FromSoftware's Elden Ring continues in the tradition of its spiritual predecessors in the Dark Souls trilogy by presenting players with a variety of dragon bosses to overcome. These encounters are some of the most awe-inducing moments of Elden Ring, establishing a sense of scale and grandeur that few other games are capable of matching. More than just challenging encounters though, the dragon battles are practically essential for certain builds reliant on the Dragon Incantations that are only unlocked by slaying dragons and taking their Dragon Hearts. And, like the dragon enemies in other FromSoftware games, Elden Ring's draconic enemies factor heavily into the game's lore and backstory.

The dragons in Elden Ring are separated into two categories – Ancient Dragons and their weaker descendents, the standard Dragons. Prior to the sprouting of the Erdtree, the Ancient Dragons are said to have ruled the Lands Between, with the Dragonlord Placidusax acting as both their ruler and the first Elden Lord. The arrival of Queen Marika would trigger a war between the Empyreans and the Ancient Dragons, resulting in a truce between Godwyn and the Ancient Dragon Fortisaxx that would give rise to the Ancient Dragon Cult. During the time of The Shattering in which Elden Ring's events take place, there are 12 Dragons and Ancient Dragons left.

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Every Dragon in Elden Ring

The dynamic open world of The Lands Between can see The Tarnished come across any number of unexpected threats, including Elden Ring's Dragons and Ancient Dragons. There are a total of 12 Dragons to fight throughout the game, many of which are completely optional boss encounters that provide some enticing rewards for those willing to put in the work. Standard Dragons are weaker and more plentiful than the demigod-like Ancient Dragons, of which there are only 3 in the entire game.

Borealis, The Freezing Fog

Players encounter Borealis, The Freezing Fog after entering the frozen lake area within the Mountaintops of the Giants region. This Greater Foe continually emits a stream of frost during combat, limiting player visibility and inflicting Frostbite damage.

• Location: Mountaintops of the Giants
• Rewards: Dragon Heart, 100,000 Runes

Decaying Ekzykes

After visiting the Caelid Highway Site of Grace, players can venture southeast and come face to face with Decaying Ekzykes. Ekzykes has been driven mad by the Scarlet Rot and, as a result, breathes out clouds of toxin that cause Scarlet Rot buildup on the player.

• Location: Caelid
• Rewards: Dragon Heart, 38,000 Runes

Elder Dragon Greyoll

According to Elden Ring's lore, Greyoll is the mother of The Lands Between's dragons, and her imposing size gives weight to that claim. It's practically impossible to miss Greyoll while traveling through Caelid toward the Dragonbarrow region, as her body essentially acts as a makeshift mountain. She is surrounded by several of her Lesser Dragon offspring.

• Location: Dragonbarrow; Caelid
• Rewards: Dragon Heart (x5), 50,000 Runes

Flying Dragon Agheel

Most players will stumble upon Flying Dragon Agheel completely by accident after first starting Elden Ring, as this flying dragon lies in wait in the lake just north of the first Site of Grace. When it takes to the skies, it will circle around the battlefield breathing fire.

• Location: Limgrave; Agheel Lake
• Rewards: Dragon Heart, 5,000 Runes

Flying Dragon Greyll

The second of the two Flying Dragons players encounter is Greyll, who guards the bridge just south of the Bestial Sanctum in the far northern reaches of Caelid. While the beast is essentially identical to Flying Dragon Agheel, including its moveset and abilities, fighting this dragon on the bridge presents some difficulty with positioning.

• Location: Dragonbarrow; bridge south of Bestial Sanctum
• Rewards: Dragon Heart, 80,000 Runes

Glintstone Dragon Adula

Although Adula is first encountered in the Three Sisters area as part of Ranni's questline, this first battle ends prematurely when the dragon takes flight to fight another day. After gaining access to the Cathedral of Manus Celes, Adula reappears for the true fight. Not only can she breathe magic-imbued breath on the player, she summons her Moonblade mid-flight to create a wave inflicting Frostbite.

• Location: Cathedral of Manus Celes
• Rewards: Adula's Moonblade, Dragon Heart (x3), 120,000 Runes

Glintstone Dragon Smarag

Smarag's lore states that his fondness for eating sorcerers and their Glintstones resulted in his body becoming corrupted, resulting in him breathing powerful Glintstone breath imbued with magic against the player. He can be found near the island west of the Academy of Raya Lucaria.

• Location: Liurnia of the Lakes
• Rewards: Dragon Heart, 14,000 Runes

Great Wyrm Theodorix

Theodorix is a former troll who was transformed into the Great Wyrm for the sin of Dragon Communion, taking refuge on the frozen river within the Consecrated Snowfield. Heading north and then east from the Inner Consecrated Snowfield Site of Grace will put players in its path.

• Location: Consecrated Snowfield
• Rewards: Dragon Heart (x3), 180,000 Runes

Magma Wyrm Makar

Like Theodorix, Makar was not always a dragon but was transformed into one after committing the sin of Dragon Communion. He guards the Ruin-Strewn Precipice area within Liurnia of the Lakes and has several fire-based attacks to contend with.

• Location: Ruin-Strewn Precipice
• Rewards: Magma Wyrm's Scalesword, Dragon Heart, 18,000 Runes

Ancient Dragon Lansseax

Lansseax is the sister of Fortissax and likely the first Ancient Dragon players will encounter in Elden Ring. She wields a glaive made of red lightning and will momentarily retreat after sustaining enough damage, prompting the player to give chase.

• Location: Atlus Plateau
• Rewards: Lansseax's Glaive, 60,000 Runes

Lichdragon Fortissax

Fortissax is the Lichdragon and corrupted by death thanks to his efforts aiding his ally Godwyn after he became the Prince of Death. Players will encounter this Ancient Dragon within the Deeproot Depths inside the Deathbed Dream.

• Location: Deeproot Depths
• Rewards: Rememberance of the Lichdragon, 90,000 Runes

Dragonlord Placidusax

The Dragonlord Placidusax is the lord of all Dragons, Ancient or otherwise, and a secret boss encounter in Elden Ring. To reach him, players must make their way inside the heart of the storm within Crumbling Farum Azula and then lie down within an open grave. This twin-headed demigod is the most powerful and aggressive of all the Dragon bosses, wielding red lightning and dive-bombing the arena.

• Location: Crumbling Farum Azula
• Rewards: Rememberance of the Dragonlord, 280,000 Runes

Elden Ring

Elden Ring is a fantasy action-RPG adventure set in a world co-created by Hidetaka Miyazaki, the creator of the influential Dark Souls video game series, and George R.R. Martin, the author of the best-selling fantasy series A Song of Ice and Fire. This collaboration between two renowned creators has resulted in FromSoftware's largest game to date, filled with danger and discovery at every turn. Hidetaka Miyazaki, president and game director of FromSoftware, has a history of directing highly acclaimed games in franchises such as Armored Core and Dark Souls.

Platform(s)

PS5 , Xbox One , PS4 , Xbox Series X , Xbox Series S , PC

Released

February 25, 2022

Developer(s)

From Software

Publisher(s)

Bandai Namco Entertainment , From Software

Genre(s)

RPG , Action

Multiplayer

Online Co-Op , Online Multiplayer

ESRB

M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence

How Long To Beat

58 Hours

Metascore

96

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