In the supernatural world ofV Rising, mastering boss encounters is essential for progression. One of the more peculiar yet important V Blood bosses you’ll face early in the game is the Putrid Rat. Unlike other bosses that wander the map or reside in dedicated zones, the Putrid Rat must be summoned through a unique ritual. This fight might seem unusual at first, but with the right approach and understanding, it becomes a crucial stepping stone for gaining new vampire abilities and unlocking useful crafting stations. If you’re looking to dominate early-game content, having a solid Putrid Rat strategy will give you a big advantage.
Who Is the Putrid Rat?
The Putrid Rat is a level 30 V Blood boss inV Rising. Rather than being found somewhere on the map, it must be summoned at your own base using the Vermin Nest. Once summoned, it will spawn in your castle and begin a chaotic battle. While the boss itself is not overly difficult compared to higher-tier enemies, its erratic behavior and summoned rat allies can quickly overwhelm unprepared players.
Why Fight the Putrid Rat?
Defeating the Putrid Rat provides several important benefits:
- Unlocks theRat Form, allowing you to sneak past enemies undetected
- Grants access to new alchemical recipes
- Progresses your V Blood tracking log
While the Rat Form is often underrated, it becomes extremely useful for stealthy movement and infiltration, especially in human settlements where you’d otherwise be attacked on sight.
How to Summon the Putrid Rat
Before you can face the Putrid Rat, you must build a Vermin Nest. This structure is found in the Refinement category of your Build Menu. It requires:
- 360 Stone
- 120 Bone
Once built, you’ll need to place specific ingredients into the Vermin Nest to summon the Putrid Rat. The required materials are:
- 1 Twilight Snapper– A rare fish found while fishing in Farbane Woods
- 4 Fish Bone– Found by salvaging fish or in containers in villages
- 8 Grave Dust– Crafted from bones at the Grinder or looted from undead
Once you place these ingredients into the nest, the summoning process will begin, and the Putrid Rat will emerge in your base after a short delay. Make sure you’re fully prepared before activating the ritual.
Preparing for the Battle
Although the Putrid Rat is only a level 30 boss, underestimating it can lead to an untimely defeat. Here are a few preparation tips:
1. Clear Your Base Area
Since the fight occurs in your castle, make sure there’s enough space for you to move around. Remove obstructions and avoid placing the Vermin Nest in a cramped corner. You’ll need room to dodge attacks and deal with adds.
2. Equip Mid-Tier Gear
Ideally, enter the fight with Merciless Nightstalker gear or higher. At this point in the game, you should be able to craft decent weapons and armor. Make sure your weapon is upgraded and your spells are suitable for crowd control.
3. Choose the Right Abilities
Use AoE (area of effect) spells and abilities that can deal with multiple enemies. Some solid choices include:
- Chaos Volley– For ranged burst damage
- Corpse Explosion– For dealing damage to both the boss and its summons
- Veil of Chaos– For mobility and dodging attacks
Putrid Rat Battle Strategy
Once summoned, the Putrid Rat immediately begins attacking. The fight itself is chaotic, not because the rat is particularly strong, but due to the constant stream of smaller rats it summons to overwhelm you.
Main Threats During the Fight
- Swarm of Rats– The boss constantly spawns adds, which can quickly pile up
- Melee Attacks– The Putrid Rat uses basic physical attacks that can be dodged
- Limited Space– Fighting in your own castle means your layout might become a hindrance
Combat Tips
- Focus on Mobility: Keep moving. The summoned rats can swarm you easily if you stay in one spot.
- Clear the Adds: Always prioritize killing the small rats before focusing on the Putrid Rat. Letting them accumulate will make dodging attacks difficult.
- Use AoE Damage: Abilities like Corpse Explosion and Howling Blast help control the battlefield.
- Keep Your Health Up: Bring healing items like Vermin Salve or Blood Rose Brew. Also, start the fight with full blood pool and high-quality blood type.
What You Gain from the Victory
Defeating the Putrid Rat grants you the Rat Form, which is a passive utility transformation. This form allows your vampire to sneak through enemy camps unnoticed, unless you get too close. It’s not designed for combat, but it’s perfect for stealth approaches or avoiding unnecessary battles.
Rat Form Uses
- Entering villages and towns undetected
- Scouting enemy castles or NPC areas
- Avoiding conflict during daytime travel
While the Rat Form doesn’t offer combat advantages, its utility can’t be understated when you’re gathering materials or scouting.
Best Time to Fight the Putrid Rat
It’s best to challenge the Putrid Rat between levels 25 and 35, once you have established a stable base and upgraded your crafting stations. At this stage, you’ll have access to spells, mid-tier gear, and can reliably collect the summoning materials.
Tips for Gathering Summoning Ingredients
- Twilight Snapper: Found primarily in Farbane Woods fishing spots. Try multiple times if needed, as it’s a rare catch.
- Fish Bone: Salvage unwanted fish at the Devourer or loot containers inside villages.
- Grave Dust: Gather bones and process them in the Grinder, or kill undead in cemeteries.
The Putrid Rat may not be the most intimidating boss inV Rising, but the fight is memorable and essential for progressing your vampire’s power. By properly preparing your base, crafting the necessary summoning ingredients, and using strategic combat techniques, this battle becomes a rewarding experience. Whether you’re seeking the stealthy benefits of Rat Form or aiming to complete your V Blood collection, mastering the Putrid Rat strategy is a key step in your journey to become the ultimate vampire overlord.