14 BEST Dragon Incantations In Elden Ring

Delve into the art of the best Elden Ring Dragon Communion and Dragon Cult Incantations, where you’ll master the ability to harness the raw power of dragons, including breath and lightning attacks, to enhance your character and strike fear into the hearts of your enemies. I’ve listed below how you can get these spells and use them in your game. Discover where to find them, what you need to do, and how they work.

My Picks For The Best Dragon Incantations 

Here is an overview & comparison of all the Dragon Incantations in Elden Ring;

Dragon Incantations play a crucial role in mage builds, using Faith and Arcane for casting and offering tactical benefits during battles. Like in earlier Souls games, these incantations deliver physical and magical damage and Area of Effect damage. There are a total of 26 Dragon Incantations, split into two categories:

• Dragon Communion: Dragon Communion depends on both Faith and Arcane
• Dragon Cult Incantations: Dragon Cult relies solely on Faith

Best Dragon Communion Incantations

Elden Ring’s Dragon Communion Incantations are magical spells that lets you wield dragon power, offering unique abilities and transformations. They have a mixed reputation, with some finding them underwhelming and others considering them strong options for Faith builds. I think they can be quite effective in proper situations.

Here are some top Dragon Communion Incantations for you:

1. Agheel’s Flame

Agheel’s Flame is a powerful Dragon Communion Incantation. It creates a huge flame, damaging enemies and looking cool. It is similar to DragonFire but deals more damage. This incantation can also be cast in the air.

• It needs 36 FP, 23 Faith, 0 Intelligence, and 15 Arcane to use.
• You must defeat Flying Dragon Agheel in Limgrave’s Dragon-Burnt Ruins to get it.
• Trade two Dragon Hearts at the Cathedral of Dragon Communion in Caelid to get the spell.
• Good for characters with high Faith and Arcane stats.
• Excellent against shielded and high-poise enemies because of the flames coming from above.
• The spell can be used early, offering a powerful fire attack option.
• Can help you avoid ground-based attacks by casting it while jumping.

If you are low on FP and stats, then I suggest going for the Dragonfire incantation. Deals lower damage but also requires lower stats and stamina.

2. Rotten Breath

Rotten Breath is another great Dragon Communion Incantation. The spell allows the caster to conjure a cloud of rot and decay, dealing standard physical damage.

• It has a Stamina Cost of 48 and an FP Cost of 36.
• Rotten Breath requires 15 Faith and 12 Arcane to cast.
• Like other generic Breath incantations, Rotten Breath has a long wind-up time of 2 seconds.
• It covers a wide area and can occasionally ricochet from walls and non-destructible objects.
• The duration can be extended to breathe again, and you can swivel your character while casting to spew in different directions.
• It takes around 5 seconds to complete the full cast, including the initial wind-up.

3. Borealis’s Mist

• Potent frost-based Dragon Communion incantation and inflicts Magic damage and frostbite.
• Costs: 60 Stamina, 48 FP. Requires 23 Faith and 15 Arcane.
• Upgraded Dragonice, offering enhanced damage, AoE, and jump casting.
• How to unlock: Defeat Borealis the Freezing Fog in Mountaintop of the Giants.

After defeating Borealis the Freezing Fog, you can purchase the spell at the Cathedral of Dragon Communion in Caelid for two Dragon Hearts. If you enjoy Dragonice and seek a more powerful frosty dragon breath spell, then I recommend you to use Borealis’s Mist. This incantation allows for greater range and damage, making it a valuable asset in battle.

4. Ekzykes’s Decay

• Ekzykes’s Decay is a powerful Communion Incantation in Elden Ring, an upgrade of Rotten Breath.
• The spell deals increased Physical damage and inflict the Scarlet Rot status effect.
• It has a Stamina Cost of 60 and an FP Cost of 48.
• Ekzykes’s Decay requires 23 Faith and 15 Arcane to cast.
• Unlike Rotten Breath, Ekzykes’s Decay can be cast while jumping but not on horseback.
• To unlock Ekzykes’s Decay, you must defeat Decaying Ekzykes, found in Caelid.
• You can purchase the spell at the Cathedral of Dragon Communion for 2 Dragon Hearts.

Although the FP cost is high, the incantation effectively deals damage over a wide area and against late-game bosses like the Godskin Duo. You will notice a significant difference in difficulty when using Ekzykes’s Decay compared to Rotten Breath.

