Elden Ring: Best Dragon Incantations [Top 14]

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. Learn how to get these spells and use them in your game. Discover where to find them, what you need to do, and how they work.

Best Dragon Incantations Comparison

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 both physical and magical damage along with 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

Dragon Communion Incantations in Elden Ring are magical spells that allow players to harness the power of dragons, offering unique abilities and transformations. However, they have a mixed reputation among players, with some finding them underwhelming while others see them as strong options for Faith builds. Obtaining these incantations involves defeating dragons and collecting Dragon Hearts.

Dragon Hearts can be used at the Church of Dragon Communion in Limgrave or the Cathedral of Dragon Communion in Caelid. Despite the challenges in acquiring them, these incantations, centered around breath attacks, can provide players with a significant edge in both PvE and PvP situations. Here are some of the best 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.
• To get it, players need to defeat Flying Dragon Agheel in Limgrave’s Dragon-Burnt Ruins.
• Trade two Dragon Hearts at the Cathedral of Dragon Communion in Caelid to get the spell.
• It is 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.
• This Incantation can help you avoid ground-based attacks by casting it while jumping.

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, including the initial wind-up, to complete the full cast.

Unlike named Breath spells, Rotten Breath cannot be cast while jumping but can be used while on horseback. Rotten Breath can be purchased at the Dragon Communion Altar at the Cathedral of Dragon Communion in Caelid for 1 Dragon Heart.

3. Borealis’s Mist

• Borealis’s Mist is a powerful frost-based Dragon Communion incantation that deals Magic damage and builds up the frostbite status effect on enemies.
• The spell has a Stamina Cost of 60 and an FP Cost of 48.
• It requires 23 Faith and 15 Arcane to cast.
• Borealis’s Mist is an upgraded version of Dragonice, with increased damage, area of effect, and the ability to cast while jumping.
• To unlock Borealis’s Mist, players must defeat Borealis the Freezing Fog in the Mountaintop of the Giants region.
• Borealis’s Mist is visually stunning, unleashing ice mist onto opponents.

After defeating Borealis the Freezing Fog, players can purchase the spell at the Cathedral of Dragon Communion in Caelid for two Dragon Hearts. Borealis’s Mist is best suited for those who enjoy Dragonice and seek a more powerful frosty dragon breath spell. 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.
• Ekzykes’s Decay can be cast while jumping but not on horseback, unlike Rotten Breath.
• To unlock Ekzykes’s Decay, players must defeat Decaying Ekzykes, found in Caelid.
• The spell can be purchased 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. Players 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 higher 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, and 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, players 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. Theodorix’s Magma is also useful for crowd control, as the magma pools can stack and slow down multiple enemies.

6. Dragonmaw

• Dragonmaw is a powerful Dragon Communion incantation that transforms the caster’s head into a dragon head to bite enemies.
• The spell has a Stamina Cost of 50 and an FP Cost of 34.
• It requires 24 Faith and 16 Arcane to cast.
• Dragonmaw is not chain-castable and has a long cast time, making it less flexible than Dragonclaw.
• Dragonmaw deals very high damage and poise damage if landed correctly.
• To unlock Dragonmaw, players must trade one Dragon Heart at the Cathedral of Dragon Communion.

This visually striking incantation lifts the caster into the air, chomping down on targeted enemies. With proper timing and precision, Dragonmaw can deal fatal damage to opponents. Best suited for Faith-based builds, Dragonmaw scales with Faith and combines well with melee attacks. The main downside of Dragonmaw is its slow casting time, which fast enemies may counter. Players will need to plan and predict enemy movements to maximize their effectiveness.

7. Dragonice

• Dragonice is a frost-based Dragon Communion incantation that builds up the frostbite status effect on enemies.
• The spell has a Stamina Cost of 48 and an FP Cost of 36.
• It requires 15 Faith and 12 Arcane to cast.
• While not as immediately powerful as Dragonfire, Dragonice works well as an opener before using more direct damage spells.
• To unlock Dragonice, players must trade one Dragon Heart at the Cathedral of Dragon Communion.
• Dragonice is effective against hordes or non-boss foes and has a low casting cost.
• When unleashed, it deals damage and causes frostbite, which reduces hit absorption and decreases stamina restoration.
• Dragonice is ideal for melee-focused builds wanting to dabble in a bit of magic and is useful against groups of mobs or tougher non-boss enemies.
• Unlike some other Dragon Communion spells, obtaining Dragonice does not require defeating a specific dragon.
• This incantation can be purchased for one Dragon Heart at the Church of Dragon Communion through the Coastal Cave in West Limgrave or the south of Caelid at the Cathedral of Dragon Communion.

Best Dragon Cult Incantations

Dragon Cult Incantations in Elden Ring are powerful spells that draw upon the power of dragons, primarily focusing on Lightning-based attacks. They strongly appeal to players with Faith builds, as they require Faith for casting. Acquiring these incantations usually involves purchasing them from specific NPCs, such as Brother Corhyn and Miriel, Pastor of Vows.

