Dragons in Elden Ring are some of the most breathtaking—and brutal—bosses in the Lands Between. From the sky-scorching Agheel to the rot-spewing Decaying Ekzykes, each dragon brings its own unique challenge, often leaving unprepared Tarnished as little more than ash on the battlefield.
But with the right tools and a good understanding of your loadout, dragons become far more manageable. Whether you're planning to take them on solo or with a summoned ally, here are 13 essential items that can seriously turn the tide in your favor.
This consumable temporarily boosts physical attack power against dragons. Easy to overlook, but highly effective—especially for melee builds trying to squeeze every bit of damage out of their weapons.
A powerful incantation that increases physical and fire attack power. Most dragons have high fire resistance, but your own fire-enhanced melee attacks still benefit from this buff.
Many dragons are weak to lightning, and this talisman helps protect you from their counterattacks. It’s particularly useful when fighting dragons that incorporate lightning into their own arsenal, such as Lansseax.
This buff increases both attack and defense for you and nearby allies. It's incredibly useful in longer dragon fights where survivability and damage output matter equally.
Craftable after progressing through certain late-game areas, these pots deal high lightning damage and can be thrown from a distance, allowing you to chip away at flying or distant dragons.
This shield might seem gimmicky at first, but activating its skill "Contagious Fury" grants a 20% boost to attack power. Time it right before engaging a dragon for a helpful damage spike.
Not all dragons are immune to Scarlet Rot. Using Rot Pots on grounded dragons—especially slower ones like Ekzykes—can help you deal passive damage over time while maintaining a safe distance.
Like Dragonwound Grease, this one enchants your weapon, but with lightning. Ideal for players who want to maximize their damage against most dragons, which tend to be weak to it.
This Spirit Ash is legendary for a reason. While not an item you directly equip in combat, the Mimic Tear can mimic your stats and gear, effectively doubling your firepower and survivability during a tough dragon encounter.
Customize your Flask of Wondrous Physick with this tear to boost your lightning damage. Drink it right before going in for a lightning-based attack barrage.
Some dragons are susceptible to poison, and casting this spell before the fight or during a distraction phase can add steady damage. It’s especially useful if you want to conserve your FP for healing or other spells.
This enchantment adds a flame effect to your weapon that scales with faith and causes damage over time. Useful if you're running a faith-based build and want something more potent than basic melee.
This one's more situational, but it’s been noted that certain dragons are less aggressive when this torch is equipped. While not a guaranteed method of safety, it can give cautious players some breathing room.
Before you head into a fight, take a moment to tweak your loadout. This might include grabbing specific talismans, reallocating flasks, or optimizing stats. If you're on PC, it’s often a good idea to buy Elden Ring runes PC to help speed up stat adjustments, especially if you're experimenting with different strategies. Similarly, PS4 players can Buy Elden Ring items PS4 to get the exact tools needed for dragon-slaying builds without grinding for hours.
Fighting dragons in Elden Ring isn’t just about raw power—it’s about preparation, timing, and exploiting weaknesses. With the right set of items, you can turn what would be a frustrating grind into a rewarding victory. Don’t underestimate how much a well-placed Lightning Pot or timely Golden Vow cast can change the pace of a battle.