Elden Ring Boss Guide: How to Beat Erdtree Burial Watchdog

You’ll fight the Erdtree Burial Watchdog in several locations throughout Elden Ring, all at the end of some of the dozens and dozens of small dungeons scattered across The Lands Between. It’s one of the easier boss fights, but because you encounter him in Stormfoot Catacombs so early in the game, they can pose some small challenge, leaving you wondering how to beat him.

This Elden Ring guide seeks to give you tips and pointers for eliminating the Erdtree Burial Watchdog if not more quickly, more easily. 

How to Beat the Erdtree Burial Watchdog in Elden Ring

The first thing you should know about the Erdtree Burial Watchdog boss is that their attacks have odd dodge timings. You are welcome to use a shield against them, as all but one of their attacks is elemental. But be warned: they hit particularly hard, and you’re liable to have your guard broken if you block too many swings.

It’s also worth mentioning that if you’re having trouble, consider removing some of your armor so you can roll out of the way of their attacks easier. The increased mobility and endurance make up for the lack of protection from direct hits.

Erdtree Burial Watchdog Attacks and Strategies

Here’s a breakdown of the Erdtree Burial Watchdog’s attacks and how to counter them.

Erdtree Burial Watchdog Attack 1: Triple Slam

The Erdtree Burial Watchdog’s most common attack is the Triple Slam. They’ll rise into the air as they move toward you, holding for a little under a second before slamming down. The attack repeats three times in sequence.

Be aware of the area of effect when they hit the ground, as a poorly timed roll will still send you flying. To avoid the attack, you can either roll back or around and to the side several times for each slam or try and block the final attack. Alternatively, you can unengaged the locking mechanic, if you have locked onto them, and run to the opposite side of the arena. 

Erdtree Burial Watchdog Attack 2: Sword Slam

An alternate version that only (usually) occurs once, the Sword Slam sees the Erdtree Burial Watchdog go into the air, hold their sword horizontally, then slam it down to the ground. This slam is near-instantaneous, so the timing is very tight.

You can always roll away several times when you see them rise into the air, but they will travel a little bit while airborne, so you need to be a good distance away to not get clipped.

Erdtree Burial Watchdog Attack 3: Lunge

The Erdtree Burial Watchdog will pull their sword back, then lunge a significant distance in the blink of an eye. To avoid this attack, you have to dodge to the side at the last second. Roll too early, and they’ll hit you. Roll too late for the same. Count to one and half seconds or so as soon as you see the windup, then attempt to avoid or block.

Erdtree Burial Watchdog Attack 4: Spin

The startup to the Erdtree Burial Watchdog’s spin attack is similar to the lunge, but instead of pulling their sword back, they’ll draw their sword out to the side. The spin covers a wide area and follows your movement some distance. To avoid the spin, either dodge at the last second or roll away when you see it coming. Blocking is always an option.

Erdtree Burial Watchdog Attack 5: Multi-stab

Here, the Watchdog stays on the ground, moves slightly toward you, then attacks to his front several times. These attacks are actually fairly easy to dodge, and they’re slower than others he has and have limited range.

Erdtree Burial Watchdog Attack 6: Fire Breath

When the Erdtree Burial Watchdog reaches ⅔-½ health, their mouth will glow with fire, and they’ll begin spewing the stuff while turning in a slow circle. The flames have surprising range, and it’s difficult to strafe around them, so back up and away when you see him start to breathe fire.

With this knowledge in mind, you should be able to take on the Erdtree Burial Watchdog with much less issue. Just be patient and again, don’t be afraid to try different weapons or remove pieces of your armor. You’ll receive the Noble Sorcerer Ashes for your trouble, which you can call to your aid in other fights as long as you’ve picked up the Spirit Calling Bell from Renna. 

Remember, getting the timing down is liable to still take a few tries, as it will for any Elden Ring boss fight, but understanding a boss is the first step to conquering it in any Souls-like.

And that’s all you need to know about how to beat the Erdtree Burial Watchdog boss in Elden Ring. Curious about how to level up to have an easier time in this fight and others? Check out our leveling up guide for more on that. Playing with friends or cooperators is a good way to conquer Elden Ring‘s challenges. Here’s how to summon cooperators.