Elden Ring Guide to Defeating the Draconic Tree Sentinel Boss

Elden Ring Guide: Draconic Tree Sentinel Boss

Get ready to face one of the key challenges in Elden Ring!

In Elden Ring, optional bosses abound, but the Draconic Tree Sentinel stands out. He blocks the entrance to the Royal Capital, and you can’t move forward without defeating him or finding another way around.

This guide covers everything about the Draconic Tree Sentinel, including his location, strategies to defeat him, and some clever tactics to secure an easy win.

Elden Ring Draconic Tree Sentinel Location

You’ll find this boss in the Altus Plateau, guarding the direct route to Lyndell Royal Capital. While there are other paths, they can be time-consuming.

To reach him, head east from the Hermit’s Shack Grace in the Capital Outskirts. Follow the round wall of the city until you arrive at the bridge guarded by the Draconic Tree Sentinel.

How to Defeat the Draconic Tree Sentinel

The Draconic Tree Sentinel is especially vulnerable to Poison and Bleed attacks. A single cast of the Poison Mist spell can deal over 1000 damage to him.

If you’re playing a melee character, agility is key. You can’t withstand his attacks, so ride Torrent to dodge or absorb damage.

Using a weapon with good range helps a lot. For Colossal Sword users, a crouch attack can be effective. Spears offer good range as well. If you wield a straight sword or Katana, capitalize on openings during his attack patterns.

You can also summon help by using the Furlcalling Finger Remedy. If you’re struggling, work on Millicent’s questline. After giving her the Prosthesis Arm and defeating the Windmill Village boss, you can summon her for assistance.

Don’t hesitate to use summons—they can provide crucial breathing room. Ranged summons, especially archers, work well here.

When the Sentinel’s health drops below 50%, he’ll empower himself with dragon magic, unleashing ferocious lightning attacks. Use quick spells and maintain your distance to stay safe.

Defeating the Draconic Tree Sentinel rewards you with 50,000 Runes, Dragon Greatclaw, and Dragonclaw Shield.

Draconic Tree Sentinel Attacks and Counters

The Sentinel wields a massive hammer that deals significant damage. If you’re positioned on the side with the hammer, prepare for swift attacks with little windup.

He can charge at you from a distance and slam his weapon down, causing area damage. His horse can stomp on you or breathe fireballs, which add an extra layer of challenge.

In addition to hammer strikes, the Draconic Tree Sentinel has shield attacks that can knock you back. He can also slam his shield to deliver front and back strikes.

In his second phase, he’ll start using lightning attacks, making the fight even more unpredictable.

He can imbue his shield with lightning and either summon random lightning strikes or drop targeted bolts on you. Keep an eye on the ground for the first attack and master your timing for the second to dodge effectively.

For hammer attacks, he may slam down to create an area damage effect or swing his hammer to send out a wave of lightning. This attack tracks well, so be ready to run when you see him charge up.

How to Cheese the Draconic Tree Sentinel

To cheese the Draconic Tree Sentinel, start by acquiring the Poison Mist Incantation. Travel to Weeping Peninsula and enter Castle Morne Rampart. Defeat a Scarab here to get the Poison Mist.

Next, buy a Finger Seal for casting the mist. Sneak behind the Sentinel by moving through the trees and bushes so he can’t see you, then cast the Poison Mist.

Once cast, the boss won’t detect your location, allowing his health to drop. If you notice the health decrease slowing, recast the spell.

Repeat this process until he’s defeated!