Conquering the Dragonlord: A Guide to What’s Strong Against Placidusax in Elden Ring
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Dragonlord Placidusax, a formidable and optional boss in Elden Ring, stands as one of the most challenging encounters in the game. This ancient dragon, hidden within the crumbling ruins of Farum Azula, possesses a wide array of devastating attacks and a massive health pool. To overcome this daunting foe, understanding his weaknesses and exploiting them is crucial. This article will detail what strategies, weapons, and spells are effective against Dragonlord Placidusax, equipping you with the knowledge needed to claim victory.
Understanding Placidusax’s Weaknesses
The key to defeating Placidusax lies in recognizing his vulnerabilities. While he boasts immense resistance to some damage types, there are specific areas where he’s more susceptible. Here’s a breakdown of what works best:
- Fire Damage: Placidusax is reportedly weak to fire. Weapons and spells that inflict fire damage will be significantly more effective than other damage types.
- Lightning Damage: Like many dragons in Elden Ring, Placidusax has a weakness to lightning damage. Bolstering your weapons with lightning or using lightning-based spells can deal considerable damage.
- Physical Thrust Damage: For melee builds, remember that Placidusax has the lowest resistance to physical thrust damage. Weapons like rapiers and other thrusting swords can be surprisingly effective.
- Scarlet Rot: Though not a direct weakness in terms of damage, Scarlet Rot is a highly effective status effect to apply to Placidusax. Despite his resistances, using incantations like Rotten Breath can inflict significant damage over time.
- Poison: Similarly to Scarlet Rot, Poison can also be useful in chipping away at Placidusax’s massive health bar. While he’s resistant, consistent application can make a difference.
- Weapon Skills and Incantations: Specific skills like Black Flame Tornado, Blade of Death, and Destined Death are especially potent against him, dealing percent-based damage that can bypass his high resistances.
Optimal Weapon Choices
Choosing the right weapon is paramount when facing Placidusax. Here are a few of the most effective options:
- Dual Rapiers: Utilizing the dual-wielding mechanic with rapiers allows for fast attacks that capitalize on Placidusax’s weakness to thrust damage.
- Weapons with Fire Affinity: Any weapon infused with fire damage, such as those that benefit from fire ashes of war, will be particularly effective. This can include swords, axes, or even colossal weapons, making the fight less about a single weapon and more about making the most of fire damage.
- Envoy’s Long Horn: The Envoy’s Long Horn’s weapon art can be devastating, especially when paired with a fire-based approach to his elemental vulnerabilities.
- Death’s Poker: This weapon deals both physical and fire damage, making it a strong choice. Its weapon art also offers unique benefits.
- Lion Greatbow: The Lion Greatbow’s weapon art, coupled with the use of various arrows, allows for a safe ranged option to chip away at his health.
Spells and Incantations for Success
For those who prefer a more magical approach, these spells and incantations are extremely effective against Placidusax:
- Comet Azure: This powerful sorcery deals massive damage and is useful for maintaining range while unleashing continuous damage.
- The Queen’s Black Flame: This is a potent option due to its high damage output and ability to deal fire damage, exploiting Placidusax’s elemental weakness.
- Rotten Breath: As previously mentioned, using this incantation allows you to inflict Scarlet Rot, which will do damage over time. The key is to apply the effect and let it work in the background.
- Lightning Incantations: Any incantations that deal lightning damage are also helpful for exploiting Placidusax’s secondary weakness.
Strategic Positioning and Maneuvers
Beyond weapon and spell selection, strategic positioning and understanding Placidusax’s attacks are crucial:
- Target the Hindquarters: Instead of trying to attack his head (which is often difficult to reach), aim for the base of his tail near his hind legs, behind his wings. This area is consistently accessible and provides safe striking opportunities.
- Dodge the Claw Swipes: In melee combat, learn the timing of his claw swipe attacks. A well-timed roll will allow you to avoid the damage and counterattack.
- Track his Teleport: Placidusax will vanish and reappear frequently. Pay close attention to the audio cues to understand where he will reappear. This can help you avoid his more powerful, teleport-based attacks.
