Elden Ring: 12 Hardest Dragon Boss Fights, Ranked

Highlights

• Elden Ring
  features a total of 238 bosses, including smaller optional bosses that guard specific areas on the map.
• The dragons in Elden Ring have a rich backstory and were the first rulers of the Lands Between, possessing immense power over lightning.
• Players will encounter a variety of dragons in the game, ranging from easier fights to more challenging battles, each with their own unique abilities and attacks.

Elden Ring has an impressive 238 bosses in total. Many of these are smaller optional bosses that guard catacombs, mines, or small areas around the map. All of these bosses have a deep backstory and a reason for being where they are. The lore of Elden Ring is vast and complex, and none more so than that of the dragons.

The dragons of Elden Ring have a long history. They were the first rulers of the Lands Between and were large stone-scaled creatures of immense power; the remains of which can often be seen throughout the game. The original Elden Lord, before the time of the Erdtree, was a Dragonlord. These ancient dragons had power over lightning and were the undisputed masters of the world. Many of the dragons players meet in the game are lesser versions of these ancient beasts, and are both smaller and weaker. There are many dragons in Elden Ring that players will encounter, and they range from easily won fights to grueling battles.

12 Flying Dragon Agheel

HP: 3,200

• Location: Agheel Lake
• Drops: 5,000 Runes, Dragon Heart

Flying Dragon Agheel is the first dragon players will encounter in Elden Ring and one of the first big challenges they will face while exploring Limgrave. Found very close to where players first emerge, the fight can be tough for new players who aren’t used to the mechanics of the game, especially if fought on-foot.

The boss is located close to where players will receive Torrent, the mount they will travel on, and works as a tutorial for mounted combat. The boss fight is fought on an open lake with plenty of room to ride. The dragon’s fire breath can reach further than expected and fast movement is ideal for defeating this boss.

11 Dragonkin Soldier Of Nokstella

HP: 4,372

• Location: Ainsel River
• Drops: 12,000 Runes, Frozen Lightning Spear Incantation

The Dragonkin Soldiers can be found in various locations underneath the Lands Between and are depicted as reanimated corpses. The Dragonkin are underground dwelling beings that attempted to achieve immortality by becoming like the Ancient Dragons, but failed in their quest. They are lesser versions of their more powerful cousins and share only some similarities.

The Dragonkin Soldier Of Nokstella is a more powerful Dragonkin variant that can fly into the air in its second phase. It can be found at the end of the Ainsel River below the Eternal City of Nokstella. It guards a large and mysterious throne that a giant skeleton sits upon. This boss can hit quite hard and shoots lightning that builds up frostbite, but most of its attacks are well-telegraphed. Most players won’t have many problems taking down this great enemy.

10 Glintstone Dragon Smarag

HP: 6,069

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

Another of the more commonly found Dragons seen around the Lands Between. Smarag is a Glintstone Dragon that guards a key to entering the Academy of Raya Lucaria. Found sleeping on the nearby lake, the dragon has Glintstone scales and can perform Glintstone sorcery attacks in addition to its normal attacks.

This boss is located in an open area and is best tackled while mounted. Players will recognize many of the attacks from fighting Flying Dragon Agheel, with only a couple of additions. Players will have little trouble taking on Smarag, who is strong against magic, but weak to piercing damage.

9 Magma Wyrm Makar

HP: 7,141

• Location: Ruin-Strewn Precipice
• Drops: 24,000 Runes, Magma Wyrm’s Scalesword, Dragon Heart.

Magma Wyrms are Lesser Dragons that were once human. After performing the Dragon Communion, they were cursed to never be a true dragon. They cannot fly and are forced to crawl on their large bellies. They are sad parodies of their more majestic flying cousins.

Magma Wyrm Makar is one of the first of these types of dragon that players will encounter in the game. It guards the route through the mines that lead to the Altus Plateau region. Players won’t have too much issue taking on this enemy, but will have to avoid its lava, large sword swipes, and charging attacks.

8 Borealis, The Freezing Fog

HP: 11,268

• Location: Frozen Lake in Mountaintops of the Giants
• Drops: 100,000 Runes, Dragon Heart

Borealis, The Freezing Fog is one of the last common dragons players will encounter in the game and can deal a lot of damage if players aren’t careful. The dragon will appear when players are crossing a large frozen lake, covered in a thick mist, appearing seemingly out of nowhere.

Most of its attacks players will have encountered in previous dragon fights, except for an area attack that can quickly kill players if they get too close. Set in a large open area, the fight is best fought on horseback to easily avoid freezing breath attacks. Players shouldn’t have too many issues with this encounter, having defeated tougher enemies to get to this point.

7 Flying Dragon Greyll

HP: 11,500

• Location: Dragonbarrow
• Drops: 80,000 Runes, Dragon Heart

Another of the more commonly found dragons in Elden Ring, Flying Dragon Greyll is found at the very top of Caelid, guarding a bridge. Seemingly unaffected by the surrounding Scarlet Rot, Greyll has the same attacks as the first dragon players encounter, Flying Dragon Agheel.

