Defeat Dragonlord Placidusax On PS5: Tips & Co-op

by Alex Johnson 50 views

Are you struggling to defeat Dragonlord Placidusax in Elden Ring on your PS5? You're not alone! This optional boss is one of the most challenging encounters in the game, known for his devastating attacks and unpredictable movements. But fear not, Tarnished! This comprehensive guide will equip you with the knowledge and strategies you need to conquer this formidable foe. Whether you're looking for solo strategies, co-op assistance, or just general tips and tricks, we've got you covered. So, prepare yourself, and let's dive into the world of Dragonlord Placidusax.

Understanding the Dragonlord Placidusax Challenge

Before we jump into the specifics of how to beat Dragonlord Placidusax, it's important to understand what makes this fight so difficult. Dragonlord Placidusax is an ancient dragon residing in Crumbling Farum Azula, a late-game area known for its challenging enemies and breathtaking scenery. This boss is not just a massive HP sponge; he boasts a diverse moveset that includes powerful physical attacks, lightning strikes, and even the ability to teleport. His arena is also relatively large, which can make it difficult to stay close and deal consistent damage. What sets Placidusax apart is his unique ability to manipulate time and space, making the fight both visually stunning and mechanically complex.

Key Challenges in the Dragonlord Placidusax Fight

  • Massive Health Pool: Dragonlord Placidusax has a significant amount of health, requiring a prolonged and consistent damage output to bring him down.
  • Diverse Moveset: He employs a wide range of attacks, including claw swipes, stomps, lightning strikes, and teleportation, making it crucial to learn his patterns.
  • Lightning Attacks: Placidusax's lightning attacks are particularly devastating, capable of one-shotting even heavily armored players.
  • Teleportation: His teleport ability allows him to reposition quickly, making it difficult to predict his next move and maintain consistent aggression.
  • Large Arena: The spacious arena can be both a blessing and a curse. It provides ample room to maneuver but also makes it challenging to stay within striking distance.

Understanding these challenges is the first step towards victory. Now, let's delve into specific strategies and tactics to overcome them.

Preparing for the Battle: Gear, Stats, and Summons

Proper preparation is paramount when facing Dragonlord Placidusax. This section will guide you through the optimal gear, stat distribution, and summoning options to maximize your chances of success. Remember, Elden Ring offers a vast array of build possibilities, so adapt these suggestions to your playstyle and preferences. The key here is to leverage your strengths and mitigate your weaknesses. Don't be afraid to experiment with different weapons, spells, and talismans to find what works best for you.

Essential Gear and Weapons for Dragonlord Placidusax

  • Weapons: High damage-per-second (DPS) weapons are crucial for chipping away at Placidusax's massive health bar. Consider using weapons that inflict bleed or frostbite, as these status effects can significantly boost your damage output. Some excellent choices include:
    • Rivers of Blood: A katana that inflicts bleed buildup with its weapon art.
    • Eleonora's Poleblade: Another bleed-inducing weapon with a unique moveset.
    • Black Knife: A dagger that deals significant holy damage and reduces the enemy's maximum health.
    • Blasphemous Blade: A greatsword that heals you upon hitting enemies, providing sustain during the fight.
    • Godslayer's Greatsword: A powerful greatsword that deals fire damage and scales with faith.
  • Armor: While heavy armor provides excellent protection, mobility is key in this fight. Opt for medium armor that offers a good balance between defense and agility. Consider armor sets with high physical and lightning resistance. Some recommended options:
    • Crucible Axe Set: Offers good physical defense and poise.
    • Black Knife Set: Provides excellent stealth and silence, useful for avoiding some of Placidusax's attacks.
    • Lionel's Set: A heavy armor set with high poise, but can hinder mobility.
  • Talismans: Talismans can significantly enhance your character's abilities and provide crucial buffs during the fight. Key talismans to consider:
    • Green Turtle Talisman: Increases stamina recovery, crucial for dodging and attacking.
    • Erdtree's Favor: Increases maximum HP, stamina, and equip load.
    • Dragoncrest Greatshield Talisman: Greatly boosts physical damage negation.
    • Lightning Scorpion Charm: Increases lightning damage dealt, but reduces physical damage negation (use with caution).
    • Marika's Soreseal/Scarseal: Boosts Mind, Intelligence, Faith, and Arcane, but increases damage taken (use with caution).
  • Ashes of War: Ashes of War can add unique abilities to your weapons. Some useful options for this fight:
    • Bloodflame Blade: Adds fire damage and bleed buildup to your weapon.
    • Blackflame Blade: Adds black flame damage, which deals percentage-based damage over time.

