Budding Horn Bounty: A Tarnished’s Guide to Efficient Farming

Budding Horns, those peculiar vestiges of the Crucible, are essential for crafting consumables that bolster your Tarnished’s resilience. Obtaining a steady supply requires knowing the right hunting grounds. The most efficient farming locations for Budding Horns are concentrated in areas abundant with herbivorous beasts, particularly sheep.

• Church of Pilgrimage (Weeping Peninsula): Traveling southwest from the church towards the Walking Mausoleum, you will encounter several herds of sheep. This is a great early-game location for gathering Budding Horns.
• Craftsman’s Shack (Limgrave): Located right next to the site of grace, a large herd of sheep makes this another easily accessible and convenient early-game farming spot.

While these locations are primarily early-game focused, repeated visits are viable since the resources respawn.

Frequently Asked Questions About Budding Horns

Let’s delve deeper into everything you need to know about Budding Horns in Elden Ring.

What is the Budding Horn Used For?

The Budding Horn is a crafting material used to create consumables that provide temporary buffs to your character. Specifically, it’s used to craft:

• Dappled Cured Meat: Boosts Robustness (resistance to Blood Loss and Frostbite buildup).
• Dappled White Cured Meat: Boosts Immunity (resistance to Poison and Scarlet Rot buildup).

These consumables are incredibly useful when facing enemies or exploring areas that inflict these status effects. Understanding when and where to use these crafted consumables greatly enhances survivability.

Where Can I Find the Crafting Recipe for Dappled Cured Meat and Dappled White Cured Meat?

The crafting recipes for these items are found within the Nomadic Warrior’s Cookbook [6]. This cookbook is located near the southeast shore of the Siofra River. Look for it on a corpse near a pillar, close to where you first emerge from the lift.

Is There a Vendor That Sells Budding Horns?

Unfortunately, there are no vendors in Elden Ring that directly sell Budding Horns. The only way to obtain them is by hunting herbivorous beasts, primarily sheep. So, honing those hunting skills is essential!

What Are the Best Strategies for Farming Budding Horns?

Efficient farming involves these strategies:

• Fast Travel and Reset: Utilize Sites of Grace to quickly respawn enemies. Clear out the sheep around the Church of Pilgrimage or Craftsman’s Shack, then fast travel back to the Site of Grace and repeat.
• Area-of-Effect Attacks: Weapons or spells with area-of-effect damage can quickly dispatch entire herds of sheep, maximizing your yield.
• Stealth: While less efficient for large herds, stealth can be used to approach individual sheep, guaranteeing a clean kill and minimizing the risk of alerting the others.

What Other Animals Drop Budding Horns?

While sheep are the most reliable source, it’s possible, though much rarer, to obtain Budding Horns from other herbivorous creatures within the game. Deer or other similar wildlife may occasionally drop them. However, targeting sheep is definitely the most efficient approach.

What is the Lore Significance of the Budding Horn?

The item description mentions that the horn “began to sprout on a beast that typically bears no horn. Perhaps it’s a vestige of the primordial crucible.” This refers to the Crucible, an ancient form of the Erdtree from which life originally sprang. The Budding Horn represents a return to this primordial state, hinting at the wild, untamed power within the Lands Between. This is another excellent example of how the game conveys lore and story beats. You can always investigate more lore and guides at Games Learning Society to discover more about Elden Ring.

How Important Are the Status Effect Resistances Granted by Dappled Cured Meat and Dappled White Cured Meat?

The importance of these resistances depends on your playstyle and the challenges you’re facing. However, they can be extremely valuable in specific situations:

• Blood Loss: The infamous bleed builds of enemies (and players) can quickly deplete your health. Dappled Cured Meat is invaluable against these opponents.
• Frostbite: Frostbite can severely reduce stamina recovery and inflict a burst of damage. This consumable can help mitigate this annoying debuff.
• Poison and Scarlet Rot: These status effects inflict damage over time and can quickly become lethal. Dappled White Cured Meat can dramatically increase your survival time in areas riddled with these afflictions.

How Does Item Discovery Affect the Drop Rate of Budding Horns?

Item Discovery is a stat that increases the likelihood of enemies dropping items. Increasing your Item Discovery stat will increase the chance of sheep dropping Budding Horns. You can increase this stat by:

• Wearing the Silver Tear Mask.
• Using Silver-Pickled Fowl Foot.
• Having Arcane stat boosted, if applicable.

Are There Any Early Game Areas Where Budding Horns are More Plentiful?

The Church of Pilgrimage and Craftsman’s Shack are your best bets for early-game Budding Horn farming. These locations are easily accessible and contain plentiful sheep herds.

Can I Use Spirit Ashes to Help Farm Budding Horns?

While Spirit Ashes can assist in clearing out areas more quickly, they are not particularly useful for Budding Horn farming. It’s more efficient to use area-of-effect attacks or stealth to quickly dispatch the sheep yourself. The point is rapid elimination, not protracted battles.

Do Budding Horns Have Any Other Uses Besides Crafting?

Unfortunately, Budding Horns have no other known uses besides crafting Dappled Cured Meat and Dappled White Cured Meat. They cannot be sold for runes or used in any other recipes. Their sole purpose is to create these useful consumables.

What Build Types Benefit the Most From Using Dappled Cured Meat and Dappled White Cured Meat?

Any build that struggles with status effects will benefit from these consumables. However, certain builds are particularly vulnerable:

• Low Vigor Builds: Builds with low health are more susceptible to status effects because they cannot withstand the initial burst of damage or the damage over time.
• Builds Focused on Heavy Armor: While heavy armor provides physical defense, it often comes with lower resistances to status effects.
• Melee Builds: Melee builds must get up close and personal with enemies, increasing their exposure to status effect attacks.

How Do I Maximize My Inventory of Budding Horns?

Since you cannot buy Budding Horns, optimizing your inventory means diligent farming and careful crafting. Here’s how to maximize your Budding Horn stock:

• Prioritize Your Needs: Only craft the consumables you need for your current situation. Avoid crafting unnecessary items.
• Farm Regularly: Make regular trips to the Church of Pilgrimage or Craftsman’s Shack to replenish your stock.
• Use Storage: Store excess Budding Horns in your Item Box at Sites of Grace to free up inventory space.

Are There Any Patches That Have Affected Budding Horn Drop Rates?

As of the latest updates, there have been no significant patches that have drastically altered the drop rates of Budding Horns. The drop rate remains consistent, making farming relatively reliable.

Is There a Hidden Budding Horn Farming Location Most Players Miss?

While the Church of Pilgrimage and Craftsman’s Shack are the most well-known and efficient locations, some players may find success in other areas where herbivorous animals congregate. However, these alternative locations are typically less reliable and more spread out. Sticking to the main farming spots is generally the best strategy.

By following this guide, you’ll have a steady supply of Budding Horns, allowing you to craft the consumables you need to survive the harsh realities of the Lands Between. Happy hunting, Tarnished! Also, check out GamesLearningSociety.org to learn more about video games as a way to learn and teach!