Lichdragon Fortissax | Elden Ring Wiki

Lichdragon Fortissax Boss Video Guide

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Lichdragon Fortissax Fight Strategy

The Best Tips for Lichdragon Fortissax:

• Recommended to use Mimic Tear Ashes, as it can tank fairly well and draw aggro away. Greatshield Soldiers can be a decent alternative, though they do not deal as much damage.
• Use spells and incantations that summon large numbers of projectiles or hit multiple times, such as Rock Sling, Meteorite of Astel, Rotten Breath, or Comet Azur.
• Bring Lightningproof Dried Livers, Boiled Crab, and Rejuvenating Boluses.
• Equip the Prince of Death's Cyst or Pustule or reduce Death Blight buildup.
• Like all Ancient Dragons, you can only lock onto the head and body, so it is recommended to not lock on and attack the legs instead.

Melee Users

This guide covers preparation for the fight and general strategy. For how to counter each individual attack, see the table to the right.

Fortissax is most consistently and most safely fought by standing in front of the head and punishing Fortissax's various attacks. While it is possible to defeat it by running under and hacking at the ankles, a strategy also highly effective against Lansseax, Fortissax's lightning barrier renders this style of play significantly more risky. Not only does it make the fight slower by forcing you to dodge or sprint constantly to avoid being struck by the dropped charges, but it can combine unfavorably with other attacks to either stun you into them or force an early roll that gets you hit by the incoming attack. Add to this that Fortissax's head takes double damage, and it generally becomes the superior target for most of the fight, especially for non-status based builds.

To prepare for this fight, focus on items that boost your defenses against lightning. Boiled Crab, Lightningproof Dried Liver, and (Golden) Lightning Fortification are especially valuable. Avoid using Fireproof Dried Liver or other anti-fire buffs, as they don't stack, and fire is the least threatening of Fortissax's attacks.

If you're struggling with Death Blight, consider equipping the Prince of Death's Pustule for extra resistance. An upgraded version can be found in the Deeproot Depths where you fight Fortissax.

For weapons, choose one with strong thrust attacks. Fortissax is highly vulnerable to Thrust damage, and you can punish his rearing firebreath and double bite attacks for extra damage. Equip armor with high Lightning resistance and consider talismans like the Pearldrake Talisman, Boltdrake Talisman, and Dragoncrest Shield Talisman/Dragoncrest Greatshield Talisman to reduce the damage from his powerful attacks.

Fortissax is resistant to lightning and holy damage, so use weapons that deal physical damage with fire, magic, or status effects. Dexterity builds using lightning-infused weapons should switch to Keen affinity, and faith builds might opt for unique weapons that scale non-holy damage, such as the Erdsteel Dagger, Magma Wyrm's Scalesword, or the Magma Whip Candlestick.

Don’t forget to consume the Baldachin's Blessing Fia gave you, as it reduces your max HP by 5% while in your inventory. Lastly, use Crystal Tears such as Shrouding Cracked Tears, Spiked Cracked Tear, and Opaline Bubbletear or Hardtear for this encounter.

Once you have entered the arena by interacting with Fia, Fortissax will begin the battle by summoning Death Lightning. Buff up with your chosen items, then run up to Fortissax and begin attacking one of the forearms. While you do, turn the camera behind you and identify areas where few lightning bolts will strike. When this move ends, put your back to those areas as you begin to fight Fortissax in earnest. You will be moving backwards more or less continually as you dodge the attacks and stay in front of Fortissax, and thus avoiding moving through too many deathblight clouds will prevent an abrupt and embarrassing end to the fight. As you do, continue to attack Fortissax. The first phase will last until approximately 60% of Fortissax's HP remains. In this phase, the primary punishable openings are the double bite, the death lightning summon, and the vertical slam. If you are confident in your spacing and roll timing, the rearing fire breath is also punishable and the lightning spear can be rolled through at the point of impact to guarantee several free hits as Fortissax recovers. To prompt Fortissax into performing these attacks, stand slightly in front of Fortissax's head. Because of how erratically Fortissax can move its head, and given the only other lock-on point is the body, it is advisable to avoid locking on for most of the fight. Instead, manually control the camera, and only lock on to better target Fortissax's head as you punish the double bite, dodge the forward facing fire breath, or are keeping an eye on Fortissax as it flies. It is also advantageous to avoid standing far from Fortissax; this often prompts Fortissax to either summon death lightning or use the forward facing fire breath. Neither attack is punishable at that distance and both can waste large amounts of time as you are forced to dodge the attack and close the distance.

