Unveiling the Mysteries of Placidusax’s Ruin and the Dragon Communion Seal in Elden Ring
No, the Dragon Communion Seal does NOT boost Placidusax’s Ruin. This powerful incantation, while visually similar to Dragon Communion incantations, falls outside the scope of the seal’s enhancement effects. It’s a common misconception due to the spell’s dragon-related theme, but understanding the nuances of Elden Ring’s scaling and buffing mechanics is crucial for optimizing your build. Let’s delve deeper into why this is the case and explore everything you need to know about both Placidusax’s Ruin and the Dragon Communion Seal.
Deciphering Placidusax’s Ruin: A Unique Ancient Dragon Incantation
Understanding its Mechanics
Placidusax’s Ruin stands apart from other dragon-themed incantations. Unlike those acquired through Dragon Communion and fueled by Dragon Hearts, Placidusax’s Ruin is obtained by trading the Remembrance of the Dragonlord with Enia at the Roundtable Hold after defeating Dragonlord Placidusax.
The spell conjures two massive dragon heads that unleash beams of golden energy, dealing significant damage over a wide area. What sets it apart mechanically is its reliance on Faith for scaling its incantation power. The Dragon Communion Seal specializes in boosting Dragon Communion Incantations that scale with both Faith and Arcane.
Why it Doesn’t Benefit from the Dragon Communion Seal
The core reason for this lack of synergy lies in the incantation’s design:
- No Arcane Requirement: Placidusax’s Ruin does not require any Arcane stat investment, unlike Dragon Communion incantations.
- Faith-Based Scaling: The primary scaling attribute for Placidusax’s Ruin is Faith.
- Not a Dragon Communion Incantation: Crucially, the game classifies Placidusax’s Ruin as an Ancient Dragon incantation, not a Dragon Communion one. This designation excludes it from the buffs provided by the seal.
The Roar Medallion’s Unexpected Boost
While the Dragon Communion Seal is ineffective, the Roar Medallion provides a surprising damage increase. Patch 1.09 introduced a buff where the Roar Medallion increases the damage of the beams emitted by Placidusax’s Ruin by 5% in PvP and 10% in PvE. This effect is unique and highlights the game’s intricate balancing.
The Dragon Communion Seal: A Deep Dive
Empowering Dragon Communion Incantations
The Dragon Communion Seal is a specialized Sacred Seal designed to enhance Dragon Communion Incantations. These are spells acquired by consuming Dragon Hearts obtained from defeating dragon bosses, such as Flying Dragon Agheel and Glintstone Dragon Smarag.
What Makes it Unique
- Arcane and Faith Scaling: The seal scales with both Arcane and Faith, making it ideal for hybrid builds that utilize both stats. The higher your Arcane stat, the better this seal becomes, because the Incantation Scaling on this seal scales almost entirely off Arcane.
- +15% Boost: The seal provides a flat +15% damage boost to all Dragon Communion Incantations.
- Early Game Accessibility: It can be obtained relatively early in the game, making it a powerful tool for players focusing on dragon-themed builds from the outset.
Essential Dragon Communion Incantations
Some of the most effective Dragon Communion Incantations boosted by this seal include:
- Ekzyke’s Decay: A potent source of Scarlet Rot buildup.
- Rotten Breath: Inflicts Scarlet Rot on enemies in a wide area.
- Agheel’s Flame: Summons a stream of fire, dealing significant damage.
- Glintstone Breath: Deals magic damage with a burst of Glintstone breath.
Optimizing Your Build: A Practical Guide
To maximize the potential of Placidusax’s Ruin, focus on increasing your Faith stat and equipping talismans like the Roar Medallion. For players using Dragon Communion Incantations, investing in both Arcane and Faith while equipping the Dragon Communion Seal is the way to go. Remember to upgrade both your seal and your character stats appropriately to deal incredible damage.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Does Placidusax’s Ruin scale with Arcane?
No, Placidusax’s Ruin does not scale with Arcane. Its damage is primarily influenced by your Faith stat.
2. What does boost Placidusax’s Ruin?
The Roar Medallion increases the damage of Placidusax’s Ruin by 5% in PvP and 10% in PvE. Faith is the primary stat that will increase the damage of the incantation.
3. What are the best incantations for Placidusax’s boss fight?
Effective incantations against Dragonlord Placidusax include Ancient Dragons’ Lightning Strike, Black Flame, Scouring Black Flame, and Black Blade.
4. What are the requirements to use Placidusax’s Ruin?
Placidusax’s Ruin requires 36 Faith to cast.
5. What Sacred Seal has the best incant scaling for Faith builds?
The Erdtree Seal generally offers the highest incantation scaling for pure Faith builds at higher Faith levels (around 80 Faith).
6. Is it worth using the Dragon Communion Seal?
Yes, especially if you plan on utilizing Dragon Communion Incantations. Its Arcane and Faith scaling, combined with the +15% boost, makes it powerful for hybrid builds.
7. What is the best Dragon Communion incantation?
Many consider Ekzyke’s Decay to be among the best due to its potent Scarlet Rot buildup. Rotten Breath is also highly effective.
8. Did the Dragon Communion Seal get nerfed?
The Dragon Communion Seal itself wasn’t directly nerfed. However, changes to Arcane scaling impacted the status buildup of certain spells, indirectly affecting its overall performance in applying status effects.
9. Does the Dragon Communion Seal boost Swarm of Flies?
No, the Dragon Communion Seal does not boost Swarm of Flies. Swarm of Flies is a Blood Incantation, and no Seals currently boost the damage of Blood Incantations.
10. What stats are needed for Dragon Communion Seal?
The Dragon Communion Seal requires 10 Faith and 10 Arcane to wield.
11. What level should I be to fight Placidusax?
It is recommended to be at least level 100 with a fully upgraded weapon before facing Dragonlord Placidusax.
12. What is Placidusax weak to?
Dragonlord Placidusax is weak to Piercing damage and damage to the head(s). Striking the head deals double damage.
13. What is the best seal for int and faith?
The Golden Order Seal is an excellent choice for hybrid Intelligence/Faith casters.
14. Where can I learn more about the mechanics of Elden Ring and other games?
You can find comprehensive game analysis and academic discussions at the Games Learning Society website: https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/.
15. What does Greyoll’s Roar do?
Greyoll’s Roar lowers the attack power of enemies within its area of effect.
Understanding the specific mechanics of each incantation and seal in Elden Ring is essential for creating a powerful and effective build. While the Dragon Communion Seal doesn’t boost Placidusax’s Ruin, both have their distinct strengths and can be incredibly potent when used correctly. By focusing on Faith for Placidusax’s Ruin and embracing the Arcane/Faith synergy for Dragon Communion Incantations, you can conquer the Lands Between with devastating magical power.