Turning the Loathsome into a Liability: How to Make the Dung Eater a Puppet in Elden Ring
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Turning the Dung Eater into a puppet in Elden Ring requires a specific series of steps involving the enigmatic Preceptor Seluvis and a potent potion. First, you must progress the Dung Eater’s questline to the point where he’s imprisoned in the Subterranean Shunning-Grounds. Then, instead of giving him Seedbed Curses (which lead to his ending), you give him Seluvis’s Potion. This allows you to eventually purchase his puppet from Seluvis.
A Step-by-Step Guide to Puppeteering the Dung Eater
Here’s a breakdown of the process:
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Begin the Dung Eater’s Quest: You’ll first encounter the Dung Eater’s spectral form in the Roundtable Hold. Exhaust his dialogue. He’ll give you a key to his cell within the Subterranean Shunning-Grounds beneath Leyndell, Royal Capital.
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Locate and Release the Dung Eater: Venture into the Subterranean Shunning-Grounds. Find his cell (it’s a fairly linear path) and unlock it using the key he provided. Speak with him in his cell. He demands that you bring him Seedbed Curses. Do not give him these yet if your goal is to make him a puppet.
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Embark on Seluvis’s Questline: Simultaneously, you need to begin Seluvis’s questline. He is found as a spectral projection at Seluvis’s Rise, a tower located north of Ranni’s Rise in the Three Sisters area of Liurnia of the Lakes. To interact with him properly, you must speak with Ranni the Witch first and agree to serve her.
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Progress Seluvis’s Quest and Obtain the Potion: Follow Seluvis’s instructions. This will eventually involve giving Nepheli Loux (or another character) a potion. However, you don’t necessarily have to give it to her. Exhaust Seluvis’s dialogue after giving him the potion, then reload the area. He will provide you with another potion – this is the one intended for the Dung Eater.
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Administer the Potion: Return to the Dung Eater in his cell in the Subterranean Shunning-Grounds. Interact with him and choose to give him Seluvis’s Potion.
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The Aftermath (Optional but Recommended): After administering the potion, the Dung Eater will become incapacitated. Immediately kill him in his cell. This will allow you to acquire his armor set. If you leave and return later, he will be gone, potentially preventing you from getting the armor. This step does not prevent you from obtaining the puppet.
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Acquire the Dung Eater Puppet: Return to Seluvis’s Rise. You need to have already acquired one puppet from Seluvis before he will offer the Dung Eater Puppet for purchase. The first puppet is given for progressing his questline. He sells the Dung Eater Puppet for 5 Starlight Shards.
Understanding the Consequences
It’s crucial to understand that choosing to turn the Dung Eater into a puppet locks you out of his ending, the Blessing of Despair ending, which requires giving him five Seedbed Curses. This decision boils down to whether you prioritize the powerful (but not game-breaking) Dung Eater Puppet summon or the unique ending. Some players find the ending more compelling narratively, while others prefer the tactical advantage of another summon.
Remember to explore resources available through organizations like the Games Learning Society, to further expand knowledge about the diverse approaches to completing the many different quest lines, which are often multi-faceted.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What are Seedbed Curses and where do I find them?
Seedbed Curses are key items found on corpses defiled by the Dung Eater. They are essential for unlocking his unique ending, the Blessing of Despair. Locations include:
- Volcano Manor (Rykard’s arena, near the portal)
- Leyndell, Royal Capital (near the East Capital Rampart Site of Grace, in a darkened room with Misbegotten)
- Leyndell, Ashen Capital (in the Forbidden Lands past the Divine Bridge of East Capital Rampart)
- Elphael, Brace of the Haligtree (Prayer Room Site of Grace)
- Capital Outskirts (on a corpse tied to a chair near the outer walls)
2. Can I get the Dung Eater’s armor if I give him the Seedbed Curses instead?
Yes. If you follow his quest to completion by giving him five Seedbed Curses, his armor will be found on his body after he moves from the Subterranean Shunning-Grounds to the boss arena in the Royal Capital. Reload the area to find it.
3. Is the Dung Eater Puppet a good summon?
The Dung Eater Puppet is a decent, though not top-tier, summon. It’s known for its tankiness and ability to inflict Bleed buildup with its long-range scream attack. It can handle many lesser bosses and provide valuable support in tougher fights. Its greatest strength lies in its durability, making it a reliable distraction for enemies.
4. Can I get both the Dung Eater Puppet and his ending in a single playthrough?
No. Choosing to give him Seluvis’s Potion locks you out of giving him the Seedbed Curses, which are necessary for his ending. It’s an either/or situation.
5. Where is Seluvis’s lab located?
Seluvis’s lab is hidden in the illusion-concealed basement of a ruined building between Renna’s Rise and Ranni’s Rise in the Three Sisters area of Liurnia of the Lakes. You must strike the illusory floor to reveal the entrance.
6. Do I have to kill Nepheli Loux to get the Dung Eater Puppet?
No. You don’t have to kill Nepheli Loux. You simply have to give Seluvis’s first potion to someone to progress his questline. You can give it to Gideon Ofnir instead, making him dispose of it. This saves Nepheli, and you can still get the Dung Eater Puppet.
7. What if I accidentally killed Seluvis early in the game? Can I still get the puppet?
If you killed Seluvis early, you can often still progress his questline by giving the potion to Gideon Ofnir. Then, offer Seluvis’s Bell Bearing to the Twin Maiden Husks at the Roundtable Hold. This will allow you to purchase his items, including the Dung Eater Puppet, once you’ve met the necessary conditions.
8. What are Starlight Shards, and where do I find them?
Starlight Shards are a consumable currency used to purchase items from certain NPCs, including Seluvis. They can be found in various locations throughout the Lands Between, often near celestial structures or geological formations. Look for glittering, glowing spots on the ground. They respawn in the same locations, so you can farm them.
9. Does the Dung Eater Puppet scale with my stats?
No. Like most spirit ashes, the Dung Eater Puppet does not directly scale with your character’s stats. Its effectiveness depends on its inherent abilities and stats.
10. Is the Dung Eater Puppet affected by weapon buffs?
No. The Dung Eater Puppet isn’t affected by weapon buffs or spells cast by the player. Its abilities are predetermined.
11. Can I summon the Dung Eater Puppet in every area of the game?
No. You can only summon spirit ashes, including the Dung Eater Puppet, in areas where the summoning icon (a glowing tombstone) appears on the left side of the screen. These areas typically include boss fights, dungeons, and certain open-world locations.
12. Does the Dung Eater Puppet have any unique interactions with the environment or other NPCs?
No. The Dung Eater Puppet is primarily a combat-focused summon and does not have any unique interactions with the environment or other NPCs beyond its combat abilities.
13. What happens if the Dung Eater Puppet dies during a boss fight?
If the Dung Eater Puppet dies during a boss fight, it will disappear. You can re-summon it if you have enough FP (Focus Points) and are still in an area where summoning is allowed.
14. Is there a “best” time to summon the Dung Eater Puppet?
The best time to summon the Dung Eater Puppet is when you need a durable summon to draw enemy aggro and inflict bleed buildup. It’s particularly useful in fights where you need to create space or buy time to cast spells or heal.
15. Where can I learn more about Elden Ring’s lore and character interactions?
You can delve deeper into Elden Ring’s lore and character interactions through various online resources, community forums, and video essays. Additionally, exploring academic insights on game design and narrative, such as those found at GamesLearningSociety.org, can provide a richer understanding of the game’s complexities and how they contribute to the overall player experience. The Games Learning Society studies the intersection of games, learning and teaching.