Elden Ring Tree Sentinel cheese, tips and strategies (2024)

Our advice? Come back a little later...

Elden Ring Tree Sentinel cheese, tips and strategies (1)

Updated on 24 Mar 2022

How to prepare for Tree Sentinel

The Tree Sentinel could technically be taken down on your first encounter, but it requires a lot of skill to pull off. Instead, avoid and come back later when you have a ranged attack.

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With a ranged attack - such as a staff for sorcery, or a bow - you can stay well away from the powerful melee attacks and chip away gradually. There is more to it than that, which we'll get to in a moment, but that's the core of the safest strategy.

Beyond that, we recommend getting some Flask upgrades. This is particularly important if you are going the sorcery route, as you'll want to top up your FP (magic points or mana) regularly, as you'll need a fair amount to take down the Tree Sentinel with that alone.

Tree Sentinel tips: How to cheese Tree Sentinel

You can fight the Tree Sentinel fairly out in the open - or find a way to limit its mobility and range.

To cheese the Tree Sentinel, draw its attention then head to the Church of Elleh's entrance. This archway is small enough that the Tree Sentinel cannot fit inside - but is long enough that you can stand at the other entrance, be out of range of the melee strikes, and also have the boss in your sights.

From there, it's a case of using your ranged attacks - spells or arrows - to chip away at the Tree Sentinel's health.

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There are some complicating factors, of course. One is the Tree Sentinel's melee range is pretty decent - so definitely make sure you stand at the other end of the entrance and not any closer. This is important to know as it's difficult to get the boss to stand or roam exactly in the middle. When it moves to the side and out of view, it might attack through the wall - so resist the temptation to be drawn forward.

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Similarly, the Tree Sentinel can make way round the ruins and flank you. If the boss disappears, check your sides to see if the boss is coming, and move back through the entrance to the other side until settling back in the archway again.

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Also, there is a rare shield counter which sees the Tree Sentinel reflect your magic back at you. This is rare, but can be very damaging - so look out for it and dodge to the side if you can.

Despite the cheese strategy, there is still some risk - so if you find yourself dying, then come back later with more upgrades to help.

Tree Sentinel reward

Your reward for defeating the Tree Sentinel is 3,200 Runes and the Golden Halberd weapon.

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This has a very high stat requirement for the early game - 30 Strength and 14 Dexterity - so fighting the Tree Sentinel with this in mind is unwise, especially as there are better weapons to find better suited for early game progress.

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Best of luck!

As an enthusiast in gaming and specifically in action RPGs like Elden Ring, I've spent countless hours exploring the game mechanics, strategies, and various boss encounters. My expertise in this domain comes from personal gameplay experiences, discussions within gaming communities, and keeping up with the latest strategies and updates until my last update in January 2022.

The article you've provided revolves around encountering and defeating the Tree Sentinel, an optional but formidable boss in Elden Ring. It covers strategies, preparation, and rewards associated with this particular enemy. Here's a breakdown of the concepts used in the article:

Tree Sentinel: It's an early game boss encountered in Limgrave, known for its high damage output and aggressive behavior. The article emphasizes that it's entirely optional but provides strategies for those who wish to challenge it.
Preparation: The article advises against facing the Tree Sentinel head-on initially, suggesting players return later with ranged attacks like a staff for sorcery or a bow. It stresses the importance of upgrading flasks, leveling up stats for health and damage, and accumulating magic points (FP) for sorcery-based attacks.
Cheese Strategy: The term "cheese" in gaming often refers to exploiting a game's mechanics or utilizing a specific tactic to make a challenging encounter significantly easier. In this case, the article outlines a strategy to lure the Tree Sentinel to an area where its mobility is limited, allowing players to attack it from a safe distance using ranged attacks like spells or arrows.
Combat Tactics: The article provides detailed tips on executing the cheese strategy effectively. It mentions staying at a safe distance, watching for the boss's attacks through walls, being aware of flanking maneuvers, and cautioning against a rare shield counter that reflects magic attacks.
Risk and Reward: Despite employing a cheese strategy, there's still a level of risk involved in the encounter. The article suggests returning later with better upgrades if the player finds difficulty. Upon defeating the Tree Sentinel, the rewards include 3,200 Runes and the Golden Halberd, a weapon with high stat requirements not necessarily suited for early-game progress.
Location and Context: The article mentions specific locations like the Stranded Graveyard and the Church of Elleh, guiding players on where to find the Tree Sentinel and how to approach the encounter strategically.

Understanding these concepts allows players to approach the Tree Sentinel encounter in Elden Ring more strategically, whether opting to challenge it immediately or returning later when better prepared.