Deathbird (Northern ruins east of Hermit Merchant’s Shack)

A Deathbird descends onto these ruins at night. This is the ordinary skeletal bird, rather than the larger ghostflame-wielding Death Rite Bird.

Location and access

Northern ruins east of Hermit Merchant’s Shack

Hill east of Hermit Merchant's Shack

Starting Site of Grace: Hermit Merchant's Shack

Before you go

Visit at night.

Reach Altus Plateau through Dectus or Ruin-Strewn Precipice and follow the eastern highway through the capital outskirts to Outer Wall Battleground.
Head northwest along the northern outskirts road to the isolated shack beneath the cliffs. Activate Hermit Merchant's Shack and rest until daytime if the merchant is absent.
Rest at Hermit Merchant's Shack and pass time until nightfall. Ride east up the hill toward the ruins west of the nearby Minor Erdtree.
Approach the ruined stonework to make the Deathbird appear. Defeat it to receive the shield. The Bell Bearing Hunter at the shack is a separate night encounter.

HP and damage negation

Values below are for solo play on the first playthrough. HP is maximum health. Temporary protection and other state changes are explained in the notes.

Deathbird (Northern ruins east of Hermit Merchant’s Shack)

Solo, first playthrough

HP: 8,575

Damage type	Damage negation
Standard	10%
Strike	-40%
Slash	10%
Pierce	35%
Magic	20%
Fire	20%
Lightning	40%
Holy	-40%

Notes

The direct reward is Twinbird Kite Shield. This is a Deathbird despite the name used by some older enemy lists.
The bird appears at night by the northern cliffside ruins east of Hermit Merchant’s Shack. The hunter at the shack itself is another fight.
Nearby death-snails and the rough cliff edge can make a simple retreat unsafe. Clear the small enemies and keep the battle away from the drop.
Holy damage and effects made specifically for Those Who Live in Death are useful here. Sacred Blade and Holy Water Pots are options even before you have a high-Faith spell setup.
Keep clear of the beak when you are directly under its head. Close range avoids some wide swings, but is not a safe place to stand still.
Its short screech can build Death Blight, and its grab punishes standing at an awkward middle distance. Leave the screech’s immediate area instead of continuing a long attack through it.
A moving head can pull the lock-on camera around. Change your lock point or briefly unlock if the camera makes it harder to see the ground and the next swing.

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