Patches the Hyena

A treacherous merchant who traps heroes only to sell them the very weapons they need to survive.

Patches the Hyena is a recurring character designed by Hidetaka Miyazaki and video game development studio FromSoftware. He is voiced by British actor William Vanderpuye, and, in Japanese, Naomi Kusumi. Appearing in most of their games starting from the 2008 Armored Core: For Answer, he has predominantly featured in games in the Soulsborne series, up to and including the 2022 open-world fantasy game Elden Ring. Bald and wearing trademark leather armor, he is usually a merchant who obtains his wares from looting corpses, including those of unsuspecting people he has fooled.

His outlandishly cowardly personality and transparent ploys to kill the protagonist function as comic relief in the otherwise dark games. At times, Patches also becomes the player's ally, making him akin to a trickster. Patches has been described as a self-insert character for Miyazaki himself, who shares the tendency to spring traps on unsuspecting players, and only appears in games Miyazaki designed or directed. His similarity in design across games has led to theories that he can cross between dimensions. He has become widely popular amongst fans despite his constant attempts to mislead or sabotage the player.

Quick Facts

Role: Merchant; Trickster

Lore & Background

Patches has a scheming, cowardly personality, preying on the player's trust by pretending to be a helpful comrade pointing the player in the right direction, before suddenly betraying them when their guard is down. If the player escapes and confronts him, Patches shamelessly denies all wrongdoing, but attempts to make amends with a token gift. Patches is nevertheless shown to have a certain moral code, not resorting to wanton murder and only going after those he believes are greedy and corrupt, generally followers of that universe's prevailing organized religion, such as the Way of White in Dark Souls and the Golden Order in Elden Ring. Patches is commonly seen performing the "Patches Squat" or "Patches Crouch", a resting pose that resembles the Slav squat and which is learnable by the player.

Reader's Guide

Patches is a recurring merchant archetype defined by his betrayal of trust. Initially appearing as a friendly NPC offering aid, he quickly reveals his true nature by trapping players in pits or ambushes. Despite this, he remains one of the most valuable allies in the game once spared. His skills lie not in combat prowess but in survival and commerce.

He possesses an encyclopedic knowledge of rare items, selling unique weapons, armor, and consumables that are unavailable elsewhere. His defining moments include his initial trap in the Undead Asylum, his betrayal in Sen's Fortress, and his eventual redemption as a companion who aids the player against the final bosses. To survive Patches, players must exercise extreme caution when meeting him for the first time. If spared after his initial ambush, he often moves to new locations like Firelink Shrine or Drangleic Castle, continuing his trade with a mix of sarcasm and genuine utility.

Did You Know?

Patches is voiced by British actor William Vanderpuye in English and Naomi Kusumi in Japanese.
Patches first appeared in the 2008 game Armored Core: For Answer as 'Patch the Good Luck', a mecha pilot who prefers to fight from afar using a sniper rifle.
Patches does not appear in Dark Souls II due to Miyazaki's lack of involvement in the game, being replaced by Mild-Mannered Pate.
In Dark Souls III, Patches uses and drops the Horsehoof Ring, a magic ring that increases the power of kicks.