how to beat ormstunga

3 min read 02-02-2025

Ormstunga, the colossal serpent in Elden Ring's Crumbling Farum Azula, presents a formidable challenge. This guide offers strategies and build suggestions to help you overcome this massive foe. Conquering Ormstunga requires patience, a well-thought-out strategy, and perhaps a few summoning ashes.

Understanding Ormstunga's Attacks

Ormstunga's attacks are devastating and have long wind-ups. Learning to identify these tells is crucial for survival.

Key Attacks:

Tail Swipes: Massive area-of-effect attacks that can easily one-shot you. Stay close to his head or far away to avoid them.
Body Slams: Ormstunga will slam his body into the ground, creating shockwaves. Maintain distance to evade.
Lightning Breath: A devastating area-of-effect attack that inflicts lightning damage. Get behind cover immediately.
Headbutts: Powerful headbutts that can interrupt your attacks. Dodge and reposition quickly.

Strategies for Defeating Ormstunga

Successfully beating Ormstunga requires a combination of skillful dodging, consistent damage dealing, and strategic positioning.

1. Utilizing the Environment:

The Crumbling Farum Azula environment offers tactical advantages. Use the broken structures and ledges to your benefit. This allows for a safe distance during his larger attacks. You can easily escape his slams and tail swipes by positioning yourself appropriately.

2. Melee Combat:

Close-quarters combat can be effective if you have sufficient defense and stamina. Focus on attacking his head and legs. His head is a primary weakness, delivering critical damage. Be wary of his swipes and headbutts, which can easily interrupt your attacks. Dodge rolling is crucial, particularly when he prepares his body slams.

3. Ranged Combat:

Ranged attacks, such as spells or bows, allow you to keep your distance from Ormstunga’s devastating melee attacks. Aim for his head for maximum damage. However, the limited lock-on range can make this strategy more challenging. Consider using a Spirit Summon to distract him while you attack from afar.

4. Spirit Ashes:

Spirit Ashes are invaluable in this fight. Summoning a strong Spirit Ash will distract Ormstunga, giving you an opportunity to deal damage. The Mimic Tear is a particularly powerful option due to its adaptability. This gives you the chance to focus on dodging while the summon takes the brunt of the attacks.

Recommended Builds for Fighting Ormstunga

While any viable build can defeat Ormstunga, some are more effective than others.

1. Strength/Faith Build:

A Strength/Faith build pairs powerful melee attacks with potent incantations. Weapons like the Godslayer's Greatsword or Blasphemous Blade deal significant damage. Incantations like Black Flame provide additional damage, and golden vow greatly boosts your attack power.

2. Dexterity/Faith Build:

High Dexterity and Faith provide a good balance of speed and magical damage output. Using weapons like the Mohgwyn's Sacred Spear or Godslayer's Greatsword in tandem with incantations can swiftly reduce his health.

3. Pure Dexterity Build:

Using fast weapons with high bleed build-up, such as the Rivers of Blood or Uchigatana, can quickly deplete his health. This requires precise timing and skillful dodging to land the attacks consistently.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is Ormstunga's weakness?

A: Ormstunga's head is a primary target for maximum damage. However, exploiting his attack tells and using environmental advantages are crucial to victory, regardless of the targeted body part.

Q: What is the best weapon to use against Ormstunga?

A: The best weapon depends on your build. However, weapons with high damage and reach, such as the Godslayer's Greatsword or Blasphemous Blade, are effective choices.

Q: Can I summon help to fight Ormstunga?

A: Yes, summoning Spirit Ashes is highly recommended. They will draw Ormstunga's attention, allowing you to inflict damage more safely.

By employing these strategies and utilizing a suitable build, you can conquer Ormstunga and claim your reward. Remember that patience and persistence are key to overcoming this challenging boss encounter. Good luck, Tarnished!