Elden Ring: Patches (Murkwater Cave) Boss Fight

Published: March 1, 2025 at 12:22:02 PM UTC
Last updated: February 2, 2026 at 11:11:22 PM UTC

Patches in Murkwater Cave is in the lowest tier of bosses in Elden Ring, Field Bosses, and is the end boss of the small Murkwater Cave dungeon. He's a traitor and always trying to kill you when you look the other way, so I recommend killing him when you get the chance.

As you may know, bosses in Elden Ring are divided into three tiers. From lowest to highest: Field Bosses, Greater Enemy Bosses and finally Demigods and Legends.

Patches is in the lowest tier, Field Bosses, and is the end boss of the small Murkwater Cave dungeon.

If you've played the Dark Souls games before Elden Ring, you've probably encountered Patches before. He's a traitor and always trying to kill you when you look the other way, and then when you confront him, he begs for his life and hopes for forgiveness. This fight is no different, when you get him to around 50% health he will try to hide under his shield and surrender. At this point, you can either kill him or let him live and he will apparently turn into a vendor.

I chose to kill him just because I've always spared him before and regretted it. Once you get access to the Round Table, you can just hand in his bell bearings and you will have access to the same items he would have sold if you had spared him, so no loss really.

One huge reason to kill him is that he drops a Spear +7. Admittedly, I haven't scoured every nook and cranny of the starting area yet, but I do believe that this is probably the best melee weapon available so early in the game, he was only the third boss I killed.

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Fan art inspired by this boss fight

Anime style fan art of the Tarnished in Black Knife armor facing Patches in a torchlit cave moments before battle. Click or tap the image for more information.

Anime-style scene of the Tarnished in dark hooded armor seen from behind on the left, facing Patches with a spear in a torchlit cave just before combat. Click or tap the image for more information.

Anime style fantasy scene of the Tarnished seen from behind on the left facing Patches with a spear in a torchlit cave before battle. Click or tap the image for more information.

Anime style fantasy scene of the Tarnished seen from behind facing Patches at close range in a torchlit cave before combat. Click or tap the image for more information.

Anime fantasy scene of the Tarnished seen from behind on the left facing Patches with a spear in a wide torchlit cave before combat. Click or tap the image for more information.

Anime fantasy scene of the Tarnished seen from behind facing a larger Patches with a spear in a torch-lit cave before combat. Click or tap the image for more information.

Semi-realistic fantasy scene of an armored Tarnished facing a spear-wielding Patches in a torch-lit underground cave before combat. Click or tap the image for more information.

Semi-realistic fantasy scene of an armored Tarnished facing a larger spear-wielding Patches in a torch-lit cave before battle. Click or tap the image for more information.

Semi-realistic fantasy scene from an elevated angle showing the Tarnished facing a larger spear-wielding Patches in a torch-lit cave before battle. Click or tap the image for more information.

Fan art inspired by this boss fight

Further Reading