Elden Ring's Dragonlord Placidusax is one of the game's most visually stunning and challenging dragon fights. The ancient two-headed dragon Placidusax has lightning and fire attacks and the ability to teleport around the battlefield, making for an epic battle. Here's how you can defeat it.
Location
•Crumbling Farum Azula: To reach Dragonlord Placidusax, start from the "Beside the Great Bridge" Site of Grace. Go down the elevator, head outside, and then backtrack a bit to find a way to descend through floating platforms. You'll eventually reach an area where you can lie down, triggering a cutscene that transports you to Placidusax's arena.
Preparation
•Level: Recommended to be around level 120 or higher due to the boss's high damage output and health.
Weapons and Spells:
•Use weapons or spells that can inflict status effects like Bleed or Frost, though Placidusax has decent resistance to all elemental damage.
•If you're a magic user, spells like Comet Azur combined with Cerulean Hidden Tear for zero FP consumption can be effective during certain phases.
Items:
•Boiled Prawns or Crabs can mitigate damage.
•Use of Spirit Ashes like Mimic Tear can help distract Placidusax.
Boss Fight Phase 1 Strategy
•Tail Smash and Swipe: Watch for the tail raising, dodge the smash, and then the swipe.
•Lightning Spear Explosion: Placidusax will thrust a spear into the ground; get ready to dodge the large explosion that follows.
•Flamethrower: When he starts to gather flame in his mouth, move to his side or behind him. Jumping over his tail to the other side can also work.
•Reposition and Flamethrower: He might jump to a new location and immediately use flamethrower; try to get behind him.
Boss Fight Phase 2 Strategy
•Increased Speed and Aggression: Attacks come faster, and he hits harder. Stay mobile and use the longer intervals between his attacks to strike.
•Surprise Swoop: This transition move can catch you off guard. Be prepared to dodge immediately as phase 2 starts.
•Apparating Claw Attack: He disappears and reappears with a claw attack. Listen for audio cues and watch for visual signs of where he'll appear.
General Tips 
•Dodge Timing: Many of his attacks, especially lightning-based ones, can be dodged with precise timing. Learning the timing for rolls is crucial.
•Positioning: Always try to stay near his back legs or sides to avoid the majority of his frontal and aerial attacks.
•Use the Arena: While the arena is large, remember that staying too far can trigger his ranged lightning attacks. Close combat might be safer for melee builds.
•Exploit Weak Points: His heads are his weak points, though they're often out of reach for melee fighters. Ranged characters should aim for these when possible.
•Patience: His health pool is large, and the fight might drag on. Conserve your flasks and wait for clear openings rather than greedily attacking.
Rewards
Defeating Placidusax gives you 280,000 Runes, and you can exchange his Remembrance for either Placidusax's Ruin (an incantation) or the Dragon King's Cragblade (a weapon with a unique skill).
Conclusion
As a visual spectacle and a challenging boss fight, Dragonlord Placidusax tests your ability to read and react. Learn his patterns, use Spirit Ashes effectively, and manage your stamina in order to defeat him. Stay calm, stay mobile, and remain patient against this ancient dragon. You'll eventually win. Good luck!
