If you are struggling to beat Glintstone Dragon Smarag in Elden Ring, this guide will help you learn exactly how to do it!
Long before your time as a Tarnished, a fearsome dragon lurked in Liurnia of the Lakes in The Lands Between. The dragon consumed sorcerer after sorcerer, unable to satiate his appetite. Eventually, his body became warped from ingesting the Glintstones worn and used by the sorcerers, shaping his scales to become hardened and more akin to the stones.
This creature is known as Glintstone Dragon Smarag and is a challenge to all players to defeat him. However, with this guide, you will learn Smarag’s weaknesses and how to bolster yourself to achieve this goal.
Glintstone Dragon Smarag Elden Ring Overview
For good reasons, Smarag is one of the more challenging dragons you can fight in Elden Ring. While an optional boss, he is one of the two ways to obtain a Glintstone Key to enter the academy. This battle occurs in Liurnia of the Lakes, near Raya Lucaria Academy.
He moves quickly, can fly, and has movesets that can frustrate you. He has basic moves all dragons use (Bite, Stomp, Tail Swipe, Flying Lunge, and Charge) but also uses unique attacks. Ground Fire, Flying Fire, and Glintstone Comet are the names of the strikes. Let’s cover the last three listed.
- Ground Fire: Smarag breathes an arc of glintstone magic on the ground before himself.
- Flying Fire: While flying in the air, he blows out a line of magic fire to his front.
- Glintstone Comet: Smarag coughs out a magic fireball towards you; as with most spells, this ability has a mild homing ability to it
Further on in this guide, you will learn a plan to maneuver around these attacks and how to prepare for the entire fight.
What is the recommended level for fighting Smarag?
Your overall level should be 45 or higher if you want to have a chance at defeating this boss. Your Vigor should be 40 or higher regardless of build; for Mind and Endurance, consider raising them to around 35, depending on your playstyle.
As for weapons, you should have your standard weapon at a +6 but no lower than a +3 for the best results. A minimum of +1 is fine for special armaments, but it is strongly suggested to shoot for a +3. You’ll need Smithing Stone 2 and Somber Smithing Stone 3 to upgrade your normal weapons. Here is where you can find each of them respectively:
Smithing Stone 2
- In Raya Lucaria Crystal Tunnel, located in northern Liurnia of the Lakes, just north of the Church of Vows.
- Purchased from Nomadic Merchant Liurnia of the Lakes, the southern tip of Liurnia of the Lakes can be seen sitting next to a fire near the Liurnia Lake Shore Site of Grace.
Somber Smithing Stone 3
- Also found in the Raya Lucaria Crystal Tunnel.
- Purchased from Smithing Master Iji in the western part of Liurnia of the Lakes, just north of the Kingsrealm Ruins or next to the Road to the Manor Site of Grace.
What are Smarag’s weaknesses?
Unfortunately, this boss doesn’t have many weaknesses. Your objective should mostly be to use as many physical attacks as possible. If you’re a melee player, consider using a lighter weapon to roll and dodge much easier than a heavy or colossal weapon. Using Glintstone spells against him won’t deal much damage for magic users, so you should use Gravity sorcery to help you win this fight.
Like most dragons, Smarag’s head is the weakest point on his body. If you can, stay locked onto his head for the best chance of chunking his health. If you can’t hit his head, don’t stress too much and hit wherever you can at that point. Don’t waste your health in an attempt only to hit this spot.
Glintstone Dragon Smarag Location
Smarag is located in Liurnia of the Lakes, southwest of Raya Lucaria Academy. The nearest Site of Grace is either Crystalline Woods or Temple Quarter, depending on which one you have on your map.
If you choose the Crystalline Woods Site of Grace, all you have to do is go south/southwest, and you should stumble upon him. Travel a little north for the Temple Quarter site, and you’ll get right to him.
Glintstone Dragon Smarag Elden Ring Pre-Fight Strategy
Due to his magical abilities, Smarag is known as one of the more challenging dragons. Before the battle, we’ll understand what you can do to prepare you for victory.
Read: How to Beat Lichdragon Fortissax in Elden Ring
Use your resources
Summons and multiplayer are available for this fight, so consider using help if you feel stuck or want to get a good head start from the beginning. Using spirits for such a specific enemy can help cover the parts you can’t do alone, so there’s no shame in employing them. Here are some recommendations for summons and where to find them:
- Stormhawk Deenh Ashes: Summons the spirit of Stormhawk Deenh. Uses physical attacks and quickly flies about the battlefield, occasionally letting out a war cry that enhances the player’s attack damage by 20% for 30 seconds. Found at the Chapel of Anticipation, on the beginning island directly west of Stormveil Castle.
