Elden Ring Lore - Who Were The Mad Pumpkin Heads?

It's been long requested and we finally have a story to tell. In the Lands Between, there were once warriors who did battle in the Colosseums for the amusement of people. We know the Duelists were crushed by champions, but who were these champions? We believe we've found the answer...
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[@necrogenesis1981]

I’ve noticed that there are a lot of enemies that aren’t really evil, mostly just crazy or suffering, you’re basically putting them out of their misery.

[@oaktownraider119]

Here is the sad thing. Prior to you beating maliketh they would just revive. Since destined death was sealed. If anything, you as a player were further torturing them. Until destined death was unleashed.

[@PerfectSense77]

@@oaktownraider119Based on the reactions from NPCs, revival seems to take a very long time, as in years, decades or maybe centuries. So they’d be put out of their misery for an extended period.

[@HeyGuy4321]

​@@PerfectSense77 Well the damn finger 🤞🏻🤘🏻 readers come right back lol. I cut em down and they sprout back up like weeds! Also the damn enemies too lol 🤣

[@Northern_LAD]

Most from games tbf, evil usually sits at the top.

[@arjunratnadev]

so this is like some religious hell like tyranny

[@Papabeararmwrestling]

A side quest helping one and finally getting its helmet off should be cool

[@bigslappy823]

"What is true strength?" Iron Ball+Cragblade+Spiked and Stonebarb Tears+Axe Talisman

[@forgeoflife]

One thing I'd love to see is just the lore of the wandering nobles and maybe who they where before

[@joemayo1589]

And how come there's no wondering poors

[@efaristi9737]

@@joemayo1589 Probably because they're all gone or unworthy.

[@slenderman_proxy8741]

​@@joemayo1589those would be the zombies

[@elididde3377]

​@@joemayo1589 in limgrave, tons of people are crucified on crosses like marika, and there are also commoners in many locations. Im guessing that all of the non-noble regular humans are the soldiers, commoners, and the undead that are everywhere

[@MrKarnator]

9:30 Pumpkin Head surrounded by Squirrel-Rabbit things and Sheep: Small fluffy Creatures calms me.

[@kizaruthegreat]

i legit wanna see one without his helmet in the dlc. imagine them suddenly having a gigachad face XD

[@windhelmguard5295]

hansome sqidward

[@Cricket0021]

i'm willing to bet the lion dancer in the DLC is a mad pumpkinhead/gladiator.

[@moriskurth628]

Personally, I'd expect something more brutish, or at least rather dirty and messed up from being locked in there for god-knows how long and from bashing their helmeted head into things.

[@adamblue2980]

This kind of head covering torture brings to mind the black dumpling placed over the albinaurics that Rykard is torturing in Volcano Manor.

[@slenderman_proxy8741]

that's not a dumpling, it's their heads

[@trceb]

@@slenderman_proxy8741no it’s a helmet much like the pumpkin head, used to torture. Read the description when you pick one up.

[@firebird300000]

True strength is friendship, countless cartoons have taught me that

[@eianfullerton1812]

i see pumpkins, i pumpclick, its that easy gentlemen

[@KingPangoLin]

If content is king, Square Table is a loyal servant. Consistent content that rivals the best quality videos with only half the resources. Bravo, indeed. Keep up the good work!

[@square-table-gaming]

Thank you! I really appreciate that

[@thebrickmaster7403]

I love that you dive into enemy lore that I never gave a second thought about! It really adds new depth to the game!

[@mrugod]

imagine the length of the hair and beard suffocating you inside that pumpkin, the smell and itchiness . Nightmare fuel.

[@blastingsound]

wow this is fresh off the burner! and i always felt bad for them, seeing as how they literally aren't exactly "fighting" persay, with technique, rather, just flailing around with their eyes covered ..

[@Tardigradient]

Fromsoft should implement a limited resource item which when used cures the curse which revives something forever, allowing it to finally die permanently, and when used on specific enemies - a perma death would reward the player for their mercy (and because the item used would be extremely limited in number, magnifying its value). So like if you use this voiding curse item on something eternally suffering you are granted a reward commensurate to how innocent the creature/person is or something. It could add an additional layer of complexity to lore and loot, whereby normally killing something grants you an item, but permanently killing the “right” things grants you with an extremely rare or valuable item, since you put a lost soul out of its eternal misery.

