FromSoftware opened the floodgates of possibilities in, Elden Ring. While it has many similarities to Demon’s Souls and the Dark Souls trilogy, it has plenty of unique qualities. While dragons were once a rare boss encounter, in The Lands Between, they appear in plentiful numbers and influence your available incantations.
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Dragons offer epic, difficult battles that are highly rewarding. While you get plenty of Runes to help level you up, the Dragon’s Heart is the most valuable reward you get for defeating one of them. Consuming one in the Church of Dragon Communion or the Cathedral of Dragon Communion will grant you a selection of Incantations.
Updated June 30, 2024, by Andrew Scariati: With the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC release, the best Dragon Communion Incantations received some new options to consider. Head over to the Grand Alter of Dragon Communion to add more of the best Dragon Communion Incantations in Elden Ring to your collection.
10 Bayle’s Flame Lightning
Requirements
FP Cost
Effect
43
Channels the dread dragon to strike with flame-lightning-infused talon bone.
This explosive Dragon Communion Incantation in Elden Ring’s Shadow of the Erdtree DLC channels the power of the dread dragon, Bayle, after exchanging the 
Heart of Bayle .
This incantation gives you hyper-armor and allows you to cast another incantation immediately after using it, giving you the flexibility and quick recovery speed needed to survive. You can buff Bayle’s Flame Lightning with multiple talismans, but it doesn’t reach notable damage heights.
9 Dragonfire
Requirements
FP Cost
Effect
28
Spews flame breath that deals Fire Damage.
Dragonfire is a great starter Dragon Communion incantation. It’s useful for its cheap cost of FP and low Faith requirement; you should be able to use this right when you get your first Dragon Heart. For best use, burn hordes of mobs into a mound of ash.
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When it comes to bosses who are weak against fire damage, this will get you by until you learn better fire incantations. While it’s certainly not the best Dragon Communion Incantion in Elden Ring on damage alone, it’s a solid mainstay in your arsenal.
Dragonfire can be found either
in the Cathedral in Caelid or off the coast of West Limgrave
, making it easy to buy.
8 Dragonice
Requirements
FP Cost
Effect
36
Spews icy breath that deals Magic Damage. Inflicts Frostbite on opponents (110/tick)
Investing your Runes wisely gets you some of the best Incantations in Elden Ring, especially when it comes to the Dragon Communion. You don’t have to worry early on, as it is quite easy to obtain Dragonice. While not the best for most bosses, it is useful against groups of mobs or tougher non-boss enemies.
This Elden Ring Dragon Communion Incantation will be unlocked for purchase (one heart) at the
Church of Dragon Communion
through the
Coastal Cave
in West Limgrave
, or in the south of Caelid at the
Cathedral of Dragon Communion
.
When used, it damages your foes while giving them frostbite. The status effect slows stamina recovery and lowers damage absorption. Since the next frost-based dragon breath attack is unavailable until the late game, you frost lovers will have plenty of time to use Dragonice.
7 Rotten Breath
Requirements
FP Cost
Effect
36
Spews Scarlet Rot Breath that inflicts Physical Damage. Inflicts Scarlet Rot on opponents (65/tick).
Scarlet Rot is one of the best status effects in Elden Ring. With some exceptions, it will slowly break down any mob or boss. The initial damage is solid, but the rot that whittles away enemy HP makes this incantation especially deadly.
Rotten Breath
is among the best Dragon Communion Incantations in Elden Ring for
longer boss fights.
The modest requirements make this an easy unlock, especially since it’s the ideal minimum for anyone using incantations. For that initial damage, when the rot hits, you will want high FP to drag out the breath for maximum damage. It also costs one heart at the Cathedral to unlock without fighting.
6 Smarag’s Glintstone Breath
Requirements
FP Cost
Effect
36
Spews the Glintstone Breath of Smarag, dealing Magic Damage.
The only thing better than magic fire is breathing it in midair, which is exactly what 
Smarag’s Glintstone Breath allows you to do. Now, you can seriously wipe out just about anything without sweating, as long as it is weak to magic.
