Quick Links

Stormfoot Catacombs is one of Elden Ring's harder early-game dungeons. Found a short distance from the Church of Elleh, this dungeon features some deadly stone imp enemies, fire traps, and a boss with some of the strangest animations in the game.

Related: Elden Ring: How To Defeat Margit the Fell Omen

Clearing this dungeon won't be easy, but the rewards are definitely worth it. Grave Glovewort can be found in abundance here, allowing you to upgrade your spirits. Two Spirit Ashes can also be found here for players that want to spice up their spirit roster. Let's go over where to find this dungeon, the encounters you can expect, and give some tips on how to best slay the Erdtree Burial Watchdog.

Stormfoot Catacombs Overview

Stormfoot Catacombs Overview
Boss Erdtree Burial Watchdog
Enemies Imps
Notable Loot Grave Glovewart
Wandering Noble Ashes
Noble Sorcerer Ashes

Stormfoot Catacombs is one of the hardest dungeons in Limgrave. Found northwest of the Church of Elleh and right next to Groveside Cave, this dungeon contains a handful of dangerous imp enemies and one of the strangest dungeon bosses you'll find this early in the game.

As hard as this dungeon can be, the rewards are certainly worth it. You can obtain not one but two spirit types in this dungeon, and you can also find quite a few Grave Glovewarts to upgrade your spirits at Roundtable Hold. If you're looking to upgrade your spirits at all, you'll want to clear this dungeon.

Dungeon Walkthrough

Directly across from the Shrine of Grace is a room with two imps. An imp will attempt to jump at you from the left of this room. Walk near the entrance and immediately roll backward. The stone imp should jump out, giving you a moment to strike. Defeat both imps, loot the room, then proceed further into the dungeon.

The next room will have a few stone imps perched up on an upper level, damaging you with throwing knives from safety. Any spellcasters or bow builds will want to damage these imps from a distance, either to draw them out or kill them entirely. With the imps dead, proceed into the next room. This tiny room has an imp to the right of the entrance, ready to jump on top of you. Kill them before dealing with the fire trap.

This fire trap is extremely dangerous, capable of one-shotting you. Stand near the edge of the doorway and wait for the flames to end. When they do, sprint halfway down the hall to find a safe space. Do not push further into the hall, as another flame trap will try to burn you alive if you move too far into it. Wait for the first trap to stop emitting fire, then run up to it and wack the trap with a weapon. This will cause the trap to receive into the ground, preventing you from getting burned if you come back here.

For the second trap, you'll need to use a similar tactic. Wait for the fire to end, then sprint down the hall towards the exit on your right. You can either climb up the ladder or clear the room with the fire trap, allowing you to harvest some Grave Glovewart. Either way, make your way up the ladder when you're ready.

Up the ladder will be two imps you'll need to kill. Push to the other end of the room when you're done. An imp will attempt to jump at you from the right side of the room. Use the same strategy as before, baiting the attack before retaliating. Enter the room proper, kill the remaining imps, then loot the corpse to receive the Wandering Noble Ashes. Now head back to the previous room you were in.

You'll need to drop down from the right-hand part of the room to drop a floor. A lever can be pulled from this floor that will open the path to the boss. Drop down a floor, then walk up the stairs to find the boss door. We recommend resting at this dungeon's Shrine of Grace to restock on flask charges and resources before proceeding.

Related: Elden Ring: How To Defeat Flying Dragon Agheel

Boss Guide

The Erdtree Burial Watchdog is a strange boss with mechanical movements and various flame attacks. Its telegraphs are rigid and awkward, although you can easily dodge its attacks as with other dungeon bosses. The key to this fight is to dodge at the right moment. Each attack from the Erdtree Burial Watchdog tends to have a second of hangtime before it actually strikes you. When the boss raises its sword or leaps into the air, wait a second before dodging to avoid taking damage.

Of course, summoning spirits will make this fight much easier. Lone Wolf Ashes or Godrick Knight Ashes work wonders for this fight, drawing the boss' attention away from you. This boss can be critically hit if you break its posture, something shield users can do quite easily with guard counters and heavy attacks. Use heavy attacks after it finishes one of its attacks or during its fire breath attack, then land a critical hit once it becomes vulnerable. Defeating this boss will grant you the Noble Sorcerer Ashes summon.

Boss Tips

  • Use heavy attacks. Heavy jump attacks and guard counters can open the boss to a critical hit.
    • Spirits can give you an opportunity to land a few heavy attacks.
  • Dodge a second later than you expect. This boss' attack animations are a little longer than other dungeon bosses.
  • If you're struggling to fight this boss, upgrade your weapons to +2 or +3 before coming back here.

Next: Elden Ring: Complete Guide And Walkthrough