Hidetaka Miyazaki Did Not Place Elden Ring’s Most Annoying Boss At The Start To Annoy The Player, But For ‘Character Development’ Instead

The Tree Sentinel, Elden Ring‘s first Field Boss, has been the bane of many players’ existence. Encountering this formidable foe right at the start of the game has left countless Tarnished feeling frustrated and overwhelmed. But was this Hidetaka Miyazaki’s way of simply annoying players, or was there a deeper purpose behind this seemingly sadistic game design choice?

As it turns out, the mastermind behind the Soulslike genre had a very specific reason for placing the Tree Sentinel where he did, and it all comes down to one thing: character development.

When Elden Ring players first step into the vast, unforgiving world of The Lands Between, they’re greeted by the sight of the Tree Sentinel, an imposing figure atop a mighty steed. Many a brave Tarnished have rushed headlong into battle, only to be swiftly and brutally dispatched by this relentless foe.

And that’s precisely the point. By placing such a formidable foe right at the start of the game, Hidetaka Miyazaki is teaching players a valuable lesson about the importance of humility and the power of persistence.

It’s not about beating your head against a wall until you finally emerge victorious; it’s about recognizing your own limitations and being willing to walk away, level up, and come back when you’re better prepared.

A now-viral Reddit post perfectly captures this journey of frustration to triumph:

Character development
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The meme humorously contrasts the initial reaction of meeting the Tree Sentinel with the nostalgic reunion in the DLC. It’s a testament to how players’ perceptions and skills evolve throughout their Elden Ring journey.

Fast forward to the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion, and players once again find themselves face-to-face with the Tree Sentinel. Only this time, it’s not just one, but two of these formidable enemies standing in their way.

In a game that’s known for its punishing difficulty, you might think that encountering a duo of Tree Sentinels would be the last thing players want. But as it turns out, many found this encounter to be a welcome reprieve from the DLC’s relentless onslaught of new, even more challenging enemies.

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For many players, seeing the Tree Sentinels again evoked a sense of nostalgia and familiarity. It was a chance to reflect on how far they’ve come since those early days in The Lands Between.

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In a way, the Tree Sentinel has become more than just a boss – it’s a symbol of the player’s growth and progress. Defeating this once-insurmountable foe is a testament to how much stronger and more skilled the player has become.

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And that, perhaps, is the true genius of Hidetaka Miyazaki’s game design. By placing the Tree Sentinel at the start of Elden Ring, he set players on a path of growth and self-improvement. And by bringing the Tree Sentinel back in the DLC, he allowed players to reflect on that growth and to appreciate just how far they’ve come.

So the next time you find yourself cursing Miyazaki’s name as you face down a particularly tough boss, remember: it’s all for the sake of character development.

What do you think about Hidetaka Miyazaki’s placement of the Tree Sentinel in Elden Ring? Did you find it frustrating, or did you appreciate the lesson it was trying to teach? Let us know in the comments below!