Can You Give Dung Eater 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.
Yes, you can absolutely give Seluvis’s Potion to the Dung Eater in Elden Ring, but doing so has significant consequences that impact his questline, your potential ending, and the rewards you receive. This decision effectively shortcuts his main questline, offering an alternative, albeit less rewarding, path to obtaining his spirit ashes. This article will delve into the specifics of how, when, and why you might (or might not) want to poison the infamous Dung Eater with Seluvis’s concoction.
Understanding the Dung Eater’s Questline
Before we dive into the potion, let’s outline the traditional Dung Eater questline. You first encounter him as an apparition in the Roundtable Hold after reaching Leyndell, Royal Capital. Talking to him reveals his disturbing nature and sets the stage for his quest. The critical steps include:
- Finding a Seedbed Curse: Obtain one of the Seedbed Curses, which are found on corpses marked by the Dung Eater’s depravity throughout the Lands Between.
- Obtaining the Sewer Gaol Key: Show the Seedbed Curse to the Dung Eater to receive the Sewer Gaol Key.
- Freeing the Dung Eater: Head to the Subterranean Shunning-Grounds beneath Leyndell, find the Dung Eater locked in a cell, and free him.
- Fighting the Dung Eater: Return to the Roundtable Hold, find a message from him, and then encounter him as an invader near the Outer Moat. Defeat him.
- Giving Seedbed Curses: Find five Seedbed Curses and give them to the Dung Eater’s physical body back in the Subterranean Shunning-Grounds.
- Receiving the Mending Rune of the Fell Curse: After giving him the fifth Seedbed Curse, he will bestow upon you the Mending Rune of the Fell Curse, which allows you to choose his ending.
The Potion’s Alternative Path
Now, where does the potion fit in? Seluvis, the manipulative sorcerer, tasks you with giving his potion to Nepheli Loux. However, you have the option to give it to the Dung Eater instead. This decision point occurs after you free him from his cell in the Subterranean Shunning-Grounds and after you have defeated him at the Outer Moat, but before you have given him all five Seedbed Curses.
How to Administer the Potion
After completing the prerequisite encounters, you will find him tied to a chair within his gaol cell. Exhaust his dialogue options, and the prompt to “Give Seluvis’s Potion” will appear. Choosing to do so triggers a significant alteration in his destiny.
Consequences of Giving the Potion
Giving the potion to the Dung Eater has these key effects:
- He becomes Seluvis’s Puppet: The Dung Eater is transformed into one of Seluvis’s puppets, effectively ending his main questline. The disturbing implications of this transformation should not be overlooked, fitting squarely within the bleak themes explored throughout Elden Ring.
- Loss of the Mending Rune of the Fell Curse: You will no longer be able to acquire the Mending Rune of the Fell Curse, locking you out of the “Lord of the Frenzied Flame” ending.
- Acquisition of the Dung Eater Puppet Ashes: After giving him the potion, you need to speak to Seluvis again to receive the Dung Eater Puppet Ashes, which allows you to summon a spectral version of him to aid you in combat.
- Potential Access to the Dung Eater’s Armor: If you act immediately after giving him the potion and kill him, he will drop his armor set. However, be warned: reloading the area after giving him the potion will cause him to vanish, potentially preventing you from acquiring his armor.
Why Choose the Potion Path?
The primary reason to give the Dung Eater the potion is to obtain the Dung Eater Puppet Ashes. While powerful, the spirit ashes are arguably less valuable than the Mending Rune of the Fell Curse and the ability to choose his ending. Thus, choosing the potion route is typically only recommended for players who prioritize collecting all spirit ashes or who are uninterested in the Dung Eater’s ending.
It is important to note that the GamesLearningSociety.org explores how games, including Elden Ring, use complex narrative choices to engage players and promote critical thinking. The decision to administer the potion or follow the conventional questline presents a moral dilemma, requiring players to weigh the consequences of their actions.
FAQs: Delving Deeper into the Dung Eater’s Fate
1. Can I give the potion to the Dung Eater after giving him Seedbed Curses?
No. Once you give the Dung Eater enough Seedbed Curses to obtain the Mending Rune of the Fell Curse, he’s effectively “complete” and cannot be given the potion anymore because he will be dead.
2. What happens if I kill the Dung Eater before giving him the potion?
If you kill the Dung Eater before initiating the potion questline, you’ll obtain his armor set. However, you’ll miss out on the potential to get his spirit ashes or complete his ending.
3. Is the Dung Eater Puppet Ashes any good?
Yes, the Dung Eater Puppet Ashes are a formidable summon. They can deal significant damage, and their aggressive nature can be helpful in distracting enemies and even soloing lesser bosses.
4. Is the Dung Eater’s ending a “good” ending?
No, the Dung Eater’s ending is widely considered one of the “bad” endings. It involves cursing all beings in the Lands Between, perpetuating his cycle of depravity.
5. Do I need to complete Seluvis’s questline to get the potion?
Yes, you need to progress Seluvis’s questline to the point where he tasks you with giving the potion to Nepheli Loux. You can then choose to give it to the Dung Eater instead.
6. Can I give the potion to Nepheli Loux and still get the Dung Eater Puppet Ashes?
No, giving the potion to Nepheli Loux locks you out of giving it to the Dung Eater and obtaining his spirit ashes through this method.
7. What are Seedbed Curses used for?
Seedbed Curses are essential for progressing the Dung Eater’s questline and obtaining the Mending Rune of the Fell Curse, which allows you to choose his ending.
8. Where can I find Seedbed Curses?
Seedbed Curses are found on corpses throughout the Lands Between, primarily in areas associated with Leyndell, Royal Capital, and its surrounding regions.
9. What if I accidentally killed Seluvis? Can I still get the potion?
If you kill Seluvis, you may be able to obtain his Bell Bearing and purchase the potion from the Twin Maiden Husks at the Roundtable Hold, allowing you to proceed with the Dung Eater quest.
10. Does giving the potion affect any other questlines?
Giving the potion to the Dung Eater primarily affects his own questline and Seluvis’s questline. It also blocks you from getting the Mending Rune of the Fell Curse.
11. If I give Dung Eater the potion, can I still get his armor set?
Yes, but you must act immediately after giving him the potion and kill him before reloading the area. Otherwise, he will disappear, and you’ll miss out on the armor.
12. Is it possible to reverse the potion’s effects?
No, once the Dung Eater is given the potion, the transformation is irreversible.
13. Does the Dung Eater recognize me if I summon him with the ashes?
No, the spirit ash is a spectral representation and does not retain the Dung Eater’s personality or memories.
14. What are the benefits of completing the Dung Eater’s questline (without the potion)?
Completing the Dung Eater’s questline allows you to obtain the Mending Rune of the Fell Curse, choose his unique ending, and gain insight into the disturbing lore of the Lands Between.
15. Where is the Dung Eater’s cell located exactly?
The Dung Eater’s cell is located in the Subterranean Shunning-Grounds beneath Leyndell, Royal Capital. It’s within the area accessible after defeating Mohg, the Omen, but requires navigating a maze of sewers and pipes.
Conclusion: Choosing Your Fate
The decision to give the Dung Eater Seluvis’s Potion is a significant one in Elden Ring, with far-reaching consequences. While it provides a shortcut to obtaining his spirit ashes, it sacrifices the potential for his unique ending and the associated lore. As with many choices in the game, the best path depends on your individual preferences and priorities. Consider what rewards matter most to you and weigh the pros and cons carefully before deciding the fate of the Loathsome Dung Eater. Whether you choose to curse the Lands Between or turn him into a docile puppet, remember that every action shapes your journey in the world of Elden Ring.