Once you have brought Fortissax to 60% HP, the moveset will change in two ways. First, Fortissax will gain two new attacks: a version of lightning spear where Fortissax summons two bolts and slams them sequentially into the ground, and a divebomb with a lightning glaive that ends in a double spin with the weapon extended. And secondly, the combos of Fortissax can now be extended. Initially, Fortissax's double bite had only a single possible followup (rearing fire breath), and his vertical slam had none. In phase 2, these attacks can both be followed by a right swipe, and the slam can also now be followed by a rearing fire breath or double bite. This is both good and bad; on the one hand, the slam is less punishable now, but on the other, the double bite is still mostly as punishable as before and is being used more often. The strategy remains the same; bear in mind the changed patterns and do not overcommit. Staying close to Fortissax is also more important in this phase; the most dangerous attack, the aerial glaive, is used more often if the player is at midrange or farther. Additionally, because Fortissax has more lightning-based attacks of greater potency, it may be worthwhile to increase your lightning defense at this point in the battle with a Lightningproof Dried Liver or (Golden) Lightning Fortification. Regardless, continue to punish the double bites and slams, in addition to any other attacks which happen to occur and which you feel comfortable responding to, until you achieve victory. Avoid becoming greedy towards the end; Fortissax's high damage and potential for an awkwardly timed stun from the lightning barrier make him particularly good at catching sloppy play out and setting you back to square one.

In summary: use items and equipment that increase lightning and/or physical absorptions, use thrust damage if possible and avoid using holy or lightning damage, stand in front of Fortissax and punish vertical slams and double bites, plan retreats through sparsely struck areas during Death Lightning summons, and be wary of moveset changes once Fortissax reaches 60% HP

Magic and Ranged Users

For sorcerers, a basic spell like Rock Sling should be enough with a high enough catalyst. If not, keep away and watch for the Death Blight clouds around the arena. Keep Rejuvenating Boluses handy. Aim for his head for maximum damage.

