The Crumbling Farum Azula inElden Ringis one of the finalLegacy Dungeonsplayers get to unlock in their journey to become an Elden Lord. Thus, it’s meant to be a late-game area. If that wasn’t obvious enough to players, then enemy damage and the number of death traps in this place will drive the point even harder.
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Suffice to say, it’s not an area for the faint of heart. This is where players will have to apply everything they have learned suffering through the lower and mid-levels in the game andElden Ringalso expects them to use everything at their disposal in this environment. Even then, players will still have a hard time in this crumbling gauntlet so here are some reminders on how to blast through the level.
Updated Jul 19, 2025, by Sid Natividad:Crumbling Farum Azula in Elden Ring is one of the most grueling areas in the game. It’s an end-game area, so that’s a good explanation, but one can’t deny the difficulty spikes. Dragonlord Placidusax or the so-called Farum Azula dragon is just one of the many hurdles in the game. Thus, more tips are warranted in case players are still having a hard time completing Crumbling Farum Azula. After all, it’s the final non-optional level area in Elden Ring, right before the final boss fight. These additional tips on clearing the area might just be the push many players need.
13It’s Fine To Run Past Enemies
There’s no shame in cheesing whole sections of the game just to get to the final part, because as it is, running past enemies after dying dozens of times from them already is quite common amongSoulsgames. There’s just a point in the playthrough when patience reaches its end, and this is more excusable or understandable in Crumbling Farum Azula.
The damage spikes and inflated HP numbers can sometimes seem too unfair. Coupled with the clunky platforming sections, this place has the perfect recipe for frustration. So, once players are past the initial awe, then running past all the fodder enemies or ignoring them is a good idea to save time and sanity.
12When In Doubt, Use Bleed
Some of the worst enemies in Crumbling Farum Azula are the white dragons or the mini-boss dragons. Their HP numbers are way too inflated and they can even feel beefier than bosses sometimes. In such cases, switching strategies and tactics to deal with them is recommended.
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Bleed comes to mind when dealing with such bloated HP amounts. Simple Bleed weapons like a+10 Uchigatanaor better still, a maxed-outScavenger’s Curved Swordor even a BloodyGodskin Peelerwill do well against these pesky dragons. Players can even take these Bleed weapons to the game’s final bosses.
11Buff Up With Holy Resistance
For those having trouble avoiding boss attacks, especially from the area boss, Maliketh or even from Dragonlord Placidusax, buffing up specific resistances can help a lot. There are plenty of Incantations in the game that canbolsterHolyorLightning Resitance.
Those two damage types are quite common as heavy attacks from Crumbling Farum Azula’s bosses. Apart from the Incantations, there are also some talismans that can help such as theHaligdrake Talisman, theBoltdrake Talisman, andPearldrake Talisman. Use several of these defensive solutions together to shrug through Maliketh’s elemental attacks.
10Don’t Forget Dragonlord Placidusax
Dragonlord Placidusax is the deity that held the Crumbling Farum Azula together (in the past), which is why he’s hidden. The reason the whole place broke down in a magical maelstrom is that players killed him (in the past). However, players won’t be able to enjoy this lore explanation if they miss the boss fight.
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It just so happens that Dragonlord Placidusax is easy to miss. He is a secret, optional boss after all, but still one of the best boss fights inElden Ringor anySoulsgame. So, players will want to ensure they look out for him usingthis guide.
9Don’t Lock On Dragonlord Placidusax If He’s On The Ground
Dragonlord Placidusax is also one of the hardest bosses inElden Ring. He deals shocking amounts of damage and has a lot of tricks up his sleeve. If players want to make the fight more manageable than usual, then learning to fight without the lock-on pays off well.
This is because Dragonlord Placidusax’s size makes the fight way too janky with the lock-on feature. So, while he’s still on the ground, players will want to just manually use the camera stick in order to get a good view and dodge easier. The only time players should lock on to him is if he starts to fly and turn invisible.
8Level Up Well Past 100 & Have 50+ Vigor
The"recommended" level for Crumbling Faum Azulais actuallyaround 120 to 150, courtesy of Fextralife and theElden Ringcommunity. Then again, players can stumble upon this level below those recommended numbers if they’re good enough. But below level 100, expect to have an even harder time getting through this.
Enemy damage is notably increased a lot more in this area along with HP. Anyone with Vigor less than 50 will either die in two to three attacks or spend so much time dodging and healing to be productive. So it’s best for players to not make the run more difficult than it should be and at least pump up their Vigor to 50.
7Max Out Main Weapon Upgrades
At the same time, players will want to have a solid weapon of their choice with which they’re committed. That means either+25 for normal weaponsand+10 for special weapons. The final upgrade material is rare, but players needn’t worry since Crumbling Farum Azula has a few Ancient Dragon Stones for the sweet final upgrade.
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This is because most of the weapon’s damage comes from upgrades instead of stats. So those looking for a smooth progression through the Crumbling Farum Azula will want the best version of their chosen weapons. Those who prefer to have backups also need not worry as the game will sell players an unlimited number of Smithing Stones for upgrades +1 to +24 or +9 (Somber) via the Twin Maiden Husks in Roundtable Hold.
6Disable Automatic Wall Recovery
Apart from enemies, the biggest danger in Crumbling Farum Azula is the well, crumbling environment. It’s a platforming hell where a wrong jump or lack of alertness during traversal can result in some frustrating deaths. Players are also expected to perform a lot of precarious jumps on this level to progress. Dying because the camera tries to predict player movements and trajectory is certainly not a welcome obstacle.
Such is the case for the Automatic Wall Recovery mechanic which makes the camera perform some jerky adjustments depending on where the game thinks the player should be looking or going. It’s best to disable this option in the in-game menu (Camera tab) as it can be more of an annoyance than anything helpful.
5Equip Lightning-Resistant Armor & Avoid Water
Lightning is a common choice of spells for this level. Several dragons, a mini-boss, and even some Beastmen clerics love unleashing the wrath of the heavens at the players. Luckily, there are ways to mitigate lightning damage and apart from consumables, players can wear something like theMalformed Dragon Setor theBull-Goat Set.
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Those who have the highestLightning resistanceout of all the armor sets inElden Ring. But even then, players might find their Lightning resistance dipping significantly in some areas. In such cases, they might want to check if their character isstanding on waterorrolled in a puddle. Because water will considerably reduce Lightning resistance.
4Use Sleep Against The Godskin Duo
The Godskin Duo is one of the most annoying and worst-designedbosses inElden Ring. Sadly, it’s a mandatory fight and players will have no choice but to tough it out. Apart from using the Mimic Tear or Black Knife Tiche to make the fight easier, another tactic is to inflict Sleep on them.
This can be done throughSleep Arrows, Sleep Pots, St. Trina’s Sword, St. Trina’s Torch, or even theSoporific Grease. Once they have enough Sleep buildup, the Godskin Duo will slump over in a nap and players are free to inflict a critical attack. Just don’t attack them normally since that will wake them up.
