Can You Get Locked Out of Bull-Goat Armor? A Comprehensive Guide
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Yes, you absolutely can get locked out of obtaining the coveted Bull-Goat Armor set in Elden Ring. The acquisition of this armor is tied to a specific questline involving Patches, a recurring character in the Soulsborne series, and Tanith, the leader of Volcano Manor. Missing key steps or making particular choices within this questline can prevent you from ever acquiring the Bull-Goat Armor in a given playthrough.
The Path to Bull-Goat Armor: A Step-by-Step Guide
The journey to claiming the Bull-Goat Armor begins at Volcano Manor. To even reach Volcano Manor, you have a few options:
- Abductor Virgin: Allow the Abductor Virgin in the basement of Raya Lucaria Academy to kill you. This teleports you to Volcano Manor’s sub-area.
- Rya’s Questline: Follow Rya’s questline from Liurnia of the Lakes. This will eventually lead to an invitation to Volcano Manor.
- Direct Route: Trek through Mt. Gelmir, fighting your way to the Manor.
Once you are inside Volcano Manor, speak with Tanith and pledge your allegiance to the Volcano Manor. This is the crucial first step.
Completing the Volcano Manor Assassination Contracts
After joining Volcano Manor, Tanith will offer you assassination contracts. These involve hunting down specific Tarnished marked on your map. Here’s where Patches comes into play.
- First Contract: After completing the first assassination contract, return to Tanith. Speak with her, and then explore the Manor. You should find a drawing room with a letter on a table, initiating the next contract.
- Patches’ Involvement: Before taking on your second contract, speak to Patches inside Volcano Manor (he will be near the entrance). He will give you a letter to assassinate Great Horned Tragoth. Complete this assassination. Upon returning to Patches after assassinating Tragoth, he will reward you with the Magma Whip Candlestick.
- The Bull-Goat Contract: After completing the Great Horned Tragoth assassination, complete one more of Tanith’s assigned contracts. After that, rest at the Site of Grace and speak to Tanith again. Another contract will appear on the table, this one tasking you with assassinating Istvan. Complete this assassination. After returning to Tanith after killing Istvan and resting again, Patches will give you your next contract. This contract tasks you with assassinating Old Knight Istvan. Upon completing the assassination and returning to Patches, he will gift you the Bull-Goat Armor Set.
The Point of No Return: Where You Can Go Wrong
The primary way to get locked out of the Bull-Goat Armor is by progressing too far in the Volcano Manor questline without completing Patches’ contract. Specifically, defeating Rykard, Lord of Blasphemy, before completing Patches’ contract will cause Patches to leave Volcano Manor entirely.
Once Patches leaves Volcano Manor, he will no longer be present to give you the contract for Old Knight Istvan, meaning the Bull-Goat Armor Set is unobtainable for the rest of that playthrough.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Bull-Goat Armor
1. What are the stat requirements for wearing the Bull-Goat Armor?
The Bull-Goat Armor doesn’t have any specific stat requirements in terms of Strength, Dexterity, Intelligence, Faith, or Arcane. However, its high weight will require a substantial investment in Endurance to avoid being over-encumbered and slow-rolling.
2. How much does the Bull-Goat Armor weigh?
The Bull-Goat Armor is one of the heaviest armor sets in Elden Ring, weighing in at a significant 63.7 units.
3. What are the physical defenses of the Bull-Goat Armor?
The Bull-Goat Armor offers extremely high physical defenses and poise, making it ideal for tank builds. It provides excellent protection against various types of physical damage.
4. What are the elemental resistances of the Bull-Goat Armor?
While strong against physical attacks, the Bull-Goat Armor’s elemental resistances (Magic, Fire, Lightning, Holy) are moderate but not exceptional.
5. Does the Bull-Goat Armor have any special effects?
The Bull-Goat Armor itself doesn’t have any innate special effects. However, its high poise allows you to withstand more attacks without being staggered, effectively acting as a passive buff to your resilience.
6. Is the Bull-Goat Armor worth getting?
For players prioritizing poise and physical defense, the Bull-Goat Armor is absolutely worth obtaining. It’s a top-tier choice for tank builds and those who prefer to trade blows.
7. Can I still get the Bull-Goat Armor if Patches dies?
If Patches dies before you receive the contract for Old Knight Istvan, you are locked out of obtaining the armor for that playthrough. However, if you’ve already obtained the armor and Patches dies afterward, it won’t affect your ability to keep using the armor.
8. Is there any way to respawn Patches if he leaves or dies?
No. Unlike some NPCs, Patches does not respawn after dying or leaving Volcano Manor. You will need to wait until New Game Plus (NG+) to attempt to acquire the armor again.
9. Can I get the Bull-Goat Armor in co-op?
No, the Bull-Goat Armor is tied to an assassination contract given to you specifically by Patches. It is not a drop or lootable item found in the world that a co-op partner could give to you.
10. How do I know if I’ve progressed too far in the Volcano Manor questline?
If you have defeated Rykard, Lord of Blasphemy, before completing the Old Knight Istvan contract from Patches, you have progressed too far. Patches will have left the Manor, and the contract will be unavailable.
11. What other rewards does Patches give in Elden Ring?
Besides the Bull-Goat Armor and the Magma Whip Candlestick, Patches provides several other valuable rewards throughout his questline, including Patches’ Emporium (after his encounter in Murkwater Cave), the Grovel For Mercy gesture, and access to unique items in his shop.
12. Is it possible to skip straight to the Bull-Goat Armor contract?
No, you must complete the previous assassination contracts given by both Tanith and Patches in the correct order to unlock the contract for Old Knight Istvan, which leads to the Bull-Goat Armor.
13. What is the best Talisman to use with the Bull-Goat Armor?
Good Talisman choices to pair with the Bull-Goat Armor include the Great-Jar’s Arsenal, Erdtree’s Favor, and Bull-Goat’s Talisman (for even more Poise). These Talismans help manage the equip load and further enhance your character’s tankiness.
14. Does the Bull-Goat Armor make me invincible?
While the Bull-Goat Armor provides exceptional physical defense and poise, it does not make you invincible. You can still take damage and be defeated, especially by elemental attacks or enemies that inflict status effects.
15. Can I trade the Bull-Goat Armor with another player?
While you can trade many items with other players in Elden Ring, armor sets like the Bull-Goat Armor cannot be traded. This is a standard restriction for most armor pieces in the game. You must acquire it yourself within your own playthrough.