
Cheesing Astel, Naturalborn of the Void, a formidable boss in *Elden Ring*, requires exploiting specific strategies to bypass its challenging mechanics. Players often utilize hit-and-run tactics, focusing on dealing damage during its slower animations or after it performs its area-of-effect attacks. Summoning allies, such as the River of Blood spirit ash, can distract Astel while the player focuses on consistent, safe damage. Additionally, positioning is crucial; staying close to its legs minimizes the risk of being hit by its sweeping laser attacks. Equipping poison or scarlet rot weapons can also chip away at its health over time, further simplifying the fight. By combining these methods, players can effectively cheese Astel, turning a daunting encounter into a manageable, if not trivial, battle.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Boss | Astel, Naturalborn of the Void |
| Location | Lake of Rot, underground cave accessible via Grand Lift of Rold |
| Weaknesses | Lightning, Scarlet Rot (minimal), Frostbite |
| Resistances | Physical, Magic, Fire, Holy |
| Strategy Core | Cheese involves exploiting the arena and Astel's AI |
| Key Cheese Method | Pillar Bait & Punish: Lure Astel to the central pillar, then dodge its slam attack and punish from behind. |
| Additional Tips |
|
| Recommended Equipment |
|
| Phase 2 Trigger | Astel's health drops below 50% |
| Phase 2 Changes |
|
| Cheese Effectiveness in Phase 2 | Still viable, but requires more precise timing and positioning due to increased attack speed. |
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What You'll Learn
- Exploit Astel's Slow Start: Use ranged attacks to chip away at Astel's health before it becomes aggressive
- Abuse Pillar Cover: Hide behind pillars to avoid attacks and heal safely during phase transitions
- Summon Overload Tactic: Bring multiple summons to distract Astel, allowing you to deal damage uninterrupted
- Poison Build Strategy: Apply poison repeatedly to drain Astel's health while dodging its main attacks
- Phase Skip Glitch: Time your attacks to skip Astel's second phase, reducing overall fight duration

Exploit Astel's Slow Start: Use ranged attacks to chip away at Astel's health before it becomes aggressive
Astel, Natural Born of the Void, is notorious for its overwhelming aggression once fully engaged. However, its initial phase offers a window of vulnerability that savvy players can exploit. During this slow start, Astel’s movements are deliberate, and its attacks are less frequent, providing an opportunity to deal damage from a safe distance. Ranged attacks, whether from bows, spells, or other long-range tools, become your greatest asset in this phase. By chipping away at Astel’s health before it ramps up its ferocity, you reduce the overall difficulty of the fight and minimize the risk of being overwhelmed.
To maximize this strategy, position yourself at the edge of Astel’s aggro range, ensuring you’re just within reach to provoke a reaction without triggering its more dangerous moves. Aim for consistent, low-risk damage rather than high-damage bursts that might draw its full attention prematurely. For example, using a bow with poison arrows or a low-FP spell like Glintstone Pebble allows you to maintain pressure without overextending. Keep an eye on Astel’s behavior; if it begins to charge or summon void tendrils, retreat slightly to reset its aggression. The goal is to whittle down its health bar methodically, not to engage in a prolonged battle of attrition.
One practical tip is to use the environment to your advantage. Astel’s arena has elevated platforms and narrow pathways that can limit its mobility. Position yourself on higher ground to gain a clear line of sight while reducing the risk of being hit by its sweeping attacks. If you’re using spells, consider equipping the Carian Scepter to boost your range and damage output. For physical ranged weapons, the Shortbow or Pulley Crossbow paired with poison or sleep arrows can be particularly effective. Remember to manage your stamina and resources carefully, as overextending can leave you vulnerable to counterattacks.
A comparative analysis of this strategy reveals its efficiency against other approaches. While melee combat can be effective, it requires precise timing and leaves little room for error. Ranged attacks, on the other hand, allow you to control the pace of the fight and minimize risk. This method is especially useful for players with lower vitality or those who struggle with Astel’s unpredictable movements. By exploiting its slow start, you shift the fight’s dynamics in your favor, turning a daunting encounter into a manageable challenge.
In conclusion, chipping away at Astel’s health with ranged attacks during its slow start is a tactical exploit that leverages its initial vulnerability. This approach requires patience, positioning, and resource management but offers a safer and more controlled way to defeat this formidable boss. Whether you’re a seasoned player or a newcomer, mastering this strategy can significantly improve your chances of success and reduce the frustration often associated with Astel’s fight.
