Lichdragon Fortissax is one of the Legend Bosses that you will encounter in Elden Ring‘s Deeproot Depths. It is an optional encounter in the RPG, and you will only get to face off against it once you have completed a fair portion of Fia’s quest line.
The Lichdragon Fortissax boss fight can be challenging based on the build that you are going for. The Dragon has very high resistances to Lightning and Holy so if you have a build centered around these stats, you are likely to struggle.
However, much like other dragons in Elden Ring, you just need to focus on hitting the head. The head is the Lichdragon’s weak point, and if you are consistently able to attack it you will have a much easier time defeating it.
Once beaten, Lichdragon Fortissax will drop 90,000 Runes and the Remembrance of the Lichdragon.
Contents:
- Lichdragon Fortissax boss overview
- Lichdragon Fortissax location
- Lichdragon Fortissax movesets and counters
- Lichdragon Fortissax resistance and weakness
- How to beat Lichdragon Fortissax
Lichdragon Fortissax boss fight overview
Location:
- Prince of Death’s Throne Site of Grace (Deeproot Depths)
Optional:
- No (If you are looking to achieve the Age of the Duskborn ending)
- Yes (You don’t need to beat it to complete the game)
Available Summons:
- Spirit Ash
- Other Players
Weakness:
- Attacks to the head
- Critical attack
Resistances:
- Standard Attack (High)
- Slash Attack (High)
- Strike Attack (High)
- Pierce Attack (Low)
- Magic (High)
- Fire (High)
- Lightning (Very High)
- Holy (Very High)
- Madness (Immune)
- Sleep (Immune)
Boss Drop:
- 90,000 Runes
- Remembrance of the Lichdragon
While an optional boss, you will need to encounter and beat Lichdragon Fortissax if you are looking to obtain the Age of the Duskborn ending. The fight is a part of Fia’s quest line, and you will only be able to unlock it in the Deeproot Depths if you have reached the tail-end of the quest.
Lichdragon Fortissax can be a difficult encounter in FromSoftware‘s RPG based on your build. It has high resistances to all elemental attacks, especially Lightning and Holy. Incantation builds based around that will struggle a fair bit, but the fight can be made easier if you are concentrating on just hitting the head.
Additionally, one of the Lichdragon’s attacks inflicts the Death Blight status effect. Once it builds up and maxes out, your character will die instantly. Rejuvenating Boluses and the Order Healing Incantation can help deal with the Death Blight build-up.
How to find Lichdragon Fortissax in Elden Ring
To encounter Lichdragon Fortissax you will first need to complete a fair chunk of FIa’s quest line. After she leaves the Roundtable Hold you will eventually get to find her again near the Prince of Death’s Throne Site of Grace.
To interact with her you will first face off against her champions. After defeating them, talk to her three times, and reload the area.
You will now find that Fia is dead, and upon interacting with her corpse choose the “Enter the Deathbed Dream” option. You will then be automatically teleported to the Lichdragon Fortissax boss arena.
Lichdragon Fortissax movests, and counters in Elden Ring
Lichdragon Fortissax has a lot of hard-hitting spells and moves that can one-shot you based on the amount of health that you have. It will often combo chain its moves and introduce variations to them, constantly keeping you on your toes.
To make matters worse, one of the lightning abilities leaves behind a black cloud that builds up Death Blight if you step into it. Once the build-up maxes out you will die instantly, forcing you to make the run all over again.
Moreover, the Lighdragon does not exactly have multiple phases to the fight. After you chip it down to a particular HP, it will get a couple of new moves and some variations to its abilities.
Here is a list of all the abilities you will encounter in the Elden Ring’s Lichdragon Fortissax boss fight:
Ancient Dragons’ Lightning Spear
- Move: Fortissax will stand on its hind legs and conjure a bolt of red lightning in each hand. It will then slam it down creating an explosion and residual electricity. Both the explosion and the residual lightning will deal damage and knock you down.
- Counter: Run away from the blast and then run back in to get some attacks on its head.
Fortissax’s Lightning Spear (Phase 2 only)
- Move: In this variation Fortissax will not slam the red lightning bolts at the same time. It will first slam the one in its left arm and then after a brief delay will slam the one on the right. Both basts and the residual electric waves will deal damage to you and knock you down.
- Counter: Run away and wait till it launches the second blast. Then run back in roll through the electric wave, and attack its head. You can also roll through the initial blast and get more hits in, however, that’s much harder to pull off.
Fortissax’s Lightning Glaive (Phase 2 only)
- Move: The Lichdragon will now jump up in the air and produce a massive glaive of red lightning. It will then dive at you spinning two times to the left. If the glaive hits you it will knock you down and deal a tremendous amount of damage.
- Counter: You will need to dodge to the left. The timing on this is tight, and you are likely going to get hit by the second spin even if you roll through the first. Make sure your HP is topped off before this move comes out.
