How to beat the Tree Sentinel in Elden Ring: Boss stats, weaknesses & tips

As soon as players step into Limgrave, they will be hit by the game’s first field boss, the Tree Sentinel, a golden knight riding a large steed you can’t outrun. Here’s everything you need to get him off his horse and into Elden Ring’s afterlife. 

While the Tree Sentinel isn’t the first boss you meet in Elden Ring, he is the first field boss you’ll come across when you emerge into The Land’s Between.

He also packs one hell of a punch and is likely to crush most players who hastily run at him. However, the Tree Sentinel is not invincible.

The Tree Sentinel looks imposing but there are ways to turn the fight against him to your advantage, so here’s a selection of strategies that will make your life easier — and end his.

Contents

• How to defeat the Tree Sentinel in Elden Ring
  • Melee strategy
  • Melee strategy – Horseback
  • Ranged strategy – Magic
  • Sneaking past
• Where to find the Tree Sentinel in Elden Ring
• Tree Sentinel stats
  • Tree Sentinel weaknesses
• Useful tips to defeat the Tree Sentinel
  • NPC summons
  • Spirit Ashes
  • Items
  • Magic
• All Tree Sentinel attacks
• Tree Sentinel drops
• Additional encounter with the Tree Sentinel

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How to defeat the Tree Sentinel in Elden Ring

Here are our tips for beating the Tree Sentinel:

Melee strategy on foot

Of course, the bold, the eternally optimistic, and Souls veterans will want to chop down this Tree Sentinel, disadvantages be damned. The boss is not invincible, so if you are determined to fight him and win, here’s how. Just know that unless you’re exceptionally skilled or experienced with Souls games, this is going to be a very tough fight.

If you fancy fighting him on foot, then wait for him to finish his attack pattern while dodging it, then hit hard once or twice if you can. Don’t get greedy with your attacks, as he’ll catch and punish you. You also need to make sure you’ve got enough stamina to roll away once he recovers – which he does quickly.

A shield is also a good strategy if you’re not fully confident dodging yet, although, two-handing your weapon will end the fight quicker. You’ll have fewer attacks to dodge, but you need to be better at it. This is because blocking with a two-handed weapon isn’t as effective as blocking with a shield.

Once you get him to around half-health, he’ll lose his temper, and phase 2 of the fight will begin. Now he’ll start bashing his shield into the ground which can hurt you from afar. This attack can one-shot most players, so roll away the moment he lifts his shield.

Repeat the strategy from phase 1, but just be extra careful to dodge his shield attack. Also, don’t try to block it, it’s too risky. Just roll away like your life depends on it.

Melee strategy – Horseback

If you return to battle the Tree Sentinel on horseback, you’re going to have a much easier time. You can get in quick, hit him hard, and retreat before he can recover. Just remember, he can do the same to you.

The trick is to keep moving, target him and try to time your heavy attack to land when you get close to him. This will interrupt his patterns and buy you some more time to hit him with one or two light attacks before riding away and repeating the process.

Ranged strategy – Magic

Battling the Tree Sentinel with ranged or magic attacks is the easiest way to win the fight. If you’re on foot, then run away from him, find a vantage point, and take some potshots. If you can find a spot to shoot him safely then do that. Although, he’ll likely get wise to what you’re doing and move out of the way.

If you’re on horseback, then this fight becomes quite simple with a ranged strategy. Just keep moving and fire at him while he recovers from his attack animations. Keep your shield handy, just in case any of his attacks do connect.

Long-range spells work best here, as this means you don’t need to get close to him to do damage.

Sneaking Past

You’ve got nothing to lose in battling the Tree Sentinel now, and if you learn his patterns, you’ll likely be able to beat him in a few tries. Just remember, you’re at a severe disadvantage until you get your own horse. In truth, you’re supposed to get smashed by him here to teach you about the game’s death mechanics. So, in a way, you’re not supposed to beat him yet. All Souls games do this, so don’t feel any pressure to fight him yet.

However, there’s no shame in sneaking past him to fight him another day. This will make your next encounter much easier, especially if you level the playing field and return when you have your own horse. This changes the dynamic of the battle, making it a joust between mounted knights.

So, if that sounds more fun than being endlessly trampled to death, choose that option. You can sneak past the Tree Sentinel by waiting for him to trot over to the other side of the map. Then hug the perimeter on the right-hand side until you’re clear of him and onto the next location.

