At the very beginning of Elden Ring Elden Ring Items, players are greeted not by a warm welcome, but by an imposing golden knight on horse back-the Tree Sentinel. Towering in stature and armed with a golden halberd, this early-game boss patrols the entrance of Limgrave and presents a brutal wake-up call for the unprepared. However, despite his menacing appearance, the Tree Sentinel can be defeated easily-even at soul level zero, regardless of your class or weapon. Here's how to do it step by step, and why taking him down early is one of the smartest moves you can make.

Why Fight the Tree Sentinel?

You might be asking: Why even bother with this guy at the start of the game? The answer is simple-the rewards.

 3,000 Runes (a significant early-game boost)

 Golden Halberd (Golden Hird): A powerful weapon with both physical and holy damage

 Golden Vow Skill: A unique ability that boosts attack and defense for you and nearby allies

This weapon is not only strong, but it's also incredibly useful for Faith-based builds and co-op play, where its area-of-effect buffs can turn the tide of battle.

Golden Halberd Stats and Scaling

The Golden Halberd starts with:

 134 Physical Damage

 87 Holy Damage

 Scaling: Strength D / Faith D (improves with upgrades)

It's usable early if two-handed, even if you don't meet the Strength requirement (16 STR). The weapon's sweeping arc attacks make it fantastic for crowd control in PvE, and the power attacks step forward with each swing, great for mounted combat and keeping pressure on groups.

Mounted power attacks even have a flashy animation-a windmill-like spin that drags the weapon along the ground, maximizing reach and visual flair.

Preparations: Unlocking Your Mount

While you can defeat the Tree Sentinel on foot, the best strategy is to fight on horseback. But before that, you need to unlock Torrent, your spectral steed. Here's how to do it:

Rest at Three Sites of Grace in Limgrave:

 The First Step (just outside the tutorial cave)

 Church of Elleh

 Gatefront (just past the large gate and soldier camp)

 After resting at the third site (Gatefront), Melina will appear and offer you an accord.

Important: You must accept her offer to receive Torrent. If you refuse, you won't be able to level up or ride your mount.

Getting a Weapon: Lordsworn's Greatsword

While any weapon technically works, grabbing the Lordsworn's Greatsword will make the fight much easier. Here's how:

 From the Gatefront site, head toward the nearby black carriage guarded by soldiers and a knight.

 Wait until the knight turns his back, then backstab him to initiate the fight.

 Once defeated, open the chest in the carriage to get the Greatsword.

This weapon requires 16 Strength, but two-handing it reduces the stat requirement by about 30%, making it usable even for low-STR classes.

Optional: Unlock the Limgrave Map

For better navigation, pick up the Limgrave Map Fragment:

 Found near the black carriage, at the base of a large stone monument.

 Once picked up, you'll be able to see the full map of Limgrave.

Fighting the Tree Sentinel: Step-by-Step Strategy

Now it's time to take down the Tree Sentinel.

Step 1: Two-Hand Your Weapon

 Hold Y (Triangle) and press Right Attack to two-hand your weapon.

 This boosts your damage significantly, especially while mounted.

Step 2: Engage on Horseback

 Summon Torrent.

 Lock onto the Tree Sentinel to keep him in your sights.

 Bait him into the open field away from obstacles.

Step 3: Use Hit-and-Run Tactics

 Hold down the heavy attack button as you approach, then release it right as you reach him to deal maximum damage.

 Immediately ride away to avoid his counterattack.

 Rinse and repeat this strategy.

Your horse will often absorb hits that would otherwise one-shot you-just keep moving and avoid getting caught in multiple hit animations.

What If Your Horse Dies?

 If Torrent dies, you can resummon him once per rest by using one Crimson Flask.

 Even if you're knocked off, don't panic. Just keep distance, heal, and resummon.

 With proper timing, you can avoid getting hit at all.

Watch Out for Phase Two

At half HP, the Tree Sentinel introduces a Shield Bash attack:

 Massive hitbox, and it can catch you off guard.

 Usually leaves him open to counterattacks if he misses.

 Stay locked on and maintain distance during this phase.

Try to bait the Shield Bash, dodge, and counter with a mounted power attack.

Bonus Tip: Stagger Opportunities

If you chain multiple power attacks quickly, you can stagger the Tree Sentinel. This opens him up for several light attacks in a row. Just be cautious-once he recovers, he'll retaliate hard.Victory Rewards

Upon victory, you'll receive:

 3,000 Runes-a solid boost for early leveling

 Golden Halberd-a powerful weapon that scales with Strength and Faith

 Golden Vow Skill-boosts attack and defense for yourself and nearby allies

 "A weighty halberd forged of gold and wielded by the order of the Tree Sentinels. Heavily equipped knights that deal holy damage in addition to its physical might."

Is the Golden Halberd Worth Using?

Absolutely-especially for Faith builds or co-op players.

 The Golden Vow skill buffs everyone nearby.

 Its holy scaling makes it deadly against undead and resistant foes.

 Even low-level players can wield it by two-handing.

As you upgrade the weapon, the scaling improves, giving it long-term viability.

Final Thoughts and Next Steps

Beating the Tree Sentinel early is more than just a flex-it sets the tone for your playthrough. You'll start with a powerful weapon Elden Ring Runes buy, a handful of levels, and the confidence to take on Elden Ring's brutal open world.