The Tree Sentinel. That imposing, horseback-riding knight is the first major boss many Elden Ring players encounter, and he can be a brutal introduction to the game's challenging combat. But fear not, Tarnished! You don't need to master parries and perfectly timed dodges to defeat this imposing foe. This guide will explore several effective "cheese" strategies to overcome the Tree Sentinel without a prolonged, frustrating battle. These methods exploit weaknesses in the boss's AI and environment to achieve victory.
Understanding the Tree Sentinel's Weaknesses
Before we delve into the cheese strategies, understanding the Tree Sentinel's weaknesses helps us target them effectively. He's strong, yes, but he's also predictable and vulnerable to certain attacks and tactics:
- Ranged Attacks: The Tree Sentinel is significantly less effective at close range. Utilizing ranged attacks gives you valuable breathing room to whittle down his health.
- Spirit Ashes: Summoning Spirit Ashes distracts him, providing opportunities for consistent damage.
- Torrent: Your trusty steed, Torrent, allows for quick escapes and repositioning, especially crucial when dealing with his devastating attacks.
Cheese Strategies for Defeating the Tree Sentinel
Now, let's get into the cheese strategies. These aren't about skillful combat; they're about exploiting game mechanics to gain an advantage.
1. The Cliffs and Torrent Method
This is arguably the most popular cheese strategy. It leverages the terrain near the boss arena:
- Summon Torrent: Mount up on Torrent immediately upon engaging the Tree Sentinel.
- Keep your Distance: Circle the arena, using Torrent's speed to avoid his attacks. Stay close enough to attack, but far enough to avoid his most powerful strikes.
- Attack from the Cliffs: Head towards the cliffs surrounding the arena. He'll often struggle to reach you, giving you plenty of time to unleash ranged attacks. Remember to keep moving to avoid his area-of-effect attacks.
- Repeat: Continue circling and attacking from the cliffs until he's defeated.
2. The Summon Spirit Ashes and Kite Method
This method relies on distracting the Tree Sentinel with Spirit Ashes while keeping your distance:
- Summon Spirit Ashes: Use your strongest Spirit Ashes as soon as the battle begins. This immediately pulls aggro, allowing you to attack from a distance.
- Ranged Attacks: Use your most effective ranged weapons to chip away at his health while your Spirit Ashes keep him busy.
- Keep Moving: Don't stay in one place for too long. Continue circling and repositioning to avoid his attacks and maintain distance.
- Replace Ashes: If your Spirit Ashes are defeated, summon them again to keep the distraction going.
3. The Bleed Build Strategy
If you've built a character focused on bleed, this method can be extremely effective:
- Close Combat (with Caution): Unlike the other methods, this involves getting close, but carefully. Use fast, light attacks to trigger bleed buildup.
- Evade and Repeat: Be prepared to dodge his attacks swiftly. Get a few hits, back off, and repeat. The bleed buildup will slowly but surely take him down.
Important Considerations:
- Weapon Choice: Ranged weapons like bows and spells are ideal for the cliff and summon methods. For the bleed build, weapons with high bleed buildup are crucial.
- Spirit Ashes Choice: Select Spirit Ashes that can survive for a decent amount of time and draw aggro effectively.
- Patience: These cheese strategies may take longer than direct combat, but they dramatically reduce the difficulty.
Conclusion:
Defeating the Tree Sentinel doesn't always require a head-on confrontation. By utilizing these cheese strategies, you can overcome this early-game challenge and continue your journey through the Lands Between with far less frustration. Remember to adapt these strategies to your playstyle and build. Good luck, Tarnished!
