Where to Find Lansseax in Elden Ring and How to Defeat Her

In the vast, golden-hued expanses of the Altus Plateau, few encounters are as visually striking or mechanically frustrating as the battle against Ancient Dragon Lansseax. As a sister to the legendary Lichdragon Fortissax, Lansseax represents a significant spike in difficulty for players transitioning from the mid-game content of Liurnia and Caelid. Her mastery of red lightning and her tendency to vanish mid-fight have led many Tarnished to believe their game is glitched, when in reality, they are simply witnessing a scripted retreat.

Understanding Lansseax requires more than just high stats; it demands an awareness of the environment, a specific gear loadout, and, for some, technical troubleshooting. This guide breaks down her locations, her complex moveset, and the community-discovered strategies that make this encounter manageable for both melee and magic-focused builds.

Why Does Lansseax Disappear During the First Fight?

One of the most frequent questions regarding this boss is why she suddenly flies away during the initial encounter. When you first enter the Altus Plateau via the Ruin-Strewn Precipice, you will likely rest at the Abandoned Coffin Site of Grace. As you move toward the open field, Lansseax swoops down in a dramatic ambush. However, no matter how much damage you deal, you cannot kill her here.

According to community data and player testing, Lansseax is scripted to retreat once her health drops by approximately 10% to 20%. This is not a bug or a technical error; it is a narrative device intended to establish her as a recurring threat. Many players waste valuable consumables or Spirit Ash summons during this first phase, only to be left confused when she disappears into the clouds. The key is to deal just enough damage to trigger her departure and then proceed toward the capital of Leyndell.

It is worth noting that this first encounter is entirely optional. If you are struggling with her initial ambush, you can simply ride past her on Torrent. She will still appear at her second, final location regardless of whether you engaged her at the Abandoned Coffin. However, fighting her early provides a good opportunity to learn the timing of her basic claw swipes and fire breath before the stakes are raised in the second phase.

Where to Find Lansseax After the Abandoned Coffin Encounter

Finding Lansseax for the final showdown requires navigating to the northern reaches of the Altus Plateau. From the Rampartside Path Site of Grace, which is located near the outer walls of Leyndell, you should head southwest up the rocky incline. As you reach the plateau overlooking the valley, the sky will darken, and Lansseax will descend for the final battle.

The geography of this second arena is significantly more hazardous than the first. The hill is uneven, and the weather is often rainy, which naturally lowers your lightning resistance while increasing the effectiveness of Lansseax's elemental attacks. Furthermore, random lightning strikes can occur in the environment, adding an extra layer of chaos to the fight. According to geographical data from Fextralife , this location is the only place where you can permanently defeat her and claim her unique rewards.

If you arrive at the hill and she does not spawn, ensure that you have at least triggered the first encounter at the Abandoned Coffin. While some players report she spawns regardless, others find that resting at the Rampartside Path Site of Grace and advancing time to morning or noon helps trigger the event. The arena is large, so keep your eyes on the sky to spot her descent.

How to Prepare for the Final Battle Against the Ancient Dragon

Preparation is the difference between a frustrating defeat and a hard-won victory. Lansseax is a formidable opponent, and entering the arena without the right resistances is a recipe for disaster. Most veteran players recommend being at least Level 100 , with a minimum of 40 Vigor to survive her high-damage lightning strikes.

Lansseax's primary damage type is Lightning, followed by Physical (Slash/Pierce) and Fire. Therefore, your armor choice should prioritize lightning negation over raw physical defense. The environment works against you here; standing in water or fighting in the rain significantly increases the damage you take from her red lightning glaive. To counter this, you should utilize specific consumables and talismans.

In terms of offensive strategy, Lansseax is an Ancient Dragon, meaning she shares the standard weaknesses of her kin. She is particularly vulnerable to Pierce damage , which makes spears, thrusting swords, and certain arrows highly effective. Conversely, she possesses exceptionally high resistance to Lightning damage, so Faith builds should avoid using lightning-based incantations like Honed Bolt or Lightning Spear, as they will deal negligible damage.

Top Weapons and Gear for a Lightning-Resistant Build

Building a "Lightning Tank" loadout can trivialize many of Lansseax's most dangerous moves. By stacking resistances, you can survive hits that would otherwise result in an immediate "You Died" screen. Here are the recommended items for this encounter:

• Boltdrake Talisman +2: This talisman provides a significant boost to lightning negation. You can find the +2 version in the Dragonbarrow region of Caelid.
• Lightningproof Liver: A craftable consumable that temporarily boosts lightning resistance. Always keep a stack on your quick-item bar.
• Golden Vow: An incantation (or Ash of War) that increases both your offensive power and defensive capabilities.
• Protection of the Erdtree: A high-level Faith incantation that vastly increases all elemental resistances, including lightning.

