ending.
- Providing Seedbed Curses: This path bypasses the puppet acquisition. By finding and delivering five Seedbed Curses to the Dung Eater in his physical form beneath Leyndell, Royal Capital, you trigger the culmination of his quest and receive his Mending Rune.
The Significance of the Dung Eater Puppet
The Dung Eater Puppet is a Spirit Summon in Elden Ring. While it’s not universally considered one of the absolute strongest summons, it possesses decent survivability and can hold its own against various enemies, even potentially soloing some lesser bosses. For players who enjoy collecting Spirit Ashes and experimenting with different builds, the Dung Eater Puppet is a worthwhile addition.
The Consequences of Freeing the Dung Eater
Freeing the Dung Eater from his cell in the Subterranean Shunning-Grounds is a pivotal moment. After you unlock his cell, he immediately seeks out and murders Blackguard Big Boggart. This sets the stage for the next phase of his quest and highlights his inherently evil nature. There’s no avoiding this if you plan to follow his quest to its conclusion (either for the puppet or the Mending Rune).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About the Dung Eater
Here are some of the most frequently asked questions regarding the Dung Eater, his questline, and the implications of your choices.
1. Can I get the Dung Eater’s armor without killing him?
Yes, you can. After completing his questline by giving him five Seedbed Curses and obtaining his Mending Rune, his armor set (the Omen Set) will be found on his body after reloading the area where you left him.
2. Is the Dung Eater questline missable?
Parts of it are. The opportunity to get the Dung Eater Puppet is missable if you progress too far with his main questline by giving him the Seedbed Curses before administering Seluvis’s Potion.
3. How many Seedbed Curses do I need for the Dung Eater ending?
You need to find and give the Dung Eater five Seedbed Curses to unlock his unique ending, the Blessing of Despair.
4. Where can I find the Seedbed Curses?
Seedbed Curses are scattered throughout specific locations. Some can be found in Leyndell, Royal Capital, both before and after its transformation. One is also acquired after defeating the Dung Eater’s invading phantom in the Outer Moat near the Capital Rampart.
5. What happens if I kill the Dung Eater early?
Killing the Dung Eater early will prevent you from completing his questline. You will get his armor set (the Omen Set) if you kill him in the Subterranean Shunning-Grounds. However, you will miss out on both the opportunity to acquire his puppet and to obtain his Mending Rune for his specific ending.
6. Is the Dung Eater the “worst” ending in Elden Ring?
That’s subjective, but many players consider the Dung Eater’s ending to be one of the most bleak and undesirable. It involves cursing the world and its inhabitants with the Fell Curse. The game offers many varied endings, many of which are explored with the help of the information that the Games Learning Society provides. Check them out on GamesLearningSociety.org.
7. Can I turn other NPCs into puppets besides the Dung Eater?
Yes, Seluvis’s questline involves the potential to turn other NPCs into puppets. The most notable is Nepheli Loux, although the consequences of turning certain NPCs into puppets can impact other storylines.
8. What’s so special about the Dung Eater’s Mending Rune?
The Mending Rune of the Fell Curse is unique because it alters the Elden Ring in a way that spreads despair and corruption throughout the Lands Between. It’s a deliberately malevolent choice.
9. Why can’t I give the Dung Eater the potion anymore?
If you’ve already given the Dung Eater enough Seedbed Curses to progress his quest to the point where he provides the Mending Rune, you can no longer give him the potion. He is effectively “locked in” to his destined path at that point.
10. Is there any way to get both the Dung Eater Puppet and his Mending Rune?
No. It’s an either/or situation. Giving him the potion allows you to obtain his puppet but prevents you from getting his Mending Rune. Giving him the Seedbed Curses leads to his ending but locks you out of getting the puppet.
11. Why is he called the “Dung Eater”?
The name “Dung Eater” is derived from the character’s horrifying actions and the consequences of his past execution. He was literally covered in dung as part of his punishment, leaving a lasting impression on everyone who saw him.
12. Is it worth freeing the Dung Eater from his cell?
If you intend to pursue his questline, you must free him from his cell. This is a necessary step to either acquire the Dung Eater Puppet or obtain his Mending Rune.
13. Where is the Dung Eater’s invasion?
The Dung Eater’s invasion occurs in the Outer Moat area, accessible after progressing his questline to the point where he provides you with the Sewer-Gaol Key.
14. What are the benefits of summoning the Dung Eater?
The Dung Eater Puppet, once acquired, serves as a decent melee-focused Spirit Ash summon. Its strengths lie in its relative tankiness and ability to distract enemies, though it’s not considered one of the most powerful summons in the game.
15. Does killing Boggart affect the Dung Eater questline?
Killing Boggart yourself has no bearing on the Dung Eater Questline. The Dung Eater is supposed to kill Boggart as part of his quest. If you defeat Boggart before the Dung Eater can get to him, then it will change the quest. The Dung Eater will simply skip that part of the quest.
Conclusion
Navigating the Dung Eater’s questline in Elden Ring requires careful consideration of your choices. The decision of whether to administer Seluvis’s Potion or provide Seedbed Curses fundamentally alters the trajectory of the quest and its ultimate rewards. While the Dung Eater Puppet offers a new Spirit Summon, the Mending Rune of the Fell Curse unlocks a unique, albeit disturbing, ending for the game. Ultimately, the path you choose depends on your personal preferences and the kind of Tarnished you aspire to be in the Lands Between.