How to Beat Erdtree Burial Watchdog: Boss Fight Guide

This is a guide on how to beat Erdtree Burial Watchdog, an optional boss in Elden Ring. Read on to learn more about Erdtree Burial Watchdog's strengths, weaknesses, attack patterns, and lore!

Erdtree Burial Watchdog General Info

Stats and Rewards

Erdtree Burial Watchdog
Weakness	Resistance	Immune
Strike	Standard Slash Fire Holy Lightning Frost Thrust	Sleep Madness Instant Death Poison Sleep Scarlet Rot Frost Bleed
Affected By	━
Spirit Ashes Available?	Yes
Rune Rewards	• 1300 (Stormfoot Catacombs) • 2400 (Impaler's Catacomb) • 3200 (Cliffbottom Catacombs) • 7400 (Minor Erdtree Catacombs) • 12000 (Wyndham Catacombs)
Summonable NPCs	・None
Locations
• Stormfoot Catacombs • Impaler's Catacombs • Cliffbottom Catacombs • Minor Erdtree Catacombs • Wyndham Catacombs

Item Drops
Stormfoot Catacombs: • Noble Sorcerer Ashes	Impaler's Catacombs: • Demi-Human Ashes
Cliffbottom Catacombs: • Kaiden Sellsword Ashes	Minor Erdtree Catacombs: • Mad Pumpkin Head Ashes
Wyndham Catacombs: • Glovewort Picker's Bell Bearing 1

Erdtree Burial Watchdog Location

Stormfoot Catacombs

Map Location
View Full Image
Recommended Level	Lv.25

An Erdtree Burial Watchdog is the boss of Stormfoot Catacombs located northwest of the Church of Elleh in Limgrave.

Fight at Level 25+

You can head straight to Stormfoot Catacombs at the very start of the game, but it's a good idea to get your character to at least Level 25+ as the Imps in the catacombs can one-shot a low level character with their attacks.

Impaler's Catacombs

Map Location
View Full Image
Recommended Level	Lv.30

An Erdtree Burial Watchdog is the boss of Impaler's Catacombs located slightly northeast of Oridys' Rise and the Crater-Pocked Site of Grace in the Weeping Peninsula.

Fight at Level 30+

While it's possible to head straight to the Weeping Peninsula at the start of the game, it's best to get your character to at least Level 30+ before taking on the dungeon as this Erdtree Burial Watchdog is accompanied by several aggressive imps that will harass you as you try to attack the main boss.

Cliffbottom Catacombs

Map Location
View Full Image
Recommended Level	Lv.35

An Erdtree Burial Watchdog is the boss of Cliffbottom Catacombs located on the bottom of the lower eastern cliffside in East Liurnia. The Catacombs are located directly east of the Purified Ruins past the forested area where Vulgar Militias will ambush you.

Fight at Level 35+

You can head to the Cliffbottom Catacombs as early as accessing Liurnia of the Lakes, but it's a good idea to get your character to at least Level 35+. This Erdtree Burial Watchdog uses a staff, sorceries, and lightning attacks that can easily one-shot unprepared players expecting the usual sword-wielding Watchdog.

Minor Erdtree Catacombs

Map Location
View Full Image
Recommended Level	Lv.50

Two Erdtree Burial Watchdogs are encountered as the boss of the Minor Erdtree Catacombs located near the Minor Erdtree in Caelid and northeast of the Smoldering Church.

Fight at Level 50+

While it's possible to take on the catacombs as early as entering Caelid, it's a good idea to get your charcter to at least Level 50+ as the two Watchdogs can easily one-shot unprepared players with their coordinated attacks.

Wyndham Catacombs

Map Location
View Full Image
Recommended Level	Lv.60

An Erdtree Burial Watchdog is encountered as a boss in Wyndham Catacombs direclty north of Wyndham Ruins in Mt. Gelmir.

Fight at Level 60+

Although there's only one Erdtree Burial Watchdog to fight in Wyndham Catacombs, the boss is noticeably tougher than earlier variants. Get your charcter to at least Level 60+ with sufficient vigor, attacking stat investment, and upgraded weapons so that you can deal as much damage to the boss as possible.

How to Beat Erdtree Burial Watchdog

Tips for Beating Erdtree Burial Watchdogs
Keep Your Distance
Use Spirit Ashes to Summon Spirits
Use Crystal Darts on the Duo Boss
Use Weapons that Deal Strike Damage

Keep Your Distance

Stay away as far as possible from the Watchdog since he's very slow, and most of his attacks only reach melee range. Try to make sure you have enough space to dodge his attacks as he gets closer to you.

