There’s something absurdly satisfying about becoming a full-blown dragon cultist in Elden Ring. Few builds let you channel that ancient chaos quite like Dragon Communion incantations. They’re messy, overpowered, and downright cinematic when used right. But not all dragon powers are created equal. Some melt bosses into puddles, while others are mostly there for the spectacle. Here’s a breakdown of the best dragon incantations that actually deserve a slot in your spell loadout.
Rotten Breath
If you’ve played Elden Ring for more than ten minutes, you’ve probably seen someone cheesing a boss with this. Rotten Breath isn’t just famous; it’s infamous. It spreads Scarlet Rot faster than you can say “Malenia.” The trick is that you can trigger the rot effect and then chill while your enemy decays in real time. It might not look flashy, but it’s the definition of efficient evil.
Why it rocks:
- Devastating against bosses with large health pools.
- Scarlet Rot keeps ticking damage while you keep your distance.
- Easy to use early in the game via Dragon Communion in Limgrave.
Ekzykes’s Decay
Rotten Breath’s cooler older cousin, Ekzykes’s Decay does everything the original does but looks better doing it. The range is wild, the rot stacks faster, and it has a more cinematic animation that makes you feel like an actual dragon mid-flight.
Why it rocks:
- Stronger version of Rotten Breath.
- Perfect for open spaces or massive bosses.
- Just the right mix of drama and destruction.
Placidusax’s Ruin
This is pure power fantasy. You don’t breathe fire, you become a beam of golden annihilation. It’s costly in FP and stamina, but the trade-off is a stream of energy that can vaporise anything foolish enough to stand in its path. Bosses, mobs, even your frame rate, nothing survives long.
Why it rocks:
- One of the highest damage incantations in the game.
- Incredible range and coverage.
- Feels like a final boss move for your own build.
Borealis’s Mist
If you want to freeze the world, this one’s for you. Borealis’s Mist brings frostbite damage to your draconic arsenal. It’s not as brutal as rot, but it punishes enemies by slowing them down and adding bonus damage when the frostbite triggers. It’s especially nasty when used alongside weapons or spells that deal physical or magic damage.
Why it rocks:
- Applies Frostbite, which boosts total damage taken by the enemy.
- Great synergy with magic builds or frost-infused weapons.
- Looks visually stunning, like you’re calling winter itself.
Theodorix’s Magma
Magma incantations are chaotic fun. Theodorix’s Magma throws down pools of lava that continue to deal damage long after you’ve stopped casting. It’s a bit wild to control, but when it connects, it absolutely wrecks. If you enjoy aggressive, area-denial gameplay, this one’s worth the FP investment.
Why it rocks:
- Massive AoE damage.
- Perfect for crowd control or narrow boss arenas.
- Explosive visuals that scream “do not step here.”
Smarag’s Glintstone Breath
Sorcery users, this one’s your ticket to blending dragon magic with intelligence scaling. Smarag’s Glintstone Breath isn’t just a novelty, it dishes out heavy magic damage, making it an excellent alternative to the rot or fire variants for INT-based builds.
Why it rocks:
- Scales well with Intelligence and Faith.
- Strong magic damage with wide reach.
- Ideal for hybrid builds that want to stay thematic.
Best Tips for Dragon Communion Builds
- Faith and Arcane matter. Most Dragon Communion spells scale with these stats, so prioritise them if you want your breath to actually melt something.
- Use the Dragon Communion Seal. It boosts damage for all these spells and helps you cast faster.
- Don’t forget FP management. These spells burn through your blue bar like wildfire. Bring flasks.
- Mix it up. Pair rot or frost breaths with melee weapons that complement your status effects for maximum carnage.
Seven Swords Takeaway
Dragon Incantations are what make Elden Ring’s magic system feel genuinely wild. They’re not subtle or refined like sorceries, they’re messy, destructive, and gloriously over-the-top. Whether you’re covering the battlefield in lava or turning into a beam of divine fury, these incantations let you play Elden Ring like the ancient monster you always wanted to be.