When it comes to weaponry, the Cross-Naginata ranks among the top choices for this fight. Its long reach allows you to poke at Lansseax's legs or head while staying relatively safe, and its inherent Pierce damage type exploits her primary weakness. For those who prefer a more aggressive melee approach, the Storm Blade Ash of War is a top-tier option. It allows you to send out vacuum projectiles that can hit Lansseax's head from a distance, dealing massive poise damage and potentially opening her up for a critical hit.

Magic users should rely on Rock Sling . Since this spell deals physical damage rather than magic or elemental damage, it bypasses her resistances and is highly effective at breaking her stance. Aiming for the head with Rock Sling is one of the most reliable ways to bring her down quickly.

Master the Moveset of Ancient Dragon Lansseax

Lansseax's moveset is a blend of standard dragon attacks and unique, high-impact lightning magic. The key to surviving is learning the visual cues for her Red Lightning Glaive, which is her most lethal tool.

Identifying the Red Lightning Glaive

When Lansseax rears back and a massive, glowing red sword appears in her hand, she is preparing one of two variations of her signature attack. The Slam occurs when the player is at a medium distance; she will bring the blade down vertically, creating a shockwave that travels forward. The Sweep is used when the player is close to her front or sides; she will swing the blade in a wide, horizontal arc that covers nearly 180 degrees.

Fire Breath Variations

Like all dragons, Lansseax uses fire breath to control the arena. She has a grounded version where she sweeps the flames from left to right, and a flying version where she breathes fire directly beneath her while hovering. If you see her take flight and look downward, immediately sprint away from her shadow to avoid being caught in the lingering flames.

Comparison of Lansseax's Signature Attacks

Attack Name	Visual Cue	Recommended Dodge	Counter Window
Lightning Slam	Vertical sword raise	Dodge sideways	High (Head is low)
Lightning Sweep	Horizontal sword wind-up	Dodge through the blade	Medium (Legs only)
Grounded Fire	Glowing throat, head back	Sprint toward her tail	High (Belly/Legs)
Flying Fire	Dragon hovers upward	Sprint away from shadow	Low (Repositioning)

Advanced Strategies for Melee and Magic Builds

While the basics of dodging and attacking are universal, high-level play involves manipulating the boss's AI and camera. One of the most significant challenges in the Lansseax fight is the camera, which often struggles to track her large body when you are locked onto her head or chest.

The "No-Lock" strategy is widely regarded as a preferred method for melee players. By disabling the lock-on feature, you can position yourself directly under her belly and manually aim your attacks at her hind legs. This prevents the camera from spinning wildly when she jumps or performs a sweep. While her legs take less damage than her head, the safety provided by this positioning often results in a more consistent victory. According to Game8 , targeting the head deals roughly double damage, but the risk of being hit by her lightning glaive increases significantly.

For ranged builds, the "Distance Strategy" is essential. By staying at the edge of her arena, you can bait her into using her slower, more predictable fire breath and lightning slams. This also helps mitigate the particle-heavy effects that can cause performance issues on certain hardware. If you are using a bow or sorceries, always aim for the head to maximize your damage output and stance-breaking potential.

How to Fix the Lansseax AMD GPU Crash

A specific and frustrating issue affecting a subset of the Elden Ring community involves game crashes during the Lansseax fight. Specifically, users with AMD RX 400 and RX 500 series graphics cards (Polaris architecture) often report that their game freezes or crashes to desktop the moment Lansseax summons her red lightning glaive.

This issue is believed to be caused by the way these older GPUs handle the intense particle effects and shaders associated with the red lightning. While there is no official patch that completely eliminates this for all users, several community-vetted workarounds exist:

Lower "Effects Quality"

Navigate to your System settings and set "Effects Quality" to Low. This reduces the complexity of the lightning particles and is often enough to prevent the GPU from timing out.

The Distance Workaround

By fighting Lansseax from a distance using a bow or long-range spells, you prevent the GPU from having to render the high-density particles up close. Many AMD users have successfully completed the fight by kiting her with a Greatbow.

Driver Updates

Ensure you are using the most recent "Recommended" drivers from AMD, rather than the "Optional" beta drivers, which can sometimes be less stable in Elden Ring.

