I remember my first encounter with Fortissax like it was yesterday. My heart was pounding, the air thick with an ominous hum as I descended into the Deeproot Depths. Fia’s questline had led me here, to a battle I knew would test every fiber of my being. As the Lichdragon materialized, an awe-inspiring, yet terrifying, spectacle of decay and power, I thought I had it figured out. I’d fought dragons before, right? How different could this be? Oh, how wrong I was. Fortissax wasn’t just another dragon; it was a storm of scarlet lightning and deathblight, a true test of resolve. I got absolutely wrecked, time and time again, until I finally pieced together the strategies that would turn the tide. If you’re standing before Fortissax, feeling that same mix of dread and determination, know this: to fight Fortissax effectively, you must prioritize lightning resistance, learn its varied move set which includes both physical attacks and devastating red lightning spells, and choose a moment to strike when it’s vulnerable, especially after its lengthy recovery animations. Utilizing robust Spirit Ashes like the Mimic Tear or Black Knife Tiche can significantly divert its attention, allowing you crucial openings to deal damage or heal.
Understanding the Lichdragon Fortissax: Lore and Location
Before we dive into the nitty-gritty of combat, let’s take a moment to appreciate what we’re up against. Fortissax isn’t just some random boss; it’s a piece of Elden Ring’s rich tapestry, a former companion and brother to Godwyn the Golden. After Godwyn’s tragic death and the subsequent spread of Deathblight, Fortissax fought valiantly to protect its friend, even as the blight consumed them both. This tragic backstory gives the encounter a certain weight, a melancholy that permeates the very arena. You’re not just fighting a monster; you’re facing a guardian twisted by a curse, still bound to a fallen prince.
You’ll find the Lichdragon Fortissax in the **Deeproot Depths**, an area accessible after defeating the Draconic Tree Sentinel in the Capital Outskirts (leading to the Lift of Rold) or by taking the coffin ride from the Prince of Death’s Throne site of grace. The fight itself is initiated through Fia’s questline. After reaching the end of her quest, where she communes with the Mending Rune of the Death-Prince, you can interact with the corpse of Godwyn the Golden. It’s here, within the very heart of Deathblight’s spread, that you’ll be transported into Fortissax’s dream-like arena for a truly epic confrontation.
Before You Even Think About Fighting: Essential Preparations
A battle against a foe of Fortissax’s caliber isn’t one you just waltz into. Proper preparation is paramount. Trust me, I learned this the hard way after too many ill-prepared attempts. Taking a few extra minutes at a Site of Grace can mean the difference between triumph and yet another soul-crushing defeat.
Spirit Ashes: Your Most Reliable Allies
Summoning a powerful Spirit Ash can drastically change the dynamic of this fight, providing crucial distraction and even dealing significant damage. My top recommendations are:
- Mimic Tear Tiche: This is my personal go-to for most tough boss fights. Tiche is incredibly agile, deals respectable damage, and, critically, applies the Black Flame effect, which reduces enemy max HP. Its dodge capabilities also mean it survives for a surprisingly long time, keeping Fortissax occupied while you reposition or chug a Flask.
- Mimic Tear: If you’re running a strong build, the Mimic Tear essentially doubles your damage output and survivability. It scales with your stats and uses your current equipment, making it incredibly versatile. It’s especially potent for tanky melee builds or spellcasters who need a durable distraction.
- Greatshield Soldier Ashes: For those looking for pure tankiness and aggro management, these five soldiers can soak up an incredible amount of punishment, giving you extended windows to attack Fortissax’s flanks.
Remember to upgrade your chosen Spirit Ash as much as possible. A +10 Mimic Tear or Black Knife Tiche is a force to be reckoned with.
Talismans: Boosting Your Odds
Your choice of talismans can provide crucial stat boosts and resistances:
- Pearldrake Talisman / Lightning Scorpion Charm: These are a bit of a trade-off. The Pearldrake Talisman offers overall elemental resistance, which is nice. However, the Lightning Scorpion Charm significantly boosts your lightning damage if you’re a faith build, but also increases your incoming physical damage. Choose wisely based on your playstyle. For pure defense, the Pearldrake is safer.
- Dragoncrest Shield Talisman: Provides flat physical damage negation, which helps against its claw swipes and stomps.
- Erdtree’s Favor: Boosts HP, Stamina, and Equip Load. Always a solid choice for general survivability and better combat flow.
