Red Rot stands as one of the most powerful negative effects a protagonist can face in Elden Ring. Yet this debuff can be leveraged to inflict extra harm on foes. This guide covers everything you need to know about Red Rot and how to navigate its challenges in the game.
Elden Ring Guides
- Complete Elden Ring Walkthrough: defeat all bosses, locate every golden seed and teardrop, discover top weapons, and master Ashes of War (updated)
- Co-op play in Elden Ring: how to team up with others and enjoy multiplayer
- Beginner’s Guide to Elden Ring: character creation, weapon upgrades, mission walkthroughs, ghost summons, Ashes of War, and essential tips
- Locating blacksmiths in Elden Ring: why they matter and how to raise the level of the Stones of Darkness
- Finding and collecting all tears in Elden Ring: how to improve flasks and mechanics (updated)
- Guide to obtaining a horse and mounting guidance for boss battles in Elden Ring
- Runes explained: their purpose and how to accumulate runes quickly
- Where to find Spirit Ashes for summoning creatures: which scrolls are strongest and how to use them (updated)
- Why tailoring tools and a sewing needle are needed in Elden Ring: where to locate and how to use them
- Best performance settings in Elden Ring: tips to boost FPS while keeping visuals sharp
- The best starting item in Elden Ring: which relic to choose
- Who is Ranny in Elden Ring: how to trigger her quest and whether it’s worth aiding the witch
- Locating the Staff of the Demihuman Queen and the Meteor Staff in Elden Ring
- How to reach and exit the Round Table Keep: where the blacksmith resides, weapon purchases, and sword keys
- Finding the legendary Darkmoon Two-hander and unlocking a secret ending
- Fast leveling guide in Elden Ring: how to optimize early game runes
- The four bell towers in Elden Ring: purposes and locating all saturated sword keys
- How to collect all golden seeds: increase the count and distribute them properly
- Resetting skill levels: why tears from the larva matter and where to find them
- Finding the wolf at Siofra River Spring and obtaining Bladed’s armor
- Where to find the two medallion pieces and activate the Elden Ring elevators: solving the liturgical city puzzle
- What to do after defeating the Fire Giant: continuing the story in Elden Ring
- Locating all merchants: who to trade with, where to buy weapons and armor, xiphoid keys, and tears of the larva
- Helping Roderica find dolls to become a merchant: where to locate the doll in Thunder Veil Castle
- Completing the Tomb of the Outskirts Hero dungeon: obtaining the Grace of the Tree of Erd talisman for more health and stamina
What is Red Rot?
Red Rot is a status condition that can affect every character in the game. It can appear from certain enemy attacks or contact with red swamp surfaces. It does not kill instantly, but it imposes a significant penalty for a duration, causing substantial health loss over time.
Red Rot builds up gradually and can be tracked with the on-screen meter in the center. When it rises, health begins to dwindle until the gauge reaches zero. To conserve flasks, players can use pills or magical effects to slow or halt the progression.
How To Make Red Rot Pills. Where to find the recipe for pills, spells, and special armor
The simplest defense against Red Rot is protective pills. They can be bought from a merchant near the mercy point called Wilds of the North Path of the Starry Wastes. The exact spot is noted on the map for convenience.
A separate guide lists all traders locations in the game for quick reference.
Preservatives can also be found in the open world, including five pills near the Rot Shack.
Players can craft these pills themselves. The Gunsmith’s Handbook (6) is needed and can be located near the grace point Deep of the River Source of Siofra, underground. Screenshots are provided to help with navigation.
To prepare protective pills, gather:
- Crystal cave moss (1 piece)
- Dew-covered grass (2 pieces)
- Sacred button (1 piece)
Crystal Sacred Moss is found in Stillwater Cave, with map markers indicating the location.
Dewgrass grows in underground sites such as Nokron, along the Siofra River banks, and in Mogwin Palace. Players will encounter these areas during Rennie’s quest, discussed in a separate guide.
The sacred knob appears near Gelmir Volcano, close to Vulcan Manor, and a sacred bud grows near the Temple of the Plague. Locations are shown on the map for reference.
Spell usage: Mages can learn the spell Flame, Purge me of Filth to slow the spread of poison and Red Rot. The scroll needed is near the Temple of the Oath, with screenshots to guide players.
To slow Red Rot, consider wearing Mushroom Armor. The cave housing this armor is along the Boiling River. Access requires a Sword Key, purchasable from merchants mentioned in a separate guide. The cave’s entrance is mapped for easy finding.
The Mushroom Armor is situated beside a giant flower in the area.
How to use Red Rot to damage enemies
Consumables
When appropriate, Red Rot can be used to poison mobs and bosses that are not immune. A fast, practical approach is to employ Rotten Melee Grease and a Pot of Rot as thrown items. The recipes come from the Nomad Warrior Handbook (22), found near the Great Monastery at the grace site on the far side of the red lake.
For archers, Rotten Bone Arrows are an option. The recipe is sold by a nomad merchant west of the arena at Radan.
Rotten Grease, Pot of Rot, and Putrid Bone Arrows require Eonia Butterflies, which are released by basilisks near Lake Rot.
Ghosts
An allied ghost can also unleash Red Rot. The ashes of a rotting stray dog are effective; the location on the map is marked accordingly.
Weapon options
Eight weapons in the game apply Red Rot to enemies, though most are slow and underwhelming. The notable exception is the Antthorn Rapier, which has high attack speed and solid damage. It can be fortified with Ashes of War. The weapon can be obtained by defeating the red ghost and taking the rapier from its corpse.
Spells
To access the stronger Red Rot enchantments, defeat Malenia and trade her soul for a spell with the old woman at Round Table Keep beside Two Fingers. Rotten Breath is purchasable at the Dragon Community Cathedral after obtaining a dragon’s heart. Rotting Exiques is a more powerful version earned by defeating the northern dragon near the cathedral.
Armor and talismans
For frequent Red Rot use, consider Mushroom Helm and the Red Rot Triumph talisman. They increase attack duration whenever rot affects either side. The talisman drops from a dungeon boss in the Boiling River cave, and its location is mapped. The Mushroom Helmet was mentioned earlier in this article.