You’re staring down Commander Niall. He’s got those two Banished Knights—the dual-wielding one is basically a lawnmower with a cape—and you’ve already died six times. Most people just summon a Mimic Tear and hope for the best. But there’s a better way. Using an elden ring bewitch branch feels like cheating, honestly, but it’s a built-in mechanic that turns the game's hardest gank fights into a comedy.
It's a weird item. You poke an enemy with it, and suddenly they’re on your team. They get a purple-pink glow around their head, and for about three minutes, they’ll shred their former friends.
Where to Actually Find the Elden Ring Bewitch Branch
Finding these things is a bit of a scavenger hunt. You can’t just buy infinite amounts from the start. If you’re early in the game, head to the Bellum Church in Liurnia of the Lakes. Just northwest of the church, under a bridge-like structure, there’s a Nomadic Merchant. He sells five of them for 1,600 Runes each.
Not enough? Go to the Church of Pilgrimage in the Weeping Peninsula. Look for a corpse on a cliff edge guarded by some bats. That guy is holding three branches.
But if you want to use them regularly, you need to craft them. This is where most people get stuck because the recipe is locked behind a specific quest. You need Fevor’s Cookbook [3].
To get it, you have to talk to Gideon Ofnir at the Roundtable Hold. But he won't just give it to you. You have to find the Mohgwyn Dynasty Mausoleum first. Once you’ve at least visited that blood-soaked hellscape, Gideon will hand over the book as a reward for your "discovery."
The Crafting Nightmare
Crafting the elden ring bewitch branch requires two very annoying materials:
- Sacramental Bud: These don't respawn easily. You can find a bunch at the Church of the Plague or the Writheblood Ruins.
- Miquella’s Lily: These are even rarer. They’re scattered in fixed locations like the Haligtree or near the Raya Lucaria Academy.
Why the Bewitch Branch is a Boss Killer
The most famous use case is Commander Niall in Castle Sol. The moment the fight starts, run straight for the dual-wielding knight. Stab him with the branch. While he’s busy murdering the shield knight, you can focus on Niall or just sit back and watch.
It’s not just for Niall, though. It works on:
- Banished Knights: These guys are elite, so having one on your side is massive.
- Cleanrot Knights: Great for clearing out the Haligtree.
- Omen: Those big guys in the Leyndell sewers? They hit like trucks when they're on your side.
- Standard Soldiers: Good for crowd control, though they die fast.
Basically, if it’s a "humanoid" or "lesser" enemy, it’s probably fair game. It doesn't work on the actual bosses themselves—you can't just bewitch Malenia and have her solo the rest of the game—but it works on their summons and the elites guarding them.
The Tricky Part: How to Use It Without Dying
The animation for the elden ring bewitch branch is slow. Like, painfully slow. You have to get right in the enemy's face and stay there for a second. If they hit you during the animation, you lose the item and the FP, and you probably lose half your health bar too.
Pro tip: Use the Endure Ash of War or the Ironjar Aromatic before you go for the poke. It gives you the poise to tank a hit so the animation actually finishes.
Also, don't forget that "friendly fire" is still a thing. Your bewitched buddy won't attack you, but your big Greatsword swing can still kill them. Be careful where you’re swinging.
Breaking the Game with Strategy
Some players use these in PvP, though it’s rare. If you’re being invaded and there’s a giant crab or an Omen nearby, you can bewitch the monster. The invader usually isn't expecting the environment to suddenly turn on them. It’s hilarious.
In the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC, these became even more relevant because of the "Charming Branch" variant, but the classic elden ring bewitch branch remains the gold standard for base-game cheese.
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Actionable Next Steps
If you're stuck on a gank fight right now, here is what you do:
- Fast travel to Bellum Church and buy the five branches from the merchant.
- Slot them into your Quick Items or Pouch.
- At the start of the fight, use a Spirit Summon to distract the main boss.
- Sneak up behind the strongest "add" (the extra enemies) and use the branch.
- Focus your damage on the boss while your new ally keeps the other enemies occupied.
Don't hoard them. You can always farm the materials later in the Haligtree area. Using one at the right time is the difference between a two-hour frustration session and a first-try victory.