Deep under the stalwart defenses of Elden Ring lies a hidden crypt housing a secret boss, the Ulcerated Tree Spirit, also known as the Root Monster. Slaying this boss will reward Tarnished adventurers with a Golden Seed, the valuable resource required for upgrading Flasks.

However, unlike the gaudy Margit or Godrick, the Root Monster is an optional secret in Elden Ring concealed beneath the castle's underground grotto. As a result, many adventurers likely by this area, which holds useful resources, lore secrets, and rarities, such as the Prince of Death's Pustule Talisman.

How To Find Stormveil Castle's Secret Boss

Open The Liftside Chamber

To find this hidden underground area and defeat Stormveil Castle's secret boss, Godrick the Grafted in Elden Ring. Head southwestward into the small area with the collapsed floor and family of Living Jars.

Go up the slope and turn around to face the interior entrance. On the left sits a walkway and a small wooden platform leading to a walkable ledge on the opposite wall. Here, players can leap over to another hidden area atop the rampart.

To continue on the path to uncover Stormveil Castle's secrets, head up to the third level above the Living Jars in Elden Ring and enter a doorway leading to a room full of hostile Commoners. The next door will lead to a small balcony with the in-game message, 'Surely what you seek is somewhere close by.'

From here, turn left and cautiously complete the jumping puzzle along the ledges of the castle's outer wall. Falling from here will lead to death, so ensure to mind your steps.

Within the next area, players can open the locked door of the Liftside Chamber. Continue making your way deeper into the crypt, fighting through bats and rats along the path.

The ground level is covered with rubble and does require the player to meander about slightly, but eventually, the linear trail will lead to a ledge that drops into a spacious room that serves as the Root Monster's lair. Once adventurers drop below, the ravenous Ulcerated Tree Spirit will burst from the floor, beginning the boss battle in Elden Ring.

Ulcerated Tree Spirit Features & Weakness

Boss Fight Preparation

Taking a look at Ulcerated Tree Spirit's stats will give players an idea of what to bring to exploit the boss's weaknesses. The table below showcases that its main weaknesses are Fire and Frostbite, with significant resistance to Holy damage in Elden Ring, its main attack source.

Due to these weaknesses, players should bring consumables, items, and weapons that deal with fire and frost-based damage. Items like a Freezing Pot, which causes 380 Frost buildup, or a Fire Pot, which causes 230 Fire buildup, are extremely effective.

Moreover, there is an abundance of Sorceries and Incantations that Mage and Faith players can utilize to inflict these status effects. Sorceries such as Adula's Moonblade and Gelmir's Fury, or Incantations like Frozen Lightning Spear and O Flame! are solid choices to take this beast down. Alternatively, if you're a melee fighter, you can coat your armament or apply elemental affinities of these damage types to your weapon.

For another option that deals huge amounts of AoE damage, players can visit the Land of Shadow and pick up either the Chilling Perfume Bottle or Firesparks Perfume Bottle, for the OP Perfume Weapon Build in Shadow of the Erdtree.

How to Beat the Ulcerated Tree Spirit In Elden Ring

Boss Moveset and Combat Strategy

The returning to Stormveil Castle should have no trouble putting the beast down. The table below showcases its attack roster, along with countermeasures for players:

For those who are lower-leveled or less experienced, it's recommended to fight this battle with a shield on hand, allowing players to endure blows if they don't have room to dodge, as the boss takes up a good portion of the available space.

Rewards For Beating Stormveil Castle Secret Boss (Ulcerated Tree Spirit)

Golden Seed

Once Elden Ring's secret Ulcerated Tree Spirit is dead, players will receive 4,736 Runes and a Golden Seed in Elden Ring, a key item that allows you to upgrade your number of Flasks.

With the boss gone, you can also loot the Prince of Death's Pustule Talisman from a nearby corpse.

The Prince of Death's Pustule Talisman will raise a player's Vitality by 90 and can be extremely useful for improving Death Blight resistance.

Other Stormveil Castle Secrets In Elden Ring

Stormveil Castle Can Be Skipped

While the Liurnia of the Lakes.

A nearby Finger Reader will say ing through Stormveil Castle is the only way forward, but don't believe her. Whether players choose to skip Stormveil Castle's secrets or attempt them, those who reach the other side of the stronghold are presented with a wide array of options.

While Stormveil Castle is an optional dungeon in Elden Ring, skipping isn't recommended, as you'd be missing out on valuable loot and significant narrative content in the game.

Players looking for Elden Ring should consider taking a detour to Caelid, which contains some extremely tough enemies but also some of the best early-game weapons and spells. Exploring and grinding in Caelid can make later areas like the Academy of Raya Lucaria much easier - but like Stormveil Castle itself, most of Caelid can be skipped if you want.

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