Some players have turned to the "Nexus Mod 150" fix, which modifies how the game handles certain shaders. However, use extreme caution with this method. Any modification to game files can trigger the Easy Anti-Cheat (EAC) system, potentially resulting in an account ban from online play. If you choose this route, ensure you are playing in Offline Mode.

The Lore of Lansseax and Her Connection to Vyke

Beyond the mechanics, Lansseax is a central figure in the hidden history of the Golden Order. She is the sister of Fortissax, the dragon who was befriended by Godwyn the Golden. Following the war between the dragons and the Erdtree, Lansseax took on a unique role: she became a priestess of the Ancient Dragon Cult in Leyndell.

Item descriptions, such as those for Lansseax's Glaive , reveal that she took on a human form to commune with the knights of the capital. This human form is never seen in-game, leading to much speculation among lore enthusiasts. She was instrumental in bridging the gap between the dragon-worshippers and the followers of the Erdtree, turning former enemies into allies.

Her most tragic connection is with Vyke , the knight who came closest to becoming Elden Lord before falling to the Frenzied Flame. The lore states that of all the knights, Vyke was the one Lansseax loved most. This adds a layer of pathos to the encounter; when you fight Lansseax, you are fighting a creature that has lost her brother to corruption and her most beloved companion to madness. According to the Elden Ring Fandom Wiki , her presence in the Altus Plateau may be a lingering attempt to guard the path to the capital or perhaps a search for the knight she once cherished.

Rewards for Defeating Lansseax

Defeating Lansseax is a significant milestone that rewards the player with one of the most visually impressive incantations in the game. Upon her death, she drops Lansseax's Glaive , an incantation that allows the player to summon the same red lightning sword she used during the fight. This spell requires 40 Faith and is highly effective for clearing groups of enemies in PvE due to its wide horizontal sweep.

In addition to the incantation, players receive a substantial amount of runes. While most sources cite a reward of 60,000 runes , this number can vary. If you have the Gold Scarab talisman equipped or are under the effects of a Gold-Pickled Fowl Foot, the reward can exceed 78,000 runes. There is also a minor discrepancy in community reports, with some players receiving 63,000 runes, likely due to group password bonuses or the "glowing eyes" enemy buff that randomly increases rune drops.

Winning this fight also clears the path to the Rampartside Path area without the threat of dragon fire, allowing you to explore the nearby hero's grave and the outer walls of the capital in peace. For many, the true reward is simply the satisfaction of overcoming one of the most mechanically complex dragon fights in the game.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where does Lansseax go after the first fight?

After retreating from the Abandoned Coffin in the southern Altus Plateau, Lansseax moves to a high plateau located just southwest of the Rampartside Path Site of Grace. This is near the outer walls of the Royal Capital, Leyndell. You must travel to this second location to finish the battle and receive her rewards.

What is Lansseax's primary weakness?

Lansseax is most vulnerable to Pierce damage. Weapons that deal thrusting damage, such as spears, rapiers, or Great Arrows, will deal significantly more damage than slash or strike weapons. Additionally, hitting her in the head deals approximately 100% more damage than hitting her legs, making headshots a priority for ranged and skilled melee players.

Can you find Lansseax's human form in Elden Ring?

No, Lansseax's human form does not appear as an NPC or model within the game. Her role as a human priestess is strictly part of the game's lore, mentioned in item descriptions like Lansseax's Glaive. While she communed with the knights of Leyndell in this form, the player only ever encounters her in her dragon form.

Is Lansseax's Glaive incantation worth using?

Lansseax's Glaive is considered a top-tier incantation for Faith builds, particularly in PvE. It features a massive horizontal arc that can hit multiple enemies at once and deals high lightning damage. While it has a somewhat slow wind-up, its ability to clear rooms and its impressive visual flair make it a favorite for many players.

Why does my game crash when Lansseax uses lightning?

This is a known technical issue primarily affecting AMD RX 400 and RX 500 series GPUs. The intense red lightning particle effects can cause these specific cards to crash. To fix this, try lowering your "Effects Quality" to Low in the game settings or fighting the boss from a distance to reduce the rendering load on your GPU.

Can you cheese Lansseax?

Yes, Lansseax can be "cheesed" by using the terrain to your advantage. Players can stand on the lower cliffs near the Rampartside Path and use a Greatbow or long-range spells like Loretta's Greatbow to chip away at her health while she struggles to path toward you. This method is slow but significantly safer than a direct confrontation.