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First, you must defeat 
Glintstone Dragon Smarag in 
Liurnia of the Lakes . This is an important fight as the dragon sleeps right on the 
Academy Glintstone Key that you need to get into the Academy. While you can run around the dragon for the key, if you want this power, you need to slay it and devour its heart.
5 Borealis’s Mist
Requirements
FP Cost
Effect
48
Spews the icy breath of Borealis, dealing Magic Damage. Inflicts Frostbite on foes (110/tick).
Back to frost – except for this one, you will have to wait until you can fight 
Borealis, the Freezing Fog in the Mountaintop of the Giants, which is not until later in your adventure.
If you liked Dragonice,
Borealis’s Mist
will be one of your favorite Dragon Communion Incantations.
The difference between any normal Dragon Incantation of frost, fire, or anything else is that when you attach the boss dragon’s name at the beginning, it always means you are getting some air when casting. Leap up to spray frostbite-inducing breath for greater range and damage to your soon-to-be chilly enemies.
4 Theodorix’s Magma
Requirements
FP Cost
Effect
45
Spews magma breath of Theodorix, dealing Fire Damage. Has a bigger Area of Effect (AoE) than Magma Breath.
Another late-game incantation that is unique for not coming from the typical dragon but a 
Magma Wyrm instead. Despite the difficult challenge you must overcome to acquire it, 
Theodorix’s Magma is one of the best Dragon Communion Incantations Elden Ring has hidden behind a fight.
You can find this specific Wyrm
in a frozen river
that is slightly
north of
Albinauric Rise
in the Consecrated Snowfield.
What separates this fire-based incantation is that it shoots out magma rather than the normal flames. When enemies step into it, they simultaneously take fire damage and are slowed down. It is a good one to use for crowd control.
3 Agheel’s Flame
Requirements
FP Cost
Effect
36
Spews flame breath of Agheel, dealing Fire Damage. Deals 18 percent more damage than Dragonfire.
Despite the slightly higher requirements than those required for Dragonfire, the ruins to fight this beast can be reached early on. It will be a difficult fight if you are at a low level, but with the right preparations, you can have a great fire incantation near the beginning of the game.
Agheel’s Flame
is obtained from Agheel
in
Dragon-Burnt Ruins
in Limgrave
.
Jump up to shoot fire at mobs or bosses to do great fire damage with an increased range. It will be tough for enemies to get away from being burned alive, but it’s worth it for one of the best Dragon Communion Incantations in Elden Ring.
2 Ekzyke’s Decay
Requirements
FP Cost
Effect
48
Spews the Scarlet Rot breath of Ekzykes, dealing Physical Damage. Inflicts Scarlet Rot on foes (65/tick). Deals 18 percent more damage than Rotten Breath.
When you arrive in Caelid, find 
Decaying Ekzykes , and kill it to gain the deadlier edition of breathing out this likely stinky breath. Like some other Dragon Communion incantations, you will jump high in the air and unleash a wave of toxic gas. The effect is more effective with a range to cover more ground, so nobody can escape your wrath.
While Rotten Breath was certainly not bad, this incantation takes the cake for the best Rot-based Dragon Communion Incantation.
1 Placidusax’s Ruin
Requirements
FP Cost
Effect
36 Faith
62
Spews the golden breath of Dragonlord Placidusax. The explosion deals Lightning Damage. The beam deals Fire Damage. Deals 70 stance damage.
The secret boss 
Dragonlord Placidusax , a two-headed dragon, isn’t available until you are on the road toward the endgame, visiting 
Crumbling Farum Azula . After you defeat Placidusax, and turn in its remembrance at the Roundtable, you receive this incredible power.
Although
it technically does not count as a Dragon Communion Incantation
(it is unique), we’ll make an exception, as it is a dragon breath that you gain from killing a dragon.
This powerful incantation causes lightning and explosions, which is so unbelievably cool; how could you not want to use it? All other dragon incantations are directional with little ability to aim; however, this one can fire in any direction to ensure nobody is left standing in your way.
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