Cheesing Draconic Tree Sentinel: Easy Tactics For Farum Azula Victory

how to cheese draconic tree sentinel in farum azula

The Draconic Tree Sentinel in Farum Azula is a formidable boss in *Elden Ring*, known for its devastating attacks and relentless aggression. However, with the right strategy, players can cheese this encounter, exploiting specific mechanics to simplify the fight. By utilizing the environment, such as luring the boss to the narrow bridge and exploiting its AI to get it stuck, or by summoning NPC allies to distract it, players can minimize direct confrontation. Additionally, equipping high poison or bleed damage weapons can quickly whittle down its health while maintaining a safe distance. This approach allows even underleveled or less experienced players to overcome this challenging boss with relative ease.

Characteristics Values
Boss Name Draconic Tree Sentinel
Location Farum Azula
Cheese Strategy Summon + Rooftop Sniping
Required Summons Black Knife Tiche (or other high-damage summon)
Player Position Rooftop near the boss arena
Recommended Weapons Long-range weapons (e.g., bows, spells, or catapults)
Boss Weakness Lightning damage
Key Steps 1. Summon Black Knife Tiche at the start.
2. Run to the rooftop.
3. Shoot the boss from afar while Tiche tanks.
Difficulty Medium (requires precise positioning and timing)
Rewards Dragonheart, Dragon Incantations, and other loot
Notes The boss has limited vertical reach, making rooftop sniping effective.

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Exploit Terrain: Use pillars for cover, forcing Sentinel to get stuck, allowing safe attacks

The Draconic Tree Sentinel in Farum Azula is a formidable foe, but its size and aggression can be turned against it. By exploiting the terrain, specifically the pillars scattered throughout the arena, you can create a strategic advantage. These pillars aren't just decorative—they're your key to survival. When the Sentinel charges or swings its massive branches, its hitbox often gets caught on the pillars, immobilizing it temporarily. This creates a golden opportunity for you to strike without fear of retaliation.

To execute this tactic effectively, position yourself near a pillar, ensuring it’s between you and the Sentinel. Provoke the boss into attacking, then dodge toward the pillar. The Sentinel’s large frame will often collide with the structure, causing it to pause or get stuck. During this brief window, unleash your most damaging attacks. Repeat this process, always using the pillars as cover and baiting the Sentinel into predictable patterns. Patience is key—don’t rush your attacks, as the Sentinel’s recovery can be swift if it’s not fully obstructed.

One critical detail is pillar placement. Not all pillars are created equal. Focus on those near the arena’s edges or corners, as these provide better angles for baiting the Sentinel’s attacks. Avoid central pillars unless absolutely necessary, as they offer less control over the boss’s movement. Additionally, keep an eye on your stamina—dodging and attacking in quick succession can leave you vulnerable if the Sentinel breaks free earlier than expected.

This method isn’t just about defense; it’s about controlling the flow of battle. By forcing the Sentinel into predictable, pillar-induced pauses, you dictate the rhythm of the fight. Over time, this wears down the boss while minimizing your risk. It’s a testament to how understanding and manipulating the environment can be just as important as mastering combat mechanics. With practice, this terrain-based strategy transforms a seemingly insurmountable challenge into a calculated, winnable encounter.

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Summon Distraction: Bring NPC summons to tank aggro while you deal damage uninterrupted

The Draconic Tree Sentinel in Farum Azula is a formidable foe, but with the right strategy, you can turn the tide in your favor. One effective method is to employ NPC summons as a distraction, allowing you to deal damage uninterrupted. This tactic leverages the game's AI mechanics, where enemies prioritize targets based on proximity and threat level. By strategically placing your summons, you can manipulate the Sentinel's aggro, creating a window of opportunity to strike.

To execute this strategy, begin by summoning NPC allies at a safe distance from the Sentinel. Position them in a way that they are within the boss's line of sight but not immediately threatening. This can be achieved by placing them slightly off to the side or behind cover. The key is to ensure they are close enough to draw aggro but not so close that they are instantly targeted. Once your summons are in place, move aggressively to engage the Sentinel, but only briefly. This initial attack will trigger the boss's aggro, causing it to focus on you. However, as you retreat, the NPC summons will take over as the primary target, giving you the freedom to reposition and attack from a safer angle.

