How to Beat Beastman of Farum Azula in Groveside Cave

Struggling with the Beastman of Farum Azula in Elden Ring's Groveside Cave? Learn its attacks and the best strategies for melee and magic users to overcome this early-game boss.

Alright, Tarnished! So you've stumbled into Groveside Cave and found yourself face-to-face with the Beastman of Farum Azula. Don't sweat it, this is a super common early-game roadblock, and I'm here to help you get past it. This guy's got a few tricks up his sleeve, but once you know what to look for, he's totally manageable.

Stats / Weaknesses:

• Location: Groveside Cave, Western Limgrave (north of Church of Elleh)
• Recommended Approach: Shield-based melee or ranged magic.

Phases:

1. Phase 1: Standard Attacks
   The Beastman will start with his basic combos. He has a few main ones you'll see:
   • Thrust & Slash: A quick jab followed by a swing. Sometimes he just does the thrust.
   • Double Slash, Overhead Strike & Finisher Slash: This is a longer combo where he swings left and right, slams down, then swings again. It can catch you off guard if you're not paying attention.
   • Stab, Swipe, Roar: A close-range three-hitter. The final roar can drain your stamina even if you block it, so it's best to back away.
   • Leap Attack: He'll rear up with his weapon over his head before jumping at you. This is pretty telegraphed, so just move out of the way.
   • Spinning Slash & Slam: This is a nasty one where he spins around twice, does a spinning slash, and then slams the ground. If you're caught in this, especially with a shield, it'll chew through your stamina. Dodge away!

Strategy:

• Melee with a Shield: Honestly, this is your easiest route. Almost everything this guy throws at you can be blocked. The key is to watch your stamina bar – don't get greedy with attacks after blocking a combo, or you'll be left vulnerable. Wait for the end of his flurries, get a hit or two in, and then be ready to block again.
• Two-Handed Melee: If you prefer to go two-handed, you'll swap blocks for dodges. You'll need to get the timing down for his attacks. Learn his animations; you'll start to see openings for your own attacks after he finishes a combo. Don't stop attacking too early, or you'll get caught in his spinning attacks.
• Magic Users: You have a couple of options. You can use the same shield/dodge strategy if you have some melee capability, or you can kite him. Run around the cavern, stopping only briefly to cast spells after he's finished an attack sequence. Make sure you have plenty of Flasks of Cerulean Tears (FP) to keep your spells going. Lock onto him to ensure your spells hit, because wasting FP on missed attacks is the last thing you want.
• General Tips: Always keep an eye on your stamina. Back away from his roar attack to preserve it. Pay attention to his wind-up animations, especially for the leap attack. Don't underestimate how many hits he can string together.

You'll find him in the cave at the end of the right passage. Take your time clearing out the wolves on the way in, and then focus on learning the Beastman's patterns. You got this!