Should I Kill Dung Eater?

When It Makes Sense

• Good fit: You want his early-game items, such as the Sword of Milos, without progressing a long questline. Killing Dung Eater in Roundtable Hold before advancing his story drops his bell bearing and weapon, letting you purchase certain items later and use the sword immediately.
• Good fit: You are role-playing a character who rejects all forms of corruption or defilement. Dung Eater’s dialogue and goals center on cursing souls and spreading defilement, so eliminating him aligns with a heroic or purification-focused playthrough.

When You Should Avoid It

• Warning sign: You want to pursue the “Curse” or “Fell Curse” ending. Dung Eater’s questline provides the Mending Rune of the Fell Curse, a key item required to alter the game’s ending. Killing him too early removes this option.
• Warning sign: You want to collect all armor, weapons, spirit ashes, or achievements. Killing Dung Eater prematurely can lock you out of the Omen Set, the Dung Eater Puppet summon through Seluvis’s questline, and the full completion of his narrative arc.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• You obtain the Sword of Milos and Dung Eater’s Bell Bearing immediately, allowing earlier access to certain purchases and a useful greatsword.
• You remove an antagonistic NPC from the world, simplifying your playthrough if you find his quest morally distasteful or mechanically tedious.

Cons

• You lose access to the Mending Rune of the Fell Curse, locking one of the game’s possible endings unless you replay or use a different character.
• You miss associated quest rewards, including the Omen Set, potential puppet summon options, and the complete narrative context surrounding the Seedbed Curses.

Decision Checklist

• Have I already collected the Mending Rune of the Fell Curse, or am I certain I do not want the “Curse” ending on this playthrough?
• Do I want the Omen Set, Dung Eater Puppet, or full completion of the Seedbed Curse questline more than I want his early drops?
• Am I prepared to use a backup save, New Game Plus, or another character to experience the content I am skipping?

Alternatives to Consider

Instead of killing Dung Eater outright, you can complete his questline to obtain the Mending Rune of the Fell Curse while still defeating him at the end, preserving most rewards. You can also progress Seluvis’s questline and give Dung Eater Seluvis’s Potion to turn him into a puppet summon. Another option is to leave him alive until you have secured all items and endings you want, then kill him in a later playthrough or after backing up your save file.

Final Recommendation

Killing Dung Eater makes the most sense on a focused or role-play-driven playthrough where you do not want the Fell Curse ending and prefer to collect his early drops. Avoid killing him on your first playthrough or if you are trying to see all endings, collect all items, or earn all achievements. Because quest states in Elden Ring are permanent in a single playthrough, consider backing up your save before making the choice. For 100 percent completion, consult an up-to-date quest guide or wiki to confirm current patch behavior.