Lichdragon Fortissax Attacks & Counters

Attack	Description	Counter
Ancient Dragons’ Lightning Spear	Fortissax rises to its hindlegs and raises its left arm. A massive fork-like bolt of red lightning appears in its grip, and after a brief delay Fortissax slams the lightning bolt forwards into the ground to create an electrical explosion. Lightning trails will radiate outwards from the point of impact, and both the initial blast and residual lightning will knock the player to the ground if it connects.	Sprint away from Fortissax, then sprint back in to jump attack the head, rolling through the residual lightning as you do. Alternatively, the initial explosion can be rolled through at point-blank range for a longer punish if you feel confident in the timing.
Fortissax's Lightning Spear (Phase 2 only)	Fortissax rises to its hindlegs and raises both arms. Two massive fork-like bolts of red lightning appear in its hands, and after a brief delay Fortissax slams the bolt in its left hand forwards into the ground to create an electrical explosion. After an extended delay, Fortissax then slams the bolt in its right hand into the ground to create a second electrical explosion. Both impacts release waves of lightning, and both will knock the player to the ground if they connect.	Sprint away from Fortissax, then sprint back in to jump attack the head as Fortissax slams the second bolt, rolling through the residual lightning as you do. Alternatively, the initial explosions can both be rolled through at point-blank range for a longer punish if you feel confident in the timing.
Fortissax's Glaive (Phase 2 only)	Fortissax rises to its hindlegs and then leaps into the air, manifesting a massive glaive of red lightning in its left hand. Fortissax then dives towards the player, spinning two full circles to its left as Fortissax lands with the glaive outstretched. This attack will knock the player to the ground if it connects.	Roll to the left very, very late. The timing on this attack is rather unforgiving; do not risk a dodge if you lack the HP to survive it. Instead, heal up and either dodge after or take and survive the hit if there isn't time.
Lightning Barrier	Fortissax is surrounded by a swirling barrier of red lightning. Players who stand within this barrier will continually become charged with red lightning. After a few seconds, this lightning will drop off the player to the ground. From there it explodes, doing minor damage and staggering the player if they remain too close to the blast.	Avoid standing under Fortissax. If you become charged, walking is not fast enough to get away from the dropped bolt; run or roll as it falls off of you. Additionally, try to disengage from Fortissax by moving towards the tail; many of its forwards claw combos extend for greater periods and are more likely to be able to take advantage of a forced roll or hitstun from the charge than its slow tail whip.
Death Lightning	Fortissax crouches down and then thrusts its head into the air. Fortissax will roar once initially, and then once more in a prolonged manner. As the second roar begins, numerous black-gold patches of electricity will appear on the battlefield. In a few moments, those patches will be struck by bolts of death lightning, which leave behind clouds of a deathblight-inflicting mist behind them for a fairly extended period.	Move in and attack Fortissax's front legs, being mindful of the lightning barrier as you do. Once Fortissax stops, identify a path along which the mist is sparse, and put your back to that direction as you continue the fight.
Claw Combo	Fortissax raises its left arm and slams it down in front of itself at an angle, such that its hand passes below the chin. Fortissax then pulls it back in a swipe from its right to its left. Both attacks cause small lightning explosions along the path of the attack a few moments after it completes. This combo will knock you to the ground if it connects with one of the physical attacks. Follows: none Followed by: right swipe, rearing fire breath	Roll backwards and immediately roll again to dodge the first swipe and its lightning trail, then repeat the process for the second hit. Roll early through the attacks to have time to dodge the trail, and note that if you are hit by the first swipe's trail, the second swipe's trail cannot be avoided with a roll because you will be forced to roll late on the second swing, thereby preventing you from recovering fast enough to roll again. Additionally, avoid moving in front of Fortissax if you have been charged by his lightning barrier. This combo even without followups requires four near back to back dodges to dodge; being forced to roll early by lightning dropping off of you or being stunned by it into a hit can easily prove fatal.
Right Swipe	Fortissax raises its right arm and swipes it from its right to its left, causing a trail of lightning explosions in the path of the swing moments later. This attack will knock the player to the ground if the physical portion connects. Follows: claw combo, single bite, double bite (phase 2 only), vertical slam (phase 2 only) Followed by: vertical slam, rearing firebreath, repositioning hop, reverse right swipe (only if standing behind Fortissax and to his right)	Dodge backwards once to dodge the swipe and then immediately do so again to dodge the trail. Prepare for the potential followup.
Vertical Slam	Fortissax rises to its hindlegs and raises its left arm above its head. After a brief delay, Fortissax falls forwards and slams its right hand into the ground, releasing a small electrical burst around the point of impact. This attack will knock the player to the ground if it connects. Follows: right swipe Followed by: right swipe (phase 2 only), rearing fire breath (phase 2 only), double bite (phase 2 only)	Move backwards and roll once to the left. If performed correctly, you will roll to the right side of its head (left from your perspective) and be out of range of the electrical burst. Then, attack the head, remembering that this attack can be comboed into further moves in phase 2.
