Should You Kill Dung Eater After Giving Him the Potion in Elden Ring? A Tarnished Dilemma

So, you’ve found yourself in the murky depths of Elden Ring, navigating the morally ambiguous questlines, and now you’re staring at the Loathsome Dung Eater, fresh off a dose of Seluvis’s potion. The question burning in your mind is: Should you end him right here, right now? The short answer is YES, if you want his armor. However, the decision is layered with consequences, impacting quest outcomes and collectible opportunities. Let’s delve into the intricacies of this decision.

The Dung Eater is undeniably one of the most repulsive figures in the Lands Between. A vile and sadistic character, his questline is tied to one of the game’s most bleak endings, the Blessing of Despair. He seeks to curse the entire world, and your interactions with him directly influence this outcome. Giving him Seluvis’s potion presents a unique opportunity, but one that requires decisive action if you aim to maximize your gains.

The Crucial Moment: Kill or Spare?

After administering the potion, the Dung Eater becomes a puppet for Seluvis. However, he doesn’t just become a docile plaything. He remains in his cell, transformed, but his essence is now intertwined with Seluvis’s ambitions. This is where the opportunity arises.

If you want the Dung Eater’s armor set, you must kill him immediately after giving him the potion. This is a time-sensitive event. If you leave the area and return, he will vanish, becoming a puppet elsewhere, and you will lose your chance to acquire the armor. Killing him at this specific moment ensures the armor drops.

However, this action prevents you from progressing his questline further and obtaining the Mending Rune of the Fell Curse, which is necessary for his unique ending. So, the choice boils down to what you prioritize: cosmetics or narrative completion.

Making the Right Choice for Your Playthrough

Ultimately, the “right” choice depends on your goals for this playthrough. Are you a completionist, eager to experience every ending and collect every item? Or are you more focused on building a specific character, perhaps one who would benefit from the Dung Eater’s powerful armor?

• For Collectors and Fashion Souls Enthusiasts: Kill him immediately after giving him the potion to secure his armor set. The Dung Eater’s Armor is a unique and recognizable set, perfect for players who enjoy collecting rare items and customizing their character’s appearance.

• For Completionists and Lore Seekers: Resist the urge to kill him right away. Instead, continue Seluvis’s questline, collect the Dung Eater Puppet, and pursue the Mending Rune of the Fell Curse for the Blessing of Despair ending in a separate playthrough. You can experience both scenarios across multiple playthroughs to fully explore the game’s content.

The Ethical Dilemma (If There Is One)

It’s worth noting that whether you kill him before or after his main questline, the Dung Eater has done awful things to many innocent characters, therefore he may deserve the punishment of either death or becoming Seluvis’ puppet.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Dung Eater and Seluvis’s Potion

Here are some frequently asked questions to further clarify the intricacies of this challenging decision:

1. What exactly does Seluvis’s potion do to the Dung Eater?

The potion transforms the Dung Eater into a puppet, essentially enslaving his will to Seluvis. He retains his physical form but becomes subservient to Seluvis’s control.

2. If I kill the Dung Eater for his armor, can I still get his spirit ash puppet?

Yes, even if you kill him for his armor immediately after giving him the potion, Seluvis will still offer his puppet ashes for purchase in his secret chamber. This means you don’t lose out on the summon by obtaining the armor.

3. Where is Seluvis’s secret puppet lab?

Seluvis’s secret puppet lab is located northwest of Ranni’s Rise, accessible by illusory floors and walls. You need to purchase all of Seluvis’s sorceries to unlock the final part of his quest.

4. Is the Dung Eater a good spirit ash summon?

Yes, the Dung Eater spirit ash is considered a strong summon. He’s a powerful tank that deals bleed damage, making him effective against many bosses, including Fire Giant and Malenia.

5. What are Seedbed Curses, and how do they relate to the Dung Eater?

Seedbed Curses are key items found on the corpses of the Dung Eater’s victims. Collecting and giving five of them to the Dung Eater (in his physical form) is necessary to obtain the Mending Rune of the Fell Curse.

6. What happens if I free the Dung Eater from his cell without giving him the potion?

If you free the Dung Eater without the potion, he will invade you at specific locations. He also kills Boggart and continues his quest to curse the world.

7. Is the Dung Eater’s ending the “worst” ending in Elden Ring?

Many consider the Dung Eater’s Blessing of Despair ending to be the most bleak. It involves cursing the world, ensuring a future of despair and suffering for all inhabitants of the Lands Between.

8. Can I get the Dung Eater’s Mending Rune and his puppet in the same playthrough?

No, you can’t get both in the same playthrough. It’s an either/or situation. You either give him the potion to make him a puppet or give him the Seedbed Curses to get his Mending Rune.

9. What are the consequences of giving Seluvis’s potion to Nepheli Loux?

Giving Seluvis’s potion to Nepheli Loux turns her into a puppet, altering her questline and locking you out of certain outcomes related to her character development. Most players consider giving Nepheli the potion to be the “wrong” choice because it ends her questline prematurely and negatively impacts her personal story arc.

10. How early can I meet the Dung Eater in Elden Ring?

You can meet the Dung Eater relatively early in the game, but his questline doesn’t truly begin until you acquire your first Seedbed Curse, typically in the Royal Capital, Leyndell.

11. Where can I find Seedbed Curses?

Seedbed Curses are located in various areas, typically associated with the Dung Eater’s victims. Some common locations include Leyndell, the Royal Capital, and Volcano Manor.

12. Does killing the Dung Eater after giving him the potion affect other quests?

Killing the Dung Eater immediately after the potion mainly affects Seluvis’s questline and your ability to get the Mending Rune of the Fell Curse. It has limited impact on other major questlines, however it’s an important decision within the game to consider.

13. Why is he called the Dung Eater?

The Dung Eater’s title stems from his past. He was publicly executed and subjected to a particularly humiliating punishment involving, well, dung. This act earned him the moniker and solidified his reputation as a depraved and loathsome figure.

14. Is the Lord of Frenzied Flame ending harder to achieve than the Dung Eater’s ending?

The Lord of Frenzied Flame ending is generally considered more challenging to achieve due to its obtuse and esoteric quest requirements. The Dung Eater’s ending, while morally reprehensible, is more straightforward in its progression.

15. Where else can I learn more about the mechanics of Elden Ring and the importance of game choices?

For further insights into the mechanics of Elden Ring and the broader implications of game choices, you might consider exploring resources from the Games Learning Society. Understanding the interplay between narrative, player agency, and game systems can significantly enhance your gaming experience. To find out more, you can visit GamesLearningSociety.org.

Final Thoughts

The decision to kill the Dung Eater after giving him Seluvis’s potion is a microcosm of the moral complexities inherent in Elden Ring. There is no objectively “right” answer, only a choice aligned with your personal goals and playstyle. Consider the rewards, weigh the consequences, and make the decision that best suits your tarnished journey through the Lands Between.