Is Lichdragon Fortissax Missable in Elden Ring? A Comprehensive Guide
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Yes, Lichdragon Fortissax is indeed a missable boss in Elden Ring. While not essential for simply completing the main storyline and becoming Elden Lord, defeating this legendary dragon is a requirement for achieving the Age of Duskborn ending, one of the game’s multiple endings. He is also missable if you kill Fia before completing her questline. Understanding the conditions that lead to this boss encounter and how to avoid locking yourself out of it is crucial for completionist players and those aiming for specific narrative outcomes. So let’s delve in.
Understanding the Lichdragon Fortissax Encounter
Lichdragon Fortissax is inextricably linked to Fia’s questline, and it is through her that you can get to the encounter with him. This questline is a significant element in unlocking the Age of Duskborn ending. To trigger the fight, you must progress Fia’s questline to the point where she requests the Cursemark of Death. After providing her with the Cursemark in her dream, Fia will fall asleep. Interacting with the sleeping Fia will transport you to her dream world, where you’ll face Lichdragon Fortissax.
Why Lichdragon Fortissax is Missable
There are two primary ways you can miss this boss encounter:
- Killing Fia Prematurely: If you defeat Fia at any point before completing her questline and triggering the dream encounter, you will lock yourself out of fighting Lichdragon Fortissax. This is the most direct way to make the boss unavailable for the rest of your playthrough.
- Failing to Complete Fia’s Questline: Not progressing Fia’s questline far enough will prevent you from ever accessing the dream encounter with the Lichdragon. Without completing the necessary steps, the option to enter her dream and fight Fortissax will never become available.
How to Ensure You Don’t Miss Lichdragon Fortissax
To avoid missing this optional boss, carefully follow Fia’s questline. This involves the following steps:
- Find Fia: First, you must meet Fia in the Roundtable Hold.
- Embrace Fia: Accept her offer to be embraced. After each embrace, she will provide you with Baldachin’s Blessing.
- Continue Embracing Her: Continue to interact with and embrace Fia after significant boss battles.
- Complete Rogier’s Questline (Partially): Speak with Rogier about the Black Knifeprints and show him the Black Knifeprints. When you return to the Roundtable Hold after defeating Godrick, Rogier will be incapacitated.
- Speak to Fia About Rogier: When you speak to Fia, she will say that Rogier is sleeping. When you return, he will have passed away.
- Retrieve the Cursemark of Death: After speaking with Fia, she will leave the Roundtable Hold, and you will find her in the Deeproot Depths. This is where you will eventually give her the Cursemark of Death.
Preparing for the Lichdragon Fortissax Battle
Lichdragon Fortissax is a formidable foe, and proper preparation is key. Here are some tips:
- Consider Your Build: Physical thrust damage is highly effective against Fortissax. Using thrusting swords or heavy thrusting weapons will give you a considerable advantage.
- Level Up: Ensure your character is adequately leveled to withstand the dragon’s powerful attacks.
- Summons: Employ spirit ashes to distract the dragon and create openings for attacks.
- Armor: Wear armor that offers good lightning resistance.
- Learn the Attacks: Lichdragon Fortissax has a variety of attacks, including lightning strikes, claw swipes, and breath attacks.
Rewards for Defeating Lichdragon Fortissax
Defeating Lichdragon Fortissax is not just about the satisfaction of overcoming a challenging boss. It also rewards you with:
- 90,000 Runes: A substantial amount of runes that can be used to level up or purchase items.
- Remembrance of the Lichdragon: This can be exchanged at the Roundtable Hold for powerful weapons or spells.
- Mending Rune of the Death-Prince: This is the most crucial reward, as it is required to achieve the Age of Duskborn ending.
FAQs About Lichdragon Fortissax
1. What happens if I kill Fia before giving her the Cursemark of Death?
Killing Fia before giving her the Cursemark of Death will make Lichdragon Fortissax unavailable, locking you out of the Age of Duskborn ending. This is because the encounter is tied directly to Fia’s questline and her interaction with the Cursemark.
