Should You Give Boc the Gold Sewing Needle in Elden Ring? A Comprehensive Guide
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Yes, you should absolutely give Boc the Gold Sewing Needle in Elden Ring. While seemingly a simple act of kindness, providing Boc with the needle unlocks a significant side quest, leading to a more fulfilling ending for this beloved NPC. Refusing him the needle essentially cuts short his storyline and deprives him of a chance to pursue his dream. Let’s delve deeper into the implications of this choice.
The Importance of Boc’s Questline
Boc the Seamster is a character many players encounter early in Elden Ring. He’s initially found as a small bush, cursed and trapped, but after breaking the curse using a Stonesword Key, he reveals himself to be a demi-human with a talent for tailoring. Boc offers to alter your equipment for free, a valuable service, especially early on. However, his true desire is to become a renowned seamster and be seen as beautiful.
His quest revolves around his deep-seated insecurities and his yearning for acceptance. The Gold Sewing Needle is key to unlocking his potential, allowing him to perform more significant alterations and ultimately, giving him a chance to be reborn.
Refusing to give him the needle closes this path. He remains stuck in his self-doubt, unable to progress beyond simple alterations. The decision has a real impact on his character arc and impacts the overall narrative experience.
Where to Find the Gold Sewing Needle
The Gold Sewing Needle is located in the Coastal Cave on the western side of Limgrave, near the Church of Dragon Communion. You’ll need to defeat two demi-human chiefs in a mini-boss fight to claim it. Once acquired, you can return to Boc, who can be found in several locations after his initial rescue, including Liurnia of the Lakes and East Raya Lucaria Gate.
The Consequences of Your Choice
- Giving Boc the Gold Sewing Needle: This allows him to alter more sophisticated armor, and continues his questline. Crucially, it opens up the possibility of triggering a specific ending involving Rennala’s Rebirth.
- Refusing Boc the Gold Sewing Needle: This ends his quest early, locking you out of the related content and depriving Boc of the chance to realize his potential. He will still offer basic alterations, but his storyline stagnates.
Choosing to give Boc the Gold Sewing Needle allows him to progress, grow, and ultimately, potentially achieve his dream of becoming a renowned seamster. Refusing it denies him this opportunity and locks you out of experiencing the full depth of his character arc. While there’s no significant gameplay disadvantage to refusing, the narrative cost is substantial.
The Path to Boc’s Rebirth
Once Boc has the Gold Sewing Needle, he will eventually mention his desire to be reborn, believing that being more “human-like” will solve his problems. This leads to a critical decision point. You can give him a Larval Tear at Rennala, Queen of the Full Moon, to attempt to have him reborn.
- If Reborn: Boc is reborn as a human. However, he’s still fixated on his appearance and desires further changes. This path eventually leads to a tragic ending where he is reborn again, this time as a weak, voiceless individual, essentially lobotomized, at the Raya Lucarian Grand Library after the player tries to convince him to use Rennala’s rebirth for his own benefit.
- Refusing Rebirth (and Using “You’re Beautiful”): This is considered the “good” ending for Boc. If you have the Prattling Pate “You’re Beautiful”, acquired from Hermit Village, you can use it near Boc when he expresses his insecurities. This will reassure him and make him realize his worth as he is, leading him to stay true to himself and continue his work as a tailor with newfound confidence. This keeps him as a demi-human but boosts his self-esteem significantly.
The “You’re Beautiful” ending is widely considered the best outcome, showcasing the importance of self-acceptance and inner beauty. It requires foregoing the rebirth option and instead offering reassurance and validation to Boc.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Boc the Seamster
1. Can I miss Boc entirely?
Yes, it’s possible to miss Boc. He’s hidden in the Coastal Cave, so if you don’t explore that area, you won’t encounter him.
2. Where is Boc located after I free him?
After freeing Boc, he moves to Liurnia of the Lakes, near the Lake-Facing Cliffs site of grace. He later relocates to East Raya Lucaria Gate.
3. What benefits does Boc provide as a tailor?
Boc alters your armor, removing or adding capes and altering certain pieces, all for free. This is especially useful for customizing your appearance early on.
4. Is there a limit to how many times Boc can alter my armor?
No, there is no limit. As long as you have armor that can be altered, Boc will provide his services for free.
5. What happens if I accidentally kill Boc?
If you accidentally kill Boc, he will drop Boc’s Sewing Kit and Boc’s Bell Bearing, which you can give to the Twin Maiden Husks at the Roundtable Hold to purchase his services. You will miss out on his questline, but you can still alter armor.
6. Is the Gold Sewing Needle the only important item for Boc?
No. Later in his quest, the Larval Tear and the Prattling Pate “You’re Beautiful” are also crucial items that determine his ending.
7. Does Boc’s questline affect any of the game’s main endings?
Not directly, but if you allow Boc to be reborn at Rennala and keep him alive until the end, it can slightly alter the Age of Order ending if Goldmask is already part of the equation.
8. Can I give the Gold Sewing Needle to a different NPC?
No, the Gold Sewing Needle is specifically tied to Boc’s questline and cannot be given to any other character.
9. Does Boc ever learn to alter more than just basic armor?
Yes, after receiving the Gold Sewing Needle, he can alter more complex armor pieces. This is a key indicator of his progression.
10. What is the significance of the “You’re Beautiful” Prattling Pate?
The “You’re Beautiful” Prattling Pate is crucial for achieving Boc’s “good” ending. It allows you to reassure him and prevent him from seeking rebirth.
11. Is the “You’re Beautiful” Prattling Pate missable?
Yes, the Prattling Pate “You’re Beautiful” is found in Hermit Village near Mt. Gelmir and can be missed if you don’t explore that area.
12. Can I use another Prattling Pate instead of “You’re Beautiful”?
No, only the “You’re Beautiful” Prattling Pate will trigger the desired outcome for Boc. Other pates will have no effect.
13. What are the implications of Boc becoming human?
While seemingly positive, Boc becoming human leads to a tragic ending. He remains insecure and is ultimately reborn into a weakened state, making it undesirable.
14. Does Boc’s appearance change after receiving the Gold Sewing Needle?
No, his appearance does not change immediately. The visual changes only occur if you choose to have him reborn at Rennala.
15. What is the best way to ensure Boc has a happy ending?
The best way to ensure Boc has a happy ending is to give him the Gold Sewing Needle, refuse to let him be reborn at Rennala, and use the “You’re Beautiful” Prattling Pate to reassure him of his worth as he is. This will allow him to continue his tailoring work with confidence and self-acceptance, leading to the most fulfilling conclusion to his questline.