Elden Ring has no shortage of unique bosses in the Lands Between. Players will encounter Erdtree Burial Watchdog boss fights in the game's catacombs.

The Erdtree Burial Watchdog is a boss fight in Elden Ring that occurs several times throughout the Lands Between. Players will encounter fights with Erdtree Burial Watchdogs in various catacombs. However, the first fight against an Erdtree Burial Watchdog occurs in the Stormfoot Catacombs earlier in the game. The Stormfoot Catacombs are located just northwest of the Stranded Graveyard Site of Grace acquired at the beginning of Elden Ring.

After players make their way through the Stormfoot Catacombs and unlock some secret doors, they will be faced with the first Erdtree Burial Watchdog encounter. Contrary to what the name suggests, the Erdtree Burial Watchdog is a catlike statue with a flaming tail and a giant sword. The Erdtree Burial Watchdog has a versatile set of attacks but beating the boss fight is far from impossible. However, if players have already acquired some of the best Elden Ring weapons, this boss fight should go smoothly.

The Erdtree Burial Watchdog has several attacks that are similar to other bosses in Elden Ring, so players may be familiar with the tactics needed for success in this boss fight. Most of the Erdtree Burial Watchdog’s attacks are fairly easy to anticipate and dodge, but a few of the watchdog’s attacks are almost instantaneous. This means players must learn the Erdtree Burial Watchdog’s attack patterns to accurately dodge and counterattack the feline foe.

Defeating The Erdtree Burial Watchdog Boss Fight In Elden Ring

The Erdtree Burial Watchdog’s move set in Elden Ring can be broken down into six attacks:

• Slash Attack: The watchdog slashes its sword forward multiple times.
• Triple Cleave: The most common attack during which the watchdog floats into the air and slams down after just under a second. Occurs three times.
• Sword Smash: The watchdog levitates and slams its sword down horizontally. Even playing Elden Ring for four days straight will not prepare players for the speed of this attack.
• Thrust: The watchdog pulls its sword back horizontally and thrusts it forward.
• Spin Attack: The watchdog draws its sword horizontally and spins around.
• Fire Breathing: The watchdog spews fire from its mouth while slowly rotating.

The Erdtree Burial Watchdog’s Sword Smash and Thrust attacks are quick, so Elden Ring players must get used to the timing of those attacks specifically. After the watchdog performs a Triple Cleave or Fire Breathing attack, players have significant openings to do damage. When the watchdog slams down with Triple Cleave attacks, players can land a few hits while the watchdog prepares to rise in the air again.

If players have the right Ashes of War equipped for boss fights, they can do even more damage as the watchdog prepares to rise. When the Erdtree Burial Watchdog performs a fire-breathing attack, players can easily stick behind the watchdog and attack its back while rotating along with the boss. The rotation speed is so slow that players can land several hits while the watchdog breathes fire. Continue to dodge the watchdog’s melee attacks and take advantage of openings created during the Triple Cleave and Fire Breathing attacks to deal damage until the Erdtree Burial Watchdog has been defeated.

Next: Elden Ring: Complete Walkthrough, Boss Strategies & Build Guides

Elden Ring is available on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X, and PC.