- Hug the Back Legs: Staying close to his back legs, where he is vulnerable and his attacks are generally easier to avoid, will make the fight significantly easier.
- Roll Towards his Ruin Attack: When he uses his “Ruin” attack, roll towards him, not away, to get inside the attack’s range and avoid taking damage.
- Watch for Ground Lightning: Be cautious of the ground for areas that indicate lightning strikes. If you have high mobility, make the most of it by using it to quickly evade this threat.
General Tips for Success
- Level Up: Aim to be at least level 100 with a fully upgraded weapon before tackling Placidusax.
- Use Rune Arcs: Employing a Rune Arc can boost your stats and help you survive the encounter.
- Be Patient: This is a long fight, so be patient and do not be greedy with your attacks.
- Don’t Rush: Learn his attack patterns and focus on dodging effectively.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Is Placidusax weak to poison?
While he’s not outright weak to it, Poison can be effective as a supplemental strategy. Use Serpent and Poison Arrows to trigger the effect, then switch to Bloodbone Arrows to apply bleed while the poison works over time.
2. Is Placidusax immune to bleed?
No, Placidusax is not immune to Bleed, but he is highly resistant to it. While it won’t be as effective as other strategies, it can still contribute to chipping away at his health.
3. What’s the best melee weapon against Placidusax?
Thrusting weapons like dual-wielded rapiers are excellent choices due to his low resistance to thrust damage. Weapons that can be infused with fire are also ideal.
4. What’s the best range weapon against Placidusax?
The Lion Greatbow is a strong choice, especially when combined with different arrow types. Spells like Comet Azure are also effective for maintaining distance while dealing damage.
5. What are the most effective spells against Placidusax?
Comet Azure, The Queen’s Black Flame, and other fire-based spells are potent against him. Incantations like Rotten Breath to inflict Scarlet Rot are also a great choice.
6. Should I use Scarlet Rot against Placidusax?
Yes, definitely. Despite his resistance, Scarlet Rot is one of the most effective methods for dealing damage over time. Use Rotten Breath multiple times to apply the effect fully.
7. What level should I be to fight Placidusax?
You should be at least level 100 with a fully upgraded weapon before attempting this fight. Using a Rune Arc is also recommended.
8. Is Dragonlord Placidusax the hardest boss in Elden Ring?
He is considered one of the hardest dragon enemies in Elden Ring, but not necessarily the hardest boss overall. The true boss of Crumbling Farum Azula is often considered to be the bigger challenge.
9. What is Placidusax’s weak point?
While his head is generally the weak spot for dragons, it is unreliable to target in this fight. The safest spot to attack Placidusax is around the base of his tail near his hind legs, behind his wings.
10. How do I avoid Placidusax’s laser attacks?
Instead of running or rolling away from the laser beams, run towards Placidusax and then roll at him as the beams pass. This will get you inside the attack’s range.
11. Does Placidusax deal fire damage?
Yes, Placidusax uses a mix of lightning and fire attacks. Be aware of both types and equip armor and talismans to mitigate damage.
12. Is the Dragonlord Placidusax fight worth it?
Yes! Defeating Placidusax is worth it. You’ll receive a Remembrance that can be used to obtain powerful rewards, including weapons and spells.
13. Can I use Miquella’s Needle after killing Placidusax?
Yes, you can use Miquella’s Needle in the arena before or after defeating Dragonlord Placidusax.
14. How do I survive Placidusax’s teleport attack?
Listen for the audio cues indicating his teleportation, and learn to anticipate where he will reappear. This is critical for dodging his more devastating moves.
15. What is the easiest strategy to beat Dragonlord Placidusax?
The easiest strategy is generally to utilize range attacks such as Comet Azure, The Queen’s Black Flame, and the Lion Greatbow, while also applying Scarlet Rot, and aiming for his back legs, and to be patient with your attacks. Combining a variety of damage types based on the information given in this article is the most effective strategy.
By utilizing these strategies, exploiting his weaknesses, and learning his attack patterns, you’ll be well-prepared to conquer the Dragonlord and claim your victory in Elden Ring. Good luck, Tarnished!