You may need to take down some bat enemies if they engage you, but try to keep your actions to a minimum and stay in stealth mode. If you make too much noise, the Tree Sentinel will hear you and come charging over — although you can still make it to safety if you run.

Where to find the Tree Sentinel in Elden Ring

The Tree Sentinel is easy to find. Once you emerge from the starting point into the open world, you’ll see him riding around in the distance while you chat with that friendly first NPC.

It soon becomes clear that you’ll need to defeat him, or somehow sneak past him, to move to the next area.

Tree Sentinel stats

This huge enemy has the following stats:

• Health: 2889 HP
• Defense: 103
• Stance: 80
• Parryable: Yes
• Immunities: Madness
• Deals: Standard, Strike, Pierce, and Holy damage.

Tree Sentinel weaknesses

Similar to other Elden Ring Bosses, the Tree Sentinel is vulnerable to Critical Attacks once their stand is broken.

Additionally, this intimidating creature is weak to Lightning, so you can equip yourself with Ballistas with Greatbolts, Bows with Lightningbone Arrows, as well as the Dragon Greatclaw or the Dragon King’s Cragblade to take advantage of this weakness.

Useful tips to defeat the Tree Sentinel

NPC summons

Due to how early in the game you’ll come across the Tree Sentinel, you won’t be able to summon any NPC to come to your aid. However, there are some other things you can equip yourself with.

Spirit Ashes

The Skeletal Militiamen Spirit is the best summon you can take to this battle. With it, two skeletons will appear carrying long spears to fight alongside you.

Their ability to resurrect makes them a thorn in the side of most Elden Ring bosses. Once killed, undead in Elden Ring tend to come back to life with full health. It’s annoying, but rather useful when they’re on your side.

Summoning them will cost you 44 FP and you can find them once you defeat the Tibia Matiner field boss in Summonwater Village.

Items

The Green Turtle Talisman will raise your stamina recovery speed by 8 (per second), allowing you to keep up with the fast pace of the combat.

You can get the talisman for 500 runes in an underground area in the Summonwater Village, however, you’ll need a Stonesword Key to access it.

Additionally, you can use a Pickled Turtle Neck to boost even more stamina. This consumable item will help you recover 22.2% of your stamina and it will last for one minute.

The Pickled Turtle Neck can be crafted with a Nomadic Warrior’s Cookbook using x3 Rowa Fruit, x1 Turtle Neck Meat and x1 Herba. You can also buy it for 800 runes at the Nomadic Merchant in North Limgrave or find it inside a chest at Earthbore Cave.

Magic

One of the Spells you can equip yourself to help you with the battle is the Carian Slicer. This swifts a sweeping slash with a magical sword.

It requires 4 FP, costs 20 Stamina, and needs 14 Intelligence. The Carian Slicer can be purchased for 1500 runes after you give the Royal House Scroll back to Miriel, Sorceress Sellen, or Preceptor Seluvis.

All Tree Sentinel attacks

When fighting this Boss, you must beware of these attacks:

• Side Swing
• Stab
• Horse Bash
• Rearing Slam and Rearing Swing
• Hoof Attack
• Charging Attack
• Leak Attack
• Twirling Swing
• Golden Retaliation
• Torch Swing, Torch Slam, and Torch Stab
• Shield Bash and Shield Crush

Tree Sentinel drops

During your first encounter with the Tree Sentinel, it’ll drop 3200 runes and a Golden Halberd if you manage to defeat it.

During your second encounter with the Tree Sentinel Duo, you’ll get 20,000 runes as well as the Erdtree Greatshield and the Hero’s rune. 

Additional encounter with the Tree Sentinel

Once you progress further in The Lands Between, you’ll come across a Tree Sentinel Duo at the Altus Plateau. 

These two guard the southern gate between the Altus Plateau and Leyndell. As the first Tree Sentinel, you can run past them, however, it’s a good chance to test your skills, check your progress, and earn some good quality rewards at the same time.

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For more Elden Ring content, check some of the guides below: 

Elden Ring Stonedigger Troll | Elden Ring Margit the Fell Omen | Elden Ring Flying Dragon Agheel| Elden Ring Grave Warden | Elden Ring Pumpkin Head | Elden Ring Soldier of Godrick | Elden Ring Godrick the Grafted