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Abuse Pillar Cover: Hide behind pillars to avoid attacks and heal safely during phase transitions
Pillars in Astel's arena aren't just architectural flourishes—they're your lifeline. During phase transitions, when Astel is vulnerable and repositioning, these stone structures become your sanctuary. The key is understanding their placement and Astel's attack patterns. The arena features several pillars, but not all are created equal. Focus on the two larger pillars near the center; their size provides ample cover, and their proximity to Astel's usual transition paths makes them strategically ideal.
To execute this tactic, time your movements with Astel's phase shift. As he begins his transition animation, sprint towards the nearest pillar, ensuring you're fully obscured from his line of sight. This is crucial: even partial exposure can lead to a devastating attack. Once behind the pillar, prioritize healing. Use this window to restore HP and replenish FP, especially if you're relying on spells or abilities. Remember, Astel's transitions are your breather—don't waste them.
However, this strategy isn't without risk. Astel's homing attacks can occasionally curve around pillars, and his area-of-effect spells may still clip you if you're too close to the edge. To mitigate this, position yourself deep behind the pillar, not just at its edge. Additionally, keep an eye on your stamina; if Astel detects you mid-sprint, he may interrupt your escape with a grab attack. Always leave enough stamina for a quick dodge or roll if needed.
Comparing this to other cheese strategies, such as ranged sniping or summoning, pillar cover is more reliable but requires precise timing. Unlike summoning, which can fail if your ally dies, pillars are always available. Unlike sniping, which demands constant distance management, pillar cover offers a predictable safe zone. However, it’s less flashy and may feel slower for aggressive players. For those prioritizing consistency over speed, this method is unparalleled.
In practice, master this technique by studying Astel's transition animations. His phase shifts are telegraphed by a distinct visual and audio cue—a swirling void effect accompanied by a low hum. Practice recognizing this cue in training runs, and time your dash to the pillar accordingly. With repetition, you’ll internalize the rhythm, turning a risky fight into a methodical dance. Remember: patience is your greatest weapon here, not brute force.
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Summon Overload Tactic: Bring multiple summons to distract Astel, allowing you to deal damage uninterrupted
Astel, Naturalborn of the Void, is a formidable boss in Elden Ring, known for its relentless attacks and ability to teleport, making it a challenging encounter for even the most seasoned players. One effective strategy to cheese this boss is the Summon Overload Tactic, which involves bringing multiple summons to distract Astel, allowing you to deal damage uninterrupted. This approach leverages the game's AI mechanics, where Astel's aggression is divided among multiple targets, significantly reducing the pressure on the player.
To execute this tactic, start by summoning all available NPC allies, such as the Black Knife Tiche or the River-raiding Karoll. These summons should be positioned strategically around the arena to maximize their effectiveness. For instance, place melee summons closer to Astel to draw its immediate attention, while ranged summons like the Great Horned Tragoth can harass from a distance. The key is to create a chaotic environment where Astel is constantly switching targets, giving you ample opportunities to strike.
While the summons engage Astel, focus on dealing consistent damage from a safe distance. Use high-damage spells like Comet Azure or charged heavy attacks with a weapon like the Moonveil Katana. Avoid getting too close to Astel, as its grab attacks can still catch you off guard. Instead, prioritize mobility and positioning, ensuring you’re always ready to dodge or heal if necessary. This phase-oriented approach allows you to chip away at Astel’s health while minimizing the risk of taking damage yourself.
One cautionary note is to monitor the health of your summons. Astel’s area-of-effect attacks can quickly dispatch weaker allies, so time your summons wisely. For example, use the Black Knife Tiche’s summon sign early in the fight to draw Astel’s attention, then follow up with more durable summons like the River-raiding Karoll to maintain pressure. Additionally, keep a Flask of Crimson Tears handy to heal yourself, as prolonged exposure to Astel’s attacks can still deplete your health bar.
In conclusion, the Summon Overload Tactic is a highly effective way to cheese Astel, Naturalborn of the Void, by leveraging the game’s AI and summon mechanics. By strategically deploying multiple summons and focusing on consistent damage from a distance, you can significantly reduce the boss’s aggression toward you. While this method requires careful timing and resource management, it offers a reliable path to victory, even for players struggling with Astel’s relentless combat style.
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Poison Build Strategy: Apply poison repeatedly to drain Astel's health while dodging its main attacks
Astel, Natural Born of the Void, is a formidable boss in *Elden Ring*, known for its unpredictable movements and devastating attacks. To cheese this encounter, a Poison Build Strategy can be highly effective, leveraging the game’s mechanics to drain Astel’s health over time while minimizing direct confrontation. Poison damage ticks consistently, bypassing the need to land high-damage strikes, making it ideal for players seeking a safer, more methodical approach.
