Vanishing Beasts: Unraveling the Mystery of Disappearing Dragons in Elden Ring

Dragons disappearing in Elden Ring isn’t a simple bug or oversight; it’s often an intentional design choice tied to the narrative, the specific dragon’s role, and even environmental factors. These disappearances serve multiple purposes, from managing difficulty and pacing to driving the plot and creating a sense of mystery around these magnificent creatures. Sometimes, it’s a scripted retreat triggered by low health, a planned relocation to another area, or a consequence of manipulating the environment. Understanding these reasons enhances the player’s comprehension of Elden Ring’s intricate world and enriches their overall experience.

The Many Reasons Dragons Vanish

There’s no single answer to why dragons pull a vanishing act in the Lands Between. Instead, it’s a collection of several factors that influence their comings and goings:

• Scripted Retreats: Several dragons, most notably Glintstone Dragon Adula and Ancient Dragon Lansseax, are programmed to flee when their health drops to a certain threshold. This isn’t a defeat; it’s a narrative device. Adula, for instance, retreats from Caria Manor to reappear later near the Cathedral of Manus Celes, marking progress in Ranni’s questline. Lansseax will teleport away from the Abandoned Coffin location once her health reaches 20%, and can then be found by the Rampartside Path Site of Grace. This retreat reduces her health for the fight by the Rampartside Path.
• Environmental Triggers: The dragon in Farum Azula disappears if the player moves to specific locations within the environment. Entering a small building to the back left of the plaza, hiding behind rubble on the left side, or traveling to the right side of the plaza causes the dragon to vanish and become inaccessible. This is likely a design choice to limit the player’s ability to cheese the fight or to prevent unintended interactions with other areas of the crumbling city.
• Narrative Progression: In some cases, a dragon’s disappearance is directly tied to the story. Adula’s initial retreat is a prime example, as it signals the beginning of Ranni’s quest. The dragons’ presence or absence can denote crucial changes in the world state.
• World State Changes: While rarer, some environmental dragons might not respawn after a particular point in the story to reflect the lasting impact of the player’s actions on the world.
• Boss Arena Limitations: In areas like Farum Azula, the disappearing dragon might be attributed to limitations in the environment and rendering the player’s character, along with the large dragon and associated visual effects, as the game would face performance issues.

The Lore of Dragons in Elden Ring

Understanding why dragons disappear requires understanding their history within the game’s lore. The world of Elden Ring was once dominated by dragons, predating the reign of Queen Marika and the Golden Order. The War of the Dragons, a cataclysmic conflict, saw Godwyn the Golden lead the charge against the dragons, ultimately defeating Lichdragon Fortissax. This conflict marked a turning point, shifting the balance of power from dragons to the demigods.

Dragons in Elden Ring aren’t just monsters; they’re remnants of a fallen empire, imbued with ancient power and often tied to specific Outer Gods or forces. Their presence, their actions, and even their disappearances are all threads woven into the rich tapestry of Elden Ring’s world. Studying the lore of video games and other topics of interest is part of the research conducted at the Games Learning Society. Check out GamesLearningSociety.org for more.

Exploiting the Disappearances

While the disappearances are primarily design choices, some players have found ways to exploit them for various purposes, whether by resetting dragon encounters to farm runes or using environmental triggers to their advantage in combat. However, such exploitations often come with risks, as the dragon’s reappearance might be unpredictable, or it might reset with full health.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are 15 frequently asked questions that will expand on these concepts:

1. Why does Glintstone Dragon Adula disappear at Caria Manor?

Glintstone Dragon Adula is designed to disappear when her health reaches a certain point (around 50%) during the first encounter at the Three Sisters, near Caria Manor. This isn’t a bug; it’s a scripted retreat. She later reappears near the Cathedral of Manus Celes.

2. Where does Glintstone Dragon Adula go after she disappears from Caria Manor?

Adula can be found near the Cathedral of Manus Celes, south of the Three Sisters area. Her reappearance is tied to Ranni’s questline.

3. Why does the dragon keep disappearing in Farum Azula?

The dragon in Farum Azula disappears when the player is in certain locations. This is likely a design choice to prevent cheesing the encounter or to avoid unintended interactions within the level’s complex layout.

4. Do any dragons respawn in Elden Ring?

Yes, some dragons do respawn. Lesser Dragons in Dragonbarrow, for example, respawn after resting at a Site of Grace. These dragons are smaller and lack the powerful breath attacks of their larger counterparts.

5. What’s the deal with the sleeping dragon in Caelid?

The sleeping dragon in Caelid is Greyoll, the mother of all dragons. Killing her yields a significant amount of runes (75,000) and five Dragon Hearts. She doesn’t respawn, making it a one-time rune farming opportunity.

6. Why did I get 5 Dragon Hearts from killing Greyoll?

Greyoll drops five Dragon Hearts because she’s considered a major dragon boss. Dragon Hearts are used to purchase dragon communion incantations at specific altars.

7. Where can I use Dragon Hearts in Elden Ring?

Dragon Hearts can be used at the Dragon Communion Altar in Limgrave and the Dragon Communion Altar in Caelid to purchase dragon communion incantations.

8. What are the hardest dragon bosses in Elden Ring?

While difficulty is subjective, some of the most challenging dragon bosses include:

• Dragonlord Placidusax: Considered by many to be the hardest, Placidusax boasts unique attacks and a teleportation mechanic.
• Lichdragon Fortissax: Requires navigating a challenging area and deals Deathblight damage.
• Glintstone Dragon Adula: Fast and agile, with powerful Glintstone breath attacks.

9. How do I beat Dragonlord Placidusax?

Beating Dragonlord Placidusax requires patience, well-timed dodges, and understanding his attack patterns. Focus on dodging his lightning strikes and breath attacks, and exploit openings when he’s vulnerable. High lightning resistance gear is recommended.

10. What happened to the dragons after the War of the Dragons?

The War of the Dragons, led by Godwyn the Golden, significantly weakened the dragon population. While some dragons still roam the Lands Between, they’re no longer the dominant force they once were. Many have succumbed to rot, like Decaying Ekzykes, or have been corrupted by other forces, like Lichdragon Fortissax.

11. What is the significance of Farum Azula?

Crumbling Farum Azula is an ancient, crumbling city in Elden Ring with many dragons and is a significant location with immense lore implications. It’s a place outside of time, once ruled by Dragonlord Placidusax. The city’s destruction plays a key role in the overall narrative.

12. Is Farum Azula the end of the game?

While Crumbling Farum Azula is the final Legacy Dungeon, and the final new location encountered in the main storyline, it is not necessarily the very end of the game. Completing Farum Azula is necessary to progress to the final boss fights.

13. What’s the best way to farm runes in Elden Ring?

There are several rune farming methods, but some of the most efficient include:

• Killing the sleeping dragon Greyoll in Caelid (one-time reward).
• The Mohgwyn Palace area, using the Sacred Relic Sword’s Wave of Gold skill or shooting the bird off the cliff.
• Lenne’s Rise Site of Grace in Caelid by killing the rolling ball enemy as it falls off a cliff.

14. What is the biggest dragon in Elden Ring?

Based on size comparisons, Gransax of Elden Ring is considered the largest dragon, followed by Greyoll and the Demon’s Souls Dragon God.

15. Why is Seluvis’s Rise blocked?

The entrance to Seluvis’s Rise is initially blocked by a barrier. It unlocks only after speaking to Ranni the Witch atop Ranni’s Rise and being invited by Preceptor Seluvis. This is part of Ranni’s questline and is required to interact with Seluvis.