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Dragonfire vs. Agheel’s Flame: Which Dragon Communion Incantation Reigns Supreme in Elden Ring?

The world of Elden Ring offers a vast array of incantations, each with its unique strengths and weaknesses. Among the most visually spectacular and intriguing are the Dragon Communion Incantations, fuelled by the power of defeated dragons. Two of the earliest and most commonly debated options are Dragonfire and Agheel’s Flame. So, which is better?

The short answer is: it depends on your playstyle and the specific encounter, but Dragonfire is arguably the more versatile and generally superior choice for most situations, despite Agheel’s Flame boasting higher raw damage. Let’s break down why.

The Core Differences: Damage, Range, and Utility

Dragonfire: The Consistent Workhorse

Dragonfire is the foundational Dragon Communion incantation, accessible early in the game. It delivers a consistent stream of flame breath with a moderate range and a wide spread. Crucially, while it may lack the raw punch of Agheel’s Flame, Dragonfire has some significant advantages:

Superior Spread: The wide arc of the fire allows you to hit multiple enemies simultaneously or reliably damage larger foes with inconsistent hitboxes.
Ease of Use: It’s very easy to control the direction of the breath mid-cast, allowing for quick adjustments to target moving enemies.
Slightly Lower FP Cost: While both require a significant FP investment, Dragonfire’s cost is just a touch more manageable, especially at lower levels.
Ground Stability: Dragonfire keeps you grounded, offering stability and the ability to easily weave into other attacks or evade.

Agheel’s Flame: The Raw Power Option

Agheel’s Flame is a more potent version, obtained after defeating the Flying Dragon Agheel. It offers significantly higher damage and a slightly longer reach, but it comes with trade-offs:

Higher Damage: Agheel’s Flame does approximately 18% more damage than Dragonfire. This translates to noticeably faster takedowns of individual targets.
Longer Range: The flame breath extends further than Dragonfire’s, enabling you to engage enemies from safer distances.
Narrow Spread: The beam is more focused, making it harder to hit multiple foes or consistently damage larger bosses with uneven hitboxes.
Airborne Launch: Agheel’s Flame slightly lifts you off the ground, which can be disorienting, and makes you vulnerable if not used carefully.
Higher FP Cost: The increased damage comes with a more substantial FP cost.

The Verdict: Versatility Trumps Raw Power

While Agheel’s Flame’s increased damage might seem enticing, Dragonfire’s greater versatility makes it the better choice in most situations. The ability to reliably hit multiple enemies, the enhanced directional control, and the ground stability combine to create a more user-friendly and consistent incantation.

Here’s a breakdown of when each incantation excels:

Dragonfire is best for:

Crowd control: Easily handles groups of enemies, making it great for clearing areas.
Consistent damage on larger targets: The spread ensures you hit large or mobile bosses with more regularity.
Early to mid-game use: Accessible early and remains effective.
Players new to Dragon Communion: Easier to handle and offers a consistent damage output.

Agheel’s Flame is best for:

Single-target damage: Ideal for rapidly taking down individual foes.
Engaging distant enemies: The longer range can be useful in specific situations.
Late-game focused builds: When FP isn’t as much of a concern and you need pure damage.
Experienced players: More effective in the hands of someone who understands spacing and aiming.

Ultimately, both incantations are viable, and the best choice will depend on your individual playstyle. However, for players seeking a reliable and versatile option, Dragonfire is often the more effective choice. As you gain more Dragon Hearts, you can certainly experiment with Agheel’s Flame, but the versatility and lower FP cost of Dragonfire often tip the scales in its favor.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is the best way to obtain Dragon Hearts in Elden Ring?

Dragon Hearts are primarily obtained by defeating dragons found throughout the Lands Between. Each dragon, upon defeat, grants a varying number of hearts. The easiest method early is to defeat Flying Dragon Agheel, which grants one. Additionally, killing the sleeping dragon Greyoll will award five hearts and a large amount of runes, providing a large power boost early in the game.

2. How do I access the Dragon Communion Incantations?

The Cathedral of Dragon Communion is located in the south of the Caelid region. Inside, you can trade Dragon Hearts to learn various Dragon Communion incantations.

3. Are named Dragon Incantations stronger than the base versions?

Yes, named dragon breath attacks like Agheel’s Flame, generally deal about 17% more damage than the basic versions like Dragonfire. However, there are other factors such as range, spread, and casting mechanics that make each incantation unique. Notably, Theodorix’s Magma deals 41% more damage than Magma Breath.

4. Does the Roar Medallion enhance Dragon Communion Incantations?

No, the Roar Medallion enhances roars and breath attacks, but it does not apply to Dragon Communion incantations. It only applies to certain weapon skills or ashes of war.

5. Do Dragon Communion Incantations scale with Faith or Arcane?

Dragon Communion Incantations scale primarily with Arcane. A high Arcane stat increases their damage and status buildup. Faith is also factored into the damage formula, though its effect is less pronounced.

6. Can I cast Dragon Communion Incantations in mid-air?

Named Dragon Incantations such as Agheel’s Flame, unlike Dragonfire can be cast while airborne, allowing you for more mobility but may make it harder to use effectively.

7. What other Dragon Communion Incantations are worth considering?

Some notable Dragon Communion Incantations include Rotten Breath (inflicts Scarlet Rot), Ekzyke’s Decay (higher damage and range), Smarag’s Glintstone Breath (deals magic damage), Theodorix’s Magma (powerful fire damage with lava pools), and Placidusax’s Ruin (a powerful but costly incantation).

8. What weapons are effective against dragons?

Dragons are generally susceptible to physical damage, particularly piercing and bleed damage. Weapons like katanas (Uchigatana, Moonveil) and the Bloodhound’s Fang are excellent choices, especially when upgraded.

9. Does Greyoll’s Roar stack with buffs?

Yes, Greyoll’s Roar can stack with other buffs. It deals AoE damage, debuffs enemy attack by 15%, and increases damage against them by 10%. However, it is a situational spell due to high cost, slow cast and short duration.

10. What is the best Sacred Seal for Dragon Communion Incantations?

The Erdtree Seal is the best Sacred Seal for most incantations, due to its exceptional faith scaling. However, for Dragon Communion Incantations specifically, The Dragon Communion Seal is also excellent as its damage scales with arcane.

11. Is Flame, Cleanse Me a good incantation to use?

Yes, Flame, Cleanse Me is incredibly useful for removing poison and Scarlet Rot. It causes a small amount of damage to the caster but is often negligible in comparison to the negative effects of those status ailments.

12. How many Dragon Hearts can be found in Elden Ring?

There are a total of 23 obtainable Dragon Hearts in the game. However, you only need 20 to obtain all the Dragon Communion incantations.

13. What does the sleeping dragon in Caelid drop?

The sleeping dragon in Caelid, Greyoll, drops 5 Dragon Hearts and 75,000 Runes, making it a very good source of early game power.

14. Is there a Black Flame Dragon Incantation?

No, there is not a Black Flame Dragon Incantation. However, there are Black Flame Godskin Apostle Incantations. Black Flame throws a ball of black fire and does damage based on an enemy’s max HP.

15. What is the largest dragon in Elden Ring?

The largest dragon in the Elden Ring universe is Gransax, whose corpse can be found in Leyndell.

Is Dragonfire or Agheel’s Flame better?