Unleashing the Fury of the Heavens: A Deep Dive into Lightning Damage in the Lands Between (and Beyond)
Ah, lightning. This force of nature crackles with power. In the world of gaming, especially with souls-like adventures, lightning damage looks more flashy than other types. Is it all show with little substance? Or does this elemental type really strike hard? Let’s explore the truth about lightning.
When Lightning Strikes True: Effectiveness Unveiled
You wield a weapon charged with electric energy. That’s smart! Lightning damage thrives against specific enemy types. First are the Dragons. These majestic creatures are often serious hurdles in our games. Surprisingly, they aren’t immune to lightning’s wrath. Could it be their hide or elemental weakness? Either way, they might get jolted when expecting fire!
Next, lightning excels against those heavily clad in armor. Think knights in shiny plate, hulking brutes encased in metal, and anyone with great defenses. The idea is brutal: electricity flows well through metal. Picture a knight feeling safe in armor, only to become a walking Faraday cage…and fried. Not great for one’s skin.
Thunderstruck: When Lightning Falls Flat
But before you start electrifying every weapon, heed a warning. Lightning damage, despite its appeal, doesn’t always work. Some foes scoff at your electric attacks. Let’s consider legends like Gwyn, Lord of Cinder. Meeting him, you’ll notice he’s weak but still strong overall, the former Lord of Sunlight. Hitting him with lightning is like tossing pebbles at a tank. It’s laughably futile.
Then, there’s Dragon Slayer Ornstein. This knight inspires fear in adventurers. Shockingly, he resists lightning too. Maybe it’s a courtesy among lightning users or just his build. Do not expect to defeat Ornstein with lightning. You’ll require a different strategy unless you want a very long failure.
The Exceptions that Prove the Rule (or Just Make Things Confusing)
As you think you understand lightning effectiveness, the game surprises you. We hear that lightning is great against heavily armored foes, right? Here come the Silver Knights. They wear full silver armor yet, for reasons only known to Miyazaki, are vulnerable to lightning. Is their armor a special alloy? Or perhaps just a balance choice? Either way, they fall quicker to electric blasts.
Next, consider foes who “inflict it themselves.” This hints at enemies using lightning attacks. Why target them with lightning? Could it disrupt their flow? Maybe exploit a weakness? Another vague but amusing aspect of these games.
Shocking Mechanics: How Lightning Damage Actually Works
Let’s dive deeper into lightning damage mechanics. How can you wield lightning weapons? One main method to charge your weapons is through the Lightning upgrade path. This upgrade comes from the Giant Blacksmith in Anor Londo. No ember needed, just materials and the willingness to sacrifice something else.
What do you sacrifice? Stat scaling. Yes, going this route removes all stat bonuses from your weapon. Your Strength and Dexterity stats, which normally add extra damage, become irrelevant. It’s a trade-off. You acquire consistent lightning damage but lose raw physical scaling based on your character.
However, there’s a twist! While standard Lightning upgrades drop stat scaling, one weapon sways differently: the Dragonslayer Spear. This iconic weapon scales with Faith to enhance lightning damage. Faith, usually tied to miracles, here enhances the spear’s shocking power. If you favor Faith and want to channel Zeus, this spear might be your choice.
Arming Yourself with Thunder: Lightning Weaponry
Let’s look at some notable lightning weapons in your quests. One easy find is the Lightning Spear. Where can you find it? Deep within Sen’s Fortress, scavenging through a Mimic. Of course it’s a Mimic. It’s never easy! This chest-monster lurks at the end of the second boulder path. Face the boulders and grab the Lightning Spear for ranged electrical strikes.
For those who prefer force, try the Dragonslayer Greataxe. This heavy weapon, wielded by the Dragonslayer Armour, packs lightning damage and some heft (20 weight units!). It stands as the most powerful of all lightning weapons. So if you want maximum devastation and can carry it, the Dragonslayer Greataxe is perfect.
What makes lightning weapons appealing? Their popularity lies in accessibility. Remember that Lightning upgrades ditch stat scaling? This actually helps players who lack necessary stats for standard weapons. If your Strength and Dexterity are weak, a Lightning weapon lets you deal decent damage without those stats. This makes them favored in lower-level PvP and even higher levels for builds focused on other stats instead of mere strength.
Weathering the Storm: Enemy Lightning Resistance (and Lack Thereof)
No discussion on elements completes without enemy resistances and weaknesses. Who brushes off your lightning bolts and who crumbles? Let’s review notable foes and their lightning resistance.
First is Radahn. This demigod general, known for gravity-defying acts, is notoriously tough. His toughness includes resistances. The Elden Ring Wiki states Radahn has a 40% damage reduction across all types – standard, slashing, striking, magic, fire, and yes, lightning damage. Lightning might inflict damage, but don’t count on it to defeat him alone. He withstands nearly anything thrown his way.
What about the creatures that share names with the Dragonslayer
Greataxe? Dragons resist lightning damage. This common fantasy belief is incorrect. In these games, dragons show no weakness to Magic or Lightning. Instead, target their vulnerabilities with Fire and Bleeding. It seems dragons possess solid grounding.
Next, we discuss Artorias the Abysswalker. This corrupted knight resists magic, fire, and lightning. Do not use elemental spells against him. Focus on raw physical damage. That is crucial in this fight.
Now, let’s mention the Nameless King. He commands storms and resists his own power. He ignores Bleed, Frost, and Lightning damage. Maybe a king must remain immune to their elements? Regardless, avoid lightning in this encounter.
Not every boss blocks elements, though. Consider Morgott, the Omen King. While strong, he lacks resistance to Fire and Lightning. This makes him vulnerable to these elements compared to others. If you carry lightning or fire attacks, Morgott is a decent target.
We should return to those legends: Gwyn and Ornstein. Gwyn is nearly immune to lightning. Remember, don’t use lightning against Gwyn. He resists it entirely. Ornstein also resists lightning very effectively and has fire and magic resistance. He won’t be easy with elemental attacks.
Riding Out the Storm: Lightning Defense
Next, let’s touch on lightning defense. Sometimes you face an electric attack and want protection. If you need defenses against Zeus’s power, several options exist.
For armor, the Dingy Robe performs well. This lightweight armor provides excellent magic and lightning defense among light armors. If mobility and elemental defense matter to you, the Dingy Robe is a stylish option.
Also, consider shields. They protect our characters well. Many shields provide high lightning resistance. The Dark Hand functions as a shield too. It delivers an impressive 80% lightning resistance. That reduces significant damage. The Eagle Shield grants 75% lightning resistance, plus decent overall protection.
The Effigy Shield offers the best defense at 90% lightning resistance. Equip one of these shields to face lightning threats confidently. Still, avoiding lightning strikes remains wise.
This presents a detailed assessment of lightning damage. It is strong against dragons but not against sunlight lords or lightning knights. Explore unique upgrades for reliable elemental damage. Choose your weapons strategically, assess resistances, and find a good lightning-resistant shield. Now go forth and electrify your foes… or at least jolt them a bit.