[@chrystallia821]

I feel like the lessons from these lore videos is just kill everything not for runes or for items but just mercy

[@Reddotzebra]

Or just melt it all away... With the Yellow Chaos Flame.

[@blumiu2426]

I wonder what those gladiators are because that would break anyone's neck from how it's placed on their head with that angle. Also, it would only make sense it would be put on their head after death was banished because they'd die of starvation, dehydration or carbon monoxide poisoning well before any battle or be too weak to fight.

[@soullesssymphony7031]

there are a couple that carry flags, the one outside fort haight for example. i think the reason for the flags might be to signal who they were fighting for when they entered the arena. imagine it, you walk proudly into the arena, an elegantly decorated flag in your hand, the crowd cheering as you place it down letting the audience know this is who i fight for, this is who i win for

[@peternozomiherriot4130]

The pumpkin head summon is amazing

[@nunchuksteev9811]

I've been waiting on this since the teaser image. I love the Pumpkinheads. I love these lore dives. I love this channel.

[@square-table-gaming]

Thank you!!!!

[@lynnvoneverec6371]

That’s such a prepare to cry. I always dreaded fighting them but now I just feel sorry for them.

[@whatsnewbois9814]

Imagine, if you will, there exists an insect in the catacombes that latches on to your head buzzing and stabing into the skull taking over the body, teleporting and are constanltly wreathed in shadow striking with the blades of a Mantis. If you saw that would you ever leave your head exposed?

[@iHaveTheDocuments]

How do they maintain all that muscle? They can't even eat

[@Dragonchaser144k]

Good question

[@joemayo1589]

Their hat is full of pumpkins. You didn't think it got the name from the shape did you?

[@davestevens2908]

You say they can't see or hear me but their tarnished seeking weapons make me question that.

[@azurespectrum1985]

I have a theory that they're somehow linked to the Wormface creatures. This is based off the one large Wormface that smashes its head against the ground lake in Faram Azula.

[@sentarious1]

That's a really cool connection. The one on mt. Gelmir also can do that as an attack so I don't think it's unique to that one but I never considered them being connected before.

[@Admiralofthedeeps]

Dude, your videos are awesome. Would love a deep dive into what the tibia mariners are at some point in the future.

[@no1nedoesstuffonyoutube]

no wayy i actually googled about the pumpkin heads yesterday, awesome timing

[@hanssundqvist1781]

Great as always. Looking forward to your videos for Shadow of the Erdtree.

[@AreCeeDee]

You know how they drop sanctuary stones? I always thought that they kept them in their helmets because the item description says they produce a small light.

[@eke9887]

Please try tackling the Cemetery Shades next 🙏🏽 only remember encountering them twice and was desperate for lore

[@square-table-gaming]

Unfortunately there really is nothing. The best info we have on the cemetery shade comes from Zulie the Witch. I doubt we could unravel them any further but I'll see what we can do.

[@beansnrice321]

I've been thinking for a while that Godfrey came from the arenas and that he was either of the same rage as the pumpkin heads or the grave wardens. To me, however, I think that the pumpkin head helm belies a certain intent on behalf of the person who forced it onto them. I think the pumpkin helms are akin to the helm of the Man In The Iron Mask and I think that they are there to hide the identity of the wearer of the helm. I'm surprised that one one has looked under the helm to see what their faces look like. I suspect they might look like Godfrey or possibly a bit like Morgott.

[@square-table-gaming]

I believe Zulie has and there is no head beneath the mask

[@beansnrice321]

@@square-table-gaming I looked for a video of hers but couldn't find one. I'm tempted to download a map loader to check for myself.

[@square-table-gaming]

@@beansnrice321 let us know if you do!