5. Theodorix’s Magma

• Theodorix’s Magma is an upgraded version of Magma Breath, dealing greater damage and covering a larger area.
• The spell has a Stamina Cost of 60 per shot and an FP Cost of 45.
• It requires 21 Faith and 14 Arcane to cast.
• Theodorix’s Magma supports chain cast; you can cast it while jumping.
• Theodorix’s Magma deals prolonged Fire damage and slows enemies down with magma pools.
• To unlock Theodorix’s Magma, you must defeat Great Wyrm Theodorix, found near the Cave of the Forlorn in the Consecrated Snowfield.

The spell can be purchased at the Cathedral of Dragon Communion for 2 Dragon Hearts. Ideal for Strength, Faith, or Fire builds, Theodorix’s Magma is particularly effective against fire-vulnerable bosses and mobs. I found it to be pretty effective for crowd control, as the magma pools can stack and slow down multiple enemies.

If you are looking for a similar magma incantation which you can use early-on, then I recommend the Magma Breath. It deals significantly lower dmg but comes with a lower stats requirement and FP.

6. Dragonmaw

• Dragonmaw: Powerful incantation transforms your head into a dragon to bite enemies.
• Costs: 50 Stamina, 34 FP. Requires 24 Faith and 16 Arcane.
• Not chain-castable, has a long cast time, and is less flexible than Dragonclaw.
• Inflicts high damage and poise damage when accurately used.
• Unlock: Trade one Dragon Heart at the Cathedral of Dragon Communion.
• Best for Faith-based builds, scales with Faith, complements melee.
• Slow casting time requires careful planning against agile foes.

Dragonmaw lifts the caster, dealing precise and deadly aerial bites. Ideal for Faith-based builds, it scales with Faith, complementing melee. But the drawback I discovered was its slow casting, vulnerable to swift foes; you must anticipate enemy movements for maximum impact.

For more flexibility in melee combat, I present the Dragonclaw incantation. It can be chain-casted and deals almost equal HP and poise damage.

7. Dragonice

• Dragonice: Frost-based Dragon Communion incantation inducing frostbite.
• Costs: 48 Stamina, 36 FP. Requires 15 Faith and 12 Arcane.
• Suitable as an opener before direct damage spells, but not as powerful as Dragonfire.
• Unlock by trading one Dragon Heart at the Cathedral of Dragon Communion.
• Effective against hordes or non-boss enemies with low casting cost.
• Inflicts damage and frostbite, reducing absorption and stamina restoration.
• Ideal for melee-focused builds exploring magic against groups or non-boss foes.
• You do not need to defeat a specific dragon; it’s available for one Dragon Heart purchase at the Church of Dragon Communion in West Limgrave or south of Caelid at the Cathedral of Dragon Communion.

Best Dragon Cult Incantations

Elden Ring’s Dragon Cult Incantations feature powerful Lightning-based spells ideal for Faith builds. You can obtain them from NPCs like Brother Corhyn and Miriel, Pastor of Vows. Unlike Dragon Communion Incantations, they don’t have transform properties that rely on Faith, not Arcane. Enhance them with the Gravel Stone Seal for better damage.

Here are some top Dragon Cult Incantations:

1. Lightning Spear

• Lightning Spear, a potent Dragon Cult Incantation in Elden Ring, inflicts massive Lightning damage with impressive accuracy, even against swift enemies.
• Charging it enhances damage, range, and poise damage.
• The Godfrey Icon boosts the charged spell, offering versatility and power.
• Though charged casting may miss more often, it deals AoE damage, ensuring damage on dodging targets.
• Accessible to a wide player range with low character stats and FP requirements—17 Faith and 18 FP per cast.
•  You can acquire it by defeating the Leyndell Knight and returning the Dragon Cult Prayerbook to Brother Corhyn at the Roundtable Hold.

2. Death Lightning

• Death Lightning, one of the best dragon lightning incantation in Elden Ring, boasts impressive stats.
• Casting it summons a deadly lightning storm, dealing massive damage and draining enemy HP.
• Fueled by the ancient LichDragon Fortissax, it offers you with a wide Area of Effect for maximum damage and inflicts Death Blight buildup, potentially leading to brutal enemy deaths.
• Requirements: 47 Faith points and a 28 FP cost, doubling with continuous casting.
• To obtain the Death Lightning you need to follow Fia’s questline to Deeproot Depths, defeat the Legendary boss Lichdragon Fortissax, and trade the Remembrance of the Lichdragon with Enia at Roundtable Hold.

