Trading Dragon Hearts: A Comprehensive Guide for Elden Ring Tarnished
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You’ve felled a mighty dragon in the Lands Between, and now you’re clutching a Dragon Heart, pulsing with arcane energy. But what do you do with it? The answer is simple: you trade them for powerful Dragon Communion Incantations. These incantations, essentially dragon-based spells, can dramatically enhance your build, offering devastating offensive capabilities and unique buffs. But where exactly do you go to make these trades?
You can trade in your Dragon Hearts at either the Church of Dragon Communion in Limgrave or the Cathedral of Dragon Communion in Caelid. Let’s delve into the details of each location and what they offer.
The Churches of Dragon Communion
Both locations function the same way: they provide access to a menu of Dragon Communion Incantations that can be purchased using Dragon Hearts. The available incantations expand as you progress through the game and defeat specific dragons.
Church of Dragon Communion (Limgrave)
The Church of Dragon Communion is located on a small island off the western coast of Limgrave. Reaching it requires a bit of exploration.
- How to Get There: You’ll need to enter the Dissenter’s Path tunnel along the coastline. This tunnel starts near the beach, and you’ll likely encounter some demi-human enemies along the way. Navigate through the tunnel, and it will eventually lead you to the island where the church resides. It’s a relatively early-game location, making it accessible to players of all levels.
Cathedral of Dragon Communion (Caelid)
The Cathedral of Dragon Communion is situated in southern Caelid, a much more challenging region than Limgrave.
- How to Get There: The cathedral is located within the heart of Caelid. It is easily visible and is in the middle of the ruins. Be aware of the powerful enemies that patrol the area. This location is recommended for mid-game players.
What to Expect at the Altars
Upon arriving at either church, you’ll find an altar. Interacting with it will open a menu where you can exchange your Dragon Hearts for Dragon Communion Incantations. The cost of each incantation varies, with some requiring multiple hearts. Remember that once you purchase an incantation, you’ll need the required Faith and Arcane stats to actually cast it.
Benefits of Dragon Communion Incantations
These incantations provide a unique and powerful playstyle. Many allow you to transform parts of your body into dragonic forms, unleashing devastating breaths of fire, ice, or even rot. They offer:
- High Damage Output: Dragon breath attacks can melt through enemies, especially when they’re weak to the specific element.
- Area of Effect: Many incantations cover a wide area, making them effective against groups of enemies.
- Status Effects: Some breaths inflict status ailments like Scarlet Rot or Frostbite, further debilitating your foes.
- Unique Visuals: The dragon transformations are visually stunning, adding to the overall spectacle of combat.
FAQs: Mastering Dragon Heart Trading
1. What are Dragon Communion Incantations?
Dragon Communion Incantations are a specific type of incantation in Elden Ring that allows players to harness the power of dragons. These spells often involve transforming parts of your body into dragonic forms to unleash elemental breath attacks or other dragon-related abilities.
2. How do I get Dragon Hearts?
Dragon Hearts are primarily obtained by defeating dragons throughout the Lands Between. Each dragon you defeat will drop at least one Dragon Heart. Some dragons drop more than one.
3. Does it matter which Dragon Heart I use?
No, all Dragon Hearts are functionally identical for trading purposes. It doesn’t matter which dragon you defeated to obtain them.
4. Can I upgrade my Dragon Heart?
The article says that in order to upgrade the Dragon Heart, you must first progress through the story to the encounter with the Root Mother in the church on Earth. After finishing this encounter, you will need to return to Ward 13 and speak with the Root Mother again, who is now near Ace and Reggie. This appears to be related to Remnant From the Ashes
5. Are the Incantations the same at both Churches?
Yes, the available Dragon Communion Incantations are the same at both the Church of Dragon Communion and the Cathedral of Dragon Communion. However, the selection expands as you defeat more dragons throughout the game.
6. Do Dragon Hearts carry over to New Game Plus?
Yes, Dragon Hearts do carry over to New Game Plus. This means you can start your next playthrough with any unspent hearts from your previous game.
7. How many Dragon Hearts can I hold?
The Lands Between feature a total of twenty-three obtainable Dragon Hearts that can be used to purchase Dragon Communion Incantations in Elden Ring. However, only twenty are required to obtain every Dragon Communion Spell.
8. What stats do I need to use Dragon Communion Incantations?
Most Dragon Communion Incantations require both Faith and Arcane to cast. The specific stat requirements vary depending on the incantation. Be sure to check the requirements before purchasing an incantation to ensure you can use it.
9. Is it worth killing Elder Dragon Greyoll?
Killing Elder Dragon Greyoll will get you around 50,000 runes. Elder Dragon Greyoll is the largest boss in Elden Ring and will give you 5 Dragon Hearts upon killing her.
10. How do I get Dragon Eyes?
The most straightforward eye alteration in Elden Ring is Dragon Eyes, obtained by purchasing four Dragon Communion Incantations using Dragon Hearts. These exchanges can be made at the Cathedral of Dragon Communion in Caelid or the Church of Dragon Communion in Limgrave.
11. What if I can’t reach the Church of Dragon Communion early on?
If you’re struggling to reach the Church of Dragon Communion in Limgrave early in the game, don’t worry. You can always wait and travel to the Cathedral of Dragon Communion in Caelid later. However, be prepared for a significantly more challenging environment.
12. What are the best Dragon Communion Incantations?
That depends on your build and playstyle! Rotten Breath is a popular choice for inflicting Scarlet Rot, while other breaths offer high damage or status effects like Frostbite. Experiment to find what works best for you. Dragonfire incantation is also good for its low faith cost.
13. Can I respec my stats to better use Dragon Communion Incantations?
Yes, you can respec your stats in Elden Ring by talking to Rennala, Queen of the Full Moon, after defeating her at the Academy of Raya Lucaria. This allows you to reallocate your points into Faith and Arcane if you decide to focus on Dragon Communion Incantations.
14. How many dragon hearts does it take to get dragon eyes?
It takes four Dragon Hearts to get Dragon Eyes by purchasing four Dragon Communion Incantations
15. What weapon is good against dragons in Elden Ring?
All of these dragons are susceptible to physical attacks, especially those with Pierce/Bleed damage. So, using any katanas such as Uchigatana or Moonveil Katana is sufficient to deal damage to these dragons, as well as Bloodhound’s Fang scaled up to +10 for higher-level dragons like Adula and Borealis. Dragon Greatclaw is also a good Weapon for going against dragon-like creatures and enemies.
Trading Dragon Hearts is a rewarding mechanic that allows you to tap into the power of dragons and become a formidable force in the Lands Between. Whether you choose the early-game accessibility of the Church of Dragon Communion or the mid-game challenge of the Cathedral of Dragon Communion, the path of the dragon is yours to forge.
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