You’re exploring Limgrave, probably feeling a bit too confident after taking down a couple of Godrick’s foot soldiers, and then you see it. A massive, hulking figure with a giant rusted flail and a literal pumpkin for a head. It looks ridiculous. Then it starts bashing its skull into the ground with the force of a falling meteor, and suddenly, the joke isn't funny anymore.
The Mad Pumpkin Head is one of those classic FromSoftware enemies that perfectly balances the line between "What is that?" and "Oh, I'm dead."
Most players treat these guys like a standard early-game wall, especially since one of them is standing between you and Sorceress Sellen in the Waypoint Ruins. But there’s a lot more going on with these tragic gladiators than just a goofy helmet and high poise. If you've been banging your head against their iron shells—literally—you're doing it wrong.
Why the Mad Pumpkin Head is a Lore Nightmare
Honestly, the lore here is depressing. These aren't monsters or demi-humans in the traditional sense; they’re broken people. Specifically, they were once gladiators who fought in the colosseums of the Lands Between. When Radagon became Elden Lord and the arenas were shut down, these warriors didn't just go home to a pension. They were repurposed.
The helmet isn't just armor. It’s a sensory deprivation tank.
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Inside that massive iron "pumpkin," it’s pitch black. The descriptions of the Pumpkin Helm tell us it was designed to "stifle panic." These soldiers are so traumatized by the horrors of war and the "humming of insects" (likely a reference to the Rot or the influence of outer gods) that they can only function in total darkness. They're basically suffering from a magical, high-fantasy version of PTSD. When you see them go into a frenzy, they aren't just being aggressive—they're having a complete mental breakdown triggered by the sounds of battle.
The Insect Connection
Have you ever noticed how they freak out when there's humming nearby? It's a weirdly specific detail. Some lore hunters suggest the buzzing reminds them of the scarlet rot or perhaps the flies associated with the Formless Mother. Whatever it is, that helmet is the only thing keeping them from vibrating into a million pieces of pure anxiety.
Stop Hitting the Helmet
This is the biggest mistake I see. People see a big target and they swing. But that helmet isn't just for show; it’s an iron slab that reduces damage by a massive 80%. If you're a mage locking onto the head and firing Glintstone Pebbles, you're essentially throwing pebbles at a tank.
Basically, you need to aim low.
- Melee Strategy: Stay behind them. Their turning circle is okay, but not great. Most of their attacks—like the overhead flail smash or the headbutt—have long recovery windows. That’s your time to strike the back or the legs.
- The "Bonk" Factor: If you hit the helmet with a light weapon, your blade will actually bounce off. This leaves you wide open for a counter. If you must hit them from the front, use a heavy weapon with two hands to avoid the deflect animation.
- Magic Users: Stop using auto-lock. Or, if you do, use spells like Carian Slicer. Because it’s a melee-range spell, it usually hits the body rather than the head.
Locations You Actually Care About
You’ll run into these guys all over the place, but a few encounters actually matter for your progression or your "Fashion Souls" collection.
- Waypoint Ruins (Limgrave): The "first" one for most people. Beating him opens up Sorceress Sellen’s shop. If you’re a magic build, this is a non-negotiable fight.
- Caelem Ruins (Caelid): This one is a nightmare. It’s a double boss fight in a room roughly the size of a closet. One has a hammer, one has a flail. Use a Spirit Ash here—seriously. You need a distraction so you don't get pancaked while trying to roll.
- Fort Haight: There’s a lesser version here that's great for farming. If you want the actual Pumpkin Helm for yourself, this is the place to be.
How to Get the Mad Pumpkin Head Ashes
If you want one of these guys on your team, you have to work for it. You’ll need to head to the Minor Erdtree Catacombs in Caelid. It’s a nasty dungeon filled with imps and scarlet rot slime.
At the end, you have to fight two Erdtree Burial Watchdogs at the same time. It’s an annoying fight, but the reward is the Mad Pumpkin Head Ashes. As a summon, he's a beast. He has high poise and can bleed enemies with his flail. Just don't expect him to be smart; he's going to charge in and start slamming his head into things. It’s effective, if a bit loud.
The Stats: Is the Pumpkin Helm Worth the Weight?
A lot of players wear the helmet for the meme. I get it. It looks funny. But from a pure stats perspective, it’s actually a top-tier piece of defensive gear if you can handle the weight.
It weighs 12.3, which is heavy for a helmet. However, it provides a unique hidden buff: it significantly reduces the damage and "impact" (stagger) of headshots. In PvP, this can be a lifesaver against bow builds or certain jumping attacks. It also has incredibly high Focus, which helps you resist Madness and Sleep.
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If you’re running a Frenzied Flame build, the Pumpkin Helm is unironically one of your best options. It helps you spam those madness spells a few more times before your own bar fills up and you start screaming yellow fire.
Farming Tips
The drop rate is low—around 3%. If you're committed to the look:
- Pop a Silver-Pickled Fowl Foot.
- Wear the Silver Tear Mask if you have it.
- Head to the bridge near Saintsbridge in Limgrave or Fort Haight and get to work. It might take twenty tries, but you'll get it eventually.
Dealing with the Caelid Duo
I mentioned the Caelem Ruins earlier, but it deserves its own strategy. Fighting two of these in a small basement is arguably harder than some Shardbearers if you're under-leveled.
The trick is the "Sleep" mechanic.
Mad Pumpkin Heads are surprisingly vulnerable to sleep. If you have Sleep Pots or St. Trina’s Arrows, you can knock one out and focus entirely on the other. But here’s the cool part: if you wake one up with a standard attack (not a critical hit), they sometimes enter a "confusion" state where they pound their chest and briefly attack anything nearby—including their partner.
Use their madness against them. It’s fitting, given their history.
What to Do Next
If you've just beaten your first Mad Pumpkin Head at Waypoint Ruins, don't just run off. Make sure you talk to Sellen in the back room. She’s the gateway to some of the best sorceries in the game, including the Comet Azur questline later on.
If you’re hunting the armor, head to Fort Haight now. The enemies there are manageable even at level 20-30, and you’ll get some decent Smithing Stones while you're at it. Just remember: aim for the stomach, watch the flail's bleed buildup, and for the love of Marika, stop hitting the metal hat.
Once you have the helm, try pairing it with the Bull-Goat set for a high-poise build that makes you look like a very angry, very armored vegetable. It’s the ultimate intimidation tactic in the Colosseum.