Elden Ring: Tree Sentinel Has A Bigger, Scarier Brother
One of the first things to greet Elden Ring's players once they set foot into Limgrave is the fearsome golden Tree Sentinel boss, but later in the game, his bigger, meaner brother the Draconic Tree Sentinel can be fought. First encountered just outside of the Stranded Graveyard where the player begins their journey in earnest after being butchered by the Grafted Scion in the Chapel of Anticipation, the Tree Sentinel is likely to be the first optional boss players come across. Although it's a tough fight until the player has access to a steed of his own, as the Tree Sentinel's reach and speed can be overwhelming, players will want to learn quickly how to combat this foe given that he is the first of a few repeated bosses in Elden Ring.
There are numerous optional boss fights across the Lands Between for the player to encounter, with over 100 boss fights across the game, so it's not surprising to see a few of them appear more than once, although they are often given different attacks or abilities to keep the Tarnished on their toes. The Tree Sentinel can be encountered a total of 3 times, as in addition to the one patrolling Limgrave, two more are also guarding the main outer gates to Leyndell, the capital city of Elden Ring's The Lands Between. However, players that want to access the city proper will have another challenge on their hands.
The Draconic Tree Sentinel guards Elden Ring's capital and its only entrance, meaning players will have no choice but to face off against this boss if they wish to proceed into the capital. This fearsome opponent seems to have all of the moves of its lesser brothers, in addition to some powerful new moves of its own. Both the rider and his steed are now capable of using magical attacks in addition to his usual melee onslaught, with the horse being capable of shooting fireballs at the player whilst the rider himself can barrage the player with lightning magic once he enters his second phase.
Given how long Elden Ring takes to complete, it will be a long time for most between meeting the original Tree Sentinel and his bigger, scarier brother, meaning many will likely have forgotten some of his moves. Combined with the new moves and lightning attacks the Draconic Tree Sentinel brandishes, it could easily spell disaster for underprepared Tarnished. There is also a second Draconic Tree Sentinel located even further into the game, but this one isn't required to be beaten to progress, meaning players will only have to face off against the mighty foe once (unless they want the rematch!). Luckily, the Draconic Tree Sentinel is not without weaknesses and can be whittled down with poison, although his Draconic nature does give him an inherent resistance to fire-based attacks.
Players using mods are able to summon Bosses to assist in Elden Ring, and the Draconic Tree Sentinel would probably be a great choice in the right circumstances. Unfortunately, console players will have to stick to more conventional methods when taking on Elden Ring. Given the size of the boss and his steed, the best way to combat the Draconic Tree Sentinel is for the player to ride Torrent, and it's also possible to summon Millicent to assist, providing her questline has been completed up until that point. Whichever way players decide to take on the Draconic Tree Sentinel, he'll be remembered as one of the tougher fights in Elden Ring.