- Spirit Jellyfish Ashes: The spirit of a jellyfish that moves slowly and spits poison at its enemies. This is a good summon if you’re trying to take the aggression off. This can be obtained by speaking to Roderika at Stormhill Shack in Limgrave, southwest of Stormveil Castle along the path, and exhausting her dialogue.
Consider staying on Torrent.
Smarag moves quickly, and his attacks cover a lot of ground, so you’ll need to be able to match that to save yourself. You can use ranged attacks while on horseback, but using melee weapons will help you succeed at doing more damage and winning the fight sooner. Using Torrent for this fight is your best option for meeting this goal.
Get the right gear
Remember that this foe uses magic; find and equip the proper armor to protect you from these attacks. Some good options are:
- Banished Knight Set – Magical Defense of 29.3; the only way to get this set is to keep killing Banished Knights. The best one to farm is near the Rampart Tower Site of Grace in Stormveil Castle.
- Queen of the Full Moon Set – Magical Defense of 12.3; you’ll have to defeat Rennala, Queen of the Full Moon, in Raya Lucaria Academy to acquire this set. Go to Enia (the Finger Reader Crone next to the Two Fingers) at Roundtable Hold and purchase the armor. It’s poor against physical damage but is light in weight and does well against elemental.
- Lusat’s Set – Magical Defense of 32.4; you must complete Sorceress Sellen’s quest to find Lusat to obtain this set. Once you find him, finish the quest and return to his location. You should be able to get the armor in the same spot you first found him. Sorceress Sellen can be found in the cellar in Waypoint Ruins in western Limgrave. Lusat can be found in the Sellia Hideaway cave in northeast Caelid.
Glintstone Dragon Smarag Elden Ring Fight Strategy
With everything in place before the fight, it’s time to move on to what you’ll do during the fight. Every play style differs, so revise each suggestion to aid you best.
Keep your eyes open
If you notice Smarag is rearing up for Glintstone Comet, use that time to your advantage and get out of harm’s way. Although he’s a massive dragon and quite hard to miss, you can easily miss cues alerting you to his next attack. It’s also important to consider when his attack ends, and yours can begin.
Maintain space
Even though hitting Smarag in the head will deal more damage, avoid staying too close for too long. His normal attacks, like Stomp, can still knock off hefty portions of your HP, so stay on Torrent to help you keep that distance and prevent unnecessary health loss.
Equip appropriate talismans
Use talismans to bolster your defenses alongside the armor to protect you against Smarag’s attacks. Here are some good suggestions:
- Dragoncrest Shield Talisman – Negates physical damage taken by 10%. Head to the Bestial Sanctum in the northernmost tip of Caelid, go north around the building and make your way down the lowest level of the cliffs. There you will find this item.
- Spelldrake Talisman: Reduces magical damage taken by 13%. Find this item by defeating the Rune Bear at the end of Earthbore Cave in the northern Weeping Peninsula, west of the Forest Lookout Tower.
- Graven-School Talisman: Raises potency of sorceries by 4%. From the Debate Parlor Site of Grace in Raya Lucaria Academy, head west and turn right before descending the stairs. An illusory wall will be on the empty bookshelf, so hit it to dispel it and follow the path. Go up the ladder, walk east, jump over the railing, and drop down through the hole. You’ll find the talisman around the crystals at the room’s far end. Fall through once more and defeat the Living Jars in that room.
- Dagger Talisman – Enhances critical attacks by 17%. This talisman can be found by defeating Godskin Noble in Volcano Manor, then turning around at the Audience Pathway Site of Grace and using two Stonesword Keys on the fog door after retracing your steps to get there. After entering the hanging cage room, turn right, drop down, and follow the path. You’ll find the talisman on a corpse towards the end.
Rewards
Glintstone Dragon Smarag proves to be a test of skill and strength for all players, yet only truly benefits Incantation users. For defeating this boss, you get:
- 14,000 Runes
- Dragon Heart
While extra runes never hurt, this scenario is where you can spare yourself the effort unless you need a Dragon Heart. Follow the path of Dragon Incantations. You can take the Dragon Heart to the Cathedral of Dragon Communion in Caelid to purchase Smarag’s Glintstone Breath in your arsenal. It’s a good skill, so consider heading there to obtain it.
Did the guide help you out with the fight? We’re eager to hear from you! Let us know your thoughts and suggestions in the comments section.