- Radagon’s Soreseal / Marika’s Soreseal: If you’re feeling confident in your dodging and want to boost your damage or stats significantly, these can be great, but remember they also increase incoming damage. Use with caution.
- Axe Talisman: For charged heavy attacks, significantly boosting their damage. Great for melee builds looking for burst damage opportunities.
- Godfrey Icon: Boosts charged spells and skills. Essential for many ranged or incantation builds.
Armor: Don’t Skimp on Defense
Prioritize armor with high **Lightning Resistance** and decent **Poise**. While poise won’t prevent you from being staggered by its biggest attacks, it can help you power through smaller hits. Look for pieces from sets like the Mausoleum Knight Set, Lionel’s Set, or even the Bull-Goat Set if you can manage the weight. The aim here is to minimize the devastating impact of its lightning strikes, which are arguably its most dangerous attacks.
Consumables: Small Boosts, Big Impact
- Lightningproof Dried Liver: This consumable significantly boosts your lightning damage negation for a short period. Pop one before the fight or during a safe opening. It can absolutely save your skin.
- Uplifting Aromatic / Boiled Crab: Both provide excellent damage negation buffs. Uplifting Aromatic creates a bubble that grants a temporary damage negation and prevents a single hit from dealing damage, while Boiled Crab provides a flat physical damage reduction.
- Flask of Wondrous Physick: Customize this to your needs. A common, effective mix includes the **Lightning-Shrouding Cracked Tear** for increased lightning damage (if you’re using lightning spells) or **Lightningproof Cracked Tear** for resistance, combined with the **Opaline Hardtear** for general damage negation, or the **Cerulean Hidden Tear** for infinite FP for a short duration (great for Comet Azur setups).
Stats and Weapon Upgrades: The Foundation of Power
Ensure your **Vigor** is high enough (at least 40-50, ideally) to withstand some hits. **Endurance** is vital for dodging and attacking. Your primary damage-dealing stat (Strength, Dexterity, Intelligence, or Faith) should be appropriately leveled for your chosen weapon or spells. And, perhaps most importantly, make sure your primary weapon is upgraded as much as possible, preferably to +20 or higher for regular weapons, or +8 for somber weapons. Every bit of damage helps shorten this grueling fight.
Fortissax’s Move Set: Knowing Your Enemy is Half the Battle
Fortissax is a twin boss to Lansseax, sharing many animations but with distinct differences, particularly in its lightning attacks. Unlike Lansseax’s slower, more deliberate lightning, Fortissax’s is faster, more chaotic, and often involves multiple strikes. Learning these tells is crucial for survival.
Phase One Attacks:
- Claw Swipes and Bites: Standard dragon fare. It’ll use a series of powerful swipes with its front claws, often followed by a bite. These are usually best dodged by rolling into the attack or towards its body to get under it.
- Stomp and Tail Sweep: If you’re under its body or behind it, Fortissax might stomp with its hind legs or perform a wide tail sweep. Keep an eye on its body language. Rolling through the tail sweep is key.
- Red Lightning Strike (Single): Fortissax will rear up slightly, and a single bolt of red lightning will strike the ground directly in front of it or at your position. This is telegraphed, so a well-timed roll will usually evade it.
- Red Lightning Strikes (Multiple): This is where things get tricky. Fortissax will ascend slightly, and then multiple bolts of red lightning will slam into the ground in a cone pattern in front of it, often lingering. The safest bet here is to roll backwards or to the side, getting out of the affected area entirely. Don’t try to roll *through* all of them; the hitbox can be deceiving.
- Red Lightning Glaive: Similar to Lansseax, Fortissax will summon a large lightning glaive and swing it in a wide arc. This attack has a decent wind-up, giving you time to roll through it or away.
- Deathblight Breath (Ground): If you’re at a medium distance, Fortissax might spew a stream of Deathblight onto the ground in a cone. This area will then become a Deathblight fog, building up your Deathblight meter rapidly. Roll away from the front of its face and clear the cloud. Getting hit by the initial spray is very dangerous.
Phase Two Attacks (Below ~60% HP):
Fortissax gains new, more aggressive abilities, and its existing ones become faster or more potent. Its body will also become partially transparent, indicating its lichdragon nature.
