Hobbled Cleric

Hobbled Clerics are enemies in Dark Souls III: The Ringed City.

Description
Former clerics with large stones weighing down their backs, these strange creatures resemble humanoid turtles. They are capable of casting a miracle that generates a ring of light that rapidly drains the player's health, regardless of blocking or evading. When low on vitality, they will hide under the stone and cast the same miracle in order to regenerate all their health, this generates a larger damaging ring of light.

Strategy
The ring of light cast by the hobbled cleric can reach the player regardless of distance or elevation to the enemy, even when on a ladder. If caught in the ring, it will drain the player's health at an alarming rate and also slightly stagger them, making it difficult to escape. A distinct chime will alert the player that the cleric is preparing the miracle and a deeper chime will warn them that the ring is about to materialise. Cleric can also retreat under the stone and ram into the player, inflicting heavy damage.

When the hobbled cleric is low on health it will retreat under the stone and use the miracle to replenish its vitality. Attempting to attack it at this point is both ineffective and dangerous as another ring will appear beneath it that inflicts even more damage if stepped into. Caution should be advised when engaging multiple clerics as the increased size of the rings can make it harder to escape their radius. Staggering the Cleric or using a strong weapon is recommended to kill it quickly before it can cast the healing miracle.