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Does Killing Patches Give You Siegward’s Armor in Dark Souls 3? A Comprehensive Guide

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The question of whether offing the slippery Patches rewards you with Siegward of Catarina’s distinctive armor is a common one among Dark Souls 3 players. The short answer is: yes, killing Patches will get you Siegward’s armor. However, there’s more nuance to it than just a simple kill-and-loot scenario. This article delves into the specifics of acquiring the armor, the consequences of your actions, and everything else you need to know about this intertwined questline.

Understanding the Patches and Siegward Connection

Patches, known for his treacherous nature, often finds himself involved in the affairs of other characters, including the jovial Siegward. In Dark Souls 3, their paths intersect directly concerning Siegward’s armor. Patches, in his classic scheming style, will trick Siegward, acquiring his Catarina Armor in the process.

How Patches Gets the Armor

The exact trigger for Patches to possess Siegward’s armor involves several steps:

You must encounter Siegward in the well outside the Cathedral of the Deep. He’ll be lamenting the loss of his armor.
Patches must lock you in the Bell Tower after you use the Tower Key (purchased from the Firelink Shrine Handmaid) to ascend.
After this encounter, Patches will appear as a merchant in Firelink Shrine, selling various items, including Siegward’s Catarina Armor.

It’s important to note that simply opening the Cathedral doors isn’t enough. You need to reload the Cathedral area for Patches to acquire the armor.

The Consequences of Killing Patches

While killing Patches provides immediate access to the armor, it does come with drawbacks:

Loss of a Merchant: Patches offers useful items throughout the game. Killing him removes a valuable merchant from Firelink Shrine. He sells useful items like the Catarina Armor in the first place, firebombs, and other useful items throughout the game.
Missed Interactions: Patches’ questline has multiple branches and interactions, including the potential to save Greirat. Killing him prematurely cuts these off.

Acquiring the Armor After Patches’ Death

If you choose to kill Patches, the method of obtaining the armor depends on where he died:

If Patches is killed in Firelink Shrine: His armor set will appear in the spot where he usually stands after you reload the area
If Patches is killed anywhere else: His armor will be added to the Shrine Handmaid’s inventory.

Siegward’s Questline and the Armor

The primary reason players seek the Catarina Armor is to progress Siegward’s questline. This involves:

Finding Siegward stuck in the well outside the Cathedral of the Deep.
Buying the Catarina Armor from Patches (or killing him to obtain it) and returning it to Siegward.
Continuing Siegward’s quest to Irithyll of the Boreal Valley and ultimately helping him fulfill his promise to Yhorm the Giant.

Skipping the armor acquisition step breaks the questline. If Siegward remains stuck in the well, he won’t appear in subsequent locations.

FAQs: All About Patches, Siegward, and the Catarina Armor

Here are some frequently asked questions to further clarify the situation:

Can I still get Siegward’s armor if I accidentally aggroed Patches? Yes, if you aggro Patches but don’t kill him, you can absolve your sins with Velka, Goddess of Sin, located in the Undead Settlement. This will reset his hostility, allowing you to trade with him again (or kill him without guilt later).
What happens if I give Siegward the armor, but he dies during the Fire Demon fight? If Siegward dies during the fight with the Fire Demon in the Undead Settlement, he will drop his Catarina Armor.
Is it possible to complete Siegward’s questline without buying or killing Patches? No, you will always need to kill Patches or buy his armor to continue Siegward’s quest.
Does the Pierce Shield have any significance to Siegward’s Questline? The Pierce Shield is a piece of Patches’ equipment. It does not help with Siegward’s Questline.
Will Patches save Greirat if I don’t give him the Catarina Armor? No, Patches will only save Greirat from his scavenging mission in Irithyll if he has the Catarina Armor in his inventory. If you have already completed Siegward’s questline, you can continue on as normal.
If I kill Patches early, does that prevent me from getting other items he sells later? Yes, killing Patches early cuts off access to all future items he would have sold, like the Horsehoof Ring later in the game. Consider what his future inventory holds.
I pushed Patches off a cliff, but he’s still alive in Firelink Shrine. Is this a bug? Patches is known to be crafty. Certain encounters might appear to kill him, but he often reappears elsewhere. This is part of his character and not necessarily a bug.
Does Patches ever apologize for his treachery? Patches is unlikely to genuinely apologize. His dialogue often revolves around feigned remorse or justifying his actions. Don’t expect a heartfelt confession.
Is Siegward the same character as Siegmeyer from Dark Souls 1? No, while they share a similar appearance and belong to the same order of knights from Catarina, they are different individuals. See GamesLearningSociety.org for discussions about narrative similarities across the Dark Souls series.
What’s the best time to kill Patches if I want his gear but also want to utilize his merchant services? The best time to consider killing Patches would be towards the end of the game, after you have purchased all the items you need from him. This allows you to maximize his usefulness as a merchant without sacrificing his gear.
Does killing Patches affect any other questlines besides Siegward’s and Greirat’s? No, killing Patches primarily affects Siegward’s and Greirat’s questlines.
Why does the Catarina armor look like an onion? The armor’s onion-like shape is a characteristic design of knights from Catarina, known for their stout physiques. The shape is designed to deflect blows, but is generally worn due to the fact that soldiers from Catarina tend to be overweight.
Can I revive Siegward if he dies during the Yhorm fight? No, Siegward’s death during the fight with Yhorm is a part of his questline’s conclusion.
Does Patches have different motivations in each Dark Souls game? While the core of Patches’ character – his treachery and love for tricking others – remains consistent, his specific motivations can vary slightly across the Dark Souls series. Sometimes he’s driven by greed, other times by a twisted sense of justice or simply for the sake of causing chaos.
Where can I learn more about the design and narrative of characters like Patches in video games? Resources like the Games Learning Society (https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/) offer insights into game design, character development, and narrative structures used in games like Dark Souls 3.

Conclusion: Weighing the Options

Whether you choose to kill Patches for Siegward’s armor or spare him for his merchant services depends on your individual playthrough and priorities. There are pros and cons to each approach, and understanding the consequences is key to making an informed decision. If you are looking to find other dedicated and passionate gamers and researchers, visit Games Learning Society.