Lightning Barrier
- Move: Fortisaax’s body is covered with red lightning and if you stand in it’s AoE you will start to charge red lightning on yourself. After some time the lightning will drop from you and explode as soon as it hits the ground. It doesn’t do much damage, however, it will stagger you.
- Counter: It’s hard to avoid charging red lightning on your character. So if you do get affected by it, roll or run as soon as you see the discharge falling from you.
Death Lightning
- Move: The move comes out when Fortissax gives out a small initial roar, and then a prolonged one. Black-gold streaks of electricity will now fall down from the sky and create a cloud on the surface. The cloud will cause Death Blight to build up. The clouds stay for a very long time after th move is done.
- Counter: You can run in under Fortissax to avoid getting hit by the lightning. If Death Blight does start building up on you, you can always use Rejuvenating Boluses or the Order Healing Incantation to negate it.
Claw Combo:
- Move: The Lichdragon will lift its left arm and slam it down right infront of it. It will then swipe it from its right to left. The attack has a large hitbox and will make small lightning explosions as it drags it. Fortissax can go into this move after a regular Right Swipe or a Rearing Firebreath.
- Counter: Just roll away as soon as you see it raising the left arm. It’s one of the harder moves to counter in the boss fight, so just dodge away from the slam, and then keep dodging away from the swipe and the following electric explosion.
Right Swipe
- Move: Fortissax will raise its right arm and then swipe it from right to left leaving a trail of lightning behind. This attack comes out fast and can knock you down. This move can come right after a Vertical Slam or a Rearing Firebreath.
- Counter: Dodge back twice, once for the swipe and once for the lightning trail.
Vertical Slam
- Move: Fortissax will raise its left arm high above and then after some time will stretch forward and slam its arm to the ground to do a good bit of physical damage, The move will also discharge a burst of electricity. It can use this move after a Rigth Swipe, Doubl Bite, or Rearing Firebreath.
- Counter: If you move back and roll to the left you will be able to position yourself right next to its head. This will give you some time to attack the weak point.
Double Bite
- Move: Fortissax stands up then bends it neck, opens its mouth and then bites forward. It does it two times one from the right side an once from the left. This move can come after a Rearing Firebreath or a Right Swipe.
- Counter: Run back to create some distance. You can charge up a heavy attack at this time to land it on its head as soon as the animation for the second bite ends.
Single Bite
- Move: Instead of biting once, Fortissax will bite one time. It will also not stand on itss hind legs during this move.
- It’s one of the fastest moves in its kit, but it does not do much damage. So just be prepared and roll backward to i-frame the bight.
Rearing Firebreath
- Move: The Lichdragon will stand on its hind legs again, but this time it will arch its neck to spew fire infront of it. It will then make the fire go under its bellow by swinging its head right to left. It will finish the move by spreading fire infront of it again. Fortissax will be able to translate into other moves from the Rearing Firebreath.
- Counter: The best way to avoid the Rearing Firebreath will be to run past it and reach its tail. You can either run directly through its body or circle around. Make sure to no stay below it or the second part of the fire attack will catch you with its hitbox.
Forward Firebreathing
- Move: Fortissax will spew out a long stream of fire directly in front of it. It has a large AoE and will deal a lot of damage. It will even sweep the move from its right to left. If you are directly hit with it, you will be knocked down.
- Counter: This move comes out if you have created some distance between you and Fortissax. So when the move comes out run diagonally forward to the right. The move does not track, so you will be safe once you reach behind its head.
Aerial Firebreath
- Move: Fortissax will bring this move out when you are standing just beneath it. It will crouch and then take flight by jumping backward. It will then ready a fire breath and spit it out on the area where you are standing.
- Counter: You will need to run backward to get away from the blast radius. Once the attack lands rush forward and reach its head to get a few attacks in.
Lightning Slam
- Move: This ability will come out when you are standing right underneath it. Fortissax will rise up on its hindlegs again and after some time it will slam both its hands on the ground near its chest. This will give out a large shockwave and deal significant damage.
- Counter: Run away from the move and then run back in rolling through the residual lightning to get some attacks on its head.
Reverse Right Swipe
- Move: If you are sticking more to its right side, Fortissax will bring this move out every now and then. It will pull its hands backward from left to right in a large swipe. This will leave a trail of lightning behind which will explode and knock you down if you are caught in it.
- Counter: You can either choose to not stick to its right or just roll away two times to avoid the physical swipe and then the blast.
Repositioning Claw Swipe
- Move: This move comes out if you are standing to its left. Fortissax will raise its left arm and then swipe from its right to the left. As soon as the move ends it will reposition and turn to face you. The move leaves a trail of lightning and can knock you down.
- Counter: Either sprint away or roll into the claw swipe. Make sure you make the first roll early so that you have time to go into the second roll.
Wing Beating
- Move: Wing Beating is another move that Fortissax will pull out if you are continuing to position under it. During this ability, the Lichdragon will rise onto its hind legs and then flap its wing four times. The flaps will stagger you with the fourth one knocking you down. It deals no damage but it will stun-lock you leaving you vulnerable to its other moves.
