He’s a bald, squatting, backstabbing nuisance who has been kicking players off cliffs since 2009. Honestly, the first instinct most people have when they see him in Murkwater Cave is to just end it. You see a health bar, he begs for mercy, and you think, "Nah, you tried to rob me." But killing him is a massive mistake. The Patches quest Elden Ring offers is one of the most sprawling, weirdly touching, and reward-heavy storylines FromSoftware has ever put together.
It spans from the very beginning of the game in Limgrave all the way to the literal end of the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC if you count the spiritual echoes of his character. If you snuffed him out for his leather armor early on, you missed out on the best poise armor in the game and a genuine emotional arc.
Patches isn't just a meme. He's the only character who truly understands the cycle of greed that ruins the world of Elden Ring. Following his questline isn't just about loot; it's about seeing a scavenger try to find meaning in a world that’s falling apart.
Finding Him in Murkwater Cave
You'll find him early. Deep in Limgrave, tucked away in a ravine where Nerijus tries to bleed you out, there’s a small opening called Murkwater Cave. Inside, there’s a chest with some cloth garb. If you touch it, Patches jumps down from the rocks.
He’s a boss, technically. But he's a coward. Once you get his health down to about half, he’ll drop his shield and cower. Stop hitting him. This is the pivot point. If you keep swinging, the Patches quest Elden Ring players look for is over before it starts. If you wait a few seconds, he’ll offer a parley. Forgive him. He opens a shop. It’s a humble start for a guy who eventually rubs elbows with Volcano Manor royalty.
The Mistake at Scenic Isle
After the cave, Patches moves to Liurnia of the Lakes. He’s sitting by a campfire at the Scenic Isle. He looks pathetic. He tells you about a "Rya" who got robbed, pointing you toward the Volcano Manor recruitment quest.
A lot of people get confused here. They think they need to do something specific to move him, but really, he’s just a signpost. He’s trying to lure you toward the Iron Virgin at the bottom of Raya Lucaria. He tells you a "rumor" that it can teleport you to the base of the Erdtree. He’s lying. It teleports you to the basement of Volcano Manor, surrounded by lava and high-level enemies. Classic Patches.
The Volcano Manor Contracts
This is where the quest gets serious. Once you reach Mt. Gelmir, you’ll find him crouching in the hallway of Volcano Manor. He’s joined the Recusants, but he’s the laziest member. While everyone else is out hunting Tarnished for Lady Tanith, Patches is just... hanging out.
After you complete your first assassination for Tanith, Patches will give you a letter. This is the "Letter to Patches." He says he’s too busy (he’s not) and wants you to take care of a target for him.
The target is Great Horned Tragoth.
Tragoth is a legendary NPC. He’s the guy who helps players with the Magma Wyrm and Radahn. He’s a hero. And Patches wants him dead. If you invade and kill Tragoth at the Ruin-Strewn Precipice, you get the Bull-Goat Set. This is the heaviest, highest-poise armor in Elden Ring. It makes the game significantly easier for strength builds. If Patches was dead, you'd never get this.
The Shaded Castle and the "End" of the Base Game
Most people think the quest ends after Rykard dies. It doesn't. After the Lord of Blasphemy is defeated, Patches disappears from the manor. You’ll find him again in the Shaded Castle, specifically in the bridge leading to the boss room, Elemer of the Briar.
He’s wounded. He looks terrible. He gives you the "Dancer's Castanets" and asks you to give them to Tanith.
This is the most "human" moment Patches has ever had. He has a crush on Tanith. He wants to see her return to her former glory as a dancer instead of eating Rykard’s corpse in a dark basement. If you take the castanets to her, she ignores them. She’s too far gone.
Does Patches Die?
After giving you the castanets, Patches "dies" (or so it seems). He slumps over. But if you head back to Murkwater Cave much later, he’s back! He tries to ambush you one last time, realizes it’s you, and surrenders immediately. You get his signature "Patches Crouch" emote. He stays there as a merchant for the rest of the game. He survived the apocalypse by being a coward. There’s a lesson in there somewhere.
Why the Patches Quest Matters for SEO and Lore
When people search for Patches quest Elden Ring, they usually want to know if they ruined their save by hitting him. The nuance here is that Patches is the "unbreakable" constant in Hidetaka Miyazaki’s games. He represents the player who refuses to take things seriously.
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In a world of demi-gods and cosmic outer gods, Patches is just a guy with a spear. He reminds us that the "Golden Order" is mostly nonsense.
Key Rewards You Miss if He's Dead:
- Margit’s Shackle: Essential for the first major boss and for triggering hidden walls (it sends out a non-damaging pulse that breaks illusions).
- Bull-Goat Armor Set: The gold standard for poise.
- Magma Whip Candlestick: A unique faith/dex weapon.
- Patches Crouch Emote: Purely for the flex.
- Fan Daggers: One of the best consumables for finishing off low-health players in PvP.
Common Glitches and Roadblocks
Sometimes Patches won't show up at the Shaded Castle. This usually happens if you haven't exhausted his dialogue at Volcano Manor or if you killed Rykard before talking to him.
If he's missing from Murkwater, check the Scenic Isle. If he's not there, he’s likely already moved to the Manor. FromSoftware updated the quest in Patch 1.04 to add the Murkwater return ending, so make sure your game is updated. Older guides will tell you the quest ends at the Shaded Castle, but that’s outdated info.
The trickiest part is the timing of Rykard’s death. Once Rykard dies, everyone leaves the Manor. If you didn't finish Patches' assassination of Tragoth, you lose the Bull-Goat set forever in that playthrough.
The Philosophy of the Bald Man
Patches is the only character who hasn't lost his mind. He isn't trying to become Elden Lord. He isn't trying to bring back the Age of Plenty. He just wants to eat and survive.
In the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion, we see what happens when people are too dedicated to their "path." They die in agony. Patches, by being a "foul sort," actually outlives almost everyone. He’s the ultimate survivor.
If you’re standing in Murkwater Cave right now, looking at his bald head and feeling a surge of annoyance—take a breath. Put the sword away. He’s the most loyal friend you’ll ever have in this nightmare world, mostly because he’s the only one honest enough to tell you he’s going to betray you.
To ensure you don't break the questline, check your inventory for the "Letter to Patches" immediately after joining Volcano Manor. If it’s there, go to the Ruin-Strewn Precipice in North Liurnia. Look for the red summon sign on the floor. Kill Tragoth, return to Patches, and demand your reward. He’ll act like he’s doing you a favor, but you’ll have the best armor in the game. That's the Patches way.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Travel to Murkwater Cave in Limgrave if you haven't met him yet.
- Attack him until he surrenders, then wait for the "Enemy Felled" message to NOT appear.
- Purchase Margit’s Shackle immediately; it’s the most useful tool for the early game.
- Advance to Liurnia and speak to him at Scenic Isle to trigger the Rya/Volcano Manor flags.
- Hold off on killing Rykard until you have confirmed the Bull-Goat set is in your inventory.