Unlocking the Spoils: What You Get for Defeating the Dragonkin Soldier in Elden Ring
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The Dragonkin Soldier, a formidable and imposing foe, is a recurring mini-boss throughout the Lands Between in Elden Ring. While not among the most challenging encounters, overcoming this draconic humanoid still yields valuable rewards. So, what exactly do you get for defeating the Dragonkin Soldier? Successfully slaying this creature rewards players with a substantial amount of Runes, the Dragon Cult Incantation Frozen Lightning Spear, and the opportunity to acquire a Great Ghost Glovewort. This combination of resources makes the Dragonkin Soldier encounters worthwhile, even for veteran Tarnished.
The Spoils of Victory: Runes and Incantation
A Hefty Rune Payout
Upon defeating a standard Dragonkin Soldier, players are awarded 16,000 Runes. This payout is quite generous considering the boss’s relative ease compared to other mid-to-late game encounters. Runes, the primary currency in Elden Ring, are used for leveling up, purchasing items, and upgrading equipment. Therefore, a reliable source like the Dragonkin Soldier is always welcome. Some variations of the Dragonkin Soldier, particularly the one in Nokstella, Eternal City, offer a similar, though potentially slightly higher, rune reward. These higher rune counts are usually found associated with slightly more challenging encounters.
Frozen Lightning Spear: A Flashy Dragon Cult Incantation
The Dragonkin Soldier of Nokstella, specifically, is unique in that its defeat also grants players the Frozen Lightning Spear incantation. This Dragon Cult incantation is incredibly visually appealing and launches a spear of frozen lightning at enemies. While it is quite flashy, its utility is situational. The Frozen Lightning Spear is most effective against large, slow-moving enemies or groups of trash mobs due to its wide area of effect. However, it can struggle against fast-moving targets and single, agile bosses.
Unlocking Secrets: The Great Ghost Glovewort
Access to Hidden Resources
Beyond Runes and the Incantation, defeating the Dragonkin Soldier of Nokstella also allows players to access a secret location containing a Great Ghost Glovewort. After the boss is vanquished, players can activate a nearby Site of Grace. Following that, they can explore the area beneath the giant corpse in the chair, finding a chest containing the valuable glovewort. Great Ghost Gloveworts are essential for upgrading Spirit Ashes, significantly enhancing their power and effectiveness in combat. This reward makes the Nokstella Dragonkin Soldier encounter an important one for any player who relies on summonable allies.
Why Fight the Dragonkin Soldier?
The rewards for defeating the Dragonkin Soldier may not be the flashiest compared to some main bosses but they provide vital resources. The rune payout is valuable for progression, and the Frozen Lightning Spear, while situational, can be a useful addition to a faith-based build. The access to a Great Ghost Glovewort further solidifies the necessity of overcoming this mini-boss. In essence, the Dragonkin Soldier presents a manageable challenge with rewards that aid the player in their journey through the Lands Between. Furthermore, it is a rite of passage that most players encounter more than once as they explore the map of Elden Ring, making every encounter of valuable practice.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Where can I find Dragonkin Soldiers in Elden Ring?
Dragonkin Soldiers appear in multiple locations throughout Elden Ring. Common locations include Lake of Rot, Nokstella, Eternal City, and the Siofra Aqueduct. They are often found guarding important areas or serving as mini-boss encounters in dungeons and catacombs.
2. What level should I be to face the Dragonkin Soldier of Nokstella?
It is recommended to be around level 80 or higher before venturing into Nokstella and facing its Dragonkin Soldier. This area features a few difficult enemies, and ensuring you are appropriately leveled will significantly increase your chances of survival.
3. How hard is the Dragonkin Soldier compared to other bosses?
The Dragonkin Soldier is considered relatively easy compared to major bosses. Its primary attacks consist of arm swings, which can be easily dodged or blocked once players understand the timings. The main challenge comes from the significant damage these attacks inflict.
4. What are the main attack patterns of the Dragonkin Soldier?
The Dragonkin Soldier primarily uses sweeping arm attacks, ground slams, and occasionally a slow-moving stomp. Identifying and anticipating these attacks is key to success in battle.
5. Is the Frozen Lightning Spear a good incantation?
The Frozen Lightning Spear is a situational incantation. It shines against large, slow enemies and groups but struggles against fast-moving foes. It is more of an area-of-effect attack, making it best utilized by builds that can benefit from these types of spells.
6. What build is the Frozen Lightning Spear best suited for?
This incantation is best suited for Faith-based builds that rely on incantations for damage output. Its scaling with Faith is generally good, and it complements other Dragon Cult incantations well.
7. What are Spirit Ashes, and why are they important?
Spirit Ashes are summonable allies that can assist players in combat. Upgrading them with Great Ghost Glovewort makes them significantly more powerful and durable, making them an indispensable tool for challenging encounters.
8. Can the Dragonkin Soldier be parried or critical hit?
Yes, the Dragonkin Soldier can be parried, though it is a difficult window for those unfamiliar with parrying timings. Performing critical hits after a parry or after a stance break is possible, and it can significantly reduce its health.
9. Can the Dragonkin Soldier be cheesed or defeated with ranged attacks?
Yes, the Dragonkin Soldier can be cheesed using ranged attacks, especially if the player can find a safe spot with an unobstructed line of sight. Be careful that its ranged attacks can also reach you if you are not careful.
10. How many times can I encounter the Dragonkin Soldier in a playthrough?
The Dragonkin Soldier is a recurring mini-boss and can be encountered several times in different locations. Each encounter provides the same rune reward, but only the Nokstella variant drops the Frozen Lightning Spear and has a chest nearby with a Great Ghost Glovewort.
11. Does Dragonkin Soldier have any elemental weaknesses?
Dragonkin Soldier has a low resistance to physical attacks and lightning damage, so using weapons that are strong with those parameters is an effective strategy. It has a decent amount of poise, so the goal is to find methods that inflict damage and break the stance of the boss.
12. Do I need to beat the Dragonkin Soldier to progress in Elden Ring?
No, the Dragonkin Soldier is not a mandatory boss. However, defeating it provides valuable rewards and helps progress exploration of many optional areas, such as Nokstella, eternal city.
13. Are there any special items I should use when fighting the Dragonkin Soldier?
Dragonwound Grease can be effective against the Dragonkin Soldier, as it temporarily imbues your weapon with bonus damage against dragons. However, using standard weapon upgrades will be sufficient for most player builds.
14. What is the significance of the corpse in the chair near the Nokstella Dragonkin Soldier?
The giant corpse in the chair is part of the lore of Nokstella, Eternal City. It provides context to the area and lore of the Dragonkin Soldier, who serves as its guardian. The chest beneath it is part of a quest that players will need to investigate to complete the area.
15. Is it worth farming the Dragonkin Soldier for Runes?
While the rune payout is decent, there are more efficient rune-farming methods in Elden Ring. However, if players need to obtain the Frozen Lightning Spear or the Great Ghost Glovewort, it is worth defeating the boss for the rewards. It is recommended that you defeat the boss for the first time as this encounter will set you up with resources and better prepare you for future boss encounters.