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Today, we're diving into one of the most electrifying and powerful builds that came with the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC: the Pure Lightning Dragon Build. If you're into unleashing devastating Dragon Cult incantations and transforming into a Dragon yourself, this is the build for you. In this guide, I'll walk you through everything you need to know about this build, including

Elden Ring Items, talismans, stats, and the incantations that will help you dominate in both PvE and PvP. Let's get started!

The Power of the Priestess Heart

The Shadow of the Erdtree DLC introduced a game-changing item called the Priestess Heart, which serves as the foundation for this build. What makes the Priestess Heart so unique is its ability to transform you into Dragon form when you're not wearing any armor. Once transformed, using the Priestess Heart again boosts the damage of your Dragon Cult incantations by an impressive 20%. That's right, you can become a Dragon and harness their power in battle.

For this build, we're going all-in on Faith, focusing on the pure destructive potential of Dragon Cult incantations. Combining the Priestess Heart with other key talismans and seals will allow you to stack insane amounts of damage, making you a force to be reckoned with on the battlefield.

Talismans: Buffing Your Incantations

To maximize the effectiveness of your Dragon Cult incantations, we'll be using a variety of talismans that synergize perfectly with this build:

  • Flock's Canvas Talisman and Faithless Canvas Talisman: These two talismans increase the damage of your incantations, making them essential for any casting build. With both of them equipped, your lightning-based spells will hit harder, allowing you to tear through enemies quickly.

  • Godfrey Icon: This talisman is perfect for charged incantations, as it enhances the damage of spells that require charging. Since some of the Dragon Cult incantations have a charge mechanic, this talisman is invaluable for boosting your offensive capabilities.

  • Radagon Icon: Cast speed is crucial for a casting build like this one, especially in PvP where timing is everything. The Radagon Icon increases your casting speed, ensuring that you can fire off your spells more quickly, which can often mean the difference between life and death in a heated battle.

The Gravel Stone Seals and Their Importance

When it comes to casting tools, the Gravel Stone Seal is the top choice for this build. Why? Because it boosts the damage of Dragon Cult incantations. What's even better is that you can wield two of these seals—one in each hand—allowing their bonuses to stack. This essentially gives you an even greater damage output for your lightning spells. So, dual-wielding Gravel Stone Seals is the way to go for maximum efficiency.

Incantations: Harnessing the Power of the Dragon Cult

Now let's talk about the incantations that make this build so powerful. With the Priestess Heart boosting your lightning spells by 20%, you'll want to focus on a combination of fast-casting and heavy-hitting incantations. Here are the ones I use:

  • Honed Bolt: This is your go-to for quick, successive strikes. The initial cast may be a little slow, but the follow-up casts come out much faster, making it great for chipping away at your opponent's health or finishing them off. Since it can be chained repeatedly, it's perfect for PvP when you need a fast incantation to keep your opponents on their toes.

  • Night Lightning Spear: One of the most exciting additions from the DLC is this incantation. It fires a homing lightning spear that can still hit your opponent even if they interrupt your cast. This spell is also chargeable, meaning it does immense damage if you land both the initial hit and the homing projectiles. It's an essential tool for any lightning build, especially when fighting in PvP.

  • Lightning Strike: This incantation is a classic for dealing with groups of enemies or opponents in confined spaces. When you're in a tight corridor or a place where your enemy can't dodge easily, Lightning Strike will tear through them with ease. Its wide area of effect ensures that even evasive opponents won't be able to avoid your wrath.

  • Elex Glave: Having a good side-swipe incantation is always useful, and Elex Glave fills that role perfectly. It's especially useful when you need a quick, wide-range attack to catch multiple enemies at once.

  • Health Regen Incantation: For invasions, having a healing option is always useful. Whether you're facing off against a tough opponent or you're outnumbered, this spell will keep you alive longer and give you the sustain you need in drawn-out battles.

Stats Breakdown: Prioritizing Faith and Cast Speed

Let's move on to the stat distribution for this build. Since we're focusing on Dragon Cult incantations, Faith will be your most important stat, followed by Dexterity for cast speed. Here's how I allocate my stats:

  • Faith: 80 - This is the key stat for boosting the power of your Dragon Cult incantations. The higher your Faith, the more damage your lightning spells will deal, so you'll want to prioritize leveling this up.

  • Dexterity: 40 - With the Radagon Icon equipped, 40 Dexterity is the sweet spot for reaching maximum cast speed. This ensures that you can fire off your incantations as quickly as possible, giving you an edge in combat.

  • Health, Mind, and Endurance - The remaining points are spread between these three stats. You'll need a decent amount of Health to survive in PvP, Mind to maintain a large enough FP pool to cast your spells, and Endurance for stamina management.

Strategies for PvP: Dominating as a Lightning Dragon

This build is incredibly versatile in PvP, whether you're invading or engaging in duels. Here are a few strategies to keep in mind:

  • Always Buff with the Priestess Heart: Before engaging in any battle, make sure you activate the Priestess Heart to enter Dragon form. This gives you a huge advantage right from the start by increasing your damage output by 20%.

  • Use Charged Incantations Wisely: Spells like Night Lightning Spear are devastating when fully charged, but they leave you vulnerable while casting. Use them when you have a clear opening or when your opponent is distracted by another player or NPCs.

  • Leverage AOE Spells in Tight Spaces: When fighting in areas with limited room to maneuver, such as caves or corridors, use Lightning Strike or Elex Glave. These spells are difficult to dodge in confined spaces and can hit multiple opponents at once.

  • Chain Fast Incantations to Keep Up the Pressure: Spells like Honed Bolt are perfect for keeping pressure on your opponent. The quick follow-up casts will force them to play defensively, allowing you to close in and finish them off with a stronger, charged spell.

Final Thoughts: The Lightning Dragon Unleashed

The Pure Lightning Dragon Build is easily one of the most fun and powerful builds to come out of the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC. With the Priestess Heart transforming you into a literal Dragon, and a combination of deadly lightning incantations at your disposal, you'll be able to decimate both PvE and PvP encounters with ease. The synergy between the talismans, seals, and incantations in this build makes it an incredibly potent choice for anyone looking to wield the power of the dragons in the Elden Ring.