Elden Ring Dragon Communion Guide: Incantation Locations and Costs

A Tamer's Path: Your Complete Elden Ring Dragon Communion Guide to Incantations, Locations, and Costs

Welcome, aspiring Tarnished, to the ancient and fearsome art of Dragon Communion. The power of the dragons is one of the most sought-after and visually spectacular forces in the Lands Between. Harnessing the very breath and wrath of these magnificent beasts, you can unleash devastation upon your foes. But this power comes with a price, both in the currencies of the world and within your own being. This comprehensive guide is your ultimate companion on the path to becoming a Dragon Cultist, detailing every Elden Ring dragon communion incantation, where to find them, what they cost, and how to build your character around them.

Let's begin our journey into the heart of dragon worship.

Understanding the Dragon Communion Altars

Before you can command the roar of a dragon, you must first find where these powers are traded. Dragon Communion is not learned from scrolls or teachers; it is absorbed at specific, eerie altars steeped in primordial energy. There are two primary altars you need to know:

1. The Cathedral of Dragon Communion: This is your first and most accessible location. Found in the southwestern part of the Caelid region, in the Limgrave-facing peninsula. It's a crumbling cathedral where you can offer Dragon Hearts in exchange for the foundational dragon spells. To get here, you can traverse the land or use the portal near the "Bestial Sanctum" in Caelid.
2. The Church of Dragon Communion: This is the more advanced and complete altar, located on a small island off the western coast of the Limgrave region. You can reach it by heading west from the "Third Church of Marika" site of grace and following the path down to the coast. This church offers the full suite of basic and advanced dragon cult incantations.

The process is simple, yet profound: you defeat a dragon, claim its Heart, and bring that Heart to one of these altars to consume its essence and learn its power.

The Complete List: Dragon Incantation Locations, Effects, and Costs

Here is a detailed breakdown of every dragon cult incantation, its effect, the Dragon Heart cost, and any specific requirements for unlocking it.

Foundational Dragon Communion Incantations (Available at both Altars):

These are the core spells, typically requiring lower Faith and Arcane stats.

• Dragonfire: The quintessential dragon breath. It unleashes a wide cone of fire directly in front of you.

  • Cost: 1 Dragon Heart.
  • Stat Requirements: 15 Faith, 12 Arcane.
  • Use Case: Excellent for groups of weaker enemies and for applying fire damage to larger foes.

• Dragonclaw: You summon a massive dragon claw to slam down in front of you. This is a powerful melee-range incantation that can poise-break and stagger many enemies.

  • Cost: 1 Dragon Heart.
  • Stat Requirements: 17 Faith, 13 Arcane.
  • Use Case: Perfect for aggressive players who want a high-impact, close-quarters option.

• Dragonmaw: A truly terrifying incantation. Your character lunges forward and chomps down with a gigantic, spectral dragon head, dealing massive damage.

  • Cost: 1 Dragon Heart.
  • Stat Requirements: 18 Faith, 14 Arcane.
  • Use Case: An all-or-nothing move for massive burst damage. High risk, high reward.

Advanced Dragon Communion Incantations (Require specific Dragon Hearts):

These powerful spells are unlocked only after defeating certain named, overworld dragons. They become available at the Church of Dragon Communion after you have the requisite Dragon Heart in your inventory.

• Rotten Breath (Ekzykes's Decay): One of the most potent incantations in the game. It spews a cloud of scarlet rot, building up the deadly status effect on anything it touches. The upgraded version, Ekzykes's Decay, deals more damage and builds up rot faster.

  • Location & Cost: Defeat Decaying Ekzykes in Caelid, just south of the Caelid Highway South site of grace. His Heart unlocks both the base and upgraded versions.
  • Rotten Breath Cost: 1 Dragon Heart.
  • Ekzykes's Decay Cost: 1 Dragon Heart (after obtaining Ekzykes's Heart).
  • Stat Requirements: 15 Faith, 12 Arcane (Rotten Breath); 23 Faith, 15 Arcane (Ekzykes's Decay).
  • Use Case: Essential for melting bosses and tough enemies with high health pools, as Scarlet Rot deals percentage-based damage over time.

• Glintstone Breath (Smarag's Glintstone Breath): A magical breath attack that deals magic damage. The upgraded version, Smarag's Glintstone Breath, fires a continuous beam, similar to the dragon Smarag's own attack.

