In the mysterious and dangerous world of Elden Ring, every item has a purpose, and some are more obscure yet valuable than others. One such item that players may encounter during their journey is the Red Flesh Mushroom. At first glance, this odd-looking fungal material may seem like just another crafting component, but it has a unique place in the ecosystem of Shadow of the Erdtree, the game’s expansive DLC. The Red Flesh Mushroom offers specific utility in crafting and survival, and finding it can be essential for those exploring rot-infested or poison-heavy environments. Understanding where to find it and how best to use it will help any Tarnished survive longer and stronger.
What Is the Red Flesh Mushroom?
Item Description and Use
The Red Flesh Mushroom is a crafting material introduced in the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC of Elden Ring. Visually, it is a reddish, fleshy mushroom that gives off a faint sheen, often found in swampy or decayed regions where rot and poison flourish. The item description hints at its uncanny ability to absorb toxins, suggesting its usefulness in protective or healing recipes.
Unlike standard mushrooms, this one is particularly rare and is often guarded by hostile enemies or hidden in dangerous zones. It’s primarily used in crafting recipes aimed at counteracting poison, scarlet rot, or to create throwables that spread decay to enemies. In some cases, it may also be used in special concoctions tied to DLC-exclusive mechanics or NPC questlines.
Where to Find Red Flesh Mushrooms
General Locations in the DLC
The Red Flesh Mushroom tends to grow in very specific biomes. While it can appear in more than one area, the following locations are the most consistent spots where players can gather this material:
- Scadu Altus: Near the decaying ruins and cliffside paths, clusters of Red Flesh Mushrooms can be found growing around dead trees or corpse piles.
- Stone Coffin Fissure: Deeper into the caverns, especially near rot pools and fungal growths, the mushroom is more abundant. Be wary of rot-infested enemies guarding these spots.
- Abyssal Woods: This eerie zone contains a significant number of mushrooms growing around the roots of massive trees and within hidden clearings guarded by spectral beasts.
- Fungal Grottos: Small cave systems scattered across the DLC often have hidden nooks where multiple mushrooms spawn together, perfect for efficient farming.
Tips for Efficient Farming
To maximize the number of Red Flesh Mushrooms you collect, it’s wise to follow these strategies:
- Equip a Talisman or gear that increases item discovery to improve spawn chances.
- Clear out enemy threats before farming, as some areas are patrolled by powerful creatures like rot hounds or swamp spirits.
- Rest at a nearby Site of Grace to refresh the mushroom spawns, allowing for repeat collection in short time windows.
- Use Torrent to navigate swampy terrain more safely and quickly if needed.
Crafting Recipes Using Red Flesh Mushroom
Common Recipes
The Red Flesh Mushroom is used in a variety of crafting recipes that can assist with status ailment resistance and offensive strategies. Some of the most common recipes include:
- Anti-Rot Bolus: A curative item that reduces or eliminates Scarlet Rot buildup. Useful in rot-heavy zones or boss fights involving decay-based damage.
- Fungal Flask (Throwing Item): An offensive item that bursts upon impact and spreads poisonous mist in a small radius. Effective against unarmored or beast enemies.
- Purifying Salve: A support item used in co-op or PvP to cleanse status effects on allies. Crafted with Red Flesh Mushroom and other herbs.
Advanced Crafting and Unique Recipes
Later in the DLC, players may come across hidden recipes found in tomes or given as rewards from NPCs. These may unlock unique uses for the Red Flesh Mushroom, such as:
- Elixir of Stagnant Vitality: Temporarily boosts resistance to all decay-related effects. Best used when exploring deep rot zones or fighting enemies with continuous status buildup.
- Decayborne Knife Buff: Applies a temporary rot-based enchantment to throwing knives or arrows, inflicting status damage over time on hit.
- Secret Questline Usage: Some quest NPCs, especially those aligned with the rot or decay factions, may ask for Red Flesh Mushrooms to progress their story. This can lead to alternative endings or special rewards.
Best Situations to Use Red Flesh Mushroom Items
Combat Scenarios
Items made from Red Flesh Mushrooms are especially valuable during the following encounters:
- Fighting Rot Dragons or Putrescent Knights: These enemies often inflict status effects that mushrooms help resist or cleanse.
- Invasion Defense in Rot Swamps: When other players invade, using throwable mushroom-based weapons can turn the terrain against them.
- Bosses with Environmental Decay: Some arenas are filled with rot or poison pools, making rot resistance or cleansing essential to survival.
Exploration Scenarios
The usefulness of mushroom-based gear goes beyond combat:
- Traversing rot-laden valleys and caves.
- Helping NPCs in story quests who are affected by fungal infections or corruption.
- Safely exploring areas with limited footing where standing in harmful pools is unavoidable.
Lore Behind the Red Flesh Mushroom
Symbolism and Thematic Role
Like many materials in Elden Ring, the Red Flesh Mushroom has deeper implications in the game’s lore. The flesh-like texture and color suggest it may have once been part of a decaying creature or created by unnatural forces. Some item descriptions hint that these mushrooms sprout where blood has seeped into the land, especially near sites of forgotten battles or ancient sacrifices.
NPCs aligned with rot deities or the Scarlet Order occasionally reference these mushrooms as sacred ingredients, believed to hold remnants of divine putrefaction. Their role in crafting healing and decaying items reflects the duality of rot in the world both a curse and a form of rebirth.
The Red Flesh Mushroom is more than just another collectible in Elden Ring’s vast world. As a crafting material, it supports Tarnished adventurers in some of the most dangerous and challenging environments of the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC. With its strategic uses, rare spawn locations, and potential lore significance, it’s an item worth seeking out for both combat effectiveness and narrative depth. Knowing how and where to gather these mushrooms, and how best to use them, will significantly enhance your survival chances and deepen your immersion in Elden Ring’s haunting and decayed new lands.