You’ve finally done it. You navigated the subterranean rot of the Deeproot Depths, survived the relentless onslaught of Fia’s Champions, and somehow—god knows how—managed to take down Fortissax while lightning bolts turned the arena into a literal disco of death. Now, you’re standing at the Roundtable Hold with the Remembrance of the Lich Dragon burning a hole in your inventory. Most players just see a quick ticket to some runes or a fancy lightning spell. But honestly? This specific item is the lynchpin to understanding why the Golden Order fell apart in the first place. It’s not just a trophy; it’s a tragic piece of history that most people completely ignore because they’re too busy trying to optimize their bleed build.
Fortissax is a nightmare. He’s a four-winged, shadow-black dragon crackling with red death lightning, yet his lore is weirdly wholesome for a FromSoftware game. He didn’t fight Godwyn the Golden to destroy him. They were actually best friends. After Godwyn was murdered during the Night of the Black Knives, Fortissax literally crawled inside his friend’s decaying corpse to fight off the Deathroot from the inside. He stayed there so long he became corrupted by the very thing he was trying to stop. That’s why we have the Lich Dragon.
What You Actually Get from the Remembrance of the Lich Dragon
Enia the Finger Reader is going to offer you two very different options for this soul. You’ve got the Fortissax's Lightning Spear and the Death Lightning incantation. If you’re a Faith user, this is where things get complicated because one of these is a certified banger and the other is... well, it’s situational.
Let's talk about Fortissax's Lightning Spear. It looks cool. You leap into the air, grab two massive bolts of red lightning, and slam them down like a god. It deals heavy poise damage and massive physical/lightning damage. In PvP, it’s a great trade tool because of the hyper-armor, though the wind-up is long enough for a coffee break. Then there’s Death Lightning. It calls down a storm of bolts that leave a haze of Death Blight. Here’s the reality: Death Blight is basically useless against 99% of PvE enemies. It’s a niche PvP tool meant for "area denial," which is a fancy way of saying you want to scare people away from a specific corner.
Why Fortissax is Different from Other Ancient Dragons
Ancient Dragons like Lansseax or Placidusax use gold or red lightning, but Fortissax is the only one who brings the "Death" element into the mix. This is a huge deal for the lore nerds. In Elden Ring, "Death" isn't just an end; it's a specific cosmic force that got tangled up with the Erdtree. When you use the Remembrance of the Lich Dragon, you're literally wielding the essence of a dragon that tried to fight a concept and lost.
If you choose the spear, you're leaning into the dragon's original power. If you choose the Death Lightning, you're leaning into its corruption. Personally? I think the spears are the move. They represent the strength Fortissax had before he spent eternity rotting in a basement.
The Tragedy of the Deeproot Depths
To even get this Remembrance, you have to complete Fia’s questline. This is easily one of the most depressing arcs in the game. You find her at the roots of the tree, clutching the "Prince of Death." Entering the Deathbed Dream to fight Fortissax is a trippy experience. The sky is dark, the ground is water, and the dragon descends with an intensity that makes Midir from Dark Souls 3 look like a house pet.
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Most people miss this fight entirely. Since it’s tucked away behind a convoluted series of hugs and hidden coffin rides, Fortissax remains one of the least-fought bosses in the game according to achievement data. That’s a shame. The fight is a spectacle of red and black. It’s a dance. If you’re under-leveled, he will one-shot you with a claw swipe. If you’re over-leveled, you might burn him down before you even see his best moves.
Does the Remembrance Scale Well?
It depends on your stats, obviously. Fortissax’s incantations require high Faith—we’re talking 40 to 47 Faith just to cast these things. If you’re a pure Strength or Dexterity build, you might be tempted to just eat the Remembrance for 30,000 runes. Don't do that. Runes are easy to find. Unique boss spells are not. Even if you aren't a Faith build right now, Rennala is right there waiting to respec you. Having the option to call down red lightning from the sky is worth more than a few levels you can grind out at the Mohgwyn Palace cliffside in five minutes.
How to Maximize the Lich Dragon’s Power
If you decide to go the Faith route and pick up those incantations, you need the right gear. Using the Gravel Stone Seal is non-negotiable because it boosts Dragon Cult incantations by 15%. Since both rewards from the Remembrance of the Lich Dragon fall into this category, it’s a massive damage spike.
- Use the Godfrey Icon to boost the damage of charged spells.
- Pair it with the Lightning Scorpion Charm, but be careful—it makes you take more damage.
- Drink a Wondrous Physick with the Lightning-Shrouding Cracked Tear.
When you stack these, Fortissax's Lightning Spear doesn't just hit; it deletes. I’ve seen players chunk bosses for half their health bar in a single jump. It’s risky because you’re hanging in the air like a target, but the payoff is glorious.
The lore implications of these spells are also heavy. When you cast Death Lightning, you aren't just doing damage; you're spreading the same blight that eventually ruined the dragon. It’s a bit macabre if you think about it too much. You’re using the weaponized grief of a dragon whose best friend was turned into a soulless mermaid-monster thing. Elden Ring isn't exactly a happy game, but this specific piece of the puzzle is particularly dark.
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Common Misconceptions About the Remembrance
People often confuse Fortissax with his sister, Lansseax. She’s the one you fight near the Altus Plateau. While they both use red lightning, Lansseax is more about the "ancient dragon" vibe—noble, fierce, and regal. Fortissax is the "Lich" dragon. He’s ragged. His scales are falling off. He’s essentially a zombie dragon that happens to still be a god-tier fighter.
Another mistake? Thinking you can get both rewards in one playthrough without help. You can't. Unless you find a Wandering Mausoleum. You know, those giant walking rocks with bells hanging between their legs. You have to take one down, go inside, and duplicate the Remembrance of the Lich Dragon. This lets you grab both the spear and the storm. Honestly, it’s worth the effort just to have the complete set.
The Verdict on Death Lightning
I'll be real with you. Death Lightning is kinda bad for the average player. The bolts strike randomly. You can cast it and have every single bolt miss a boss if they're standing in the wrong spot. It's a "flashy" spell that looks great in YouTube montages but often lets you down in a tight spot. Fortissax's Lightning Spear is the reliable sibling. It goes where you aim it. It hits hard. It looks sick.
Moving Forward With Your Build
If you’ve just beaten Fortissax, take a second to look around the arena. The roots, the quiet, the general vibe of decay—it’s all intentional. The Remembrance you’re holding is the final vestige of a friendship that broke the world.
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To make the most of your new power, head to a Wandering Mausoleum immediately if you haven't used your duplicates yet. The one in the Deeproot Depths is actually right there, so you don't even have to travel far. Crack the barnacles off its legs, get inside, and double up on that soul. Even if you never use the Death Lightning, having it in your spellbook feels right. It completes the collection.
Next, check your Faith stats. If you're below 46, you can't even touch the high-end lightning. Go farm some runes, hit that requirement, and put on the Gravel Stone Seal. There is nothing quite like the feeling of hovering in the air while red lightning crackles around your fists before you bring the literal hammer of the gods down on an unsuspecting Omen. It makes all that suffering in the Deeproot Depths feel entirely justified.