In V Rising, hunting down powerful V Blood carriers is essential for unlocking new powers, recipes, and progression in the game. One of the earliest but often overlooked bosses is the Putrid Rat. Unlike most V Blood targets, this boss cannot be found roaming the world map. Instead, summoning the Putrid Rat requires specific preparation and knowledge of the game’s crafting and summoning mechanics. Understanding how to summon and defeat this hidden enemy is important for advancing your vampire and expanding your base’s capabilities early on.
Understanding the Importance of the Putrid Rat
What Makes the Putrid Rat Unique
The Putrid Rat stands out from other V Blood bosses because it doesn’t exist naturally in the open world. You cannot track it using your Blood Altar. Instead, you must craft a unique summoning ritual using specific materials. It is one of the few bosses that must be actively summoned by players themselves, offering an engaging challenge that teaches you about preparation and item gathering.
Why You Should Fight the Putrid Rat
Defeating the Putrid Rat is a major stepping stone early in the game. Once slain, you unlock the Rat Form, a powerful shapeshifting ability that allows you to sneak past enemies and reduce your visibility. This is invaluable for scouting heavily guarded areas or escaping from high-level enemies during exploration. Additionally, the fight helps you learn more about base-building and summoning mechanics in V Rising.
How to Summon the Putrid Rat
Requirements Before Summoning
Before you can summon the Putrid Rat, you need to meet a few key requirements:
- Construct the Vermin Nest: This is a crafting structure that allows you to summon vermin-type creatures. It becomes available early in the game after completing part of the tutorial and gathering basic materials like bones and stones.
- Secure a safe location: Ensure your base is protected, with enough space around the Vermin Nest to avoid unwanted interruptions during the boss fight.
Ingredients Needed
To summon the Putrid Rat, place the following items into the Vermin Nest:
- 1 Twilight Snapper: A rare fish only found in fishing spots within the Farbane Woods. Use a fishing pole, which you can craft at the Woodworking Bench.
- 4 Fish Bones: Obtained by salvaging fish at the Devourer station or sometimes found in containers in coastal areas.
- 8 Grave Dust: Gathered by defeating skeletons in graveyards or crafting at the Grinder using bones.
Once these items are placed into the Vermin Nest, the summoning process will begin. Be ready the Putrid Rat will appear shortly after, and you’ll need to fight it immediately.
Where to Find Summoning Ingredients
Twilight Snapper
This is the trickiest ingredient. Twilight Snapper can be caught using a fishing pole in Farbane Woods during twilight or night-time. It’s a rare catch, so patience is key. Use multiple fishing spots to increase your chances, and make sure to check for fishing ripples often.
Fish Bones
Fish bones are a byproduct of processing fish. Use the Devourer, unlocked early in the game, to break down regular fish into bones, fish oil, and fish bones. You can also find them in containers in villages or bandit camps near water sources.
Grave Dust
Grave dust is obtained primarily through two methods:
- Farm skeletons in cemeteries and graveyards around Farbane Woods.
- Use the Grinder to convert bones into grave dust once you have the appropriate structure unlocked.
Preparing for the Boss Fight
Recommended Gear
Although the Putrid Rat is an early-game boss, it’s still capable of dealing serious damage, especially if you’re unprepared. Aim for the following gear level:
- Gear Level 2025: Basic copper weapons and reinforced bone armor will suffice.
- Healing Consumables: Bring rats or potions to heal during combat.
- Movement Abilities: Dash, Veil of Blood, or other evasive skills are useful for avoiding area damage.
Combat Strategy
The Putrid Rat uses swarm tactics and summons additional rats during the fight. Be prepared to deal with multiple enemies at once. Use AoE (area-of-effect) skills and keep moving to avoid getting overwhelmed. Focus on controlling the rat minions before returning damage to the boss itself.
Unlocking the Rat Form
Benefits of Rat Form
After defeating the Putrid Rat, you’ll unlock the Rat Form under the Shapeshift section of your vampire powers. This ability turns you into a small rat, which significantly lowers your visibility to enemies. It’s ideal for sneaking past guards or scouting dangerous territory without engaging in combat.
How to Use It Effectively
- Use it to enter hostile camps and find loot without triggering battles.
- Scout out V Blood bosses without alerting their guards.
- Escape PvP situations by breaking line of sight and slipping away unnoticed.
Common Problems and How to Solve Them
Struggling to Find Twilight Snapper
This is a common issue for players. Make sure you’re fishing during night-time hours and cycling through different fishing spots. If possible, ask friends in multiplayer to help you fish more efficiently.
Not Enough Grave Dust
Farm skeleton warriors and archers in graveyards, especially near the Forgotten Cemetery. Use the Grinder to produce grave dust in bulk if you have an excess of bones.
Interrupted During Summoning
If enemy mobs attack during the summoning, they can disrupt your focus. Build walls around your Vermin Nest or summon the boss during times of lower server activity in PvP servers.
Using the Rat Form for Progression
Exploring New Zones
Rat Form is incredibly helpful for exploring higher-level regions like Dunley Farmlands and the Cursed Forest. You can enter enemy territory, mark locations of interest, and return later when better equipped.
Completing Quests Stealthily
Some objectives or NPC locations may be surrounded by powerful enemies. Rat Form allows you to bypass guards and complete quests or loot items without triggering dangerous fights.
Pairing with Other Powers
Rat Form can be paired with travel or escape abilities for creative gameplay. Quickly swap out of Rat Form into a dash skill or ranged spell to ambush enemies or make quick getaways.
The Putrid Rat may seem like a minor boss in V Rising, but it plays a significant role in teaching players about summoning mechanics, resource gathering, and base preparation. Summoning and defeating the Putrid Rat not only unlocks a unique shapeshifting ability but also expands your toolkit for exploration and survival. From finding rare fish to dealing with aggressive rat minions, this encounter tests your readiness and rewards creativity. If you’re looking to advance your vampire’s power while learning essential game mechanics, don’t skip the Putrid Rat fight. It’s one of the most memorable and rewarding early-game experiences in V Rising.