Tracking Down the Loathsome: A Comprehensive Guide to Finding the Dung Eater in Elden Ring
So, you’re looking to find the Dung Eater in Elden Ring? You’ve come to the right place. This twisted character is integral to one of the game’s most impactful, albeit bleak, endings. Prepare yourself, Tarnished, because the path to finding him, and ultimately dealing with him, is fraught with peril and moral quandaries.
Where to Find the Dung Eater: A Step-by-Step Guide
The Dung Eater’s location changes throughout the game as his quest progresses. Here’s a breakdown of where to find him at each stage:
- Roundtable Hold (Initial Appearance): After reaching Leyndell, Royal Capital, a new room will unlock next to the Twin Maiden Husks in the Roundtable Hold. Inside, you’ll find the spectral, red apparition of the Dung Eater. He won’t be fully corporeal here, but this is where you first encounter him and begin his questline.
- Roundtable Hold (Quest Activation): Return to the Roundtable Hold after obtaining at least one Seedbed Curse. Speak to his apparition again. He will then give you the Sewer-Gaol Key and task you with finding his physical body beneath Leyndell.
- Subterranean Shunning-Grounds (Leyndell): This is where you’ll find his true body imprisoned. The Subterranean Shunning-Grounds is accessed via a well in Leyndell, Royal Capital.
- Navigate the sewers until you reach a locked gate. Use the Capital Sewer Gaol Key given to you by his apparition at Roundtable Hold to unlock it.
- The Dung Eater will be inside this cell. Speak with him, and he will request you to free him from his confines.
- Outer Moat (Post-Release Invasion): After releasing him from the Sewer-Gaol, the Dung Eater will invade you in the Outer Moat area. This area can be reached by leaving Leyndell and heading toward the lake.
- Leyndell, Ashen Capital (End of Questline): After defeating him in his invasion and progressing further in his quest, you can find him back in the Subterranean Shunning-Grounds after Leyndell transforms into the Ashen Capital. He will be sitting near the area where you originally found him imprisoned, and this is where you will ultimately need to bring the Seedbed Curses to receive the Mending Rune of the Fell Curse.
- Brother Corhyn: After Leyndell transforms to Ashen Capital, Brother Corhyn is found at the base of the large spear in the southwestern part of the Ashen Capital, if you’ve progressed to the end of his questline.
Finding the Dung Eater requires careful exploration and a willingness to delve into the darkest corners of the Lands Between. Be prepared for challenging combat and difficult choices along the way!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About the Dung Eater
1. How do I start the Dung Eater questline?
The Dung Eater’s quest begins after reaching Leyndell, Royal Capital. Find his apparition in the Roundtable Hold, next to the Twin Maiden Husks. After obtaining a Seedbed Curse, speak with him again. He will then give you the Sewer-Gaol Key and instruct you to find his real body in the Subterranean Shunning-Grounds.
2. Where can I find Seedbed Curses?
There are six Seedbed Curses scattered throughout the game. Some notable locations include:
- Volcano Manor
- Leyndell, Royal Capital
- Elphael, Brace of the Haligtree
Explore these areas thoroughly to find them.
3. Should I kill the Dung Eater when I first find him?
Resist the temptation to kill him in his cell! Completing his questline requires him to be alive (at least initially). Killing him too early will lock you out of obtaining the Mending Rune of the Fell Curse and the associated ending.
4. What happens if I give Seluvis’s Potion to the Dung Eater?
Giving the Dung Eater Seluvis’s Potion will turn him into a puppet. This allows you to obtain the Dung Eater Puppet spirit summon, but it will also alter the course of his questline, preventing you from getting the Mending Rune of the Fell Curse in the intended way. It also allows you to get his armor.
5. What are the consequences of freeing the Dung Eater from his cell?
Freeing the Dung Eater sets him on a path of destruction. He will eventually kill Blackguard Big Boggart. Be prepared for this event and its emotional weight.
6. Is the Dung Eater ending a good or bad ending?
The Dung Eater ending is generally considered the worst ending in Elden Ring. It involves using the Mending Rune of the Fell Curse to curse the world and all of its inhabitants, preventing them from returning to the Erdtree.
7. What are the Dung Eater’s weaknesses in combat?
The Dung Eater is vulnerable to fire damage. Use fire-based weapons, spells, and consumables to exploit this weakness and make the fight easier.
8. What weapon does the Dung Eater drop?
After defeating the Dung Eater during his invasion in the Outer Moat, he will drop the Sword of Milos.
9. Does killing the Dung Eater give me his armor?
You can obtain the Omen Set by killing the Dung Eater after giving him Seluvis’s Potion. If you defeat him at the Subterranean Shunning-Grounds, he will drop the Omen Helm.
10. Can I summon the Dung Eater to help me in boss fights?
If you’ve progressed his questline, you can summon the Dung Eater for the fight against Morgott, the Omen King. You need to free him from the cell in the sewers for the summon sign to appear. Aside from Spirit Ashes and Players, you can also summon Dung Eater to help you in this fight. However, you can only do this if you meet him inside a cell and release him into the Sewers.
11. What is the significance of the Seedbed Curses?
The Seedbed Curses are essential for progressing the Dung Eater’s questline and ultimately obtaining the Mending Rune of the Fell Curse. They are items he uses to defile corpses, preventing their souls from returning to the Erdtree.
12. How do I get the Dung Eater Puppet spirit ash?
To obtain the Dung Eater Puppet spirit ash, you must complete the following steps:
- Reach Ranni’s Rise and swear loyalty to the Caria Manor Empyrean.
- Start the Dung Eater’s questline and free his corporeal body.
- Defeat the Dung Eater during his invasion.
- Feed him Seluvis’s Potion.
- Find Seluvis’s Secret Room.
13. What happens when Leyndell transforms into the Ashen Capital regarding the Dung Eater?
After Leyndell transforms into the Ashen Capital, the Dung Eater’s physical body returns to the Subterranean Shunning-Grounds. This is where you need to bring the Seedbed Curses to him to progress the final steps of his quest and receive the Mending Rune of the Fell Curse.
14. Is Ranni a good or evil character compared to the Dung Eater?
Ranni, while complex and morally ambiguous, is generally considered less evil than the Dung Eater. While her ending is controversial, it often leads to a new order that is arguably more hopeful than the cursed world the Dung Eater seeks to create. Some might argue that the ethical considerations in games like Elden Ring offer a valuable space for exploring moral philosophies. You can learn more about the intersection of gaming and learning at organizations like the Games Learning Society at https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/.
15. Why is the Dung Eater so important to the lore of Elden Ring?
The Dung Eater represents the ultimate corruption and despair in the Lands Between. His goal is to curse all beings and prevent them from returning to the Erdtree, creating a world of eternal torment. His questline explores themes of defilement, hatred, and the consequences of unchecked cruelty, adding a dark and impactful layer to the game’s lore. He is an integral part of the world-building, exemplifying the bleak and unforgiving nature of Elden Ring.
Finding and dealing with the Dung Eater is no easy feat. Prepare for a twisted journey. Good luck, Tarnished!