Should I Kill Patches in Dark Souls 3?

When It Makes Sense

• Good fit: You have already completed the interactions and purchases you need from Patches. Once his questline is exhausted and you have bought items such as the Catarina armor set, the Covetous Silver Serpent Ring, and any ammunition or consumables your build requires, killing him becomes a low-risk way to obtain the Horsehoof Ring and consolidate his remaining stock through his ashes.
• Good fit: You are on a New Game Plus or repeat playthrough and know exactly which items you want. Experienced players often kill Patches after shopping because they no longer need his dialogue or quest steps, and his ashes let the Shrine Handmaid sell most of the same goods from a single location in Firelink Shrine.
• Good fit: You want the Horsehoof Ring for a kick-focused build, achievement hunting, or collection purposes. This ring only drops from Patches, so killing him is the direct way to obtain it. If your character relies on kicks or you simply want every ring in the game, killing him is a practical option after you have handled his questline.

When You Should Avoid It

• Warning sign: You are still progressing Siegward of Catarina’s questline. Patches holds or sells Siegward’s Catarina armor, which you need to return to Siegward so he can climb out of the well near the Cleansing Chapel. If you kill Patches before buying or otherwise securing that armor, you may stall Siegward’s questline until you find an alternate source, such as Patches’ Ashes given to the Shrine Handmaid.
• Warning sign: You are on your first playthrough and want to experience the full game. Patches offers unique dialogue, a betrayal encounter in the Cathedral of the Deep, and quest connections that many players consider part of the core Dark Souls 3 experience. Killing him early removes those moments and may make subsequent encounters or references harder to understand.
• Warning sign: You prefer the convenience of a dedicated merchant who stocks situational items. The Shrine Handmaid accepts his ashes, but some players find it simpler to buy arrows, resins, dung pies, and other tools directly from Patches rather than scrolling through an expanded general inventory.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• You receive the Horsehoof Ring, which increases kick damage. This is the only source of the ring in the base game, and it can be valuable for PvP, breaking shields, or simply completing a ring collection.
• His ashes allow the Shrine Handmaid to sell most of Patches’ inventory. This means you do not permanently lose access to many of his goods, and you can shop from Firelink Shrine instead of tracking down his specific location in the world.
• Killing him removes the risk of future betrayal or trap mechanics tied to his character, which can simplify a playthrough if you find his antics frustrating.

Cons

• You permanently end Patches’ questline and lose any associated dialogue, gestures, or rewards that come from keeping him alive through certain events. If you enjoy role-playing or NPC stories, this is a meaningful loss.
• If killed too early, you may temporarily block or complicate Siegward of Catarina’s questline unless you already have the Catarina armor or are willing to use his ashes to buy it back.
• Inventory transferred through ashes sometimes differs slightly from a living merchant’s stock or pricing, so you should verify that the specific items you want remain available before committing.

Decision Checklist

• Have I already purchased the Catarina armor set, the Covetous Silver Serpent Ring, and any other Patches-only items my build needs?
• Am I currently trying to complete Siegward of Catarina’s questline, or do I still need to return his armor to him?
• Do I want the Horsehoof Ring now, or am I willing to wait until later in the playthrough?
• Am I okay with losing Patches’ dialogue, quest steps, and potential future interactions in exchange for his loot?
• Am I on a first playthrough where exploration and story matter more than efficiency?

Alternatives to Consider

The safest alternative is to keep Patches alive until you have completed his useful interactions, then kill him near the end of the game. This approach lets you experience his questline, buy everything you need, help Siegward, and still obtain the Horsehoof Ring and his ashes before facing the final bosses. Another option is to leave him alive for the entire playthrough and simply buy from him as needed, since none of his goods are strictly required to finish the game. If you are achievement hunting, consider doing one playthrough where you keep him alive for quest-related trophies and another where you kill him for the ring and ashes. Finally, if you are unsure, consult a community-verified Dark Souls 3 quest guide to confirm exactly which items transfer through Patches’ Ashes at your current game progression.

Final Recommendation

On a first playthrough, keep Patches alive until you have finished his major interactions and Siegward’s questline, then decide whether to kill him for the Horsehoof Ring. On repeat playthroughs, kill him after buying the items you want, since his ashes will cover most of your shopping needs and the Horsehoof Ring is the main unique reward. Because this is a single-player game choice, there is no wrong answer: prioritize story and convenience if you are exploring, or prioritize loot and efficiency if you already know what you need. If you are concerned about questlines or achievement tracking, cross-check your current objectives with an up-to-date Dark Souls 3 quest guide before acting.