Mastering Cheese Watcher Knight: Tips, Tricks, And Strategies For Victory

how to cheese watcher knight

Cheesing the Watcher Knight in video games, particularly in titles like *Elden Ring* or similar souls-like games, involves exploiting mechanics or strategies to defeat this challenging enemy with minimal effort or risk. Players often seek out these methods due to the Watcher Knight’s formidable attacks and aggressive behavior, which can make traditional combat difficult. Common cheesing techniques include luring the enemy into environmental hazards, using ranged attacks from safe distances, or exploiting AI behavior to avoid direct confrontation. While these methods may not align with the intended gameplay experience, they offer a creative and often humorous way to overcome a tough obstacle, showcasing the player’s ingenuity and understanding of the game’s systems.

Characteristics Values
Enemy Watcher Knight (Elden Ring)
Cheese Strategy Rely on ranged attacks or exploits to avoid direct combat
Effective Weapons Bows, Crossbows, Magic Spells (e.g., Glintstone Pebble)
Exploit Method Lure the knight to a narrow area and attack from afar
Recommended Location Near walls or cliffs to limit its movement
Difficulty Medium (requires patience and positioning)
Risk Level Low (minimal direct engagement)
Required Skills Aiming, Positioning, Patience
Alternative Strategy Summon allies to distract the knight
Patch Status Not patched as of latest update (verify for current version)

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Exploit Arena Layout: Use pillars and corners to limit Knight's mobility, forcing predictable attacks

The Watcher Knight's arena is a deathtrap for the unwary, but its layout can be your greatest ally. Pillars and corners, often seen as obstacles, become strategic tools when used to restrict the Knight's mobility. By funneling the Knight into predictable paths, you transform a chaotic battle into a controlled dance.

Imagine the arena as a chessboard, where each pillar is a pawn limiting the Knight's movement. Position yourself near a pillar, forcing the Knight to circle around. This predictable pattern allows you to anticipate attacks and counter effectively.

Steps to Exploit the Layout:

  • Identify Key Pillars: Focus on pillars positioned near the arena's edges or corners. These offer the most control over the Knight's movement.
  • Position Strategically: Stand slightly behind a pillar, using it as a shield. This forces the Knight to approach from a limited number of angles.
  • Anticipate Attacks: With the Knight's movement restricted, its attack patterns become more predictable. Learn to recognize its wind-ups and telegraphs.
  • Counter-Attack: Time your attacks to coincide with the Knight's predictable movements. Aim for openings created by its limited mobility.

Cautions:

  • Don't Get Greedy: While pillars provide safety, don't become complacent. The Knight can still surprise you with unexpected dashes or aerial attacks.
  • Adapt to Phases: The Knight's behavior changes throughout the fight. Adjust your pillar strategy accordingly, focusing on different pillars or exploiting new vulnerabilities.

Mastering the arena layout is crucial for cheesing the Watcher Knight. By using pillars and corners to your advantage, you gain control over the battle, forcing the Knight into predictable patterns and creating opportunities for safe, effective counter-attacks. Remember, this strategy requires patience, observation, and adaptability to truly exploit the Knight's weaknesses.

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Poison/Bleed Build: Apply status effects to bypass high health, focusing on damage over time

The Watcher Knight's towering health bar can be intimidating, but a Poison/Bleed build offers a cunning solution. Instead of chipping away at its massive HP with direct attacks, this strategy leverages damage over time (DoT) effects to whittle it down relentlessly. Poison and Bleed bypass the need for massive single hits, making them ideal for players who prioritize precision and resource management over brute force.

Weapon and Infusion Choices: The key to this build lies in your weapon infusion. The Poison or Bleed Gemstone, when applied to a weapon with innate Bleed or Poison scaling, amplifies the status effect buildup. Daggers like the Carthus Curved Sword or the Poison Katana excel here due to their inherent Bleed potential. For Poison, consider the Toxic Mist spell or a weapon infused with a Poison Gem. Remember, the goal is to stack status effects, not deal raw damage.

