Ulcerated Tree Spirit is an optional boss found in the open world of Elden Ring.

As you might have guessed from the name, the Ulcerated Tree Spirit is a grotesque monster, which will come as no surprise whatsoever to veterans of FromSoftware games.

You can take down the Ulcerated Tree Spirit either solo or co-op with another player or NPC, although the latter is definitely easier. Additionally, using a spirit ash summon in the fight against this boss is allowed.

On this page:

  • How to prepare for Ulcerated Tree Spirit
  • Ulcerated Tree Spirit tips: How to beat Ulcerated Tree Spirit
  • Ulcerated Tree Spirit reward

How to prepare for Ulcerated Tree Spirit

For the Ulcerated Tree Spirit, we’d recommend taking on the boss with a physical-based character. You’ll want to try and kit yourself out with either a strong sword and shield, or take one powerful two-handed weapon into the fight ahead.

Additionally, the Ulcerated Tree Spirit’s chief weakness is fire damage. To that end, if you’ve got any of the Fire Grease to coat your weapon with, or Fire Pot to lob at the boss, we’d absolutely recommend taking both of these into the battle with the boss.

Ulcerated Tree Spirit tips: How to beat Ulcerated Tree Spirit

The Ulcerated Tree Spirit takes the form of a gigantic, lumbering slug-like monster, with arms protruding from its upper body, and a gaping mouth that’ll down you in one.

If the boss doesn’t move after its mouth starts glowing, it’s about to pull off a big area-of-effect attack using magical damage on the floor immediately in front of it.

This is your cue to either back away, or if you think you can make it in time, sprint right around the boss to land in some hits while it’s occupied.

Alternatively, if the boss coils back slightly while its mouth is aflame, you’ll want to get ready to dodge. Its mouth will come tearing at you from above, and if you don’t dodge out of the way at the last second, the Ulcerated Tree Spirit will gather you in its mouth and do some massive elemental damage to you.

However, the boss can pull off this attack without its mouth glowing. An alternate version of this strike comes when the Ulcerated Tree Spirit sort of repels itself off the walls of the arena, coming at you mouth first along the ground.

The final elemental attack to watch for is when the Ulcerated Tree Spirit glows all over. Back away from the boss as soon as this appears, because it’s about to unleash a big area-of-effect attack on you using its magical powers.

Aside from the elemental attacks, the Ulcerated Tree Spirit attacks in big sweeping patterns with its arms. Thankfully, the attacks are really quite slow, so there’s plenty of time to dodge out of the way before they come crashing down.

When the boss joins its stumpy hands together, make sure to get ready to dodge. The Ulcerated Tree Spirit is about to bring both its arms crashing down together in one big attack, and you need to make sure you’re dodging only when the arms are coming downwards, as any sooner and the boss will track you.

Once you have settled on a starting class and starting Keepsake item,

you should first work out how to level up, how to respec and use Ashes of War.

Need some direction from there? Our Elden Ring walkthrough and Elden Ring boss order can help with where to go next, but we also recommend hunting down Golden Seeds, Sacred Tears, Crystal Tears, Talismans and some of our best weapon and best armor choices.

If you are approaching the end game, we can help with the Volcano Manor quest and Rykard, Haligtree Secret Medallion locations, solving the Ordina, Liturgical Town puzzle, the Millicent quest, Commander Niall, Morgott, Godskin Duo, Maliketh and Malenia.

Ulcerated Tree Spirit reward

When the Ulcerated Tree Spirit has been killed, you’ll get 15,000 Runes as a reward. You’ll also gain a Golden Seed, which can go towards increasing the amount of Flasks you carry at a Site of Grace, as well as Banished Knight Oleg Ashes.

Now that the battle with the Ulcerated Tree Spirit is done, you’ll need to take the teleporter back to the open world of Elden Ring, and continue the adventure.