How to kill the Abyssal Woods untouchable monsters in Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree

Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree has entire areas you likely haven’t even visited yet, including the basically-horror-themed Abyssal Woods. This zone is home to some truly unnerving denizens who can’t be harmed at all. Or can they?

Parrying is key

A clue waits in the zone’s dungeon, located at the southwest corner of the map. It reads as follows: “I touched him, but only once. When he thrust his staff in my face, I brushed it aside. It was then that I touched him. The aging untouchable.”

The key is to parry the untouchable monsters, called Aged Ones, just when they swing their cane at you. After you’re spotted, they’ll rush you and attempt to swing their cane. If you parry it, you’ll be able to damage them, and if not, say your prayers. This is the only instance in which these enemies are vulnerable, so if your parry game isn’t up to snuff, you can’t be bothered. You’re best off using stealth to pass them.

There are several routes through the Abyssal Woods, and many of them don’t have any Aged Ones at all. If you, like me, are impatient in mandatory stealth sections then it may be worth having a look around for alternate paths, but rest assured there are only a handful of sections you’ll need to be sneaky in at all.

It’s a little funny that the one, singular time the game tells you (multiple times, even) that there’s absolutely no way to damage an enemy there’s still a workaround if you try hard enough. I guess if we’re out here killing gods, some frail, Madness-riddled elders shouldn’t be able to stop us.