Combat Strategy: Positioning is crucial. Lure the Watcher Knight into tight spaces to limit its sweeping attacks. Dodge its initial strikes, then unleash a flurry of light, rapid attacks to build up Poison or Bleed. Once the status effect triggers, maintain distance and let the DoT work its magic. Repeat this process, focusing on avoiding damage and reapplying the status effect whenever it wears off.

Stat Allocation and Consumables: Invest heavily in Dexterity or Intelligence, depending on your chosen weapon. Aim for at least 40 points in the relevant stat to maximize status effect buildup. Equip the Chloranthy Ring to hasten stamina regeneration, allowing for quicker dodges and more frequent attacks. Stock up on Purple Moss Clumps to cure Poison if you're using Bleed, or Antidotes if you're relying on Poison.

Patience is Key: This strategy requires patience and discipline. Avoid greedily attacking, as the Watcher Knight's counterattacks can be devastating. Focus on consistent, controlled damage application, letting the Poison or Bleed do the heavy lifting. With persistence and strategic play, you'll witness the Watcher Knight succumb to the relentless onslaught of your chosen status effect.

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Ranged Spam: Stay at max distance, using arrows or spells to chip away safely

The Watcher Knight's relentless pursuit and melee prowess make it a formidable foe in close quarters. Ranged spam, however, flips the script by exploiting its limited ranged options and predictable movement patterns. By maintaining maximum distance, you transform the battle into a war of attrition, chipping away at its health while minimizing your own risk.

Arrow-based strategies excel here. Equip a bow with high damage and decent range, such as the Shortbow or the Black Bow of Pharis. Aim for the Knight's head, as headshots deal increased damage. Remember, patience is key. Don't rush your shots; wait for clear openings between its attacks.

Spells offer a more versatile approach, particularly for those with limited dexterity. Soul Arrow and Heavy Soul Arrow are reliable choices, while Great Heavy Soul Arrow packs a punch at the cost of higher mana consumption. For a more aggressive tactic, consider Homing Soulmass or Crystal Soul Spear, which track the Knight's movement, increasing your chances of landing hits.

Keep in mind that the Knight will occasionally dash towards you. Be prepared to dodge or create distance with a well-timed roll.

This strategy shines due to its safety and consistency. While it may not be the fastest method, it minimizes the risk of taking damage, making it ideal for players who prioritize survival over speed. The key to success lies in maintaining distance, choosing the right weapon or spell, and exploiting the Knight's predictable behavior. With patience and precision, ranged spam allows you to dismantle the Watcher Knight from a safe distance, turning its strength into a liability.

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Summon Distraction: Use spirits or ashes to draw aggro, attacking while Knight is occupied

One of the most effective strategies to cheese the Watcher Knight is to leverage summons as a distraction, allowing you to attack while the enemy is preoccupied. This tactic hinges on the Knight’s AI, which prioritizes the closest or most aggressive threat. By deploying spirits or ashes strategically, you can manipulate its focus, creating openings for safe damage. The key lies in positioning and timing: place your summon slightly ahead of your character, ensuring it engages the Knight first. This method is particularly useful for players struggling with the Knight’s aggressive combos or those seeking a more defensive approach.

To execute this strategy, start by selecting a summon with decent durability and aggro-drawing capabilities. Spirits like the Lone Wolf Ashes or the Black Knife Tiche are excellent choices due to their high damage output and ability to withstand attacks. Position yourself just behind the summon, ensuring you’re close enough to strike but not so close that the Knight targets you instead. Once the summon engages, wait for the Knight to commit to an attack animation, then strike quickly and retreat. Repeat this process, focusing on chipping away at the Knight’s health while minimizing your exposure to damage.