  • Location & Cost: Defeat Glintstone Dragon Smarag, who guards the key to the Academy of Raya Lucaria in Liurnia. His Heart unlocks both versions.
  • Glintstone Breath Cost: 1 Dragon Heart.
  • Smarag's Glintstone Breath Cost: 1 Dragon Heart.
  • Stat Requirements: 15 Faith, 12 Arcane (Glintstone); 23 Faith, 15 Arcane (Smarag's).
  • Use Case: Great for enemies weak to magic damage. Smarag's version is a powerful, focused beam for sustained DPS.

• Agheel's Flame (Theodorix's Magma): A fire breath that sets the ground ablaze, creating a lingering pool of fire. The upgraded version, Theodorix's Magma, is even more potent.

  • Location & Cost: Defeat Flying Dragon Agheel in Limgrave, the first major dragon many players encounter. For the magma version, you must defeat the Great Wyrm Theodorix in the Consecrated Snowfield.
  • Agheel's Flame Cost: 1 Dragon Heart.
  • Theodorix's Magma Cost: 1 Dragon Heart (from Theodorix).
  • Stat Requirements: 15 Faith, 12 Arcane (Agheel's); 21 Faith, 14 Arcane (Theodorix's).
  • Use Case: Excellent for area denial, forcing enemies to walk through damaging terrain.

• Borealis's Mist (Dragonice): An icy breath that deals frostbite build-up. The base version is sometimes called Dragonice.

  • Location & Cost: Defeat Borealis, the Freezing Fog in the Mountaintops of the Giants.
  • Cost: 1 Dragon Heart.
  • Stat Requirements: 15 Faith, 12 Arcane.
  • Use Case: Frostbite reduces an enemy's damage absorption and deals a chunk of damage when proc'd, making this fantastic for boss fights.

• Placidusax's Ruin: A legendary incantation that is in a league of its own. You unleash a massive, sweeping blast of golden fire from your chest.

  • Location & Cost: This is not bought with a Heart at an altar. Instead, you must defeat Dragonlord Placidusax, a secret boss in Crumbling Farum Azula, and trade the "Remembrance of the Dragonlord" with Enia at the Roundtable Hold.
  • Cost: Remembrance of the Dragonlord.
  • Stat Requirements: 36 Faith.
  • Use Case: One of the highest-damage incantations in the game, with a huge area of effect. The long cast time makes it difficult to land, but the payoff is immense.

Optimizing Your Dragon Communion Build: Stats, Seals, and Talismans

Knowing the locations of dragon cult incantations is only half the battle. To truly maximize their potential, you need the right build.

• Core Stats: Faith and Arcane. Most dragon communion incantations scale with both Faith and Arcane. However, the Dragon Communion Seal changes everything. This sacred seal, found in the Fringefolk Hero's Grave in Limgrave, significantly boosts the power of all dragon communion incantations. Crucially, its incantation scaling benefits more from Arcane than from Faith. Therefore, the optimal Elden Ring dragon communion build prioritizes Arcane as the primary damage stat, with just enough Faith to meet the spell requirements.

• Essential Talismans:

  • Faithful's Canvas Talisman / Flock's Canvas Talisman: Straightforward boosts to your incantation damage.
  • Old Lord's Talisman: Extends the duration of your breath attacks, allowing you to spew for longer and apply more status effects.
  • Kindred of Rot's Exultation: If you're using Rotten Breath, this talisman boosts your attack power when poison or rot is in the vicinity (including the rot you just applied!).

• The Dragon Communion Playstyle: This build excels at mid-range control and applying pressure. You are not a fragile caster hiding in the back; you are a battlefield dominator. Use Dragonclaw or Dragonmaw to punish enemies that get too close. Use the various breath attacks to control space, apply deadly status effects like Scarlet Rot and Frostbite, and melt boss health bars from a relatively safe distance. Managing your FP is key, as these incantations are costly.

Final Thoughts on the Path of the Dragon

Embracing the Elden Ring dragon communion incantations is a commitment to a unique and powerful playstyle. It requires you to hunt the very creatures whose power you seek, making the acquisition of each new spell a significant achievement. From the early-game utility of Dragonfire to the end-game devastation of Placidusax's Ruin and Ekzykes's Decay, this path offers tools for nearly every challenge the Lands Between can throw at you.

Remember to invest heavily in Arcane, seek out the Dragon Communion Seal, and choose your talismans wisely. With this guide, you now possess all the knowledge needed to seek out every dragon cult incantation location, understand the dragon heart cost for spells, and build a character worthy of the ancient dragons' legacy. Now go forth, Tarnished. Let the world hear your roar.