Elden Ring Patches questline

Patches will either win you over or kill you in Murkwater Cave and Volcano Manor.

Patches is one of just a few common threads that FromSoftware has featured in practically every game since Demon’s Souls in 2009. Patches has a significant presence in Patches’ Elden Ring quest, and predictably, he’s up to his old antics – including throwing you down a large hole.

Here’s how to meet Patches, where to locate him afterwards, and how to see his hidden ending, which was added in patch 1.04.

CHAPTER 1: MERCY

STEP 1: MURKWATER CAVE

If you’re feeling adventurous, meeting Patches is one of the first things you can do in Elden Ring. The cunning scoundrel initially appears in Murkwater Cave, which may be found by following the shallow stream from the north side of Agheel Lake.

You’ll be attacked by a hostile NPC as you cross the creek, so be prepared, and kill the skeletons you pass instead of racing through them, because they may quickly catch up and overpower you while you’re battling the invader.

When you arrive to Murkwater Cave, enter and activate the place of grace.

STEP 2: HAVE MERCY

Patches will attack you whenever you open a certain chest inside Murkwater Cave. The encounter is set up like a boss fight – until you deplete his health, at which time he will tremble and plead for mercy. If you wish to continue his narrative, please comply with his request for the time being. You will be granted the Grovel for Mercy gesture.

Patches will set up shop in the cave, granting you access to valuable things like as Margit’s Shackle, a Stonesword Key, and PvP invasion equipment.

STEP 3: PATCHES’ PITFALLS

While Patches is still in Murkwater, you can reengage him by attacking him again, and then using the Grovel gesture to beg him for compassion. He may still kill you – various players have reported varying results on places such as Reddit — but you should get the Extreme Repentance gesture as a consequence of the encounter. Even if he does murder you, he will be polite when you return.

There’s also a new chest in the room. When you open it, you will be sent to Mistwood Ruins, and Patches will be gone when you return to Murkwater. But don’t worry, he won’t be gone forever.

CHAPTER 2: SIGHTSEEING

The steps that follow are optional. Even if you miss Patches in his next two spots, you can ultimately catch up with him.

STEP 4 (OPTIONAL): FIND PATCHES IN LIURNIA

Patches goes to the Scenic Isle in southern Liurnia after exiting Murkwater Cave. Patches lives on the little isle that juts out of the ocean immediately west of the telescope icon on the map.

He’ll keep selling his products here, and he’ll even give you a tip about a special Abductor Virgin who will transport you to the Erdtree’s base. The opponent to whom he alludes is located at the bottom of the big rotating elevator at the Schoolhouse Classroom place of grace in Raya Lucaria Academy. Given that we’re talking about Patches, don’t be shocked if it transfers you to a lethal dungeon in Volcano Manor rather than the Erdtree’s headquarters. (For further information, see our Volcano Manor walkthrough.)

STEP 5 (OPTIONAL): FIND PATCHES ON MT. GELMIR

Patches can also be encountered on Mt. Gelmir during the route to Volcano Manor.

A note encouraging you to pursue the rainbow stones toward a prize may be found uphill from the First Mt. Gelmir Campsite site of grace. This is a trap set by our good friend Patches, who will kick you down to the bottom of the abyss when you come near enough to the cliff in Demon’s Souls. There’s plenty to discover down there if you can avoid the Basilisks.

You may confront Patches about his trap if you look around carefully around the second and third glowing stones. Naturally, he maintains he’s not doing anything suspicious, then pushes you off the cliff nonetheless if you continue down the stone path.

CHAPTER 3: A RECUSANT IN REPOSE

STEP 6: MEET PATCHES IN VOLCANO MANOR

Despite Patches’ best attempts, you’ll probably make it to Volcano Manor, where you may meet him in the entry hallway after completing the recusant assassinations questline.
Here’s the gist of it: Do one recusant quest for Tanith to summon Patches. If you finish his chat, he’ll assign you his own assassination mission. Complete the mission, return to him, and then restart the region and talk with him again to obtain the Magma Whip Candlestick.

STEP 7: DEFEAT RYKARD

Whether or whether you fulfill Patches’ assignment at the Manor, beating the boss there, Praetor Rykard, will force all NPCs to depart, including Patches.

And don’t worry if you need help fighting Rykard — you guessed it — Polygon has a comprehensive guide to the battle in our Volcano Manor guide.

STEP 8: MEET PATCHES AT SHADED CASTLE

Patches’ last hiding place is Shaded Castle, a medium-sized dungeon located between Altus Plateau and Mt. Gelmir. Patches is waiting on the wooden walkway leading to the boss fog, so if you’ve previously conquered Shaded Castle, teleport to the Castellan’s Hall site of grace and stroll outside to locate him.

Patches hands you the Dancer’s Castanets and asks you to deliver them to Tanith at a rare vulnerable moment. Patches will go mute once his discourse is exhausted. You can either offer the item to Tanith or not, as it appears to have no impact.

CHAPTER 4: MURKWATER REPRISE

STEP 9: INSTALL PATCH 1.04

No, this isn’t a joke about “patches.” Patches’ voyage through the Lands Between ended prior to the release of Elden Ring patch 1.04 on April 19, 2022. So, if you want to keep playing, make sure you’re using the most recent version of the game.

STEP 10: RETURN TO MURKWATER CAVE

Return to Murkwater Cave after encountering Patches at the Shaded Castle for one more confrontation.

When you try to rejoin Patches’ original area, a green boss fog wall will appear (you may need to rest at the cave’s place of grace for it to materialize). Enter the fog and unlock the chest, allowing Patches to assault you once again, only for him to realize his error and submit very immediately. You’ll get the Patches’ Crouch gesture this time.

Reload the region, and Patches’ Emporium will be up for business again (albeit his items don’t appear to have changed). If you didn’t obtain the Extreme Repentance gesture the first time around, you can assault Patches to reengage him, then let your health drop and perform the Grovel for Mercy gesture to acquire it now. Patches will not stop assaulting you, but if you let him kill you and then return to the area, he will be friendly again, and any lost runes will be easy to pick up.

STEP 11: KILL PATCHES

Now is the time to murder Patches securely, knowing that you’ve done everything and he has nothing further to give you. Patches’ Bell Bearing, Spear +7, and Leather Armor set are all yours if you do so. You also know you want to.

With Patches in place, see Polygon’s guides on Varré, Nepheli, Fia, and Blaidd’s NPC questlines for more information.