Like the main game, the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion for Elden Ring offers players a variety of interesting optional bosses. Completing them is optional, but defeating them will grant valuable rewards, a large number of runes, and of course, honor in the hardcore gaming community. One of the most difficult secondary bosses in this expansion is the Death Dragons. These are huge winged creatures with a number of dangerous attacks that can instantly kill you. In this guide, we will tell you where to find each Death Dragon in Shadow of the Erdtree and share useful tips for fighting them.
The Death Dragon is not a mandatory boss in the Elden Ring expansion. However, it can sometimes interfere with your peaceful exploration of the location and become a real obstacle in some areas where it is difficult to bypass. Below you will find the exact location of each of these dragons. In essence, it resembles the dragons from the main game, with some changes that make the battle with it more difficult. Therefore, we share important information about the battle tactics for melee and ranged characters.
Where to find Death Dragons in Elden Ring – Shadow of the Erdtree
In total, during the passage of the Shadow of the Erdtree add-on, you can encounter three Death Dragons. Each of them is located in different parts of the Shadow Realm in open areas, so the fight with them can begin unexpectedly. In some cases, they will be sleeping and you will have the opportunity to see them from afar and sneak up, but sometimes they can fly to the location and immediately begin a battle with the boss. Before exploring the location, you should prepare and find out where these formidable opponents live.
Their exact locations are marked on the maps above.
- The first Death Dragon is located in a lake near the starting Grace in the Plain of Tombstones area. It is located behind the Charred Ruins and the Dilapidated Inn, to the right of Belurath, where the first mandatory boss of the DLC awaits. From Grace, head west to the swamp, to the left of the large bridge. The Death Dragon can be spotted from afar while it sleeps, and you can sneak up on it for a surprise attack.
- The second Death Dragon is located in the “Shadow Altus” area. To get there, go from the “Road Cross” grace, passing the castle directly or by a detour through the “Azure Coast”. The boss fights Messmer’s soldiers on the road from the castle to Fort Condemnation, near the “Murta Ruins” area. It is easy to spot, as you will hear the sounds of battle as you approach, and the health bar of the dragon and other enemies will be visible on the screen.
- The third Death Dragon awaits you in the location “Azure Coast”. To access it, use the grace “Cave by the Erd River”. From here, go down to the source of the river and reach the place of grace called “Azure Coast”. Then go south and the last Death Dragon will appear near the burial ground, which will fly here only in your presence.
Tactics for fighting against Death Dragons
The Death Dragons in Elden Ring – Shadow of the Erdtree are very dangerous bosses. Most of their attacks cover a large area around them, and their fire breath is almost always fatal. The battle with each of them has a similar scenario, and defeating one of them makes the fight easier for the others. All three dragons have the same set of attacks, differing only in the level of health. Below are recommendations on tactics for fighting these bosses.
For each of the bosses, you can summon assistants through network play. If you need help in passing, find the summoning altar and summon the required number of companions. This will make your task much easier. If you prefer to play alone, first clear the battle zone from ordinary opponents that can interfere with you during the battle. You can fight the Death Dragons on horseback, but in this case they will often fly, which complicates the battle. Therefore, it is better to avoid such tactics.
The main tip for defeating the Ghost Fire Dragon is to stay underneath it or run towards it if it flies away. If you are underneath it, the dragon will not be able to hit you as much, and most of its attacks can be avoided by dodging at the right moment. The Ghost Flame kick is the one you should dodge in preparation for a counterattack. The fire spreads radially and is difficult to dodge. This is why you can safely attack the dragon’s legs, belly, and sometimes its head while it is trying to get to you. Beware of the quick turning attacks with the head, tail, or wings, which are difficult to dodge and can cause serious damage. Sometimes the dragon will rise into the air, in which case you should run towards it to prevent its diving attack from hitting its target.
All Death Dragons can also release a frost breath. If you see them preparing for this attack, again try to stay close to them and dodge the fire. This attack has a wide area of effect and is difficult to avoid. They can also be stunned, dealing enough damage. While stunned, they are vulnerable to critical hits, especially to the head, which causes significant damage.
The main key to defeating the dragon is to carefully watch its movements and dodge at the right moment. Use the dragon’s weak points to attack, protect yourself with the Great Shield from physical attacks, stay fast and avoid more dangerous moves.
Tips for beating the boss
- Try to stay underneath him to avoid most of his attacks.
- It’s very difficult to avoid flames through dodging, so roll through the fire rather than away from it.
- Dragons are vulnerable to holy damage. To increase your damage, you can use holy enchantments, jugs, and other consumables with holy damage.
- The boss also has weak resistance to red rot, so weapons with this effect are suitable for the fight.
- Any ranged magic will be effective against him, however, it may be difficult for a mage to deal with him alone due to his dash and breath attacks.
- The second boss in the Shadow Altus location is the easiest to kill. He fights soldiers, who can be helped by shooting with a bow or magic.