The Ancient Dragons ruled in the prehistoric era before the Erdtree.[1] They wielded red lightning as a weapon[2], and had scales made of sharp, pointed gravel stones.[3] They were ruled over by Dragonlord Placidusax, said to have been Elden Lord in the time before the Erdtree[4], from the royal city of Farum Azula[5], and it is said that they would protect their lord as a wall of living rock.[6]
Ancient Dragons have light grey bodies resembling stone. They possess four legs, as well as four wings inlayed with gold, distinguishing them from their lesser descendants. They have short, flat muzzles, orange-yellow eyes, and wispy grey hairs along their backs. They can breathe fire like many of their descendants, however they also possess the ability to wield red lightning, which often manifests in the form of spears and glaives.
During the reign of Queen Marika the Eternal, the Ancient Dragon Gransax wrought havoc on Leyndell, Royal Capital, the only time in recorded history that Leyndell's walls have fallen.[7] This marked the dawn of the war against the Dragons, during which the Tree Sentinels clad themselves in armor resembling the bodies of the Dragons in order to protect the Erdtree.[8] During this conflict Godwyn the Golden fought to the last against the Ancient Dragon Fortissax.[9] Godwyn defeated Fortissax, however he befriended his fallen foe, ending the conflict and giving rise to the capital's Ancient Dragon Cult.[10] Worship of the Ancient Dragons does not conflict with faith in the Erdtree, as the Dragons' lightning is imbued with gold, and as such the Cult was permitted within Leyndell.[11]
Ancient Dragons are greatly resistant to Stance damage. In addition to their base 120 Stance health, they only take 20% Stance damage (effectively giving them 600 Stance health against those hits) from hits against everything except for their heads, though their heads at least take doubled Stance damage compared to the rest of their body (effectively giving them 300 Stance health against those hits). Though their Stance health won't refill unless they haven't taken Stance damage for a fairly lengthy 9.231 seconds, this, in addition to how hard their heads can be to hit, make them sturdy foes.
Moveset
Move Name
Phase
Damage Type
Can Be Parried/Cannot Be Parried
Description of move
Move Name
Phase
Damage Type
Can Be Parried/Cannot Be Parried
Description of move
Move Name
Phase
Damage Type
Can Be Parried/Cannot Be Parried
Description of move
Can include a separate table for a specific instance of this variant's moveset.
Dropped by the Ancient Dragon near the Crumbling Beast Grave Depths Site of Grace, and by the Ancient Dragon beyond the Dragon Temple Rooftop Site of Grace.
Bosses
Background
Lansseax, the sister of Fortissax, is said to have taken the form of a human priestess in order to commune with the knights of the Ancient Dragon Cult.[12] Her most beloved knight was Vyke the dragonspear[13], a Tarnished knight of the Roundtable Hold, who was later scourged by the frenzied flame.[14]
Lansseax is first encountered near the Abandoned Coffin Site of Grace, near the entrance to Altus Plateau from the Ruin-Strewn Precipice. After sustaining enough damage, she will fly away. She can later be encountered on a hill just south-west of the Rampartside Path Site of Grace in the east of Altus Plateau, where she can be defeated for good.
Lansseax has two unique moves that involve her summoning a glaive made of red lightning. One is a diagonal slam which releases waves of lightning across the ground that can be dodged through. The other is a horizontal sweep which also sends out waves.
Gallery
An Ancient Dragon summoning a lightning bolt in the Elden Ring Gameplay Reveal Trailer.
Ancient Dragon Senessax sleeping
Trivia
Senessax is a male, as indicated in certain localizations of the game. For example, in the French version, "Lansseax, Dragonne Ancienne" uses feminine adjectives whereas "Senessax, Dragon Ancien" uses masculine adjectives.