Watch out when he floats, as he'll most likely be attacking you with his triple-ground slam attack. Prepare to dodge all 3 slams and return to attacking from a distance.

Use Spirit Ashes to Summon Spirits

The Erdtree Burial Watchdogs are slow but have powerful attacks, which means tanky summons are great options to use for the fight.

Banished Knight Oleg and Banished Knight Engvall are both tanky and aggressive summons that will take aggro away from you and deal respectable damage to the boss.

Lhutel the Headless is another great summon, especially for the boss assisted by multiple imps in Impaler's Catacombs and the two Erdtree Burial Watchdogs in Minor Erdtree Catacombs. Lhutel will teleport instead of evading which, coupled with her high health, makes her great grabbing aggro and distracting enemies.

Use Crystal Darts on the Duo Boss

The Crystal Dart deals magic damage and also causes Golem-type enemies like the Erdtree Burial Watchdogs to attack anything in sight, including other Erdtree Burial Watchdogs and Imps. This strategy is best used in the Minor Erdtree Catacombs with the two Erdtree Burial Watchdogs.

Once the fight starts, quickly throw 4 Crystal Darts at one of the Erdtree Burial Watchdogs. The targeted Watchdog will get stunned briefly and then begin attacking the other boss. You can then wait to pick off the two once they're sufficiently weakened or attack them while they are busy fighting.

Use the Crystal Dart on the Sword-Wielding Watchdog

For the duo boss in Minor Erdtree Catacombs, it's best to use the Crystal Darts on the sword-wielding Erdtree Burial Watchdog. While slightly weaker than its staff-wielding counterpart, it also attacks faster which means it will often deal more damage to the other boss.

Use Weapons that Deal Strike Damage

Weapon Type Weaknesses
Strike Weapons

All Erdtree Burial Watchdogs are weak against weapons that deal strike damage. Due to the boss' slow speed, it's best to use relatively fast striking weapons such as the Mace and Warpick especially against the duo Erdtree Burial Watchdog boss.

Erdtree Burial Watchdog Attack Patterns

Sword Thrust

A lunging attack that the Erdtree Burial Watchdog performs if you're just outside his attack range. Prepare to dodge towards him once you see him poised to pounce on you.

You can attack him a few times afterward before you prepare for his next move.

Sword Slash

An attack where Erdtree Burial Watchdog will try to slash you with its sword. Dodge backward, away from the boss as it raises its sword up to prepare for the slash.

Sword Swipe

An attack where Erdtree Burial Watchdog performs a two-hit swipe attack. You will know he is about to attack when you see him position his sword to its side. Pay close attention, as it can be easy to miss if you aren't cautious.

Be careful as the boss can delay the second swipe. It is better to dodge backward while keeping your distance after the first swipe to avoid getting hit.

Sword Spin

An attack where Erdtree Burial Watchdog will do a 360-degree spin with its sword, damaging anyone around it. It is telegraphed by when it slams its sword down to the ground, then it slightly rotates itself before doing the spin.

Dodge towards the boss, away from the boss as soon as you see the telegraph. Hit him a few times after you avoid it.

Tail Slam

An attack where Erdtree Burial Watchdog will turn its head 180 degrees before using its tail to slam the ground with a fiery explosion. Once you see it turn its head, immediately run away and dodge backward to avoid getting caught up by the AoE.

Triple Ground Slam

An attack where the Erdtree Burial Watchdog will float off the ground before slamming itself to where you are at. Watchdog will do this three times in a row, and you will have to dodge backward for each slam.

Once you're used to dodging it, you can use this as a chance to hit the boss. You can avoid it by dodging towards it right before the slam, then attack it as it's about to float up again. Walk away from it while it is busy floating up, so you have enough space to dodge towards the boss.

Flamethrower

An attack where the Watchdog will let out a stream of flames from its mouth while moving towards the player. The flamethrower is telegraphed by a fiery glow on its mouth.

Dodge backward, then run away or around the boss to avoid it. The flamethrower will take a while to finish, so keep your distance.

