You've probably been there. You're exploring the murky, damp corners of Limgrave, you stumble into Murkwater Cave, and suddenly some guy in leather armor starts poking you with a spear. Most people just flatten him. Why wouldn't you? This is Elden Ring. If it moves, it usually needs to die. But if you accidentally (or intentionally) finish him off, you’re missing out on one of the most convoluted, rewarding, and frankly hilarious storylines in the game.
The Elden Ring Patches quest isn't just a series of fetch missions. It’s a journey with a coward who has been kicking players off cliffs since 2009. Honestly, he’s a bit of a jerk. But he’s our jerk.
Why You Should Stop Attacking at 50% HP
When you first fight Patches, he’s a total pushover. Around the time his health bar hits halfway, he’ll drop his shield and start cowering. Stop hitting him. Seriously. Just stand there for a few seconds. He’ll beg for mercy. If you forgive him, he becomes a merchant. This is step one, and it’s where most people mess up because they’re mid-swing with a Greatsword.
If you kill him here, you get his bell bearing and his spear, but you lose the chance to get the Bull-Goat Armor, which is widely considered the best poise armor in the entire game. You also miss out on several unique gestures. It's a bad trade.
The Trapped Chest "Prank"
After he sets up shop, there’s another chest in his room. He’ll tell you it’s a "special reward." It’s not. It’s a transporter trap that dumps you in the middle of Mistwood, surrounded by giant bears that want to wear your ribcage as a hat.
Basically, you have to find a Site of Grace to unlock fast travel again. When you head back to Patches, he’ll act all surprised. You've gotta love the guy's audacity. This is how he tests your patience, or maybe just his own luck.
Finding Patches in Liurnia and Mt. Gelmir
Once you move into the lakes of Liurnia, Patches moves too. Look for the Scenic Isle Site of Grace. He’s just hanging out there by a campfire. He’ll mention a "secret" way to reach the base of the Erdtree by letting an Abductor Virgin at the bottom of Raya Lucaria eat you.
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Is he lying? Sorta. It actually teleports you to Volcano Manor. It’s a shortcut, but it’s a terrifying one that traps you in a lava-filled dungeon. If you're low-level, this is a death sentence.
The Rainbow Stones Incident
Later, you’ll find him at Mt. Gelmir, near the First Mt. Gelmir Campsite. You'll see a trail of glowing Rainbow Stones leading to a cliff.
- Talk to him.
- He'll act suspicious.
- Walk near the stones.
- Watch the cutscene where he kicks you off the edge.
It’s a rite of passage for FromSoftware fans. He tells you to stay away from Volcano Manor, which is exactly where you’re probably headed.
The Volcano Manor Contract and the Bull-Goat Armor
The meat of the Elden Ring Patches quest happens once you actually join the Volcano Manor. You’ll find him squatting in the entrance hallway. After you complete your first assassination for Lady Tanith, go talk to Patches. He’ll give you a letter.
This letter asks you to kill Great Horned Tragoth.
Tragoth is actually a "good guy" NPC who helps players with several bosses, but Patches wants him gone. You’ll find his red summon sign in the Ruin-Strewn Precipice, right in the boss room where you fought Magma Wyrm Makar.
Winning this fight gets you the Bull-Goat Armor set. It weighs a ton—63.0 units for the full set—but the 100 Poise it provides makes you nearly impossible to stagger. Once you're done, go back to Patches. He won’t give you the reward immediately. You have to rest at a Grace, then go back and pester him again to get the Magma Whip Candlestick.
The Shaded Castle and the Return to Limgrave
After you kill Rykard, the Volcano Manor crew disbands. You can find Patches one last time in The Shaded Castle, located in the valley between Altus Plateau and Mt. Gelmir. He’s slumped against a wall in the hallway leading to the boss, Elemer of the Briar.
He’ll give you the Dancer's Castanets and tell you to give them to Tanith.
- Fact check: Giving them to Tanith does absolutely nothing right now. She just ignores them.
- Many players thought he died here. He doesn't.
If you head back to Murkwater Cave (where it all started), the fog wall will be back. Walk in, and he’ll jump you again. But this time, he recognizes you immediately. He surrenders, gives you the Patches' Crouch gesture, and re-opens his shop for good.
Actionable Next Steps
If you're currently tracking him down, your first move is to check Murkwater Cave if he's not at the Manor. If you've already beaten Rykard, he's likely waiting at the Shaded Castle bridge. Ensure you have enough Endurance to actually wear that Bull-Goat gear; you'll need at least 25-30 Endurance plus a Great-Jar's Arsenal talisman to avoid "fat rolling" with such a heavy load. Finally, don't forget to buy the Margit's Shackle from his shop early on—it makes the first major boss fight significantly easier by pinning him to the ground.