2. Can I still fight Lichdragon Fortissax without doing Ranni’s questline?
Yes, access to Deeproot Depths, where Fia resides, is possible through alternative routes, such as navigating from Mohgwyn Palace. Therefore, you don’t need Ranni’s questline to fight Lichdragon Fortissax.
3. What is the best way to defeat Lichdragon Fortissax?
Using weapons that deal physical thrust damage is highly effective. Furthermore, employing spirit ashes to distract the dragon and create openings for attacks can also greatly improve your chances of success. Don’t forget to equip armor with good lightning resistance.
4. Is Lichdragon Fortissax harder than other optional bosses?
Difficulty is subjective, but many players consider Lichdragon Fortissax a challenging optional boss, however not considered to be among the hardest of the optional bosses. Its lightning attacks and mobility make it a significant test of skill and preparation.
5. Does Lichdragon Fortissax drop any unique items besides the Remembrance and Mending Rune?
No, the primary rewards for defeating Lichdragon Fortissax are the Remembrance of the Lichdragon and the Mending Rune of the Death-Prince. These items are key to unlocking specific content and endings.
6. Can I respec my character and still fight Lichdragon Fortissax?
Yes, respeccing your character will not affect your ability to fight Lichdragon Fortissax, as long as you have progressed Fia’s questline to the point where she requests the Cursemark of Death. However, make sure that your new build is optimized for the boss fight, as Lichdragon can be quite tough for certain builds.
7. Is there a level recommendation for fighting Lichdragon Fortissax?
While it varies depending on your skill and build, a character level of 80-100 is generally recommended for tackling Lichdragon Fortissax. Of course, you can always go back and fight him later, but this is a decent level range to be at.
8. Can I use summons in the Lichdragon Fortissax fight?
Yes, summoning spirit ashes is permitted and can be extremely helpful in distracting the boss and creating opportunities for attack. Consider using summons that have high health and can draw the dragon’s attention.
9. How do I get the Cursemark of Death to give to Fia?
The Cursemark of Death is obtained through a specific part of Ranni the Witch’s questline, which leads you to Nokron, Eternal City, and eventually to the Divine Tower of Liurnia.
10. Does the time of day affect my ability to encounter Lichdragon Fortissax?
No, the time of day in the game does not affect your ability to encounter Lichdragon Fortissax. As long as you’ve progressed Fia’s questline to the appropriate stage, you can enter her dream at any time.
11. What stats should I prioritize when building a character to fight Lichdragon Fortissax?
Prioritize Vigor for health, Endurance for stamina, and Strength or Dexterity depending on your weapon of choice. Faith can also be useful if you plan to use incantations or buffs.
12. Are there any NPCs that can provide hints or tips about fighting Lichdragon Fortissax?
While no specific NPC directly offers advice on fighting Lichdragon Fortissax, progressing through Fia’s questline and speaking to other characters involved in the narrative can provide contextual clues about its weaknesses and the lore surrounding it.
13. If I beat the final boss, can I still go back and fight Lichdragon Fortissax?
Yes, as long as you have not chosen an ending after defeating the final boss. You can still explore the world, complete quests, and fight optional bosses like Lichdragon Fortissax before making your final decision.
14. Is there a difference between fighting Lichdragon Fortissax in New Game Plus?
The main difference in New Game Plus is that the enemies, including Lichdragon Fortissax, will have increased health and damage output, posing a greater challenge.
15. What happens if I use the Mending Rune of the Death-Prince on a different ending?
The Mending Rune of the Death-Prince is specifically used for the Age of Duskborn ending. Using it on a different ending is not possible, as the game only allows you to choose the ending that corresponds to the mending rune you possess at the time of the final choice.
Conclusion
Lichdragon Fortissax is a significant encounter in Elden Ring that is easily missable if you don’t carefully follow Fia’s questline. Understanding the prerequisites and how to avoid locking yourself out of the fight ensures that you can experience all that Elden Ring has to offer and achieve the Age of Duskborn ending. Remember to embrace Fia, complete her questline, and prepare for a challenging battle against the Lichdragon to claim your rewards and alter the fate of the Lands Between.
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