How to Beat the Invader Anastasia Tarnished-Eater in Smoldering Church

Learn how to beat the Anastasia Tarnished-Eater invader in Elden Ring's Smoldering Church. Get tips on her attacks and the best strategy to emerge victorious.

Alright, so you've stumbled upon Anastasia Tarnished-Eater near the Smoldering Church in Limgrave. Don't worry, I'll walk you through this. She pops up as you get close to the church, which you can find by heading east from Summonwater Village. She's an invader, so expect a tough fight, but nothing we can't handle!

Anastasia's Attacks & How to Deal With Them:

Anastasia has a few key moves you need to watch out for. Knowing these will make a huge difference:

• Two Hand Slam: She'll grab her big ol' sword with both hands and slam it down. You can block this, but it'll chew through your stamina. Rolling forward through the attack is usually your best bet, and it often leaves her open for a couple of hits right after.
• Frenzy Slash: She goes wild with her Butchering Knife, doing about nine slashes. This is your cue to back off! Keep your distance, use this time to heal up, or if you're a ranged character, unload your best spells or arrows.
• Jumping Slash: She leaps into the air and slams down. Like the slam, you can block it, or roll to the side or forward. Again, this is a great opening for you to get some hits in.
• Slash Combo: A two-part attack: a swipe followed by an overhead slash. For this one, roll *into* the first swipe, then be ready to dodge to the side or move away from the overhead follow-up.
• Spin Slash: A quick spinning slash. Block it or roll forward or backward to avoid.
• Circle Slash: Similar to the spin, but it's a slash followed by a spinning slash. Block or roll backward for the first hit. You might need to roll again for the spin, depending on your remaining stamina for blocking.

Strategy for the Fight:

Invaders like Anastasia don't really have phases, so it's more about reacting to her moves. When you first encounter her, there's usually a good bit of space, so take a moment to get ready. Her Two Hand Slam is a prime opportunity. If you can time it right, you can get behind her for a critical backstab after the slam connects. It's a bit risky because the attack tracks you, so make sure the slam has landed before you try to reposition. If backstabbing feels too tricky, just use the opening to land a few hits from the front.

The biggest challenge with Anastasia is how hard she hits, which is understandable given that giant butcher knife. The key here is patience. Get in one, maybe two hits when you see an opening, and then get out or block. She's aggressive and won't give you much breathing room to heal, so if you need to top up your health, create a significant distance first.

That Frenzy Slash is your best friend if you're a caster or archer – throw everything you've got at her then. Melee players, just wait for her to finish and then go in. Remember, the Two Hand Slam and the Jumping Slash are your best windows for attack. Stay calm, be patient, and you'll take her down. Good luck!