Players shouldn’t have too much issue taking down this enemy, although there is far less room to avoid its fire attacks as the fight takes place on a bridge. Defeating Greyll requires some quick reactions to avoid damage, using Torrent to ride out of the way.

6 Ancient Dragon Lansseax

HP: 9,087

• Location: Altus Plateau
• Drops: 60,000 Runes, Lansseax’s Glaive Incantation

Lansseax is an Ancient Dragon that is first encountered when players first reach the Altus Plateau region, after making their way through the Rock-Strewn Precipice. This first fight will only last for a short time before the dragon disappears.

When players meet Lansseax again, later in the same region, the fight takes place in a large area that is ideal for mounted attacks. Ancient Dragon Lansseax is the sister of Lichdragon Fortissax and has some similar attacks. Both can control red lightning, which they use to great effect. This boss has some dangerous attacks that can deal high damage, but with a relatively small health pool, players should be able to take down this Ancient Dragon easily.

5 Glintstone Dragon Adula

HP, 11,550

• Location: Three Sisters, Cathedral of Manus Celes
• Drops: 120,000 Runes, Adula’s Moonblade Sorcery, 3x Dragon Hearts

This dragon is first encountered in the Three Sisters, where players will meet Ranni the Witch for the second time. Adula is unbeatable in this battle and will disappear once its health has dropped to a certain amount. After progressing through Ranni’s questline, players will meet this dragon once again.

The second meeting is a tougher encounter. Glintstone Dragon Adula has the same move set as the previous Glintstone Dragon Smarag, which players will be well-used to by this point. The danger from this enemy is its additional Moonblade attacks, which can deal huge damage to the player. With plenty of room to ride and with a few well-timed dodges, players should achieve victory with few problems.

4 Decaying Ekzykes

HP: 23,731

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

The region of Caelid was ruined by Scarlet Rot, deforming the land into a desolate hellscape. Found in this area, Decaying Ekzykes is another of the common dragons that inhabit the Lands Between. Slowly succumbing to the rot, the dragon has become infused with it.

The dragon may be slowly dying from rot, but Ekzykes is no pushover. It no longer breathes fire, but clouds of Scarlet Rot, which can quickly drain the player’s health. Many of its attacks are similar to the other dragons of this type and are best avoided while mounted. Decaying Ekzykes is tougher than many of the other early-game dragons, and the location isn’t ideal for mounted attacks, making this a tougher dragon battle than most.

3 Great Wyrm Theodorix

HP: 25,649

• Location: Consecrated Snowfield
• Drops: 180,000 Runes, 3x Dragon Hearts

Another of the Magma Wyrms, Theodorix was once a troll who committed the sin of Dragon Communion. Like others who performed this ritual, he became a deformed version of the true dragons. Found at the bottom of a frozen waterfall, Theodorix is a tough boss fight with a high health pool and high-damage attacks.

Players will need to avoid some heavy-hitting attacks from this boss while slowly chipping away at its health. While most of the attacks are well-telegraphed, some can nearly one-shot players, especialy if they have low Vigor. Its moveset is much the same as the previous Magma Wyrm fights, so players should be used to the attacks. It is also possible to goad Theodorix into fighting nearby Giant Land Octopuses.

2 Lichdragon Fortissax

HP: 12,903

• Location: Deeproot Depths
• Drops: 90,000 Runes, Remembrance of the Lichdragon

Lichdragon Fortissax is a large Ancient Dragon that can be found at the end of Fia’s questline within the Deeproot Depths. Fortissax was a friend of Godwyn during the war with the Ancient Dragons. After Godwyn was killed, Fortissax also succumbed to the Death Blight that infected the world.

Facing Lichdragon Fortissax means entering into a dream world where the player will discover the boss. The battle can be challenging as the dragon can summon Death Blight around the arena. There will be red lightning that sticks to the player during the fight, as well as devastating area attacks, which require good timing to avoid. The majority of the attacks are well-telegraphed though, and by this point in the game, players should be well-prepared for the battle.

1 Dragonlord Placidusax

Hp: 26,651

• Location: Crumbling Farum Azula
• Drops: 280,000 Runes, Remembrance of the Dragonlord

This secret boss is found in the late game in Crumbling Farum Azula and is by far the toughest dragon fight in Elden Ring. With a huge health pool and attacks that can one-shot the player, Dragonlord Placidusax requires patience and perseverance to defeat.

The multi-headed Placidusax is a previous Elden Lord that is now trapped out of time, within the swirling chaos of Farum Azula. Way past its glory days, the Dragon seems to be missing some of its heads and looks battered and wounded. Far from being defeated though, the Dragonlord has multiple attacks that can cause massive damage. These include swiping lightning claws, summoned lightning, laser attacks, and fire breathing. Players will only be able to chip away at the health of this behemoth, with victory coming slowly over time.