Stat Allocation for Dragonlord Placidusax

Your stat allocation should align with your chosen build and weapon. However, some key stats to prioritize for this fight include:

  • Vigor: Aim for at least 40-60 Vigor to withstand Placidusax's powerful attacks. More is always better.
  • Endurance: Sufficient Endurance is crucial for managing stamina, allowing you to dodge, attack, and block effectively. 30-40 Endurance is a good starting point.
  • Mind: If you're using spells or weapon arts frequently, invest in Mind to increase your FP pool.
  • Strength/Dexterity: Allocate points based on the requirements of your chosen weapon. Ensure you meet the minimum requirements and consider scaling for increased damage.
  • Faith/Intelligence/Arcane: If you're using spells or incantations, invest in the appropriate stat to boost your spellcasting power.

Summoning Options: Spirits and Players

Elden Ring's summoning system can provide invaluable assistance in challenging fights like Dragonlord Placidusax. You can summon both Spirit Ashes and other players to aid you in battle.

  • Spirit Ashes: Spirit Ashes are NPC summons that can tank damage, distract the boss, and deal additional damage. Some effective Spirit Ashes for this fight include:
    • Black Knife Tiche: A powerful spirit ash that deals significant damage and can dodge attacks effectively.
    • Mimic Tear: A copy of your character that can use your weapons, spells, and consumables.
    • Lhutel the Headless: A resilient spirit ash that can teleport and spear enemies.
  • Player Summons: Summoning other players can significantly increase your chances of success. Co-op partners can help you divide Placidusax's attention, deal more damage, and revive you if you fall. Use the game's multiplayer system to find fellow Tarnished willing to assist you.

Mastering the Fight: Strategies and Tactics

Now that you're properly geared and have your stats allocated, let's dive into the nitty-gritty of the fight itself. Dragonlord Placidusax's attacks are devastating, but they are also telegraphed, meaning you can learn to anticipate and avoid them with practice. The key to victory lies in understanding his attack patterns, exploiting his weaknesses, and managing your resources effectively.

Understanding Dragonlord Placidusax's Attack Patterns

Placidusax has a wide range of attacks, but they can be broadly categorized into physical attacks, lightning attacks, and teleportation-related attacks. Learning to distinguish between these attacks and react accordingly is crucial for survival.

  • Physical Attacks:
    • Claw Swipes: Placidusax will swipe his claws at you in a variety of patterns. These attacks can be dodged by rolling through them or away from them.
    • Stomps: He will stomp his feet, creating a shockwave. Roll away from his feet to avoid this attack.
    • Tail Swipes: Placidusax can swing his tail, covering a wide area. Roll towards his tail to avoid being hit.
  • Lightning Attacks:
    • Lightning Strike (Single): Placidusax will summon a single lightning bolt that strikes a specific location. Watch for the red lightning telegraph on the ground and dodge out of the way.
    • Lightning Strike (Multiple): He will summon multiple lightning bolts that rain down across the arena. This attack requires careful dodging and positioning.
    • Lightning Breath: Placidusax will breathe lightning in a wide arc. Dodge to the side or behind him to avoid this attack.
  • Teleportation Attacks:
    • Teleporting Slash: Placidusax will teleport into the air and then dive down, slashing with his claws. Roll away from his landing point.
    • Teleporting Lightning Strike: He will teleport away and then summon a massive lightning strike in his previous location. Move away from the area where he disappeared.
    • Disappearing Teleport: Placidusax will disappear completely and reappear elsewhere in the arena. This attack is often followed by another attack, so be prepared to dodge.

