FromSoftware recently revealedArmored Core 6: Fires of Rubiconat The Game Awards, and although fans of the franchise may have seen this coming, those less familiar with it may have been shocked to see a Mecha battling game from the developer ofElden Ring. As it happens, a common developer isn’t the only thing the two games share, and it’s very possible that the newArmored Coregame will actually have a character fromElden Ringin it. To be more precise, it may surprise fans to learn that one of thecharacters in FromSoftware’sElden Ring, the merchant Patches, actually originated in anArmored Coregame.
Before there wasElden Ring, before there wasBloodborne, even before there wasDark Souls, FromSoftware established itself as an authority in the Mecha genre withArmored Core. Unfortunately, the franchise has been mostly inert for about a decade, but now it looks to be returning in grand fashion. The reveal trailer forArmored Core 6: Fires of Rubiconlooks stunning, but fans may wonder if anElden Ringcharacter could really make an appearance in the game. After all, it’s hard to imagine characters like White Mask Varré or the fearsome Malenia in a mech suit.
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Patches' Origins in Armored Core
Patches, the dastardly merchant with a penchant for kicking players off ledges and trying to make off with everything they own, could really make an appearance inArmored Core 6. Even as a merchant, it may seem like a stretch to include Patches in a Mecha game, but it makes a lot more sense when players realize that the character’s first-ever appearance in a FromSoftware game was actually in theArmored Corefranchise. Patches and his moral compass, or lack thereof, was conceived in 2008 forArmored Core: For Answer. In this title,Patches is a mercenary called Patch the Good Luck.
Players encounter Patch the Good Luck during a mission and find that he has a very strange NEXT called No Count. Perhaps the most unique thing about this NEXT is the fact that its legs are installed in reverse, making it easier for him to run away. He prefers to use stealth and long-range tactics, and when all of his allies are defeated, he will actually beg for mercy. The player can thenchoose to kill Patches or spare him, with the latter option seeing him boost away, never to be seen again.
A History of Patches' Appearances in the Souls Games
Since that encounter, Patches has become something of a tradition in FromSoftware’s catalog, kind of similar to how theMoonlight Greatsword appears in almost every FromSoftware game. Showing up in the most unexpected places, Patches will usually try to trick the player with the goal of either killing or trapping them. When this inevitably doesn’t work, he apologizes profusely and becomes a merchant. Killing him for his transgressions is always tempting, but he usually has unique wares that players won’t want to pass up.
Patches appears inPatches the Hyena inDemon’s Souls, inDark Soulsas Trusty Patches, again inDark Souls 3as Unbreakable Patches, and even inBloodborneas Patches the Spider. In fact, the only recent Soulslike games he hasn’t appeared in areDark Souls 2andSekiro: Shadows Die Twice. His appearance, mannerisms, and function are mostly the same in all of these games, except forBloodborne, where he actually is a spider with Patches' face. It seems that Patches is here to stay, as he was also included inElden Ringas Patches the Untethered.
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Patches' Appearance in Elden Ring
Staying true to his depictions inDemon’s Souls,Dark Souls, andDark Souls 3, Patches inElden Ringtries to kill the Tarnished when the two first meet in the Murkwater Cave in Limgrave. Patches uses his trademark spear and shield to space out the player, and his use of an Acid Spraymist item shows he isn’t concerned with fighting fair. He even has a boss health bar, but it disappears when players get his health low enough. Once it’s clear he can’t win, Patches cowers and offers to sell his wares instead. Notably, his shop is the only place players canbuy Margit’s Shackles inElden Ring, an item that makes the Margit boss fight much easier.
He invites the player to open up a chest nearby his shop, which is predictably trapped, and teleports players to an area near Mistwood Ruins that is full of deadlyRune Bears. Players can also encounter Patches again during the boss fight against the Shardbearer Starscourge Radahn, this time as one of many NPC phantom summons the player can use to add them against the behemoth boss. In true Patches fashion, he abandons the player almost immediately after seeing Radahn’s terrifying power, separating from their world entirely.
Will Patches Be in Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon?
Of course, Patches is in no way confirmed to appear inArmored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon, but given his history with the franchise and From Software’s dedication to the character, it seems quite likely. Whether he will act solely as a merchant or he’ll pilot an Armored Core of his own against the player once again remains to be seen, however. It is worth noting that the character of Patch the Good Luck did not make an appearance inArmored Core 5.
If players do run across Patches again, at least it will be a familiar face in the desolate world showcased in the Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon reveal trailer. There’s no doubt that many players picking up the newArmored Coregame will be new to the franchise, so a bit of familiarity will go a long way, even if it comes in the form of this backstabbing character.Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon’s release dateis not set in stone, although it could be by the end of 2023. This means that players should know whether Patches' legacy will continue in this game by the end of the next year.
Elden Ringis available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.