- Lichdragon’s Lightning Strike (Summoning Storm): This is its signature new move. Fortissax will ascend high into the air, often disappearing from view momentarily, and then a torrent of red lightning bolts will rain down across the arena, targeting your position. The key here is to keep moving and rolling continuously. Do not stand still. The strikes are telegraphed by red glows on the ground, so watch for those indicators.
- Enhanced Deathblight Breath (Explosive): Fortissax’s Deathblight breath becomes more dangerous. Instead of just a ground-hugging stream, it can now generate explosive Deathblight clouds that expand rapidly. Again, swift evasion away from its front is your best bet.
- Red Lightning Glaive (Dual Wield): Fortissax might now summon two lightning glaives, performing a dual-wielding combo. The timing for dodging these can be a bit trickier, but the principle remains: roll *into* the attack to get through its hitbox.
- Rapid Teleportation: Fortissax will occasionally “blink” or teleport short distances, often behind you or to reposition for a powerful lightning attack. This requires constant awareness and camera adjustment.
Phase One Strategy: Grounding the Dragon
In Phase One, your primary goal is to whittle down its health while learning its basic patterns. Fortissax often stays on the ground, offering more consistent attack opportunities.
Initial Engagement and Positioning
As soon as the fight begins, summon your Spirit Ash. If you’re a melee build, try to sprint towards its hind legs or tail. Many of its lightning attacks are aimed at its front. If you’re a ranged character, keep a medium distance, allowing your Spirit Ash to draw aggro.
Identifying Openings
- After Claw Swipes: Once it finishes a combo, you’ll have a brief window to land a few hits on its front legs.
- During/After Lightning Glaive: Dodging the glaive leaves it open for a counter-attack.
- After Deathblight Breath: This is a major opening. As it’s spewing deathblight, run to its side or behind it and get some heavy hits in.
- Head Targeting: Whenever Fortissax lowers its head for an attack or recovers, aim for it! Headshots deal significantly more damage and can build up stagger faster, leading to critical hit opportunities.
Aggression vs. Caution
It’s a delicate balance. Too much caution, and the fight drags on, increasing your chances of making a mistake. Too much aggression, and you’ll get punished by its sweeping attacks or lightning. I found success by being aggressive during its obvious recovery animations, particularly after its longer lightning spells and deathblight breath. Otherwise, play defensively, focusing on dodging and repositioning.
Phase Two Strategy: The True Lichdragon Emerges
This is where Fortissax truly earns its title. The red lightning storm and enhanced deathblight can be overwhelming. Don’t panic.
New Threats, Same Principles
The core principle remains: learn the tells and dodge accordingly. The new lightning storm ability is probably the most dangerous. When Fortissax ascends, immediately lock off and start sprinting and rolling in a consistent direction. Don’t try to get hits in during this phase; survival is the priority. The moment it lands, it’s often open for a quick counter.
Maintaining Pressure
Even with its increased aggression, Fortissax still has recovery windows. These might be shorter, but they exist. Your Spirit Ash becomes even more critical here, as it can draw attention while you recover or land crucial blows. If your Spirit Ash falls, it becomes significantly harder, so try to keep it alive for as long as possible, even if it means sacrificing some damage to heal it with the Lhutel’s Bell Bearing.
Patience and Perseverance
Phase Two is often a war of attrition. Don’t get discouraged if you feel like you’re barely scratching its health bar. Stick to your strategy, manage your Flasks wisely, and capitalize on every safe opening. Remember, every dodge is progress, and every hit brings you closer to victory.
Builds That Shine Against Fortissax
While Fortissax is a challenging foe for any build, certain approaches can make the fight more manageable. Here’s a look at some effective strategies:
Melee Builds: Getting Up Close and Personal
Melee players need to be incredibly precise with their dodges and know when to disengage. Fortissax has massive hitboxes, but also distinct vulnerable spots.
- Colossal Weapons / Greatswords: Weapons like the Greatsword, Godslayer’s Greatsword, or Grafted Blade Greatsword can stagger Fortissax and deal immense damage with charged attacks. The key is finding the openings. Aim for its head or forelegs. The Lion’s Claw Ash of War can be particularly effective for breaking poise.
- Dual-Wielding Swords / Katanas: Faster weapons allow for quick hit-and-run tactics. Powerstancing straight swords or katanas lets you get burst damage in during short windows. Ash of War like Sword Dance or Double Slash can be useful for quickly closing gaps and dealing damage.