A critical aspect of this technique is timing and coordination. Summon your NPC allies just before engaging the Sentinel to ensure they are ready to tank aggro immediately. If the summons are deployed too early, they may aggro other enemies in the area, reducing their effectiveness. Conversely, if they are summoned too late, the Sentinel may remain focused on you, negating the distraction. Practice this timing in less challenging encounters to refine your approach before attempting it against the Draconic Tree Sentinel.

While this strategy is effective, it is not without risks. NPC summons have limited health and can be quickly overwhelmed if the Sentinel focuses on them for too long. To mitigate this, monitor their health bars closely and be prepared to use healing items or abilities if necessary. Additionally, keep a safe distance from the Sentinel when your summons are tanking aggro to avoid accidental damage. If the summons fall, quickly reposition and resummon them to maintain the distraction.

In conclusion, the Summon Distraction tactic is a powerful tool for cheesing the Draconic Tree Sentinel in Farum Azula. By carefully positioning NPC summons to tank aggro, you can create opportunities to deal damage without interruption. This method requires precise timing, coordination, and awareness of both your summons' health and the boss's behavior. With practice, you can master this strategy, turning a daunting battle into a manageable challenge. Remember, the key to success lies in manipulation—not just of the Sentinel's aggro, but also of the game's mechanics to your advantage.

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Poison Build-Up: Apply poison repeatedly to bypass high health and stagger the boss

The Draconic Tree Sentinel in Farum Azula is a formidable foe, boasting immense health and devastating attacks. Traditional strategies often rely on brute force or exploiting specific weaknesses, but a more insidious approach lies in poison build-up. This tactic leverages the cumulative effects of poison to whittle down the boss's health while staggering it, creating opportunities for safer attacks.

Poison, unlike other status effects, deals damage over time and scales with repeated applications. Against the Tree Sentinel, this becomes a powerful tool. Each successful poison application stacks, increasing the damage dealt per second. This cumulative damage bypasses the need for massive single hits, making it ideal for builds lacking raw power.

To execute this strategy effectively, prioritize equipping weapons or spells with innate poison infusion. Daggers, curved swords, and certain sorceries excel at applying poison quickly. Aim for consistent, rapid strikes, focusing on the boss's lower body where its armor is thinner. Each successful hit should trigger a poison cloud or indicator, signaling the build-up.

Remember, timing is crucial. The Tree Sentinel's attacks are telegraphed, leaving brief windows for poison application. Dodge its sweeping strikes and capitalize on the moments it's vulnerable.

While poison build-up is effective, it's not without risks. The Tree Sentinel's high health means this strategy requires patience and persistence. Additionally, relying solely on poison leaves you vulnerable if the boss becomes immune or resists the effect. Therefore, consider incorporating other tactics like summoning allies or using environmental hazards to supplement your poison strategy.

With careful execution and a bit of luck, the cumulative power of poison can turn the tide against the Draconic Tree Sentinel, proving that sometimes the most effective weapon is the one that works slowly and silently.

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Roar Baiting: Provoke dragon roar, then dodge and punish during its long recovery animation

The Draconic Tree Sentinel's roar is a double-edged sword: devastating if it hits, but a golden opportunity if you can exploit its lengthy recovery. Roar Baiting hinges on this vulnerability, requiring precise timing and an understanding of the dragon's behavior.

Provocation: Position yourself directly in front of the Sentinel, within its line of sight but just outside melee range. Sprinting back and forth or using a taunt emote can draw its attention. The key is to appear threatening without triggering a physical attack.

Execution: Once the Sentinel begins its roar animation, immediately dodge *toward* it. This counterintuitive move allows you to close the distance while avoiding the roar’s area-of-effect damage. Time your dodge to coincide with the roar’s release, ensuring you’re in the safe zone as the sound wave propagates outward.

