Summary
InElden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree, players will be given a choice of whether or not they will consume Draconic Essence, and players are understandably unsure which to choose. After all,Elden Ring— and FromSoftware games in general — can sometimesobscure the consequences of a player’s choiceuntil after they make it. Players who have been burned in the past are likely going to be a little more cautious before putting any strange substances into their characters’ bodies inElden Ring.
That said, players also don’t want to miss out on any potentialbenefits that may be offered by consuming the Draconic Essence.Elden Ring’sShadow of the ErdtreeDLC is pretty difficult, and players likely want any edge they can get to help them get through it. This means it is important for players to fully understand the good and potential bad that could come from making this choice before deciding which option to choose.
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Elden Ring Players Will Be Given The Choice To Take Dragon Communion
Where Players Can Make The Choice
In order to decide whether they should consume Draconic Essence, players will first need to know where they can make this choice. Players will need totravel to the Grand Altar of Dragon Communionin the southern part of the map. It is located between Finger-Weaver’s Hollow and the Finger Ruins of Rhia. Once there, players will meet an NPC called the Dragon Communion Priestess.
When players talk to the priestess, she will give them the option to partake in Dragon Communion by consuming Draconic Essence. Doing so will kick off a series of events and give the player a new item. It is likely in a player’s best interest to say yes when offered Dragon Communion, as there isn’t any sort of immediate or long-lasting downside for agreeing. Still, it’s understandable if players want to know everything they’re getting themselves into when agreeing to the priestess’ offer.
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What Does Consuming Draconic Essence Do To Players?
Players Receive A Quest And A Blessing
When players consume the Draconic Essence, the Dragon Communion Priestess will give thema consumable item called theAncient Dragon’s Blessing. Players can consume this item for 15 FP to increase damage negation of all types. This can be a helpful item when facing off against tough enemies inElden Ring’s DLC, which means it can be a compelling reason to take the Dragon Communion. Although Ancient Dragon’s Blessing is only a one-time use, players can return to the Dragon Communion Priestess to receive another one. This location has its own Site of Grace, making it easily accessible.
Taking Dragon Communion also starts players on a quest to defeatan optional boss, Bayle the Dread.Bayle is a terrifying dragon that breathes both lightning and fire at the same time, allowing it to do massive amounts of damage. Players can get the edge on Bayle by using Frost damage or Scarlet Rot, though they’re still in for a pretty tough fight. With Bayle doing multiple types of damage, players will likely want to consume theirAncient Dragon’s Blessingfor this fight.
Bayle is located at Jagged Peak, which has its own Site of Grace. This means players can easily bounce between the fight location and the Grand Altar of Dragon Communion to replenish their Ancient Dragon’s Blessing if they don’t defeat Bayle on their first try. Aside from just wanting to complete every boss, it can be worth players’ time to try and take out Bayle. Players can also team up with a new NPC,Igon, who can be located at the Foot of the Jagged Peak.
What Can Players Get From Completing The Dragon Communion Priestess’ Quest?
Players Will Receive Several Powerful Items For Completing This Quest
Apart from bragging rights for taking out one ofElden Ring’s toughest dragons, players will also receive some good rewards for killing Bayle the Dread. Bayle itself earns the players 490,000 runes for defeating it, andan item calledtheHeart of Bayle. Players can use this at the Grand Altar of Dragon Communion to receive one of two incantations: Bayle’s Flame Lightning or Bayle’s Tyranny.
Bayle’s Flame Lightning transforms the player’s right hand into the form of Bayle’s, allowing them to smash enemies with a powerful flame lightning attack for 24 FP. Bayle’s Tyranny will unleash a fiery blast in a circle around the player for 50 FP. Bayle’s Tyranny can be slightly easier to get off, as Bayle’s Flame Lightning has a slow attack animation, but both are very powerful incantations.
After defeating Bayle, players who return to the Grand Altar of Dragon Communion will find that the Dragon Communion Priestess is gone. In her place are two items:Priestess HeartandFlowerstone Gavel. The Flowerstone Gavel is a hammer that scales with Strength, Dexterity, and Arcane and has a unique skill - Flower Dragonbolt - which can deal lightning damage.
The Priestess Heart is a very interesting item, as itallows players to assume the frame of an ancient dragon. In their new form, players will receive buffsto all Dragon Cult incantations, which include the ones gained from the Heart of Bayle. This is a repeatable effect that lasts for 60 seconds. Players will need to be wearing no armor to use it.
Are There Any Downsides For Consuming Draconic Essence?
Some Choices In Elden Ring Can Cause Lasting Consequences For The Player
Whether or not players follow through with the entire quest of killing Bayle, there is no reason for them not to consume the Draconic Essence. There are no lasting consequences like with Fia’s hug, and it doesn’t change any major parts of the game. Bayle is an optional boss, and taking the Dragon Communion doesn’t change that. There’s nothing stopping players from taking the quest and then just going back to what they would otherwise be doing, occasionally popping back to the Grand Altar of the Dragon for more Ancient Dragon’s Blessings if they want.
It’s smart forElden Ringplayers to be cautious of any dialogue choices, given how seemingly harmless ones can end up having a big effect. However, players can be safe in the knowledge that no harm will come to them if they accept Dragon Communion. Players who don’t mind skipping some bosses and who don’t care about Dragon Cult incantations might not feel the need to seek out this quest, but anyone who stumbles upon it while exploringElden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtreecan rest easy knowing that Draconic Essence is safe to consume.