[@beansnrice321]

@@square-table-gaming I ended up finding a video from someone name, "ikiga Gaming Official," who showed that you were right and there unfortunately is not a head inside. =(

[@alpacaofthemountain8760]

This Radagon fellow doesn’t seem very nice

[@jaredwilkie6413]

It makes more sense to me that even though they battered and bruised the duelists, they ultimately lost (a competition or championship) and after such were punished, if they couldn’t beat some duelists in an arena that wear snake iconography then what other uses are they for? We know the golden order (especially marika herself) are very unforgiving in people who could not be useful and so barbaric muscle headed slaves who couldn’t even beat some gladiators were (in my opinion) made into slaves and forced to do simple jobs while being punished by wearing the pumpkin helm.

[@nilotf72]

Consistent with torture devices and its shape, I’d say there is an opening that the insects actually were put into. Maybe they had to catch them for food inside the helm as they were being attacked by them and this caused the insanity.

[@GroundbreakGames]

Yet another amazing and thought provoking vid. ❤

[@SoulbreakerNB]

The depth of these enemies was already there. We just weren't observant enough to realize it sooner.

[@orlandubeoulve8605]

Elden rings version of pyramid head

[@keonakel9678]

We’ve made it to the DLC, let’s go🙏 Nice artwork too!

[@eldendad5743]

Great lore dive. Truly a horrific fate. Ill never look at them the same again

[@caseyhart4999]

It’s been a little while since I’ve seen one of your videos. I’m gonna have to catch up haha especially considering the news we got this week.

[@psychoticbreaks167justletm4]

NOT THE BEES

[@Carrot-Man1876]

Greetings from the Carrot-Man 👋🥕

[@square-table-gaming]

My liege

[@lobox138]

I was literally thinking this today on my way home from work lol 😮😂

[@truckfinanceaustralia1335]

Can you make a video that explains how pumpkin heads eat food?

[@SterbsMcGurbs]

Mad pumpkin head is a similar British euphemism to bell end.

[@AnxiousCinder]

I cinder love this keep up the good work

[@kyle857]

I don't think they were the champions. I think they were the foils.

[@stevengerrardO8]

Have always steered clear of commenting, liking or subscribing to channels on youtube till this channel blessing my second play through of elden ring. Gottdamn you deserve all the likes and subscriptions 🫡

[@Mawal28]

You can put them to sleep very easily and they sleep for a long time. I think that may be their best ending

[@abeard1]

Fuck thats dark

[@nbmoleminer5051]

Their masks/helmets have got to be an allusion to the Crucible.

[@wahterr6281]

I think this is one of the saddest things in the entire game.

[@DioBrandoWRYYYYYY]

But how exactly are you supposed to give them a warrior's death without letting their blood? Even if you use a hammer or something, there's still.. spillage.

[@square-table-gaming]

Azurs comet works. No cleanup, just pure magical destruction

[@DioBrandoWRYYYYYY]

@@square-table-gaming I think being torn apart by a magical kamehameha isn't really that much more humane than just putting them down with a single stab.

[@Sun-knight77]

Thank you for doing my request

[@square-table-gaming]

We aim to please

[@frankiefromky]

What if they are already headless... wouldn't be the only headless npc's roaming the lands between. However, they would be the only ones I'm aware of with a helmet and no head/face to speak of. Just a thought I had when I found out there is no facial model under the helm, unlike other npc's with head coverings. Other's have faces you can see if the game is modded to show it, the wonderful creator Zullie the Witch was the first I seen that showed the real faces of npc's. Weather it's lore accurate or not, these guys actually don't have a head or face on their model... I thought it was interesting. Cheers Mates 🍻

[@50caliber29]

These are amongst the NPC's & creatures I try to avoid killing. Owls, Turtle, Miriel, Jellyfish. The Pumpkin heads seem pitiful & suffering. I know it's just a game but it just seems wrong to add to their suffering. Though an argument can be made that ending their suffering is a good act.

[@BastosFC2]

Still the best lore channel in 2024

[@zachary9706]

Ive been enjoying your videos for ages and just realized i wasnt subscribed. Changed that asap!

