You can trust VideoGamer. Our team of gaming experts spend hours testing and reviewing the latest games, to ensure you're reading the most comprehensive guide possible. Rest assured, all imagery and advice is unique and original. Check out how we test and review games here
The Cleric Beast is the first boss you’ll face in the game, a giant wolf-like creature with a malformed left arm. His size is his biggest threat, but as long as you keep your distance, and rush in at the right moment, he shouldn’t be too much trouble.
Before going into the fight, make sure you have a full stock of Blood Vials and as many Molotov Cocktails as you can carry (10), as they do a good amount of damage with every throw, have good range and have the potential to stagger the Beast leaving it vulnerable to Visceral Attacks. If you’re struggling to loot Molotov Cocktails from enemies around Yharnam, head to Hunter’s Dream and buy some from the Bath Messengers, as they’re relatively cheap so it won’t take long to farm the required Blood Echoes. Also, if you haven’t already, buy the Yharnam Hunter armour set, as it offers much greater defence than your starting attire.
If you’re looking to get to Cleric Beast with all your Vials intact, then from the Central Yharnam lamp, head down the stairs to the left, through the door in front of you, up the stairs and out the door, turn left and run straight past the troll and crows. As long as you have enough stamina to sprint past, they won’t hit you, and you’ll be in the boss fight.
Keep walking along the bridge, looking up and you’ll see the Cleric Beast rise from behind the tower. Lock on with R3 as soon as he hits the bridge, and make sure you keep a good distance from it. After many bosses in the previous Souls games allowed you to dodge under their legs, it seems From Software has learned by making this boss permanently crouch, so don’t expect to adopt the same tactics in this fight.
Cleric Beast’s primary attacks in the first stage are sweeps with either arm and a slam with its left. AS you move towards the Beast, keep an eye on which arm it raises; if it’s the right, dash forward at a diagonal angle towards its right knee and you’ll dodge under the hit, and be behind it, giving you plenty of opportunity to land some hits. Be mindful of the Beast’s ability to swing behind or jump to safety.
Your best bet is to stay close to his backside once all your Molotovs have been used, as there’s very little it can do to you from here, and keep swinging. Every now and then you’ll take a hit, but it won’t do much damage and with a full 20 Blood Vials, you’ll be fine.
At certain points during the fight, Cleric Beast will emit a red aura, but this does no damage to you and renders him vulnerable for a good few seconds, so this is a good chance to use all your stamina on attacks. Soon enough the Beast will die. Once it’s down, at the end of the bridge will be a new lamp to ignite.
About the Author
