Decoding Dragonlord Placidusax: Weaknesses, Strategies, and Triumphs in Elden Ring
Dragonlord Placidusax, the ancient Dragonlord hidden within the crumbling ruins of Farum Azula, is a formidable opponent in Elden Ring. He is particularly vulnerable to Piercing damage and attacks aimed at his head. Furthermore, while he boasts high resistance to most elemental affinities, fire and especially Scarlet Rot can be surprisingly effective in chipping away at his massive health pool. Utilizing weapons and strategies that exploit these weaknesses is key to overcoming this challenging boss fight.
Understanding Placidusax’s Vulnerabilities: A Deep Dive
While Placidusax doesn’t have glaring weaknesses in the traditional sense, understanding the nuances of his resistances and vulnerabilities is crucial for victory. He’s a tank, plain and simple, so chipping away and exploiting what little openings you can find is the name of the game.
Physical Damage: Thrust Above All Else
Placidusax has the lowest physical resistance to Thrusting damage. This makes weapons like rapiers, spears, and heavy thrusting swords like the Dragon King’s Cragblade (which drops after you defeat him!) particularly effective. Dual-wielding rapiers with a focus on jump attacks can be a surprisingly potent strategy.
Headshots: Risky, But Rewarding
Like many dragons in the Lands Between, Placidusax’s head is a weak point. Landing consistent headshots deals significantly increased damage. However, hitting his head can be challenging, especially for melee characters, due to his erratic movements and the sheer size of the arena. Ranged builds, particularly those using bows or spells with good tracking, have a slightly easier time targeting his head.
Elemental and Status Effects: Fire and Rot
Placidusax exhibits strong resistance against most elemental types. Lightning, which he heavily employs in his own attacks, is naturally ineffective. However, he shows a surprising susceptibility to Fire damage. Weapons buffed with fire, or incantations like “Flame, Grant Me Strength,” can provide a slight damage boost.
More importantly, Scarlet Rot can be a game-changer. Although he’s resistant, inflicting Scarlet Rot will deal a massive chunk of damage over time. Weapons that inflict Rot, like the Rotten Crystal Sword, or spells like “Rot Breath,” can significantly accelerate the fight. Just remember to reapply it when the effect wears off!
General Strategies for Defeating Dragonlord Placidusax
Beyond understanding his weaknesses, employing smart tactics is crucial for surviving this challenging encounter.
Melee Approach: Embrace the Back Legs
Fighting Placidusax at close range can be daunting, but it’s manageable. The best strategy is to stay behind his back legs. This position allows you to avoid most of his sweeping attacks and provides opportunities to strike. Be wary of his tail swipes and the occasional stomp.
Ranged Approach: A Test of Patience and Precision
While the article mentioned range being dangerous, if done right it can be safer, although much more difficult to pull off. Maintaining a medium distance allows you to react to most of his attacks. Focus on dodging his lightning strikes and teleportation attacks. Spells that track well, or bows with high damage output, are essential.
Dodging and Timing: Mastering the Audio Cues
Placidusax’s attacks are heavily telegraphed, both visually and audibly. Pay close attention to his movements and the distinct audio cues that accompany each attack. This is particularly important for dodging his teleportation attack, which can be devastating if you’re caught off guard. Learn to roll towards him during his Placidusax’s Ruin attack to minimize damage.
Adaptability: The Key to Victory
No single strategy guarantees victory against Placidusax. He has a diverse moveset and adapts to your tactics. Be prepared to adjust your approach based on his behavior and learn from each attempt. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different weapons, spells, and strategies until you find what works best for you.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Dragonlord Placidusax
1. What level should I be to fight Dragonlord Placidusax?
Ideally, you should be at least level 100 or higher with a fully upgraded weapon (+9 or +10 for standard weapons, +24 or +25 for special weapons) before attempting this fight.
2. Is Dragonlord Placidusax an optional boss?
Yes, Dragonlord Placidusax is an optional boss located in Crumbling Farum Azula. You can completely finish the game without fighting him.