[@square-table-gaming]

You rock, thank you

[@St._Matthew]

Was that the River of Blood i saw ?!?!? Finally using a different a weapon i see lol

[@square-table-gaming]

Gotta show that bleed

[@TheBardOfRage413]

Do you have a dedicated Multiplayer Password for your channel? I love listening to your lore videos while doing Co-op Session and came up with one myself: TableXTable (otherwise known as Table multiplied by Table or Table^2)

[@square-table-gaming]

We do! It's just STG haha

[@BeefMonkey911]

Just beat the game watching this video

[@fatherstrong6180]

Wow I actually feel sorry for these guys now

[@Billcipher_fan5]

Can someone recommend me a challenge run to try out I've beaten the game 9+ times and it feels kinda boring now just playing it regularly

[@HuyNguyen-tr1el]

Can you make a video about the putrid corpses?

[@square-table-gaming]

Let's dig in!

[@wunderb0r]

why do almost all of them carry a banner?

[@RogerSwabknuckle]

Afternoon

[@duskripper6650]

Ahhh now I feel bad for them 😅

[@momzilla2010]

nice

[@josephyoung2172]

Would anyone know what that armor with the blue cape is?

[@square-table-gaming]

Blaidds armor altered with the noble hood

[@josephyoung2172]

K thanks

[@square-table-gaming]

I wear Blaidd's armor altered with the blue noble hood

[@tristenholcomb8125]

Could you do a video on Rykard?

[@square-table-gaming]

I think he's been thoroughly covered at this point, but what would you like to know? Maybe I can find some stone that hasn't been turned over yet

[@Saladon89]

The lock-on in this game is bs. When going against pumpkin heads, the lock-on is focused on their armored heads but every other enemy it locks on to their body/torso

[@JackBrandoo]

Hello, Square Table! I am an elden ring youtuber from China. Recently, a KZbinr named "Laodan Console Game" stole the videos of 7 KZbinrs, including me, without their permission and made secondary edits. We are now gathering evidence of his theft. After inspection, he stole multiple of your videos and covers. Did you authorize them a month ago? Forgive me for my poor English, the above content is generated by translation software.

[@square-table-gaming]

If it's the guy I think you're talking about I already authorized a copyright strike against him, don't worry, youtubr is going to do their thing

[@JackBrandoo]

@@square-table-gaming Thanks for your answer Square Table. He stole your video again an hour ago. I'm not sure if he asked you. After all, he didn't apologize to anyone except me, so that's why. Ask this time.

[@square-table-gaming]

@@JackBrandoo turns out the last person who stole one of our videos isn't who you're talking about. Mind sending over their info?

[@JackBrandoo]

@@square-table-gaming Of course, I will send you the information using gmail

[@oagardo]

why is there one guarding Sellen?

[@square-table-gaming]

We theorize they were essentially bought and assigned to their stations. That one is there to keep people away from Sellen.

[@FIDOSQUAD]

Never here this early

[@killervic7379]

Morning

[@square-table-gaming]

Afternoon for me! Haha

[@turkN9NE]

True strength is RL1 +0

[@CorsThe]

Well, wasn’t expecting to be reminded of Anthony Fauci and the beagles with their vocal cords cut and flies eating their faces today but here we are.

[@deathpig.9847]

Yeah they sound undesirable. Should have been punished harsher

[@joemayo1589]

I think all the lore people are mostly wrong about the lands between. Reading to literally into the descriptions.

[@square-table-gaming]

That's honestly a fair opinion to have. There are various descriptions that seem to contradict each other and it's important to keep in mind that we don't know who in-game is writing them. History is written by the winners.

[@goldfish6720]

Potato

[@scotshabalam2432]

Disappointing. You didn't even talk about why they bleed white instead of red blood.

[@square-table-gaming]

They don't. You can see them bleed red throughout the video.

[@scotshabalam2432]

@@square-table-gaming They bleed white when they hit their heads on the ground but if you hit their body they bleed red.

[@square-table-gaming]

@@scotshabalam2432 just took a look at the footage in the video. It looks to me like when they slam their heads down there is a puff of dust and earth which is definitely white but nothing that looks like the textures used for blood in this game.

[@scotshabalam2432]

@@square-table-gaming it looks like it leaves a puddle behind?