In Elden Ring, every NPC has a story, and Blackguard Big Boggart is no exception. Though he starts out as a seemingly minor character, a shady thief and vendor of questionable cuisine, Boggart's tale ties into two significant questlines involving Rya and the Dung Eater. If you're aiming to complete his story and maximize your collection of Elden Ring Runes and valuable Elden Ring Items, this guide will walk you through the steps, and the consequences.

 

First Encounter

 

You'll first come across Blackguard Big Boggart near the Boilprawn Shack in Liurnia of the Lakes. He's introduced as the man who stole a necklace from Rya, a quest-giving NPC. Instead of returning it out of guilt, Boggart offers to sell it back to you for 1,000 Elden Ring Runes. Though you could kill him and take the necklace, doing so will permanently lock you out of future parts of his quest, and prevent you from buying the highly useful Boiled Crab, an Elden Ring Item that boosts physical damage negation.

 

It's recommended to purchase the necklace. After doing so, Boggart starts selling Boiled Prawns. Buying one will trigger a line where he says, "Never met someone who likes prawns that I couldn't trust," effectively befriending him and pushing his story forward.

 

Unlocking His Role as a Summon

 

If you've befriended him, Boggart becomes available as an NPC summon during the boss fight against Magma Wyrm Makar in the Ruin-Strewn Precipice. Summoning him here is optional but a neat bonus, especially for those collecting unique NPC interactions in the game.

 

Make sure to speak to Rya and begin her quest before reaching Volcano Manor. Failing to do so before she relocates will prevent you from progressing Boggart's storyline any further.

 

Moving to Leyndell

 

Once you've purchased prawns and advanced the game, Boggart relocates to the outer moat in Leyndell, Royal Capital. There, he now sells Boiled Crab, an upgraded version of his earlier delicacy. This Elden Ring Item remains one of the best consumables for physical defense.

 

However, Boggart's new location brings with it danger. He begins speaking about his dark past in prison, where he witnessed the Dung Eater perform horrific acts on corpses. If the Dung Eater's questline is far enough along, Boggart will start to worry that the cursed figure is nearby. This warning is the turning point in his story.

 

The Dung Eater Encounter

 

If you've freed the Dung Eater from his cell and he has moved to the Leyndell moat, the next phase begins. Speak to Boggart until he mentions a "lurking presence." After exhausting his dialogue, reload the area. You'll return to find Boggart mortally wounded near his cooking pot.

 

From here, the Dung Eater will invade. Defeat him, and upon returning to Boggart's body, you'll find a Seedbed Curse, one of the most vital Elden Ring Items needed to complete the Dung Eater's ending, and his other drops. But beware: if you were invaded by the Dung Eater in the moat before Boggart ever arrived there, this Seedbed Curse will not be available, potentially locking you out of completing the quest.

 

Alternate Paths

 

There are a couple of tricky but viable methods to keep Boggart alive, although each comes with trade-offs.

 

Method 1: Aggro Boggart Early

 

If you're determined to keep him alive, you can intentionally aggro (attack) him at the moat before freeing the Dung Eater. After finishing the Dung Eater's quest, either by feeding him Seluvis's Potion or killing him, you can use Celestial Dew at the Church of Vows to atone and make Boggart friendly again. This will spare his life, but you'll lose access to the Seedbed Curse from his body, and he will die the moment you use the Dew, making this path limited.

 

Method 2: Delay the Prawn Purchase

 

Another, more effective strategy is to not buy any prawns from Boggart at the Boilprawn Shack. This will delay his move to Leyndell. Finish the Dung Eater's questline first, then return to Boggart and buy prawns to trigger his move. Once you find him at the moat post-Dung Eater, he'll remain safe and continue cooking crab, avoiding a gruesome end.

 

Final Thoughts

 

Blackguard Big Boggart may not be a major character in Elden Ring, but his questline intertwines with two major narrative threads and highlights FromSoftware's signature worldbuilding. Your decisions, whether to buy or steal, help or harm, shape the outcome of his fate.

 

Completing his story successfully will net you crucial Elden Ring Items like the Seedbed Curse and consumables that can make a real difference in challenging battles. And while it costs a few thousand Elden Ring Runes along the way, the tradeoff in story depth and rewards makes the journey worthwhile.

 

Ultimately, Boggart is a prime example of how no character in the Lands Between is ever truly minor. Behind each line of dialogue and each plate of boiled seafood lies another link in Elden Ring's dark, intricate web of fate.