Double Bite	Fortissax rises to its hindlegs, arches its neck to the right and opens its mouth, then bites forward. Fortissax then repeats the process with its neck arched to the left. Follows: vertical slam (phase 2 only) Followed by: rearing fire breath, right swipe (phase 2 only)	Sprint out of range of the first bite, and charge a heavy attack as Fortissax bites a second time. As Fortissax finishes, release the heavy attack and hit its head. This is a safe punish in both phase 1 and phase 2 if performed properly.
Single Bite	Fortissax arches its neck to the left, then bites forwards without coming off the ground. Follows: none Followed by: right swipe, rearing firebreath	Roll backwards and right through the bite, and prepare for the followup. Additionally, be aware of the possibility of this move; even though Fortissax does not chain into it, it has fast startup and recovery that can lead to it being used surprisingly quickly after another attack or a non-chained followup being performed earlier than expected.
Rearing Fire breath	Fortissax rises onto its hindlegs and arches its neck before spewing fire forwards. Fortissax then sweeps the fire under its body from the right to the left, and finishes the attack by spewing fire forwards again. This attack will knock you to the ground if it connects. Follows: single bite, double bite, right swipe, claw combo, vertical slam (phase 2 only) Followed by: none	If you are close to Fortissax when it begins this move, sprinting forwards will allow you to reach Fortissax's tail. Stand far back along it, and attack it as Fortissax breathes fire, using thrusting attacks if available to take advantage of the counter state. Note that you will become charged by the shield, so you will have to roll at least one dropped lightning bolt. Alternatively, if you have access to long ranged attacks, you can move backwards out of reach and attack. Otherwise, sprint backwards and to your left. As Fortissax finishes sweeping the fire from its right to the left and transitions into the forwards gout, sprint forwards towards the head and attack it once as it lands. The timing and positioning are very tight; you may simply wish to wait the attack out if you would rather play things safe.
Forwards Fire breath	This attack is often used when the player is far from Fortissax and in front of it. Fortissax arches its neck slightly, then exhales a long stream of fire forwards, sweeping slightly from its right to the left. This attack will knock you to the ground if it connects.	Sprint diagonally forwards to your right. Note that unlike the similar looking attack from flying-dragon model enemies, this attack does not track the player.
Aerial Firebreath	This is often used when the player is standing under Fortissax's chest. Fortissax crouches down, then launches backwards into flight as flame particles appear in its mouth. Fortissax then spits a gout of fire onto the ground at the player and flaps backwards to land.	Run backwards out of range of the fire, then sprint forwards to close the gap once more.
Lightning Slam	This attack is often used when the player is standing under Fortissax. Fortissax rises to its hind legs and raises both arms. After a brief delay, Fortissax slams both claws into the ground under its chest, creating a large shockwave that will knock you to the ground if it connects. Waves of lightning propagate outwards from the point of impact as the shockwave dissipates,	Move out from under Fortissax, then sprint back in after it slams, rolling through the waves of lightning as you do. Fortissax is vulnerable for a significant period following this attack.
Reverse Right Swipe	This attack is only used if the player is standing at Fortissax's right side after it has used a right swipe. Fortissax pulls his hand backwards from its left to the right in a swipe, leaving a trail of lightning which erupts moments later as Fortissax does. This attack will knock you to the ground if it connects.	Avoid standing at Fortissax's right side. If unavoidable, roll through the attack and then roll again to avoid the lightning, or sprint/roll forwards under Fortissax and out of reach.
Repositioning Claw Swipe	This attack is commonly used when the player is standing at Fortissax's left side. Fortissax raises its left arm and swipes from its right to the left, turning to face the player in the process. This attack will knock the player to the ground if it connects, and leaves a trail of lightning that activates after a momentary delay.	Sprint backwards and out of range of the attack, or roll early through the claw swipe in order to have enough time to roll again immediately after and dodge the lightning.
Wing Beating	This attack is often used when the player is under Fortissax. Fortissax rises onto its hind legs and flaps its wings three times, staggering players caught under it. Fortissax then flaps a fourth time, knocking players to the ground if they do not dodge. This attack does not deal damage, only stuns.	Move out from under Fortissax, and sprint in to attack once it flaps for a fourth time. Alternatively, dodge through each flap and attack after Fortissax completes the fourth.
Tail Swipe	This attack is often used when the player is behind Fortissax. The dragon raises its tail and bends it to the left, then swings itself counterclockwise around to face the player, sweeping the area behind and to the side of himself as Fortissax does. This attack will knock you to the ground if it connects.	Dodge through the attack, or sprint out of range.
Divebomb	Fortissax launches itself backwards into the air, hangs there for a moment, and then dives towards the player. This attack will knock you to the ground if it connects.	Dodge forwards through the dive and attack Fortissax's hind legs.
Repositioning Hop	Fortissax leaps forwards and glides a short distance, turning around as he lands. If Fortissax happens to land on a player, it will deal heavy damage and knock them to the ground. Follows: any attack which a rearing firebreath could Followed by: none	Turn around and pursue Fortissax. If it looks like Fortissax might land on you, get out of the way.

Lichdragon Fortissax Notes & Other Trivia

• Fortissax is riddled with thorns all over its body, which shows that he was afflicted by Death Blight, and was subsequently corrupted.
• Fortissax was once known as the mightiest boulderstone.

Fortissax's Lightning Spear

Lansseax's Glaive

Bolt of Gransax

Lightning Spear

Death Lightning

Black Knife

Cursemark of Death

Remembrance of the Lichdragon

Mending Rune of the Death-Prince

Sword Monument