Effective Strategies and Tactics

  • Stay Mobile: Placidusax's attacks cover a wide area, so staying mobile is crucial. Avoid getting cornered and use the arena's space to your advantage.
  • Dodge Strategically: Dodging is your primary means of avoiding damage. Time your rolls carefully to avoid his attacks. Rolling into his attacks can often be more effective than rolling away, as it allows you to stay close and counterattack.
  • Exploit Openings: Placidusax has relatively long recovery animations after some of his attacks. Use these openings to deal damage. Focus on landing a few hits and then backing away to prepare for his next attack.
  • Target Weak Points: While Placidusax doesn't have a specific weak point in the traditional sense, attacking his head and wings generally deals more damage than attacking his legs or body.
  • Manage Stamina: Stamina management is crucial in this fight. Avoid over-exerting yourself by dodging and attacking excessively. Use the Green Turtle Talisman to improve your stamina recovery.
  • Use Summons Wisely: If you're using summons, make sure they stay alive as long as possible. This will keep Placidusax's attention divided and give you more opportunities to attack.
  • Be Patient: This fight can be long and challenging. Don't get discouraged if you die multiple times. Learn from your mistakes, adjust your strategy, and keep trying. Patience is key to victory.

Specific Attack Counters

  • Lightning Strike (Single): The telegraph for this attack is a red lightning mark on the ground. Roll out of the marked area just before the lightning strikes.
  • Lightning Strike (Multiple): This attack can be tricky to dodge. Try to find a safe spot between the lightning strikes, or roll continuously to avoid being hit.
  • Teleporting Slash: Watch for Placidusax to disappear into the air. Roll away from his landing point just before he crashes down.
  • Disappearing Teleport: Be prepared for an immediate follow-up attack after Placidusax reappears. Dodge proactively.

Mastering the Second Phase

Dragonlord Placidusax's fight has two distinct phases. The second phase begins when he reaches around 50% health. In this phase, he gains access to new and more powerful attacks, including a devastating area-of-effect (AoE) lightning attack and increased aggression. Adapting to these changes is crucial for securing victory.

Key Changes in the Second Phase

  • Increased Aggression: Placidusax becomes more aggressive in the second phase, attacking more frequently and relentlessly.
  • New Attacks: He gains access to a powerful AoE lightning attack that covers a large area and deals massive damage.
  • Faster Teleportation: His teleportation attacks become faster and more unpredictable.

Strategies for the Second Phase

  • Maintain Distance: The AoE lightning attack is extremely dangerous, so maintaining distance is crucial. Avoid getting trapped in close-quarters combat.
  • Dodge Proactively: Placidusax's increased aggression means you need to be even more vigilant about dodging. Anticipate his attacks and roll preemptively.
  • Use Long-Range Attacks: If you have access to long-range spells or incantations, now is the time to use them. Keep chipping away at his health from a safe distance.
  • Conserve Resources: By this point in the fight, you may be running low on healing flasks or FP. Conserve your resources and use them wisely.
  • Stay Calm: The second phase can be overwhelming, but it's important to stay calm and focused. Don't let panic lead to mistakes.

Community Tips and Tricks for Dragonlord Placidusax

The Elden Ring community is a treasure trove of knowledge and strategies. Here are some valuable tips and tricks shared by players who have conquered Dragonlord Placidusax:

  • Utilize the Crimsonwhorl Bubbletear: This tear, when mixed into your Flask of Wondrous Physick, negates non-physical damage, including Placidusax's lightning attacks. This can provide a significant advantage in the fight.
  • Use the Flame, Grant Me Strength Incantation: This incantation boosts your physical and fire damage, which can be especially effective if you're using weapons that deal fire damage.
  • Try the Bloodboil Aromatic Perfume: This perfume significantly boosts your attack power at the cost of increased damage taken. Use with caution, but it can help you burst down Placidusax quickly.
  • Consider using a Greatshield: A Greatshield with high lightning resistance can block many of Placidusax's lightning attacks, allowing you to mitigate damage and create openings for counterattacks.
  • Experiment with Different Builds: Elden Ring's open-ended nature allows for a wide variety of builds. Don't be afraid to try different weapons, spells, and talismans to find a combination that works well for you.

Conclusion: Claim Your Victory Over Dragonlord Placidusax

Dragonlord Placidusax is undoubtedly a formidable opponent, but with the right preparation, strategies, and a healthy dose of perseverance, victory is within your grasp. Remember to understand his attack patterns, exploit his weaknesses, and adapt to the challenges of the second phase. Whether you choose to face him solo or with the help of fellow Tarnished, the satisfaction of defeating this ancient dragon is immense.

So, go forth, Tarnished, and claim your place as Elden Lord! And for more guides and resources on Elden Ring, be sure to check out Elden Ring Wiki.