3. Frozen Lightning Spear

• I consider the Frozen Lightning Spear to be one of the best dragon cult incantation in Elden Ring that deals damage and leaves a trail of lightning.
• It requires 34 Faith, 0 Intelligence, and 0 Arcane, with a 29 FP cost.
• The area of effect is conical, and after a short delay, marked areas are struck by the frozen lightning.
• Useful for controlling the battlefield or forcing enemies to reposition.
• You must defeat the Dragonkin Soldier of Nokstella to obtain Frozen Lightning Spear.
• You can best use Frozen Lightning Spear against large or grouped-up enemies and slow, ranged PvE fights.
• Boost damage with the Gravel Stone Seal, which can be equipped off-hand while casting with the primary seal.

4. Honed Bolt

• Honed Bolt is one of the best Elden Ring dragon incantations that conjure lightning bolts to strike nearby foes.
• Requires 24 Faith, 0 Intelligence, and 0 Arcane.
• You can acquire Honed Bolt by purchasing it from Brother Corhyn or Miriel, Pastor of Vows, after giving either of them the Dragon Cult Prayerbook.

The spell has a stamina cost of 29, deals lightning damage, and is boosted by the Gravel Stone Seal. Honed Bolt is known for its fast cast speed, chain casting capability, and lack of projectile travel time. I believe the incantation is pretty effective against multiple enemies in PvP and moving targets in PvE.

5. Electrify Armament

• Electrify Armament enchants the caster’s right-hand weapon with lightning-affinity attacks.
• Casting requires 15 Faith, 0 Intelligence, and 0 Arcane.
•  You can obtain it from Brother Corhyn or Miriel, Pastor of Vows, by offering the Dragon Cult Prayerbook.
• The effect lasts 90 seconds with a 10 stamina cost.

The spell imbues your weapon with a lightning buff that does not scale with the Gravel Stone Seal. Electrify Armament is useful against bosses weak to lightning, such as the Ancient Hero of Zamor and Bloodhound Knight Darriwil.

You can also use it as a damage booster for physical damage weapons in both PvE and PvP situations. To cast the spell, You must have a Sacred Seal equipped, and the weapon must be on the right hand without any existing elemental effect.

6. Fortissax’s Lightning Spear

• Fortissax’s Lightning Spear channels the power of the ancient Lichdragon Fortissax, creating two red lightning spears that stab into the ground from above.
• Requires 46 Faith, 0 Intelligence, and 0 Arcane.
• You can acquire it by trading Remembrance of the Lichdragon with Enia at Roundtable Hold.
• Costs 52 stamina and inflicts lightning damage.
• Useful for crowd control and against recovering or stance-broken PvE bosses.
• The spell has a stamina cost of 52 and deals lightning damage.
• I recommend using it against close targets, as its damage decreases with distance.

7. Vyke’s Dragonbolt

• Vyke’s Dragonbolt enchants your right-hand weapon and body with red lightning.
• Requires 23 Faith, 0 Intelligence, and 0 Arcane for casting.
• You can obtain this incantation after defeating Roundtable Knight Vyke at Lord Contender’s Evergaol in the Mountaintops of the Giants.
• The spell has a stamina cost of 20, buffs your weapon with Lightning attack power, and grants a 15% increased equip load.
• Reduces Lightning Damage negation by 35% and lasts for 70 seconds.

Vyke’s Dragonbolt is best used when the increased equip load is beneficial or against bosses weak to Lightning. I do not recommend this spell against enemies who use Lightning attacks, as it decreases the caster’s Lightning damage negation.

My Take On The Best Dragon Incantations in Elden Ring

Since the Elden Ring devs never truly nerfed Scarlot Rot, the best dragon incantation, from my experience, is a tossup between Ekzyke’s Decay and Rotten Breath. One becomes more useful than the other depending on the situation, but they’re still much more powerful than the other incantations.

Simply put, I would never trust any Scarlet Rot-related item to be balanced since that status effect is arguably the toughest debuff to deal with. Because of that, Ekzyke’s Decay and Rotten Breath are top choices for both PvP and PvE. They have deceptively long-range, and their Rot buildup is underrated. As such, for a Dragon build, I’d use and recommend these two any day of the week.

In Elden Ring, dragon incantations are powerful spells that help characters harness the power of dragons. If you find the best Elden Ring dragon incantation for your playstyle, then defeating bosses is no problem.

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