You’re wandering through the Barren Swamp, probably dodging those massive, annoying puppets with the shovels, and you stumble upon something that just feels... different. It’s a puppet. But it isn't trying to rip your head off. Instead, it's just sitting there. Broken. It wants to learn how to be "real," which is basically the whole theme of Lies of P, right? This is the Lies of P broken puppet questline, and honestly, if you aren't careful, you’ll miss one of the best sources of Quartz in the game.
It’s a weird vibe. In a city where everything with gears is trying to kill you, this pile of scrap just wants to know what it feels like to clap or sad-walk.
Where to Find the Broken Puppet
First things first: you can't even talk to this guy until you reach Chapter IX. You’ll find him right next to the Barren Swamp Stargazer. He’s slumped over near a tree. If you've played other Souls-likes, you might expect a boss fight, but nope. He’s just a student of humanity. He’s looking for specific gestures. He wants to see you move so he can mimic you. It’s kind of cute until you remember you’re standing in a graveyard of rusted metal and dead dreams.
Finding him is easy; keeping track of what he wants is the hard part. You need to have progressed enough in the game to have unlocked specific emotes. If you’ve been rushing through and ignoring NPCs, you’re going to hit a wall here.
The Gestures You Actually Need
He doesn't want just any movement. He’s picky. You have to show him four specific emotions/actions in a very specific order. If you don't have them yet, you're going to be backtracking.
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- Clap: You get this one pretty early. After you beat the Eldest of the Black Rabbit Brotherhood (that chaotic fight in Malum District), go back to the Hotel and talk to Antonia. She’ll give it to you. Most players have this by the time they hit the swamp.
- Sad: This is tied to Julian the Gentleman’s quest in Rosa Isabelle Street. You have to find his wife's remains and then—this is the crucial part—lie to him. Tell him you saw the message she left. If you’re playing a "Truth" run, you might miss this, though you can still get the gesture if you handle the dialogue correctly.
- Anger: You get this from Antonia too, but later. You need to progress until you’ve defeated the Corrupted Parade Master.
- Happy: This one is a reward for finishing Subject 852’s request or progressing through the Arche Abbey area towards the very end of the game.
It’s a long-term commitment. You won't finish the Lies of P broken puppet story in one sitting. You’ll visit him, show him a "Clap," get a reward, and then vanish for three hours of gameplay before coming back with a new emotion.
Why This Quest Matters for Your Build
Look, the lore is cool and all, but we’re here for the loot. Lies of P is stingy with Quartz. You need Quartz to upgrade your P-Organ (terrible name, we know), which unlocks vital skills like the "Link Dodge" or extra Pulse Cells.
The Broken Puppet is a gold mine. For every gesture you show him, he gives you a high-tier reward.
- First Gesture: Usually a specialized part or a consumable.
- Second/Third Gesture: This is where the Quartz starts flowing.
- Final Gesture: He gives you a Quartz and usually a sense of existential dread.
If you're struggling with the endgame bosses—and let's be real, Simon Manus and the Nameless Puppet are nightmares—you need every single upgrade point you can get. Skipping the Lies of P broken puppet is basically making the game 10% harder for no reason.
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The Tragedy of Being "Real"
There’s a nuance here that people miss. The puppet is trying to emulate human emotion, but he’s doing it through a mechanical filter. Every time you show him a gesture, his dialogue becomes a bit more "human," but also more distressed. He starts to realize that being human isn't just about moving your arms in a certain way; it’s about the weight behind the movement.
It mirrors P’s journey. Are you becoming human because you’re lying? Or are you just a very good simulator? The Broken Puppet doesn't have the luxury of a P-Organ or a heart like yours. He’s just scrap metal trying to understand why people cry.
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
I’ve seen people complain that the puppet won't talk to them. Usually, it’s because they haven't cleared the area of enemies. The Barren Swamp is crawling with those puppet-dogs and the big cannon-wielding jerks. If the game thinks you’re "in combat," the interaction prompt won't show up.
Another big one: the Sad gesture. If you messed up Julian the Gentleman’s questline early in the game, you might be locked out of the Sad gesture for that entire playthrough. In Lies of P, your choices actually have consequences. If you told the truth when a lie was required for a reward, you’re out of luck. This is why many players end up finishing the Lies of P broken puppet quest on New Game Plus.
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Technical Tips for the Barren Swamp
The swamp itself is a mess. It’s full of "Corruption" (the acid pool stuff). Before you even try to park yourself in front of the puppet to emote, make sure you have:
- Attribute Purification Ampoules: To clear the corruption.
- Resistance parts: Swap your defensive gear to favor Acid resistance.
- A clear path: Kill the two giant Puppets of the Future wandering the swamp. It makes the walk to the Broken Puppet much less stressful.
The Deeper Meaning of the Rewards
When you finally finish showing him everything, the puppet reaches a sort of "enlightenment." It’s a bittersweet ending. He’s happy he learned to be like you, but he’s still a broken pile of junk in a swamp.
The Quartz he gives you is essentially his "core." By teaching him to be human, you've essentially completed his logic circuit, allowing him to give you the most valuable thing he has. It’s a classic Souls-style trade: knowledge for a piece of someone’s soul (or in this case, their battery).
Essential Steps to Finish the Quest
To make sure you don't miss anything, follow this logic. Don't overthink it, just check your inventory.
- Check your Gestures menu. If "Clap," "Sad," "Anger," and "Happy" aren't there, stop looking for the puppet. Go back to the Hotel or Rosa Isabelle Street.
- Talk to Antonia often. She is the gatekeeper for half of these emotes. If she's sick and you haven't given her the cure, progress that storyline first.
- Clear the Barren Swamp Stargazer area. Do not try to emote while a swamp monster is licking your neck.
- Visit him after every major boss. Even if you don't have a new gesture, sometimes his dialogue updates based on the "Ergo" in the air.
The Lies of P broken puppet is more than just a side quest; it's a reflection of the player's own progression. As P becomes more human through your choices, the puppet tries to keep pace. It’s a quiet, reflective moment in a game that is otherwise screaming at you with buzzsaws and lightning.
Final Checklist for Success
- Reach Chapter IX and find the Barren Swamp Stargazer.
- Ensure you have the Clap (Antonia), Sad (Julian), Anger (Antonia/Story), and Happy (Subject 852) gestures.
- Interact with the puppet and select the gestures from your menu.
- Collect the Quartz after each successful "lesson."
- Use that Quartz at the P-Organ in Geppetto’s office immediately to boost your survivability for the final stretch of the game.