- Faith-Strength / Faith-Dex Builds: These are surprisingly potent. Not only can you use powerful incantations (more on that below), but you can also wield formidable weapons. Weapons like the Blasphemous Blade or Maliketh’s Black Blade can deal excellent damage. Buffs like Golden Vow or Flame, Grant Me Strength can significantly boost your damage output.
Melee Tip: Stay mobile! You generally want to be near its hind legs or under its belly, but be ready to sprint away when it prepares a large area-of-effect attack like the lightning storm or a tail sweep. Don’t be afraid to take one or two hits on its legs and then roll away. The goal isn’t to perfectly dodge every single thing, but to survive long enough to capitalize on its vulnerabilities.
Ranged / Magic Builds: Keeping Your Distance
Ranged builds have the advantage of not needing to be right in Fortissax’s face, which can make dodging its wide-reaching attacks easier. However, you’ll still need to be aware of its lightning strikes and teleportations.
- Sorcery Builds (Intelligence):
- Comet Azur: If you can get a full channel off with the Cerulean Hidden Tear (from your Flask of Wondrous Physick), Comet Azur can absolutely melt Fortissax’s health bar. The challenge is finding the window. Your Spirit Ash is crucial here for drawing aggro.
- Rock Sling / Loretta’s Greatbow: These are more consistent damage dealers. Rock Sling deals physical damage, which most dragons aren’t resistant to, and can stagger. Loretta’s Greatbow offers long-range precision.
- Glintstone Pebble / Shard: Don’t underestimate the humble Glintstone Pebble for safe, consistent damage. It’s FP efficient and allows you to keep moving.
- Incantation Builds (Faith):
- Black Flame / Black Flame Ritual: These incantations are fantastic because their damage over time effect is percentage-based, making them effective against high HP bosses like Fortissax. The Ritual is especially good when it’s grounded and preoccupied.
- Pest Threads: This incantation fires multiple threads that deal high damage to large enemies. Fortissax is certainly a large enemy, making Pest Threads a surprisingly effective choice when you’re close.
- Lightning Spear / Fortissax’s Lightning Spear: While Fortissax resists lightning, these spells can still deal decent damage, especially if your Faith scaling is high. Fortissax’s own lightning spear incantation, when acquired, is quite powerful.
- Rot Breath / Ekzykes’s Decay: Applying Scarlet Rot can be a very effective way to slowly chip away at its health, though dragons often have decent resistance to status effects. It’s worth trying early in the fight if you can find an opening.
Ranged Tip: Always keep your Spirit Ash between you and Fortissax. This allows you to stand at a safer distance and charge up your most powerful spells. Be ready to roll at a moment’s notice, especially when it targets you with its lightning. When it teleports, quickly re-lock and adjust your position.
General Combat Tips and Tricks
Beyond specific builds and move sets, some universal truths apply to fighting Fortissax:
- Stay Under Its Belly (With Caution): For many of its frontal attacks and lightning strikes, getting underneath its belly or near its hind legs can be surprisingly safe. However, be aware of its stomps and tail sweeps. This position also makes it harder to see its tells, so be ready to roll out if it starts winding up for something big.
- Focus on the Head: If you can consistently hit its head, you’ll deal significantly more damage and build up stagger much faster. This applies to both melee and ranged attacks. Critical hits after staggering are absolutely essential for shortening the fight.
- Stamina Management is Key: Dodging, sprinting, and attacking all consume stamina. Always leave enough in the tank for at least one emergency roll. Getting caught with zero stamina is a death sentence.
- Don’t Get Greedy: This is Elden Ring 101, but it bears repeating for Fortissax. One extra hit might feel good, but if it gets you hit by a devastating lightning strike, it’s not worth it. Play it safe, take your openings, and retreat.
- Use the Environment (Limited): The arena is relatively open, but the slight inclines and open spaces can sometimes be used to your advantage for dodging or creating distance.
- Aggro Management with Spirit Ashes: Your Spirit Ash is not just for damage; it’s a lifeline. If Fortissax targets you, run away, heal, and let your Spirit Ash draw its attention back. If it targets your Spirit Ash, that’s your cue to go all in with damage.
Checklist for Success Against Fortissax
Before you step into that dream arena, make sure you’ve covered these bases:
- ✓ Maxed out Vigor (40-50+) and appropriate primary damage stats.
- ✓ Primary weapon upgraded to +20/+8 or higher.
