Before the age of Erdtree in Elden Ring, Ancient Dragons ruled over the Lands Between and served under their own Elden Lord named Placidusax. However, many hundred years have passed since Placidusax’s god fled, bringing an end to the age of Ancient Dragons. The weakened Elden Lord Placidusax went to the timeless Crumbling Farum Azula along with other Ancient Dragons and now awaits the return of his god. However, there were two Ancient Dragon sisters who decided to stay with the humans and teach them the red lightning incantations, leading to the formation of Leyndell’s dragon cult.
In Elden Ring, the majestic and beautiful red lightning is kin to Ancient Dragons, but players can also find some Azula Beastmen capable of wielding it as well. Like all powers found throughout the Lands Between, players can wield the power of Ancient Dragons as well. In fact, all lightning incantations originate from the Ancient Dragons and belong to the Dragon Cult. Out of all lightning spells, Ancient Dragons’ Lightning Strike tops them all by being among the most powerful incantations in Elden Ring. Here’s how players can obtain it.
Elden Ring: The 23 Best Incantations, Ranked
Incantations are a powerful form of magic in Elden Ring. Players should nab these special abilities whenever they get the chance.
Elden Ring: Ancient Dragons’ Lightning Strike Incantation Location Guide
Ancient Dragons’ Lightning Strike summons bolts of red lightning spreading around the caster and can hit enemies multiple times. When this spell is charged, the range of lightning increases, which further increases the chance of hitting enemies. However, it is possible to completely miss the spell, but when it strikes, it can deal tremendous damage, especially to bosses with large hitboxes like Dragonlord Placidusax, Elden Beast, and Fire Giant.
You can purchase the Ancient Dragons’ Lightning Strike from either Brother Corhyn or Miriel, Pastor of Vows, after giving them the Ancient Dragon Prayerbook. This prayerbook is located in the Crumbling Farum Azula and can only be obtained after you have defeated the Fire Giant and committed the grave sin of burning the Erdtree to get teleported to the Crumbling Farum Azula. You can find the Ancient Dragon Prayerbook in the room ahead of the Crumbling Beast Grave Depths site of grace.
To reach the Crumbling Beast Grave Depths site of grace, you will just have to keep heading in the west direction after heading down the broken bridge where you were teleported. You will first reach the Crumbling Beast Grave grace site. From there, go west and jump down on the open area and keep going in the same direction. Just a little ahead, an Ancient Dragon will come flying down on you. You can keep running in the same direction to reach the Crumbling Beast Grave Depths site of grace. If you choose to fight the dragon, it will drop an Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone upon defeat.
From the Crumbling Beast Grave Depths, take the doorway on the west to enter a room with a couple of Azula Beastmen. There will be a staircase going down into a large hallway with a giant dead Ancient Dragon and a bunch of Azula Beastmen. The Ancient Dragon Prayerbook lies on a beastmen corpse in the middle of the hall. Pick up the book and run straight for the exit in the north to find the Tempest-Facing Balcony site of grace. Rest at the grace site to reset enemy aggression and peacefully make your way out of this place.
Now, you can give the Ancient Dragon Prayerbook to Corhyn in the Roundtable Hold or Miriel in Pastor of Vows. However, after burning the Erdtree, Corhyn dies in the Roundtable Hold unless you have progressed his quest. Miriel is guaranteed to be found in the Church of Vows located north of Liurnia Artist’s Shack. After giving the prayerbook, you can purchase the Ancient Dragons’ Lightning Strike for 10,000 runes.
Is Ancient Dragons’ Lightning Strike Incantation Good or Not?
Ancient Dragons’ Lightning Strike is one of the strongest spells for Faith builds in Elden Ring. You only need 26 Faith to cast this Dragon Cult incantation. Ancient Dragons’ Lightning Strike is extremely strong against large enemies because the lightning bolts can hit the target multiple times, but against small enemies, it boils down to luck whether the spell will be able to hit even one time or not.
There are many ways to buff the Ancient Dragons’ Lightning Strike incantation. First of all, you can hold the Gravel Stone Seal in the off-hand for a 15% damage boost and use a seal with higher incant scaling to cast the spell, such as the Erdtree Seal. You can also use the Lightning-Shrouding Cracked Tear for a 20% increase to Lightning attacks.
As for talismans, Godfrey’s Icon (boosts charged spells and skills), Lightning Scorpion Charm (increases Lightning damage by 12%), and Flock’s Canvas talisman (boosts incantations by 8%) are a must-have to bring out the most of the Ancient Dragons’ Lightning Strike. Players can also opt for the Red-Feathered Branchsword if interested in a one-shot build or use the Ritual Sword for a simple 10% attack boost.
Ancient Dragons’ Lightning Strike has one downside as well. The cast animation for this spell takes a few seconds, which can prove to be lethal against fast enemies. Players will need to equip armor sets with high poise to be able to cast the spell while taking a few hits.
Elden Ring
- Released
- February 25, 2022
- How Long To Beat
- 58 Hours