Elden Ring Related Guides

List of All Bosses

Main Bosses

All Bosses in Elden Ring
Margit the Fell Omen	Godrick the Grafted
Red Wolf of Radagon	Rennala, Queen of the Full Moon
Royal Knight Loretta	Starscourge Radahn
Godfrey, First Elden Lord	Morgott, the Omen King
Rykard, Lord of Blasphemy	Fire Giant
Malenia, Blade of Miquella	Mohg Lord of Blood
Regal Ancestor Spirit	Astel, Naturalborn of the Void
Lichdragon Fortissax	Godskin Duo
Dragonlord Placidusax	Maliketh, the Black Blade
Sir Gideon Ofnir, the All-Knowing	Hoarah Loux, Warrior
Radagon of the Golden Order	Elden Beast

Optional Bosses

Limgrave Optional Bosses
Beastman of Farum Azula	Bloodhound Knight Darriwil
Demi-Human Chiefs	Flying Dragon Agheel
Guardian Golem	Leonine Misbegotten
Mad Pumpkin Head	Miranda the Blighted Bloom
Patches	Runebear
Scaly Misbegotten	Soldier of Godrick
Stonedigger Troll	Tree Sentinel
Liurnia of the Lakes Optional Bosses
Adan, Thief of Fire	Alabaster Lord
Alecto, Black Knife Ringleader	Bols, Carian Knight
Bloodhound Knight	Glintstone Dragon Smarag
Glintstone Dragon Adula	Magma Wyrm Makar
Royal Revenant	Spirit-Caller Snail
Caelid Optional Bosses
Battlemage Hugues	Black Blade Kindred (Caelid)
Commander O'Neil	Decaying Ekzykes
Fallingstar Beast	Flying Dragon Greyll
Frenzied Duelist	Magma Wyrm
Nox Swordstress & Nox Priest	Putrid Tree Spirit
Altus Plateau Optional Bosses
Ancient Dragon Lansseax	Crucible Knight Ordovis
Demi-Human Queen Gilika	Demi-Human Queen Maggie
Demi-Human Queen Margot	Draconic Tree Sentinel
Elemer of the Briar	Esgar, Priest of Blood
Fell Twins	Full-Grown Fallingstar Beast
Godefroy the Grafted	Kindred of Rot
Mohg, The Omen	Necromancer Garris
Onyx Lord	Perfumer Tricia
Red Wolf of the Champion	Sanguine Noble
Virgin Abductors	Wormface
Mountaintops of the Giants Optional Bosses
Astel, Stars of Darkness	Black Blade Kindred (Mountaintops of the Giants)
Borealis the Freezing Fog	Commander Niall
Misbegotten Crusader	Putrid Grave Warden Duelist
Great Wyrm Theodorix	Vyke, Knight of the Roundtable
Siofra River Optional Bosses
Ancestor Spirit	Valiant Gargoyles
Mimic Tear
Ainsel River Optional Bosses
Dragonkin Soldier of Nokstella	-
Deeproot Depths Optional Bosses
Crucible Knight Siluria	-
Multiple Location Optional Bosses
Ancient Hero of Zamor	Black Knife Assassin
Bell Bearing Hunter	Cemetery Shade
Cleanrot Knights	Crucible Knight
Crystalian	Death Rite Bird
Deathbird	Erdtree Avatar
Erdtree Burial Watchdog	Godskin Apostle
Godskin Noble	Grafted Scion
Grave Warden Duelist	Mad Pumpkin Head
Misbegotten Warrior	Night's Cavalry
Omenkiller	Tibia Mariner
Dragonkin Soldier	-

Mini-Bosses

All Bosses in Elden Ring
Elder Dragon Greyoll	Lion Guardian
Valiant Gargoyle (Leyndell)	-

Hostile NPCs and Invaders

Limgrave Invaders and Hostile NPCs
Bloody Finger Nerijus	Old Knight Istvan
Recusant Henricus	-
Liurnia of the Lakes Invaders and Hostile NPCs
Great Horned Tragoth	Festering Fingerprint Vyke
Altus Plateau Invaders and Hostile NPCs
Eleonora, Violet Bloody Finger	Inquisitor Ghiza
Maleigh Marais, Shaded Castle Castellan	Rileigh the Idle
Vargram the Raging Wolf & Errant Sorcerer Wilhelm	Magnus the Beast Claw
Mountaintops of the Giants Invaders and Hostile NPCs
Juno Hoslow, Knight of Blood	-
The Roundtable Hold Invaders and Hostile NPCs
Mad Tongue Alberich	-
Multiple Location Invaders and Hostile NPCs
Anastasia, Tarnished-Eater	-

These sections are currently under construction. Check back later for updates!