What Rewards Await the Dragon Slayer in Farum Azula?
Defeating the formidable dragons in Farum Azula in Elden Ring is no easy feat. These ancient beings guard valuable treasures and offer significant power boosts to the Tarnished brave enough to challenge them. Specifically, slaying the Ancient Dragon Lansseax that appears just before the crumbling bridge leading to the Dragon Temple grants the player: Dragon Heart, 75,000 Runes, and Lansseax’s Glaive (a unique lightning-infused weapon). This dragon is not technically within the crumbling structure of Azula itself, but is an integral part of progressing through the area and deserves a dedicated consideration.
The Spoils of Victory: Detailed Breakdown
Let’s delve deeper into what each of these rewards offers the player. Understanding their utility will help you determine if battling Lansseax and other dragons is worth your time and effort.
Dragon Heart
The Dragon Heart is the primary reward for defeating almost any dragon in Elden Ring. Its purpose is to be offered at a Dragon Communion Altar. These altars, found in locations like the Church of Dragon Communion in Limgrave and the Cathedral of Dragon Communion in Caelid, allow you to purchase powerful Dragon Communion Incantations. These incantations mimic the breath attacks of various dragons, turning you into a dragon yourself, in a way. The specific incantations available depend on the altars you’ve discovered and the dragon bosses you’ve defeated. Therefore, collecting Dragon Hearts is crucial for those aiming for a Dragon Communion build.
75,000 Runes
Runes are the currency of the Lands Between, and they fuel your character’s progression. 75,000 runes is a significant sum in the late-game areas like Farum Azula. They can be used to:
- Level up your character’s attributes: Enhancing your Vigor, Strength, Dexterity, Intelligence, Faith, Arcane, Mind, and Endurance.
- Purchase items from merchants: Buying weapons, armor, consumables, and key items.
- Upgrade your weapons at the blacksmith: Reinforcing your armament for increased damage output.
- Respecialize your character: Allowing you to reallocate your attribute points if you want to change your build.
Lansseax’s Glaive
Lansseax’s Glaive is a unique lightning-infused weapon obtainable upon defeating Ancient Dragon Lansseax. This weapon requires 20 Strength, 12 Dexterity, and 18 Faith to wield effectively. It scales primarily with Strength and Faith, making it an excellent choice for Strength/Faith hybrid builds. Its unique weapon skill, Lansseax’s Lightning, allows you to summon a powerful bolt of lightning down upon your enemies. The glaive’s reach and damage potential make it a potent weapon in both PvE and PvP. The lightning damage also makes it extremely effective against enemies weak to lightning, making it extremely useful against heavily armored enemies.
Strategies for Defeating Ancient Dragon Lansseax
Defeating Ancient Dragon Lansseax requires strategic planning and skillful execution. Consider these tips:
- Target the head: Focusing your attacks on the dragon’s head will deal the most damage.
- Learn the attack patterns: Observe the dragon’s movements to anticipate its attacks and dodge effectively.
- Use lightning resistance gear: Equipping armor and talismans that boost your lightning resistance will mitigate the damage you take from its attacks.
- Summon spirit ashes: Spirit ashes can distract the dragon and give you openings to attack.
- Use ranged attacks: If you’re struggling in melee, use ranged spells or arrows to damage the dragon from a safe distance.
- Exploit weak spots: Although large and imposing, even dragons have weak spots. For Lansseax, the head is a prime target.
- Be patient: Dragons have a lot of health, so be patient and avoid getting greedy with your attacks.
Is It Worth It To Kill The Dragon?
For most players, the answer is a resounding yes. The rewards are considerable. A Dragon Heart is practically essential for certain builds. The Runes are always useful. And Lansseax’s Glaive is a fantastic weapon with a unique skill that adds versatility to a player’s arsenal. Combine these with the fact that fighting powerful dragons provides an exciting and memorable experience, and taking down Ancient Dragon Lansseax is one of the most rewarding experiences Elden Ring has to offer.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some frequently asked questions about fighting the dragons in Farum Azula and the rewards they provide:
1. What level should I be before attempting to fight the dragons in Farum Azula?
It is generally recommended to be at least level 120-150 before venturing into Farum Azula and challenging its dragons. This level range will ensure that you have sufficient stats and weapon upgrades to withstand their powerful attacks and deal enough damage to defeat them.
2. Are there any other dragons in Farum Azula besides Ancient Dragon Lansseax?
Yes, while Ancient Dragon Lansseax is the most prominent early dragon encounter in the area, Farum Azula also houses other dragon enemies, including regular ancient dragons and the boss Dragonlord Placidusax who is hidden in an optional area, reached by resting and selecting the prompt on the ground in the area just before facing the main boss of the level.
3. Can I use summons against Ancient Dragon Lansseax?
Yes, you can summon spirit ashes or other players to assist you in the fight against Ancient Dragon Lansseax. Summons can distract the dragon and provide you with openings to attack, making the fight significantly easier.
4. What are the best talismans to use when fighting dragons?
Talismans that increase lightning resistance (e.g., Lightning Scorpion Charm) or boost physical damage reduction (e.g., Dragoncrest Greatshield Talisman) are highly effective when fighting dragons.
5. Is Lansseax’s Glaive a good weapon for a Faith build?
Yes, Lansseax’s Glaive scales primarily with Strength and Faith, making it an excellent choice for Faith builds. Its unique weapon skill, Lansseax’s Lightning, is also a powerful offensive tool for Faith-based characters.
6. Can I respec my character if I want to try a different build after getting Lansseax’s Glaive?
Yes, you can respec your character by talking to Rennala, Queen of the Full Moon, in the Academy of Raya Lucaria. You will need a Larval Tear to respec.
7. How many Dragon Hearts do I need to unlock all Dragon Communion Incantations?
The number of Dragon Hearts required to unlock all Dragon Communion Incantations varies depending on the incantations you want to acquire. Some incantations require multiple Dragon Hearts to purchase.
8. Where are the Dragon Communion Altars located?
The Dragon Communion Altars are located at the Church of Dragon Communion in Limgrave and the Cathedral of Dragon Communion in Caelid.
9. Is it possible to miss the opportunity to fight Ancient Dragon Lansseax?
No, Ancient Dragon Lansseax will remain in its location until defeated. The fight will always be available.
10. Can I use ranged attacks to defeat Ancient Dragon Lansseax?
Yes, ranged attacks such as spells, arrows, and throwing knives can be effective against Ancient Dragon Lansseax, especially if you struggle with melee combat.
11. Does Ancient Dragon Lansseax have any weaknesses?
Like many dragons, Ancient Dragon Lansseax is weak to damage to the head. Also, weapons buffed with bloodflame, and in some cases frost, can quickly build bleed or frostbite status effects for some quick burst damage.
12. What happens if I die during the fight with Ancient Dragon Lansseax?
If you die during the fight with Ancient Dragon Lansseax, you will respawn at the last site of grace you rested at. You can then return to the location and attempt the fight again.
13. Is Lansseax’s Glaive upgradeable?
Yes, Lansseax’s Glaive can be upgraded using Somber Smithing Stones.
14. Can I dual-wield Lansseax’s Glaive with another weapon?
Yes, you can dual-wield Lansseax’s Glaive with another weapon, but it is a unique weapon, so you cannot dual-wield two copies of Lansseax’s Glaive.
15. What is the best strategy for dodging Lansseax’s lightning attacks?
The best strategy for dodging Lansseax’s lightning attacks is to observe the attack’s telegraph and roll at the last moment to avoid getting hit. Equipping armor and talismans that increase your lightning resistance can also help mitigate the damage you take if you get caught in an attack.