Elden Ring was too full of dragons, and the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC introduces even more. We’re used to the normal dragons, but there’s also a much more fearsome and less familiar variant of the Elder Dragon, it’s quite similar to Fortissax, and its cross-breed cousins in Farum Azula.
Preparations
- You can reach level 15 and above of Blessings of the Shadow Realm by collecting the majority of the Splinters from the Occult Tree on the map. This will greatly help you in this fight, as well as the following ones.
- It’s not always thought of for outdoor fights, but a spirit summon is available. Mimic is always a good choice, but a ranged alternative can also be interesting, like Latenna, since she will usually aim for the head and deal immense damage while she is alive.
- The most dangerous damage from this boss is lightning type. Physical damage is quite secondary in comparison. Fire damage is almost anecdotal. Using the new Lightning Dragon Talisman +3, or even the Pearl Dragon Talisman +3 in combination will allow you to significantly reduce the damage taken.
- Senessax is moderately resistant to most elemental damage, but his resistance to lightning is extremely high. The same goes for physical damage, except for piercing damage, which he is quite vulnerable to. Aim for the head to deal +100% damage.
- This boss is immune to Madness and Sleep, but all other damaging afflictions (Poison, Scarlet Rot, Hemorrhage, Frostbite) work just fine. This is the ideal fight to make a collection of Pots and Giant Pots with these various afflictions, since he is an easy target. This will allow you to inflict all of these afflictions on him, which will make your life much easier, especially if you normally play in melee.
Strategy
As is often the case, you can choose to face the beast on foot or on horseback. This will obviously depend on your build. Spellcasters can have fun bombarding Senessax from their mount, keeping their distance for example. Consider using the Talisman increasing damage done while mounted, if applicable. Having rowan berries to heal Torrent is also recommended.
The problem with Elder Dragons is that their heads are usually way too high to be hit in melee, and locking the camera on them turns the game into a Gerbotron. Standing in front of an Elder Dragon is also a particularly dangerous and frustrating exercise, since almost all of its attacks hit in that direction, with a large area of effect: electric claw swipes, breath attacks, huge vertical bolts.
It is usually safer to attack the hind legs and tail. Positioning yourself well will protect you from area effects. Remember to get under the tail when he blows his legs. This boss takes a while to pivot, and he does not attack with his hind legs.
An effective strategy against normal dragons has also proven itself on Senessax, it consists of rushing under his legs on horseback, giving a few blows as he passes, then continuing straight behind him before turning around and starting again. He will perform attacks in the air in front of him, before turning around, just in time to see you come back and pass under him again. This requires a certain mastery of the rhythm of the fight and the distances, and there are still the vertical lightnings which are quite painful to avoid (ideally by jumping with Torrent) but it is an approach which has the merit of being easy to use.
Combine this approach with the damage over time from your Pots and other stocked toxic consumables, and you should quickly turn Senessax into upgrade materials for your weapons.
Awards
Senessax doesn’t give out a Dragon Heart for once, but a version of each Ancient Dragon Forge Stone. This will help you finish the upgrades for the new weapons in the DLC, such as the Dragon Slayer’s Great Katana, which might help you in the next fight: Bayle.
Bayle the Dreadful Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree: How to beat this dragon boss with Igon?
The most ancient and terrible of dragons awaits you on the Jagged Peak of the Elden Ring SOTE DLC. Killing it will allow you to complete a quest, as well as unlock new draconic abilities. Check out a video of the fight, along with a written guide full of tips and advice.