- Counter: You can choose to dodge through each of the wingbeats, but a safer option will be to just run away from the AoE.
Tail Swipe
- Move: This attack comes out when you are positioned near Fortissax tail. It will raise its tail, bend it to the left, and then swing its entire body around to face you when the move ends. The hitbox for this move is behind it and to the side.
- Counter: You can dodge into the attack, or run out of its AoE.
Divebomb:
- Move: Fortissax will leap backwards and then float in the air for some time before diving towards your location. This will do a good deal of damage if it connects and will knock you down.
- Counter: You can punish this move heavily. Just dodge forward just before it lands and get some hits in during its long recovery period.
Repositioning Hop
- Move: Fortissax jumps up and glides a short distance forward. It will then turn around and land repositioning in a way that it faces you. If Fortissax lands on you, you will be knocked down and receive significant damage.
- Counter: Run after it to get some damage in if it’s flying away from you. If it’s about to land on you just dodge away.
Lichdragon Fortissax resistance and weakness in Elden Ring
Resistance:
Lichdragon Fortissax is resistant to every elemental attack, especially Lightning and Holy. So if you have an Incantation build that relies on them, you will struggle. Additionally, the Lichdragon also has high resistance Standard, Slash, and Strike physical attacks with low resistance to Pierce.
Do keep in mind that these resistances are for the body and not the head. Like other dragons in Elden Ring, Lichdragon Fortissax takes 100% damage to its head.
Moreover, Fortissax also has the same resistance numbers to Poison, Scarlet Rot, Hemorrhage, and Frostbite. So you will be able to exploit these only once or twice in the fight. It is also immune to Sleep and Madness, and you will not be able to abuse these effects on it.
Weakness
Fortissax’s head is its weak point. So you will have to concentrate on hitting it as much as possible. Melee players will be able to use jump attacks as well as heavy attacks to break its posture.
Once posture is broken, it will open up Lichdragon Fortissax to a ripost. It will take a lot of damage from the critical hit.
How to beat Lichdragon Fortissax in Elden Ring
Depending on your build Lichdragon Fortissax can either be easy or extremely difficult. Melee builds and Incantation users who depend on Lightning and Holy will face some trouble.
The Death Blight build-up is also annoying to deal with, so you will have to keep a constant eye on the bar.
Here are some general tips and tricks for beating Lichdragon Fortissax in Elden Ring:
General Tips for beating Lichdragon Fortissax
- Use your tankiest Spirit Ash for the fight. Lichdragon Fortissax hits hard and it’s best to tank its hits by using a summon that can withstand a lot of damage. It will distract the boss and give you enough time to attack it.
- You can counter the Death Blight build-up by either using the Rejuvenating Boluses or the Order Healing Incantation. If you do not have enough FP to cast the spell, make sure you have stocked up on enough Boluses.
- You can even equip the Price of Death’s Cyst or Pustule to reduce the amount of Death Blight build-up.
- Irrespective of the build you are going for, make sure that you target your DPS on Lichdragon Fortissax’s head to deal the highest amount of damage.
Ranged build tips Lichdragon Fortissax
Casters can make the fight easier if they rely on Spells and Incantations that hit multiple times in a large AoE. Abilities like the Comet Azzure, Rock Sling, Meteorite of Astel, and even Rotten Breath can make this encounter significantly more manageable.
The large projectiles will hit Fortissax multiple times because of its large body and will be an effective way of chunking down its health.
Bow users will need to rely on chipping at its health by inflicting status effects. Just make sure that you are dodging away from its combos.
If you are scaling Holy and Lightning try using a melee weapon that scales with those attributes but deals physical damage instead. Weapons like the Erdsteel Dagger, Magma Wyrm’s Scalesword, or the Magma Whip Candlestick will do the trick.
Melee build tips for Lichdragon Fortissax
For melee builds make sure you have weapons with some reach. It will then be easier to concentrate on Lichdragon Fortissax’s head and you will be able to break its posture in no time.
Sticking to its belly and hitting its limbs might feel like an easier course of action than just concentrating on its head. However, Lightning Barrier and other moves that reach beneath it will catch you off-guard.
Additionally, the body has very high resistance values and you will need a fair amount of time to do any significant damage to its HP bar.
If you are struggling to survive, you can pile on some items and consumables which will give you more defenses. Items like the Boiled Crab, Lightningproof Liver, (Golden) Lightning Barrier, or Fireproof Dried Liver will do the trick.
The goal will be to rely on armor and items that will not only improve your physical resistance but also your resistance to Fire and Lightning.
Once defeated, Lichdragon Fortissax will drop 90,000 Runes along with the Remembrance of the Lichdragon. You will need to defeat it in order to complete Fia’s quest line and unlock the Age of the Duskborn ending.
