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Is Dung Eater Needed for Platinum in Elden Ring? The Definitive Answer

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No, the Dung Eater questline and its associated ending (the Blessing of Despair) are NOT required to achieve the platinum trophy in Elden Ring. The platinum trophy primarily focuses on obtaining all the possible endings in the game.

Understanding Elden Ring’s Trophies and Endings

Elden Ring, FromSoftware’s sprawling open-world masterpiece, offers players multiple endings, each with its own distinct narrative conclusion. For trophy hunters, understanding how these endings interact with the game’s trophy list is crucial for efficiently earning that coveted platinum. The game allows for playthrough efficiency by only requiring 3 playthroughs to get all endings!

Endings and the “Elden Lord” Trophy

The core requirement for platinum is unlocking all the achievements or trophies related to becoming Elden Lord in various ways. The key here is that any of the Elden Lord endings will unlock the “Elden Lord” trophy. Since there are multiple ways to become Elden Lord, you don’t need to experience every single possible outcome.

Efficient Platinum Hunting: The Key is Save Scumming

Here’s the efficient secret seasoned players use: save scumming. Here’s how it works:

Reach the point where you’ve defeated the final boss, the Elden Beast.
BEFORE interacting with the Fractured Marika, back up your save file to either the PlayStation Network Cloud (if you have PlayStation Plus) or an external USB drive.
Choose one of the Elden Lord endings (or Frenzied Flame, or Age of Stars).
Once the ending cutscene and credits roll and the trophy pops, reload your backed-up save.
Choose a different ending. Repeat steps 4 and 5 until you’ve obtained all the endings and the related trophies on a single playthrough.

This strategy allows you to get three endings to complete the trophy requirements.

Why the Dung Eater Is Irrelevant for Platinum

The Dung Eater’s questline culminates in the “Blessing of Despair” ending. This ending is achieved by giving the Dung Eater five Seedbed Curses and then using his Mending Rune of the Fell Curse on the Fractured Marika after defeating the Elden Beast. While this ending is certainly a unique and dark conclusion to the game, it does not have its own dedicated trophy. The “Elden Lord” trophy will unlock as long as any ending in the Elden Lord group is obtained.

Other Endings Needed for Platinum

To achieve platinum, you’ll need to make sure you experience the other unique endings outside of the base Elden Lord endings:

Age of Stars: This ending is tied to Ranni the Witch’s questline.
Lord of Frenzied Flame: This ending requires you to receive the Frenzied Flame from the Three Fingers beneath the Capital.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Elden Ring Endings and Trophies

Here are 15 frequently asked questions regarding Elden Ring endings and trophies:

How many endings are there in Elden Ring? There are six main endings in Elden Ring: multiple variations of becoming the Elden Lord, the Age of Stars ending tied to Ranni, and the Lord of Frenzied Flame ending. The variations of Elden Lord depend on what mending rune you use on Marika at the end, such as the Mending Rune of Perfect Order (Corhyn) or the Mending Rune of the Fell Curse (Dung Eater).
Do I need all endings on one character for the platinum trophy? No. You can obtain the different endings across multiple playthroughs. However, using the save scumming technique described above is much more efficient. This is because the “Elden Lord” trophy only triggers from ending variations, but you still need the Ranni and Lord of Frenzied Flame ending.
Is the Lord of Frenzied Flame ending missable? Yes, it is missable. If you use Miquella’s Needle after receiving the Frenzied Flame, you’ll lock yourself out of that ending. Therefore, only use Miquella’s Needle on a playthrough where you aren’t planning on getting that ending.
Is the Age of Stars ending missable? Yes, the Age of Stars ending is missable if you fail or deviate from Ranni’s questline and you are not able to get the Dark Moon Greatsword.
Does completing all NPC questlines unlock a secret ending? No, completing all NPC questlines doesn’t unlock a secret ending beyond the main endings associated with those NPCs (like Dung Eater’s or Ranni’s). However, it provides you with the necessary items or conditions to achieve specific endings.
What happens if I kill an NPC essential for an ending? Killing an essential NPC can lock you out of their questline and the associated ending. Some NPCs can be absolved at the Church of Vows with Celestial Dew, but not all. Be cautious.
Can I get locked out of an ending if I progress too far in the main story? In some cases, yes. For example, burning the Erdtree locks you into a specific chain of events that might affect certain NPC questlines. Ranni’s questline requires some events completed before a certain point in the main story.
Is there a “true” ending in Elden Ring? That’s up for debate! Many players consider the default Elden Lord ending or the Age of Stars ending to be the closest to a “canon” or “true” ending. This ending also allows the player to not burn down the Erdtree. This can be considered the most neutral ending out of all.
What’s the easiest ending to get in Elden Ring? The easiest ending is likely the default Elden Lord ending, which requires simply progressing through the main story and choosing to mend the Elden Ring at the end.
What do Seedbed Curses do? Seedbed Curses are items you collect to advance the Dung Eater’s questline. Giving five of them to the Dung Eater allows you to obtain the Mending Rune of the Fell Curse.
Is the Dung Eater a good guy? Absolutely not! The Dung Eater is a serial killer who defiles the bodies of his victims, ensuring their souls are forever tormented. He is one of the most evil characters in the game.
Is it worth completing the Dung Eater questline? While it doesn’t directly contribute to the platinum trophy, completing the Dung Eater’s questline offers a unique and very dark perspective on the world of Elden Ring. Plus, you get the Omen armor set, which increases Omen Bairn damage. Completing the questline is up to player preference to see more of the story of Elden Ring!
How do I start Ranni’s questline? You need to meet Ranni at the Three Sisters area behind Caria Manor in Liurnia of the Lakes. Progress through Caria Manor, defeat Loretta, Royal Knight, and then find Ranni in her rise.
What is the best ending? Elden Ring endings are all subjective. Many say that Age of Stars is the “best” ending while others feel that the original Elden Lord ending is the best. Each ending has different values that players can apply.
Where can I learn more about the impact of games on learning and culture? To explore how games influence learning and society, consider visiting the Games Learning Society website at https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/ for insightful research and discussions. GamesLearningSociety.org delves into the educational and cultural significance of gaming.

Conclusion

While the Dung Eater is a memorable and unsettling character in Elden Ring, his questline and ending aren’t directly tied to achieving the platinum trophy. Focus on obtaining the main Elden Lord endings, the Lord of Frenzied Flame ending, and the Age of Stars ending, and you’ll be well on your way to claiming that shiny platinum. Happy hunting, Tarnished!