- ✓ Spirit Ash (Mimic Tear, Black Knife Tiche, or Greatshield Soldiers) upgraded to +10.
- ✓ Talismans equipped for lightning resistance, HP/Stamina, and damage.
- ✓ Armor with good lightning resistance and poise.
- ✓ Flask of Wondrous Physick customized (Lightningproof Tear, Opaline Hardtear, Cerulean Hidden Tear).
- ✓ Lightningproof Dried Liver and/or damage negation perfumes ready on your quick items.
- ✓ Memorized Fortissax’s Phase 1 attacks and their tells.
- ✓ Prepared for Phase 2’s faster lightning and devastating storm.
- ✓ Equipped with a strong ranged option (pots, incantations, sorceries) even for melee builds, for when it’s out of reach.
- ✓ Clear head and patient mindset.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What level should I be to fight Fortissax?
Most players find Fortissax to be a significant challenge, typically recommending a character level of **100-120 or higher**. This range usually ensures you have enough Vigor to survive some hits, and your damage-dealing stats are sufficiently high to make meaningful progress. However, more skilled players or those with highly optimized builds might attempt it earlier.
Ultimately, your level is less important than your build optimization, weapon upgrades, and familiarity with its moves. If you’re struggling, leveling up Vigor and your main damage stat, as well as upgrading your weapon and Spirit Ash, will provide the most noticeable improvements.
Is Fortissax optional?
Yes, the Lichdragon Fortissax is an **optional boss**. You do not need to defeat Fortissax to complete the main story of Elden Ring. However, fighting Fortissax is a crucial step in Fia’s questline, which leads to one of the game’s multiple endings: the Age of Duskborn ending. If you wish to achieve this specific ending or simply enjoy the challenge and rewards, then Fortissax is a necessary encounter.
For those focused purely on the critical path, you can bypass this boss entirely. But many would argue that experiencing this unique and challenging fight, steeped in lore, is well worth the effort.
What are Fortissax’s resistances and weaknesses?
Fortissax, like most dragons in Elden Ring, has a few key resistances and vulnerabilities:
- Resistances: It is highly resistant to **Lightning damage**. This makes sense, given its nature as a lightning dragon. It also possesses decent resistance to most **status effects** like Frostbite, Scarlet Rot, and Poison, though they can still be applied if you build up enough.
- Weaknesses: Fortissax tends to be weak to **Physical damage** (Standard, Slash, Pierce, Strike). Therefore, weapons with high physical scaling or incantations like Pest Threads (which do physical damage) are often very effective. It also has a moderate weakness to **Fire damage**, making incantations like Black Flame or Flame, Grant Me Strength particularly viable. Arcane scaling weapons that apply Bleed can also be quite effective, as while it resists status buildup, Bleed procs deal a percentage of its health.
Understanding these resistances and weaknesses allows you to optimize your weapon choices, Ashes of War, and spells for maximum impact during the fight.
What rewards do I get for defeating Fortissax?
Upon conquering the Lichdragon Fortissax, you’ll be handsomely rewarded for your perseverance. The primary reward is the **Remembrance of the Lichdragon**. This item can be traded with Enia at the Roundtable Hold for one of two powerful items:
- Fortissax’s Lightning Spear (Incantation): A potent Faith-scaling incantation that summons a spear of red lightning to strike enemies from above.
- Lichdragon’s Greatsword (Greatsword): A Strength/Faith scaling greatsword that possesses the unique skill “Lichdragon’s Lightning Slash,” dealing lightning damage.
Additionally, you will receive a significant amount of **Runes** (typically around 90,000 to 120,000, depending on your New Game cycle), which can be invaluable for leveling up or purchasing items.
Can I summon other players for Fortissax?
Yes, you absolutely can summon other players to assist you in the fight against Fortissax. Since the fight takes place in the Deeproot Depths (even though it’s a dream sequence, the summon sign functionality still works in the general area), you can use a **Furlcalling Finger Remedy** near the Prince of Death’s Throne Site of Grace to reveal summon signs left by other Tarnished. Having a co-op partner or two can significantly ease the difficulty of this encounter, as they can draw aggro, heal, and provide additional damage, making the Lichdragon much more manageable.
Just remember that summoning other players also increases the boss’s HP, but the added firepower and distraction usually outweigh this increase, especially for a boss as challenging as Fortissax.