3. Where do I find Dragonlord Placidusax?
To reach Placidusax, start at the “Beside the Great Bridge” Site of Grace in Crumbling Farum Azula. Head back down the elevator and carefully jump down the broken platforms to find a hidden area where you can lie down to trigger the boss fight.
4. What do I get for defeating Dragonlord Placidusax?
Defeating Dragonlord Placidusax rewards you with 280,000 runes and the Remembrance of the Dragonlord. This Remembrance can be exchanged for the Dragon King’s Cragblade or a significant amount of runes at the Roundtable Hold.
5. Is Dragonlord Placidusax weak to lightning?
No, Dragonlord Placidusax is resistant to lightning damage, as he uses it extensively in his own attacks.
6. What are the best talismans to use against Dragonlord Placidusax?
Useful talismans include the Green Turtle Talisman (for stamina recovery), the Erdtree’s Favor (for HP, stamina, and equip load), the Dragoncrest Greatshield Talisman (for physical damage negation), and talismans that boost your chosen damage type (fire scorpion charm, lightning scorpion charm, magic scorpion charm, etc.) if you are attempting to exploit an elemental weakness.
7. Is Dragonlord Placidusax harder than Malenia?
Many players consider Malenia, Blade of Miquella, to be the harder fight due to her self-healing and relentless aggression. However, Dragonlord Placidusax is also incredibly challenging due to his high damage output and unpredictable attack patterns. Difficulty is subjective and depends on your build and playstyle.
8. Can I summon spirits for the Dragonlord Placidusax fight?
Yes, you can summon spirits to aid you in the Dragonlord Placidusax fight. Mimic Tear, Black Knife Tiche, or Lhutel the Headless are all excellent choices.
9. What are the best incantations to use against Dragonlord Placidusax?
If you’re a Faith build, “Rot Breath” is highly effective for inflicting Scarlet Rot. Additionally, fire-based incantations like “Flame, Grant Me Strength” and “Giantsflame Take Thee” can provide a damage boost.
10. What is the Dragon King’s Cragblade?
The Dragon King’s Cragblade is a heavy thrusting sword that you receive after trading in the Remembrance of the Dragonlord. It’s a powerful weapon with an Ash of War that mimics Placidusax’s lightning dive attack, making it a fun and thematic choice for the fight.
11. How do I dodge Placidusax’s teleport attack?
Listen for the audio cue of Placidusax teleporting. As soon as you hear it, be prepared to dodge in a random direction. If he is teleporting away to use Placidusax’s Ruin, begin sprinting and roll as soon as he begins to cast the spell.
12. What is Placidusax’s Ruin?
Placidusax’s Ruin is a devastating AOE attack where Placidusax summons multiple red lightning strikes around the arena. The key to surviving this attack is to sprint away from him as soon as he begins the animation.
13. Why is Placidusax so hard?
Dragonlord Placidusax is difficult due to a combination of factors: his high health pool, high damage output, diverse moveset, unpredictable attack patterns, and arena size. He demands precision, patience, and a deep understanding of his weaknesses.
14. Who is Placidusax in the Elden Ring lore?
Dragonlord Placidusax is an ancient Dragonlord who once served as the Elden Lord in a time before the Erdtree. He was defeated in a war (possibly by Godfrey) and now resides in the crumbling ruins of Farum Azula, waiting for his destined end.
15. Does weapon level affect my damage against Placidusax?
Yes, your weapon level plays a significant role in the amount of damage you deal to Placidusax. Upgrading your weapon to the maximum level is highly recommended.
Conclusion: Claiming Victory Over the Dragonlord
Defeating Dragonlord Placidusax is a significant achievement in Elden Ring. By understanding his weaknesses, employing smart strategies, and mastering the art of dodging, you can overcome this formidable foe and claim your reward. Remember to be patient, persistent, and adaptable, and victory will be yours!
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