A critical aspect of this technique is managing the summon’s health. If your spirit dies too quickly, the Knight will shift its attention back to you, negating the strategy’s effectiveness. To mitigate this, use healing items like the Golden Seed or Flask of Crimson Tears to keep your summon alive longer. Additionally, consider equipping your summon with a weapon or talisman that boosts its survivability, such as the Fingerprint Shield or the Great Jar’s Arsenal talisman. These small adjustments can significantly extend the summon’s lifespan, giving you more opportunities to attack.

While this method is reliable, it’s not without its challenges. The Knight’s AI can sometimes break from the summon, especially if it detects you as a more immediate threat. To counter this, avoid locking on to the Knight, as it can trigger its aggression toward you. Instead, manually aim your attacks and maintain a safe distance. Another caution is over-reliance on the summon; if you focus solely on it, you may neglect your own defenses, leaving you vulnerable to stray attacks. Balance your attention between supporting the summon and capitalizing on openings.

In conclusion, the summon distraction strategy is a powerful tool for cheesing the Watcher Knight, particularly for players prioritizing safety over speed. By carefully selecting and managing your summon, positioning yourself strategically, and timing your attacks, you can minimize risk while steadily whittling down the Knight’s health. While it requires patience and practice, this method offers a reliable alternative to more aggressive approaches, making it an excellent choice for players of all skill levels. Master this technique, and the Watcher Knight will fall without ever landing a hit.

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Parry and Riposte: Master timing to parry thrusts, dealing massive damage with ripostes

The Watcher Knight's relentless thrusts can feel overwhelming, but mastering the parry and riposte turns their aggression into your greatest weapon. This technique requires precision timing, but the payoff is immense: a single successful riposte deals critical damage, staggering the knight and opening them up for further punishment.

Think of it as a deadly dance, where you anticipate their every move, deflecting their attacks with perfect timing and countering with devastating force.

Step 1: Anticipate the Thrust

Watcher Knights telegraph their thrusts with a distinct wind-up animation. Focus on their spear tip – it will glow faintly before the attack. This is your cue. Don't panic and mash buttons; a mistimed parry leaves you vulnerable. Instead, watch for the telltale glow, then time your parry button press to coincide with the spear's forward momentum.

Imagine you're catching a falling leaf – a slight delay is better than being too early.

Step 2: The Perfect Parry

A successful parry creates a brief opening. The knight will be momentarily stunned, their spear knocked aside. This is your window. Immediately follow up with a riposte attack. The specific button sequence depends on your weapon, but it's typically a strong attack or a special move.

Step 3: Practice Makes Perfect

Mastering the parry and riposte takes practice. Don't get discouraged by initial failures. Find a safe area to experiment, perhaps using a training dummy if your game provides one. Focus on the knight's animation, the glow of their spear, and the rhythm of their attacks.

Slowly increase the difficulty, facing Watcher Knights in combat scenarios until the timing becomes second nature.

Caution: Don't Get Greedy

While the riposte is powerful, it's not a guaranteed win. Don't become overconfident and spam parry attempts. The knight can adapt, feinting or changing attack patterns. Stay patient, observe their behavior, and only parry when you're absolutely certain of the timing. Remember, one well-timed riposte is more effective than a dozen failed attempts.

Frequently asked questions

The "cheese" strategy involves exploiting the Watcher Knight's behavior by staying near the top of the arena, where it has limited attack options, and using spells or ranged attacks to chip away at its health while avoiding its moves.

Charms like Shaman Stone (for increased spell damage) and Soul Catcher (for extra Soul gain) are useful, as they allow you to rely more on spells and sustain your Soul while staying out of harm’s way.

Yes, but it’s more challenging. You can stay near the top of the arena and use quick, spaced-out nail strikes while dodging its attacks, but this requires precise timing and patience.

If the Watcher Knight takes to the air, stay near the top of the arena and wait for it to land or use a spell like Vengeful Spirit to hit it while it’s airborne, then resume your position.

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