Elden Ring: How to beat the Tree Sentinel

The Tree Sentinel in Elden Ring is likely the first optional boss that you’ll encounter in your travels. You’ll find it upon exiting the tutorial cavern as you emerge and see the landscape of Limgrave. Here’s our Elden Ring guide to help you defeat the Tree Sentinel.

Note: For more information, check out our Elden Ring guides and features hub.

Elden Ring guide – How to beat the Tree Sentinel

The Tree Sentinel boss in Elden Ring patrols back and forth a couple of fast travel points: The First Step and Church of Elleh. If you didn’t spot it beforehand, then it’ll probably crash through the walls of the Church of Elleh. It did happen while I was playing, greatly surprising me since I didn’t expect it to destroy the building.

The most obvious way of dealing with it is by riding Torrent and fighting on horseback. It’d also help if you have Ash Summons that can distract your opponent. However, it can still be tough if you’re going in melee range at a low level.

Instead, my suggestion is to acquire a ranged weapon (or start as a class that has one like the Samurai). Gather some additional runes (the game’s gold currency/cash) so that you can purchase a lot of arrows from merchant NPCs (such as the one inside the Church of Elleh). Then, when you’re ready, stand at the spot in The First Step and snipe it with your bow. Oftentimes, it will rush to your position, or it might continue patrolling back and forth due to the aggro range. If it does the latter, continue shooting at it.

But, if it rushes your position, immediately go back inside the building that leads to the Stranded Graveyard/Cave of Knowledge. The Tree Sentinel won’t be able to enter the small doorway, so it’ll just try to swing at you (its weapon will pass through the wall). Whenever you can see the enemy’s model, just shoot or slash it, or take a peek outside if you need to get some extra hits in. You may also attempt to lose aggro and reset its position. Don’t worry because bosses won’t regenerate their HP unless you die or use a Site of Grace.

For your efforts, you’ll receive the Golden Halberd, though you probably won’t be able to use it yet due to the requirements:

• Requirement – Str 30, Dex 14, and Fai 12
• Scaling – Str D, Dex E, and Fai D

Note: This is not the only Tree Sentinel that you’ll face in Elden Ring. There are several in other regions, as well as the Night’s Sentinel variant.

Elden Ring is available via Steam. For more information, check out our guides and features hub.