The core of this strategy lies in equipping poison-infused weapons or using poison-based spells. Weapons like the Poisoned Dagger or Scavenger’s Curved Sword can apply poison with each hit, while spells such as Poison Mist or Toxic Mist create lingering poison clouds. Aim to apply poison early in the fight, ideally during Astel’s slower, more predictable phases. For example, when Astel performs its ground slam or summons void tendrils, use these openings to strike or cast spells, ensuring poison stacks quickly.
Dodging Astel’s main attacks is crucial to this strategy’s success. Focus on learning its attack patterns, particularly its void beam and teleport strikes, which deal massive damage. Use Light Roll for maximum agility, and prioritize leveling Endurance and Vigor to survive accidental hits. Positioning is key—stay at mid-range to avoid melee attacks while remaining within casting or striking distance. If Astel begins charging a powerful attack, disengage and reposition to reset the encounter.
A practical tip is to combine poison with Rot or Scarlet Rot effects for added damage. Equip the Festering Blood Ash of War or use Rotten Breath to stack debuffs, accelerating Astel’s health drain. However, be cautious not to overcommit; Astel’s aggressive behavior can punish greediness. Always prioritize survival over damage output, and use Flasks of Crimson Tears sparingly, as healing opportunities are limited.
In conclusion, the Poison Build Strategy is a calculated, patient approach to defeating Astel. By repeatedly applying poison and avoiding its deadliest attacks, players can wear down the boss without relying on high-risk, high-reward tactics. This method is particularly effective for players with lower damage output or those struggling with Astel’s erratic behavior. Mastery of timing, positioning, and resource management will turn this cheese strategy into a reliable victory.
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Phase Skip Glitch: Time your attacks to skip Astel's second phase, reducing overall fight duration
The Phase Skip Glitch in the Astel, Natural Born of the Void fight is a high-risk, high-reward technique that can drastically reduce the battle's duration. By exploiting a specific timing window, players can bypass Astel's second phase entirely, avoiding some of its most devastating attacks. This glitch requires precision and practice, but mastering it can turn an otherwise grueling fight into a swift victory.
To execute the glitch, time your attacks to stagger Astel just as it transitions from the first to the second phase. This window is incredibly narrow, typically occurring when Astel's health reaches around 60-65%. Use high-poise weapons or abilities with strong stagger potential, such as charged heavy attacks or spells like Golden Vow. The key is to interrupt Astel's phase transition animation, forcing it to remain in its first phase while its health continues to deplete.
Caution is essential, as mistiming your attack can result in Astel fully entering its second phase, resetting the glitch opportunity. Additionally, maintain a safe distance during the attempt, as Astel's transition often includes a sweeping attack that can catch aggressive players off guard. Practice in controlled environments, such as by engaging Astel with a summon to distract it while you focus on timing your strikes.
The payoff for successfully executing the Phase Skip Glitch is immense. Skipping the second phase eliminates Astel's most dangerous abilities, including its homing laser attack and area-of-effect explosions. This not only reduces the fight's complexity but also minimizes the risk of taking fatal damage. For speedrunners or players seeking efficient clears, this glitch is a game-changer, shaving off several minutes from the encounter.
In conclusion, the Phase Skip Glitch is a testament to the depth and exploitability of Elden Ring's combat system. While it demands skill and patience to master, the rewards make it a valuable technique for any player looking to cheese Astel, Natural Born of the Void. With practice, this glitch can become a reliable tool in your arsenal, transforming one of the game's most intimidating bosses into a manageable—even trivial—challenge.
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Frequently asked questions
The most common cheese strategy involves using the cliff near the boss arena. Lure Astel to the edge of the cliff, then run to the opposite side and shoot it with ranged attacks or spells. Astel will often get stuck or struggle to reach you, making the fight significantly easier.
Yes, summoning NPCs or using Spirit Ashes can help distract Astel while you deal damage from a safe distance. Focus on ranged attacks or spells while your summons tank the boss’s aggression. This method reduces the difficulty of the fight but requires careful positioning.
Using ranged weapons like bows, crossbows, or spells like Carian Slicer or Glintstone Pebble can make cheesing Astel more effective. Additionally, items like Poison or Scarlet Rot arrows can deal continuous damage while you keep your distance. Pair these with the cliff strategy for maximum efficiency.

























