Should You Devour Draconic Essence in Elden Ring
As you traverse the treacherous landscape of Elden Ring: Shadow Of The Erdtree, you'll encounter the Dragon's Pit, a perilous region known as The Jagged Peak. Home to dragons and drakes, this area also hosts the enigmatic Dragon Communion Priestess. A crucial decision awaits you here: whether to devour the Draconic Essence. This guide will help you navigate this choice, detailing all possible quest outcomes and implications for your journey.
The Dragon Communion Priestess and Draconic Essence
The Dragon Communion Priestess resides at the Grand Altar of Dragon Communion, located on the southern road within the Jagged Peak. Upon meeting her, you'll learn about Bayle The Dread, a fearsome boss and the "oldest, vilest dragon of them all," now ruling these lands. She presents you with a choice that significantly impacts your questline.
Devour Draconic Essence
Choosing to devour the Draconic Essence initiates a series of events:
Objective: The Priestess instructs you to kill Bayle The Dread, granting you the Ancient Dragon's Blessing to aid in your quest. This blessing boosts all damage negation for 70 seconds when consumed, and you can return for another blessing if needed before facing Bayle.
Outcome: There are no downsides to devouring the essence, making it a beneficial choice. It provides you with the means to strengthen your defenses significantly during your battle against Bayle.
Additional dialogue with the Priestess after consuming the essence reveals more about Bayle's history. He betrayed Dragonlord Placidusax, causing a rift between his drake bloodline and the dragons.
If you're also following Igon's questline, initiated at the Dragon's Pit entrance in the Gravesite Plain, he'll encourage you to end Bayle's tyrannical rule.
Post-Essence Devouring: The Path to Bayle
After deciding to devour the essence, your next steps involve navigating the main road northward. You'll encounter numerous Spiritspring jumps leading to the Jagged Peak's summit, where Bayle awaits. Along the way, you might face optional side bosses, offering further challenges and rewards.
Upon defeating Bayle, return to the Grand Altar of Dragon Communion for your rewards:
Priestess Heart: Enhances Dragon Cult incantations and allows transformation into the Dragon Priestess form.
Flowerstone Gavel: A weapon scaling with Strength and Arcane, featuring a red lightning strike attack.
Alternative Path: Nightfall and Thiollier's Concoction
If you prefer a different approach, wait until nightfall and revisit the Priestess. Ensure you've progressed sufficiently in Moore and Thiollier's questlines to obtain 'Thiollier's Concoction.' Presenting this concoction to the Priestess changes the rewards you receive upon Bayle's defeat:
Dragonbolt of Florissax Incantation: Summons red lightning and increases all forms of damage negation for the caster and nearby allies.
Ancient Dragon Florissax Spirit Ash: Available after speaking to the Priestess again and choosing the 'take her with you' option.
Conclusion
The decision to devour the Draconic Essence in Elden Ring: Shadow Of The Erdtree offers significant benefits with no apparent downsides. Whether you choose to enhance your defenses with the Ancient Dragon's Blessing or opt for alternate rewards with Thiollier's Concoction, this choice shapes your journey. By effectively utilizing Elden Ring Runes and Elden Ring Items, you can ensure your character is well-prepared to face the myriad challenges of the Lands Between. Equip yourself wisely, master your abilities, and embark on an epic adventure through this formidable world.