Unlike Dragon Communion Incantations, Dragon Cult Incantations do not have any transformational aspects. They are also distinct in using Faith, while Dragon Communion Incantations rely on the Arcane stat. Dragon Cult Incantations are further enhanced by the Gravel Stone Seal, which boosts both damage-dealing and non-damage-dealing spells. Here are some of the best dragon cult incantations:

1. Lightning Spear

• Lightning Spear is a powerful Dragon Cult Incantation in Elden Ring that deals massive Lightning damage to enemies and is known for its accuracy, hitting fast-moving foes with ease.
• Lightning Spear’s damage, range, and poise damage increase when charged, and the charged spell is boosted by the Godfrey Icon, making it a versatile and powerful option in Elden Ring.
• The charged casting of Lightning Spear has a higher chance of missing, but it also deals AoE damage, ensuring some damage is inflicted even if the primary target dodges the attack.
• With low character stat and FP requirements, Lightning Spear is accessible to a wide range of players; it requires 17 Faith and consumes only 18 FP per cast.
• To acquire Lightning Spear, players must obtain the Dragon Cult Prayerbook after defeating the Leyndell Knight and return it to Brother Corhyn at the Roundtable Hold.

2. Death Lightning

• Death Lightning is one of the best dragon lightning incantation Elden Ring with impressive stats.
• Casting the Incantation summons a storm of lightning attacks, causing massive damage and draining enemy HP.
• The ancient LichDragon Fortissax’s power fuels Death Lightning, creating a huge Area of Effect for maximum damage.
• The attack inflicts Death Blight buildup, causing continuous lightning damage and potentially sudden, brutal death for enemies.
• Stats requirements include 47 points in Faith and a 28 FP cost, which doubles upon continuous casting.
• Acquiring Death Lightning involves pursuing Fia’s questline, leading to Deeproot Depths, and defeating the Legendary boss Lichdragon Fortissax.
• Players can trade the Remembrance of the Lichdragon with Enia at Roundtable Hold for the Death Lightning Incantation.

3. Frozen Lightning Spear

• Frozen Lightning Spear is one of the best dragon cult incantation Elden Ring that deals damage and leaves a trail of lightning.
• The spell 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. This can be useful for controlling the battlefield, forcing enemies to reposition or suffer the consequences.
• The Incantation channels the power of the Dragonkin Soldiers and creates a spear of ice lightning that bursts into lightning trails upon impact.
• The Dragonkin Soldiers, born in the Eternal City, wielded ice lightning as their weapon.

Players can find Frozen Lightning Spear by defeating the Dragonkin Soldier of Nokstella. The spell deals lightning damage and inflicts Frostbite (120) on opponents. Players can best use Frozen Lightning Spear against large or grouped-up enemies and slow, ranged PvE fights. The terrain affects the lightning spread, so players should be mindful of the terrain when casting. Damage can be boosted 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.
• The spell requires 24 Faith, 0 Intelligence, and 0 Arcane for casting.
• It is one of the incantations of the capital’s ancient dragon cult, and players can cast it repeatedly.
• The ancient dragon cult was founded after Godwyn the Golden defeated and befriended the ancient lichdragon Fortissax.
• Players 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. The incantation is effective against multiple enemies in PvP and moving targets in PvE. Damage can be boosted with the Gravel Stone Seal, which can be equipped off-hand while casting with the primary seal.

5. Electrify Armament

• Electrify Armament is another best dragon cult incantation Elden Ring that enchants the caster’s right-hand weapon with lightning-affinity attacks.
• The spell requires 15 Faith, 0 Intelligence, and 0 Arcane for casting.
• It is one of the incantations of the capital’s ancient dragon cult, founded after Godwyn the Golden defeated and befriended the ancient lichdragon Fortissax.
• Players can get Electrify Armament by purchasing it from Brother Corhyn or Miriel, Pastor of Vows, after giving either of them the Dragon Cult Prayerbook.
• The incantation lasts for 90 seconds and has a stamina cost of 10.

The spell imbues the 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.

Players can also use it as a damage booster for physical damage weapons in both PvE and PvP situations. To cast the spell, the caster 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 is another best dragon lightning incantation Elden Ring that channels the power of the ancient lichdragon Fortissax, creating two red lightning spears that stab into the ground from above.
• The spell requires 46 Faith, 0 Intelligence, and 0 Arcane for casting.
• Fortissax’s Lightning Spear is one of the Dragon Cult Incantations and is boosted by the Gravel Stone Seal.
• Players can acquire it by trading Remembrance of the Lichdragon with Enia at Roundtable Hold.
• The spell has a stamina cost of 52 and deals lightning damage.
• I recommend its use for close targets, as its damage decreases with distance.
• Fortissax’s Lightning Spear is not only limited to crowd control, but players can also use it against recovering or stance-broken bosses in PvE.
• To obtain the spell, players must progress Fia’s Questline, defeat Lichdragon Fortissax, and trade the Remembrance of the Lichdragon with Enia.
• Players can boost the damage of Fortissax’s Lightning Spear by equipping the Gravel Stone Seal.

7. Vyke’s Dragonbolt

• Vyke’s Dragonbolt is another best dragon incantation elden ring that enchants the caster’s right-hand weapon and body with red lightning.
• The spell requires 23 Faith, 0 Intelligence, and 0 Arcane for casting.
• Players can acquire 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 the weapon with Lightning attack power, and grants a 15% increased equip load.
• However, the spell also 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 for use against enemies who use Lightning attacks, as it decreases the caster’s Lightning damage negation. Electrify Armament provided a similar effect without the equip load increase and reduced Lightning damage negation, making it a better choice if the equip load increase isn’t beneficial.

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

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