Dark Souls III
Dark Souls III

Greatwood

Defeat the Curse-Rotted Greatwood in Dark Souls III. Master its weak points and body slam attacks to advance the main story in the Undead Settlement.

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The Curse-Rotted Greatwood

The Curse-Rotted Greatwood is a mandatory boss encounter located in the Undead Settlement. Defeating it is essential for progressing through the main story and also plays a critical role in advancing the questline of the merchant Greirat of the Undead Settlement.

Location and Access

The boss arena for the Curse-Rotted Greatwood is found deep within the Undead Settlement. After navigating through the various enemies and environmental hazards of the area, you will eventually reach a large, open courtyard. A bonfire is conveniently located nearby, allowing you to prepare before entering the fog gate.

Greirat's Questline and the Greatwood

It is crucial to understand the relationship between Greirat's quest and the Curse-Rotted Greatwood. Greirat, a thief found imprisoned in the High Wall of Lothric, can be rescued and brought back to Firelink Shrine. Once he is settled, he will offer to go on scavenging missions. His first such mission is to the Undead Settlement.

You MUST defeat the Curse-Rotted Greatwood *before* sending Greirat to scavenge in the Undead Settlement. If you send him out while the Greatwood is still alive, he will not return, and his questline will be permanently cut short for that playthrough. After defeating the Greatwood, you can then speak to Greirat and agree to his scavenging request. Upon his return, he will offer new items for sale.

Boss Strategy: Curse-Rotted Greatwood

The Curse-Rotted Greatwood is a unique boss that relies on breaking its weak points rather than directly attacking its main body. The boss is enormous and has several large, egg-like sacs on its body that contain its true weak points.

Phase 1: Grounded Terror

In its first phase, the Greatwood is largely stationary, though it can perform sweeping attacks with its massive arms and slam its body down. The primary targets are the glowing white egg sacs located on its lower body and legs.

  • Weak Points: The large, pulsating white egg sacs on its legs and lower torso.
  • Attacks:
    • Arm Swipes: Wide, sweeping attacks with its arms. Dodge through them or create distance.
    • Body Slam: It will rear up and slam its body down, creating a shockwave. Roll away.
    • Hand Slam: It will slam one of its hands down, often targeting the player's current position.
    • Pounce: It may leap forward, covering a significant distance.
    • Corpse Explosion: Occasionally, it will rupture a sac, releasing a cloud of toxic gas.
  • Strategy:
    • Focus on attacking the egg sacs on its legs. Each hit will deal significant damage to the boss.
    • Be patient and wait for openings after its attacks.
    • When it slams its body, be aware of the lingering toxic gas that can erupt from broken sacs.
    • The boss's arms can also be targeted, but the sacs are the priority.

Phase 2: The Hand of Corruption

Once enough damage is dealt to the lower sacs, the Greatwood will rip off its own lower body, revealing a giant, grotesque hand growing from its torso. This phase introduces new, more aggressive attacks.

  • Weak Points: The large egg sac on its chest/stomach area, and the glowing sac on the palm of its giant hand.
  • New Attacks:
    • Hand Slam: The giant hand will slam down with immense force.
    • Hand Swipe: The hand will sweep across the arena.
    • Grab Attack: The hand can attempt to grab the player. This is highly damaging.
    • Corpse Explosion: The hand can also rupture sacs, releasing toxic gas.
    • Body Slam (Enhanced): The body slam is more devastating in this phase.
  • Strategy:
    • The primary target is now the large egg sac on its chest.
    • You can also target the sac on the palm of its hand when it's exposed.
    • The hand's grab attack is very dangerous; dodge it with precise timing.
    • The arena is still relatively open, allowing for dodges.
    • Be mindful of the toxic gas that can still erupt.

Recommended Loadout and Tips

  • Weapons: Weapons with good reach or fast attack speeds are beneficial. Consider weapons that can stagger enemies, as breaking sacs can sometimes interrupt its attacks.
  • Armor: While not critical, armor with decent physical and toxic resistance can help mitigate damage.
  • Rings:
    • Chloranthy Ring: For increased stamina recovery, vital for dodging and attacking.
    • Ring of Favor: Boosts HP, stamina, and equip load.
    • Speckled Stoneplate Ring: Offers general damage absorption.
  • Consumables:
    • Green Blossom: Further boosts stamina recovery.
    • Ember: To increase your health and damage output.
  • General Tips:
    • Patience is Key: Do not get greedy with attacks. Wait for clear openings.
    • Lock-On Management: You will need to switch your lock-on between the sacs on its legs and the main sac on its chest/stomach.
    • Environmental Awareness: Be mindful of the toxic gas clouds.
    • Summoning: If you are struggling, consider summoning other players or NPC phantoms if available.

Rewards

Upon defeating the Curse-Rotted Greatwood, you will receive the following:

  • Soul of the Greatwood: A unique boss soul that can be transposed into a powerful weapon or spell by Ludleth of Courland in Firelink Shrine.
  • 8,000 Souls

Common Pitfalls

  • Forgetting Greirat: The most critical pitfall is sending Greirat to scavenge *before* defeating the Greatwood, leading to his permanent loss for that playthrough.
  • Greed: Overcommitting to attacks can lead to being caught by the Greatwood's powerful, sweeping, or slamming attacks.
  • Ignoring Weak Points: Trying to attack the Greatwood's main body directly is inefficient and dangerous. Focus on the egg sacs.
  • Toxic Gas: Underestimating the damage and duration of the toxic gas clouds can lead to a swift demise.