Hey, fellow Tarnished! Today, I wanna talk about one of the coolest hidden encounters in Elden Ring's Stormveil Castle: the Ulcerated Tree Spirit, also known as the Root Monster. Yeah, I know everyone's busy fighting Margit and Godrick, but deep beneath the castle's stone halls lies a secret grotto hiding this nasty optional boss. Beating it nets you a super important Golden Seed for upgrading your Flasks, plus some other neat loot. So, let's ditch the main path for a bit and go on a secret spelunking adventure!
How To Find Stormveil Castle's Secret Boss
First things first, you gotta find this hidden area. It's not exactly obvious! I recommend starting from the 'Secluded Cell' Site of Grace, which is right next to Godrick's boss room. From there, head southwest into the area with the broken floor and those cute-but-deadly Living Jars (you know the ones).
Now, look for a slope leading up. Go up, then turn around to face the way you came. On your left, you should see a walkway and a small wooden platform. This is the key! You need to make a leap of faith over to a walkable ledge on the opposite wall. It might look sketchy, but trust me, it's the way.
Once you're on the ramparts, head up to the third level above the jars. You'll find a doorway leading into a room full of grumpy Commoners. Deal with them, then go through the next door to a small balcony. You might see a message saying, 'Surely what you seek is somewhere close by.' How ominous and helpful!
The next area has a locked door—the Liftside Chamber. Open it up! From here, you'll descend deeper into the crypt. Be ready for some bats and rats along the way; they're not tough, but they're annoying. The path is kinda linear but covered in rubble, so just keep pushing forward. Eventually, you'll come to a ledge. Take the plunge down into a big, spacious room... and boom! The ravenous Ulcerated Tree Spirit will erupt from the ground, and the secret boss fight is on!
Ulcerated Tree Spirit Features & Weakness
Boss Fight Preparation
Before you jump in, let's talk strategy. This boss has some very clear weaknesses you can exploit. Its main vulnerabilities are Fire and Frostbite. On the flip side, it's pretty resistant to Holy damage, so maybe leave your sacred spells at home for this one.
Here’s what you should bring to the party:
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Consumables: Fire Pots and Freezing Pots are your best friends here. A Freezing Pot causes 380 Frost buildup, and a Fire Pot causes 230 Fire buildup. Chucking these can really speed up the fight.
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Spells: Mage and Faith builds have great options.
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Sorceries: Adula's Moonblade, Gelmir's Fury.
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Incantations: Frozen Lightning Spear, O Flame!
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Melee Fighters: Don't worry! You can use Grease to coat your weapon with Fire or Frost damage, or use Ashes of War to give your weapon an elemental affinity.
Basically, if it burns or freezes, it's good to use.
How to Beat the Ulcerated Tree Spirit In Elden Ring
Boss Moveset and Combat Strategy
Okay, the moment of truth. This version of the Ulcerated Tree Spirit has the same moveset as the ones you'll find later in the game. If you're a high-level player coming back to clean up secrets, you'll probably stomp it. For everyone else, here's the breakdown:
The boss is big, writhing, and covers a lot of ground. Its main attacks involve lunging, thrashing its body, and spewing deadly blight. The arena is decently sized, but it can feel cramped when this thing starts flailing around.
My personal strategy:
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Stay Mobile: Don't get greedy. This boss is all about hit-and-run. Get in, smack its body (avoid the head, it's riskier), and get out before it counter-attacks.
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Exploit the Weaknesses: Constantly apply Fire or Frost damage. Triggering Frostbite does a chunk of damage and increases the damage it takes for a short time. Fire is just consistently good damage.
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Watch for the Burst: It has an attack where it glows and then explodes with a golden shockwave. When you see it charging up, create as much distance as possible.
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Use the Environment: The pillars in the room can sometimes block its charges or give you a brief moment to heal. Don't rely on them completely, but use them smartly.
Patience is key. It might take a few tries to learn its patterns, but once you do, you can take it down.
Rewards For Beating Stormveil Castle Secret Boss (Ulcerated Tree Spirit)
The big prize for all your effort is a Golden Seed! This is one of the most valuable items in the early game, as it lets you increase the number of charges for your Sacred Flasks (either Health or FP). You also get 4,736 Runes for your trouble.
But wait, there's more! After the boss is dead, don't leave just yet. Loot the corpse in the room to get the Prince of Death's Pustule Talisman. This talisman raises your Vitality (which boosts resistance to the Death Blight status effect). It's a niche item, but super useful if you plan to explore areas with Those Who Live in Death later on.
Other Stormveil Castle Secrets In Elden Ring
Here's a mind-blowing fact for new players: You can completely skip Stormveil Castle. No, really! After getting to Stormhill Shack, instead of going through the main gate, follow the road north. You'll find a broken bridge that you can carefully cross (with the help of your trusty steed, Torrent) to reach Liurnia of the Lakes directly.
There's a Finger Reader nearby who will insist the castle is the only way. Don't listen to her! She's trying to gatekeep your progress. The beauty of Elden Ring is that you have choices. You can tackle Stormveil and its secrets now, come back later when you're overpowered, or skip it entirely and explore the vast lakes of Liurnia.
Speaking of exploration, if you're wondering what to do after Stormveil (whether you beat it or skipped it), consider a... spicy detour to Caelid. Yeah, the hellscape with the scarlet rot. It's tough as nails, but it hides some of the best early-game weapons, spells, and a ton of runes for leveling up. Grinding there can make later areas like the Academy of Raya Lucaria feel much easier. But just like Stormveil, most of Caelid is optional too! The freedom in this game is still one of its best features, even years after release.
So, there you have it! The complete guide to finding and conquering Stormveil Castle's secret boss. It's a fun, challenging detour with a fantastic reward. Have you fought this hidden horror yet? What was your strategy? Let me know in the comments below, and as always, praise the message! \[T]/