Punishment: The Sentinel’s recovery from the roar is its longest vulnerability window, lasting approximately 3.5 seconds. Use this time to unleash a high-damage combo or a fully charged spell. Melee builds should prioritize heavy attacks or skill activations, while casters can land a single, potent spell before repositioning.

Cautions: Overcommitment is the greatest risk. The Sentinel’s roar has a slight tracking ability, so dodging too early or too late can result in a direct hit. Additionally, avoid using this tactic in tight spaces, as the roar’s area-of-effect can clip walls or terrain, reducing your dodge window.

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Magic Spacing: Use long-range spells like Comet Azure to hit from outside melee range

One of the most effective strategies for cheesing the Draconic Tree Sentinel in Farum Azula is leveraging Magic Spacing—specifically, using long-range spells like Comet Azure to strike from outside melee range. This approach minimizes the risk of being hit by the boss’s devastating close-quarters attacks while maximizing your damage output. Comet Azure, with its massive area of effect and high damage, is particularly effective because it allows you to chip away at the boss’s health without exposing yourself to danger. Position yourself at the edge of the arena, just outside the boss’s melee range, and time your casts to avoid its sweeping attacks.

Analyzing the boss’s behavior reveals why this strategy works so well. The Draconic Tree Sentinel has a limited range for most of its attacks, and its movement speed is relatively slow. By staying just out of reach, you create a safe zone where you can cast spells uninterrupted. However, be cautious of its occasional long-range attacks, such as the fire breath or projectile spells. Use these moments to dodge or reposition rather than casting, as getting hit mid-cast can leave you vulnerable. The key is to maintain a consistent distance while exploiting the boss’s predictable patterns.

To execute this strategy effectively, follow these steps: First, equip Comet Azure or a similar long-range spell with high damage output. Second, position yourself at the edge of the arena, ensuring you’re just outside the boss’s melee range but within casting distance. Third, time your casts to coincide with the boss’s slower animations, such as its wind-up for a heavy attack. Finally, keep an eye on your stamina and FP (Focus Points) to avoid being caught off guard. A single cast of Comet Azure consumes a significant amount of FP, so manage your resources wisely and bring enough FP-restoring items like Cerulean Flasks.

Comparing this approach to melee combat highlights its advantages. While melee builds can deal high damage, they require precise timing and leave little room for error. Magic Spacing, on the other hand, offers a safer and more consistent way to whittle down the boss’s health. It’s particularly useful for players who struggle with the boss’s aggressive combos or lack the poise to trade blows effectively. However, this strategy isn’t without its drawbacks. Long-range spells rely heavily on FP, and running out mid-fight can be disastrous. Additionally, the boss’s occasional long-range attacks can disrupt your casting, so staying alert is crucial.

In conclusion, Magic Spacing with spells like Comet Azure is a reliable and efficient way to cheese the Draconic Tree Sentinel. By maintaining a safe distance and exploiting the boss’s limited range, you can avoid its deadliest attacks while dealing consistent damage. While this strategy requires careful resource management and awareness of the boss’s patterns, it’s an excellent option for players looking to minimize risk and maximize efficiency. With practice and patience, you’ll find that cheesing this formidable foe becomes not just possible, but almost effortless.

Frequently asked questions

The easiest method is to lure the boss to the narrow bridge near the grace site, then use ranged attacks or spells to hit it from a safe distance while it struggles to reach you.

Yes, summoning NPCs or using a mimic tear can distract the boss while you deal damage from afar or pick your moments to strike safely.

Ranged weapons like bows or spells like Carian Slicer or Glintstone Pebble are effective for poking the boss from a distance while it’s stuck on the bridge.

Stay out of its melee range and focus on dodging its projectile attacks. The narrow bridge limits its movement, making it easier to avoid its sweeps and stomps.

If it takes flight, quickly run back to the grace site or a safe spot and wait for it to land. Once it’s grounded again, lure it back to the bridge and resume the strategy.

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